The Blessing of Motherhood

Joel was number 11 when he was born. We now have number 14 on the way, and Lord willing we will have the new addition here in February. Here is the foundation for our belief that children are a blessing, and the reason that we desire for the Lord to give us all the children that He desires to give. I shared this message with our home church this past Mother's day in May.

The Blessing of Motherhood

Psalm 127 “Except the LORD build the house, they labor in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep. Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.”

The scripture speaks of motherhood as a great blessing. Our modern society needs to return to the truths of scripture. This psalm summarizes God’s viewpoint concerning motherhood and children.

I. The Foundation of Our Lives

The foundation of our lives has to be none other than the Lord God, Jehovah. His name, ‘the divinely communicated name of the Supreme God; that glorious and fearful name by which He is known to His church and people. It expresses the eternity and immutability of the divine nature, and the faithfulness of God to all His purposes and promises.’
Unless the Lord God is the builder of our lives, individually, and also our families, then we truly labor in vain. Our efforts will be meaningless in eternity unless He is the foundation of all that we do. We can build and watch, but it is all vain unless God joins and motivates our building, and unless God keeps watch over out watch.
You can stay up late and rise up early, working, worrying, scheming, but it is all vain without the Lord. He gives His beloved sleep, and they rest in Him.
Picture a child on the sea shore, right next to the tide. He builds a great sand castle, but the tide will soon come in, and what will happen to that great structure of sand? It will be wiped out completely. So it is with a life built on anything but the Lord God, Jehovah, and the living Lord Jesus. It is a life built with sand and the tide of God’s wrath and justice will soon roll in on you and there will be nothing left.
The first order of business in the matter of motherhood is to make sure your personal life is being built on the foundation of Jesus. I Corinthians 3:11 says, “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” All of us, Fathers, sons and daughters, this must be an individual choice. Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. May the Lord grant that it be so that we build our lives solidly on the Lord God of heaven.

II. The Facts about Children

It is so important that we grasp what the word of God says about children. We live in a twisted world today. The world hates children. America, for all of its talk, hates children by the way it allows them to be murdered in the womb to the tune of millions of babies killed since Roe v. Wade in 1973. Even the church manifests this negative attitude towards children, the church has not been immune to this deadly trend.
But what does God say about children? Let’s look here in God’s eternal word.

Children are an inheritance.

Children are an inheritance ‘of the Lord.’ They are his inheritance that He graciously bestows on us. An inheritance is something valuable, and when it is the Lord’s, oh how valuable it is.
Every child that we have should be seen as belonging ultimately to the Lord and we should dedicate them to Him. We should not take lightly the fact that we are accountable to God for how we handle His inheritance. Oh, how careful we ought to be to bring our children up in the nurture and the admonition of the Lord.

Children are Fruit.

Children are referred to in this passage as the fruit of the womb. What a beautiful, biblical phrase for children. Fruit is something good, something pleasant, and something desirable. And so are children for us. They are good for us, they are pleasant to us, and they are to be desired.
If you think about the gardener, he plants his garden with all different kinds of seeds. He plants, and waters, and waits, looking each day to see if his plants will come up out of the ground. He plants all his seeds with the hope that they will one day bring forth fruit. No gardener plants his seeds hoping that they will be barren.
And yet among God’s people today, we encourage barrenness in the womb. We take pills to try to assure that the womb brings forth nothing but barrenness. May God have mercy on His people. We have operations to guarantee barrenness. What a sad state we are in when we hope and even plan for barrenness. May the Lord have mercy on His people, and grant that we fall in love with children and once again see them as fruit to be desired, and not as curses to be shunned.

Children are Rewards

Not only does God call children fruit, but he says that they are His reward. Deuteronomy 7:12-14 says this, “Wherefore it shall come to pass, if ye hearken to these judgments, and keep, and do them, that the LORD thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy which he sware unto thy fathers: And he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee: he will also bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep, in the land which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee. Thou shalt be blessed above all people: there shall not be male or female barren among you, or among your cattle.”
Here a fruitful womb is seen as a reward for faithfulness along with other blessings. It is a demonstration of His goodness that He gives us children as His reward. We see here again the biblical basis for seeing children in a positive light. It may be that in God’s sovereignty a person could have no children or few children. We must trust that He is in control. We must see children as the rewards that God says that they are.

Children are Arrows

Children are arrows in the hand of a mighty man. A mighty man was a man powerful especially in war or in dominion.. A warrior in biblical times would see his arrows as a prize possession. His arrows constituted much delight and joy, as well as protection in battle.
God wants us to see children in the same way. They are our arrows. They are that which we mold to send forth for the glory of God. And it is a great blessing to have a whole quiver full of arrows. If you go out to war, you want your quiver to be as full as can be, in order to be always prepared and ready.
It is a good thing to have many arrows. We should be willing for God to bless us with as many as He sees fit to give. To refuse to give God the freedom in our lives to bless us in this way is to limit our own might and power.

