Contraception continued...

I'm thankful for the recent question regarding family planning/contraception because it got me back into a book by Nancy Wilson called The Fruit of Her Hands.  This book greatly impacted me in the past and it is currently a blessing to me.  She makes a brief, but poignant, statement on page 121.  "The principal cause of discouragement is exhaustion."  To which I can heartedly say, "amen."  Especially since it's almost 2am and little Joe has chosen to wake up every night this week - oh, except tonight thus far. . .it was little Jael standing by my bedside who needed to be soothed back to slumber.

Enough about me - if you haven't read this book, it's must read.  If you have read it, pull if off the shelf and give it a dusting for another reading.  Prepare to be blessed and encouraged.  Nancy masterfully handles the high and virtuous calling of a wife and mother, while pointing to Christ.

I wish I could re-type her entire chapter on "Multiplying Fruitfully" because it is a gem.  It is also way to long!  To continue the prior post on Contraception, here is a quote from Nancy "There is nothing in Scripture that says the act of using birth control is unlawful in itself."  Her concluding thought summarizes that, "Nowhere in the Bible does it say that the use of birth control is sinful.  So it is wrong to say that it is.  The Bible does consistently say that children are a blessing from the Lord.  And it is a sin to say or act as though they are not."   (ouch, America!  Voddie Baucham says, "if you can't say 'amen', you oughta say 'ouch'."   Prior to all this, she scrutinzes assumptions. . .the woman who has four children quickly might think that she will have four more just as quickly. . .Nancy addresses these "mistaken assumptions", as she refers to them.   She states "we base our thinking on a false and unbiblical premise - that the universe is an impersonal place and that the providence of God has little or nothing to do with the blessings we receive."  She also admonishes those who embrace having a large family, but fall to the temptation of failing to train them in the fear and admonition of the Lord.  A last quote, "The Lord offers to bless us with much in our children, and to whom much is given, much is required."  Whew.  If that doesn't drive me to that cross!

Amazed by grace, desperate for Christ and hoping to get some sleep...