Children are a Source of Happiness

A full quiver becomes a source of happiness. There are very few people who desire unhappiness. If someone is being blessed, they do not usually desire the blessings to stop. Children are a blessing. I Chronicles 26: 4,5 says, “Moreover the sons of Obededom were, Shemaiah the first-born, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, Sacar the fourth, Nethaneel the fifth, Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peulthai the eighth, for God blessed him.”
May the Lord give us grace to see children as a source of happiness and a blessing, which is God’s viewpoint. And may the Lord give us grace to stop playing God and give Him the freedom to plan our families. In this day and time, that is radical, but it is biblical. And when the bible is radical, so be it, and we should be too.
The world is getting their message out. Here is a quote from University of California biologist Garret Hardin, a leader in the ZPG movement, “How can we reduce reproduction? Persuasion must be tried first. Tomorrow’s mothers must be educated to seek careers other than multiple motherhood. Community nurseries are needed to free women for careers outside the home.”1
And then here is a quote from Planned Parenthood concerning ways to reduce U.S. fertility, “…increased (departure from biblical roles); chronic economic depression; requiring women to work and providing few child care facilities; compulsory sterilization of all who have two children—except for a few who would be allowed to have three; confining childbearing to only a limited number of adults; and stock-certificate type permits for children.” 2 (Parenthesis belong to TM)
It is now time that the church of the living God counter these ungodly philosophies with the sword of the truth. We must be pro-children. God’s plan of I Timothy 5:14 has never changed, and will never change. “I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion of the adversary o speak reproachfully.” It is a satanic doctrine that sees children as a curse.
It is also a sad trend among Christian groups that encourage young ladies to leave the home for so called good reasons. The biblical pattern is for young ladies to stay under their father’s authority and in his home until the Lord gives a godly husband.

Children are a Source of Confidence and Victory

“They shall not be ashamed.” Our children, brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, give us confidence, and they are our source of victory. To speak with the enemies in the gate has the idea of subduing the enemies. Godly children will bring spiritual victory in the world. May the Lord of Heaven make all of the married women in His church to be fruitful and multiply, and see the blessing of motherhood through the precious children that he gives.
John and Charles Wesley were the 15th and 17th born of their mother, Susanna. Only 10 of her children survived. Just imagine is she had stopped at two or three. If she had not allowed God to bless her with Charles, the 17th, then most hymn books would contain a dozen or so less songs than they do. Those dozen songs were written by Charles Wesley. We would not have ‘Blessed be the Name’, ‘Love Divine, All Love Excelling’, ‘O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing’, ‘Hark the Herald Angels Sing’, and ‘Christ the Lord is Risen Today’.
May it be that we trust God to give us the children He desires. What joy will be ours, what blessing will be in the world, and what victory will be in the church. May God grant us to be obedient to Him.

-From Terry

Footnotes:

1 Mary Pride, The Way Home, p. 81

2 Ibid, p.81

Thanks to Vicki Savory for the picture!

Surprises!

Whoa!! It's fun and never a dull moment, but I think I need to sit down and have a cup of tea! This past week has been so busy!

On Wednsday we had a surprise birthday party for Bethany. For the past two weeks I've been slipping here and there trying to keep it a secret. My statment of faith was "I cannot give any information!" The Lord granted a delightful surprise party for Bethany, with our family and some friends. She has always wanted an inside dog, but I we just could'nt bring ourselves to do that. I wanted to give Bethany an extra special gift for her 18th birthday, so I asked Terry what he thought about getting her an inside dog and his input was "if you think it will be an enjoyment to her, then it's fine." Two weeks ago I found the puppy, and made arrangments to pick him up prior to her party. Like I said it was all a real surprise to her, and as she came in blindfolded, the little fellow was in a basket on the table, she was shocked, happy and very surprised! It was a very memorable event, but I don't think I want to do anymore surprise parties...it was quite challenging to keep the information from so many. So let us introduce you to our new puppy. He is a 9 week old Maltese and his name is "Sir Duffy Winslow." We call him Duffy. He is very happy and cheerful. He is being crate trained to take his naps, and at bed time to sleep in it. He is doing very well!

You have probably heard that the Russian father"s son died on Monday. His heart became weak and after many attempts at different intervals to try to resuscitate him, his heart would go no further. A father, that too fought a battle of life for his son. We have had contact with a very dear lady that has been helping Sabit. She discussed doing something for David, and as we talked she was going to present the father with the idea ofa small gathering of those that did support him for a memorial service for David. Terry was honored to lead in that service on Friday, with a message on life, and how precious it is, and that Jesus is the way the truth and the life. Caleb and Daniel played their instruments as well. Terry spoke with a translator so it was a little different. Our prayer is that the Lord would give faith and repentance to this father and he can then share with his family in Russia about the God of all comfort. As of now, he is seeking to get home as soon as all the paperwork can get done with transporting David's body. As the Lord brings him to your mind and heart lift him up to the Lord!

Our family has very exciting news to share! The Lord has had mercy upon us in blessing us with a new baby! Number 14, Lord willing is being fearfully and wonderfully made! I feel in my heart that this is a tender mercy of the Lord and we are rejoicing! I was reading a book the other day and a scripture touched my heart deeply. It is Gen. 42:52 "And the name of the second called he Ephraim: for God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction. I don't know that if we have another son we'll name him Ephraim but this pregnancy can surely be called my Ephraim. God is so tender!

I read a scripture a few days ago, Ps. 84:10, "for a day in thy courts is better than a thousand...."Joel lived 1,197 days on this earth. This scripture encouraged me that one day in heaven for Joel is more desired and fulfilling than the thousand he had upon this earth. I so enjoy reading the gospels- the life of Jesus upon this earth. I'm reading in Luke now and as I read Luke 2:35 this morning, "Yea a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." Simeon was telling this to Mary. I feel some commonality of anguish of heart that Mary had to have felt. That is what my heart feels like, a sword piercing it! In verse 2:51, ..."but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart." This is where I too must stay. I must ponder the truths of God's word. Like this truth, Ps.145:9, "The Lord is good to all, and his tender mercies are over all his works. Ps.115:9, "O Israel, trust thou in the Lord, he is their help and their shield." Ps.145:17, "The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works." I need to continue to hide my heart in the shadow of his wings. That this trial is for our good, for his glory, accomplishing his eternal purposes. Eyes of faith are essential to my survival. I still feel like a rollercoaster. May the Lord give my heart stability on the Rock!!

Farm updates..... Elijah recently got two steers that he will be feeding out for a late fall butcher. Provision for our freezer and hope to sell the meat of the other one. Bethany, Anna and Terry are making "goat milk soap" and we do plan on selling it. The bars will be 4oz. The molds are real cute with a mama and baby goat impression on them.Let us know if you are interested!!!!!!!

Thank you for your prayers and continued encouragement. Only the Lord can recompense the due reward. May he bless your families abundantly!!!!!!!!!! You are loved!!!!!

The pictures of Joel and Josiah were last June, they have fresh summer haircuts!!!!!!

~Cindy

~Cindy

Pray for Sabit

Please pray for David and Sabit Kurbanov. David is in a coma at St. Anthony's hospital in OKC. He has been there for several months, and he has been declared brain dead by the medical community. Sabit is David's father, and he is now being taken to court by the hospital. David and Sabit are from Russia, and they are here in Oklahoma City alone. We have met with Sabit once, and we are trying to arrange another meeting at the hospital so that we can encourage him and see his son. We know what he is going through, and it is a very hard path to tread. Please entreat the Lord Jesus to strengthen Sabit, and to raise David from his coma. We know that our God is able to deliver in mighty ways.

We need your prayers also, for the next step in pursuing the change in Joel's death certificate, and in holding the hospital accountable for their actions. We have also discovered a law in New Jersey that does not allow brain death to be declared if the patient has religious objections to that philosophy. I would like to try to get such a law passed in Oklahoma. If we could do that, then Sabit would not have to face what he is facing, and we would not have had to endure the medical communities refusal to treat Joel, and Joel would have been fed for the 8 days that he was not given any nutrition.

We know that God is sovereign over all, and that He is in control. We also believe that the truth needs to be upheld in this evil world, and we want to do what we can to hold forth the word of life.

If you can help Sabit in any way, please contact us. You can call St. Anthony Hospital at 405-272-7000 and express your opinion. The phone number for the Governor of Oklahoma, Brad Henry, is 405-521-2342.

May the Lord bless all of your with His abundant grace. -Terry for the family

Coming Home!!

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

It's seems like this is where I need to continually be, camped out at the throne. Especially today I have a need of help, grace and mercy to my heart. Six months ago today we were bringing Joel home from his 1st hospital stay of 8-1/2 days. We were coming home! I remember it so well. Upon our arriving at home, the children were surrounding the car as we drove up. Joel was being welcomed by those who loved him most. It was like someone of great importance had arrived, and he was. A brave little 3 year old that had just undergone a great race of endurance. He had been so courageous. He was our little soldier that had walked through an intense battle field. I remember Joel sitting with me in the house briefly to get reaquainted with his surroundings. It wasn't long before he was ready to see his farm. He wanted to go see the "shickens." Bethany bundled him up and a farm tour was underway. After that he sat out on our patio and ate his "shili." Later that evening we had Christmas with grandparents that were here! Joel and Josiah were heartily enjoying the festivities! My heart smiles as well as it is grieving once again. "Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous. Ps.112:4. There are so many mile markers that bring such memories that are so hard. As I continue on this journey, I am experiencing God's mercy and grace. "As for God, his way is perfect!" (Ps. 18:30) This is my verse. I must hold this up as my banner as I go forth. Today I also read Ps. 102:18-28.

"This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the Lord. For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary: from heaven did the Lord behold the earth; To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death; To declare the name of the Lord in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem; When the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the Lord. He weakened my strength in the way; he shortened my days. I said O my God take me not away in the midst of my days: thy years are throughout all generations. Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end. The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee."

The Lord gave me this verse on Feb. 12, 2007. Wasn't God so kind and tender to show me that verse on the 12th? I wrote in the margin on my Bible, "Joel's Story." May it be so that in our own family that this trial and by God's mercy may our faith in it be a story to tell to the future generations through our own children. May it be a spring board to their growing in faith to face the challenges that they might encounter. Our faith is always needing sharpened, strengthened and polished that it might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. (I Peter 1:7)

The Lord has squeezed a little Joel into our sweet one year old Mercy. I was noticing many of her little ways are so much like Joel. She is very animated and expressive and she likes to be the center of the show. One thing that really shows me Joel is how she folds her little hands behind her back when she walks and if she is investigating something. She has his little walk, one of her feet turns in slightly as she walks. Even Bethany and Anna noticed these things too as we were sitting and watching her one evening. This is a sweet blessing from the Lord. Than you for listening to my heart today. It was a tender memory when we brought Joel home.

Like I read in John 18:1 a day or so ago, "where was a garden." As Jesus faced the betrayal at Gethsemane he and his diciples entered the garden. That spoke to my heart, in our deepest trials there is a garden.

~Cindy

Thanks to Vicki Savory for the picture of Mercy with the flowers!!!!

Two Roses for Balley

Life at the Morris Farm is moving ahead ever so swiftly. Four months have passed since Joel has not been with us bodily. Sometimes it seems like I never had him and the memory fades so quickly of what it was actually like when he was here. Our home is still blessed, though our hearts are sore. My longing and my greatest need is more faith. My physical eyes see all this around me and every good thing is from above, but my eye is also toward eternity, wondering, waiting. I feel more motivated to please my heavenly Father. The prospective on even the day to day things change. Why withold a graham cracker, or a messy swim in our muddy pond from the children, what will all that matter in eternity.

I was reading in John again. I am drawn to the gospels, to see Jesus, his life, his person, his walk on this earth. This morning I was comforted to read about the groaning of his suffering heart over Lazarus. John 11:33, "He groaned in the spirit and was troubled," and he wept and those that witnessed His sorrowful heart in verse 36 said,"Behold how he loved him." The Lord knows my hurt, my heart, the pain. Verse 40 He said to Martha, "If thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God." The story ended differently for Joel than it did with Lazarus, but God is and was in control of Joel's little life. I want to see the glory of God more and more.

As June has arrived, the memories of Joel this time last year are very vivid, especially as I look at pictures and the special events that came. Bethany's Birthday is approaching. I remember last year she had a Mexican Fiesta party and Joel and Josiah were putting on the mexican hats. The hot summer days, the corn picking, Joel had so much fun shucking that corn. I guess the hard thing to my heart is, this time last year he was so happy and healthy. Not an inch of any signs that would cause us to be alarmed. O how we miss him. Our home and our hearts will never be the same. The Lord is here, he hears, he knows and I'm seeking him to continue to help my
heart.

Along the line of farm updates, Bethany is supervising the feeding of 13 baby goats and milking 7 does. The boys recently rented a bull dozer and got alot of our back pasture cleared. They hope to plant some seed back there some time soon. Elijah says that running that dozer was the greatest thing he has done so far. I guess it topped his bull riding adventure.

The boys are helping a neighbour about 4 miles away build their house. They are expecting their Mac Pro computer this week. Now here is a testimony of God's provision! The Lord has provided an amazing amount of resources to get the computer and more equipment.

Anna has been exploring new recipes and has blessed our family with mouth watering desserts.

Josiah wanted to pick two roses for Bally the other day. I said to Hosanna, "they smell like heaven." She said "is that what heaven smells like?" I replied "Oh it's so much better than that!" We planted a rose bush on a trellis at Joel's grave. It looks really nice and is flourishing.

Thank you for praying for our family! The days are hard sometimes, but our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness!

~Cindy