MJ<p>I am sorry if I struck a nerve. I certainly didn't mean to offend you, of anyone. You have brought me much encouragement back in the days of Mrs. Job, and i gathered that you have a strong dedication to God's word. <p>I don't believe that you are not blessed because you were not born with a womb. When we look at the whole scope of things, there was a one in a gazillion chance for you to even have life (and the same goes for me). The rest of the sperm that raced that day to the egg were not in God's thoughts at all, only you were. Although it may seem like a curse at times, I think you believe differently, and if you do see it as a curse, I pray that God would convey to you that it is not. From the beginning of creation and from the instant God thought you into existence, there was not a plan for you to have biological children. But God did have other wonderful plans, like the children you have now, and those you are hoping to adopt. But God's plan for you doesn't end there, as I am sure you know.<p>I never meant to say that you are cursed or that God didn't intend to bless you. But for whatever reasons, only he knows them, you were born without a womb, but God doesn't make mistakes.<p>I believe that all wombs are blessed. It doesn't mean the hearts of some women are evil. Just as God entrusts us to carry these children until birth, He also entrusts us to raise (the Bible says, "train") these children in His ways. If you take a look around, that is not the world we live in. But the Bible does say only a FEW will be saved.<p>Again, please accept my apology if I hurt you. I may have a womb, but you're right, it doesn't mean that I will be blessed with children. Many doctors have told me that I may not. I have had one m/c and presently I am with child, but only God knows whether I will be blessed here on Earth or blessed in the Heavens with this one. <p>God Bless,
Julia

I am also curious as to why you thought I believed God would not bless a marriage if the wife does not have a womb? What alluded you to write that I felt that way. That is so against the character of God, but I am still curious why you thought I felt that way. <p>The only input I had regarding blessed wombs was the act in which it came about. God will bless the womb, but He certainly won't bless the abominational act in which extramarital children are conceived.

Thanks Julia. I really overreacted when I posted to you and I have been meaning to find 3 minutes and go modify or delete my response to you.<p>I will be honest, I am frightened by fundamentalism. I was raised in a hideous fundamental Calvinistic church that got all the things about God's Law but nothing of his Love. Instead it tried to cower people with hideous visions of an avenging God and eternal hell. In the midst of your postings you seemed to stop speaking of love and about God's curses and hatreds instead. When the womb thing came in I just lost it. I have struggled greatly with the idea that God zaps us with horrible things to teach us lessons; in order to reconcile my belief in a loving God I have had to conclude that most of the horrible things that happen to us do not come from God; things happen to us (mostly) because we are fallen beings living in a corrupted world. <p>Therefore, I also have a tough time accepting the good things in life are blessings. Because if I, a sinner, know that I CANNOT earn anthing good and certainly can't work my way into God's presence, then if I get something good from God and someone else, equally "good" gets tragedy, how can we explain it?<p>Here's an example. My half-sister at 2 1/2 years old fell in the back yard pool (due to the neglect of her aunt/babysitter who left her out there to play while she went in to answer the phone). My sister was found 10 minutes later floating face down in the pool--no breathing, no pulse. They called 911. Her disabled uncle who had not had CPR since the Vietnam war, got her heart restarted, but could not reestablish breathing by the time the ambulence arrived. She spent 4 days in a coma during which time the doctors thought she might never recover. Then when she did come out of the coma, they predicted severe brain damage because of the amount of time her brain had been w/o oxygen. She recovered fine. (Although she is 18 now and acting like a wild child, so I think she might have brain damage, but not from her accident, just the normal brain damage of adolescence.) <p>Sooooooo....my Dad and step-mother attribute her recovery to a miracle. Well, what does that say about the family that had a child in the ICU bed next to hers? They prayed just as hard, they believed, they lead good lives--their child dies. Did God do either of those things? I don't know; I don't think so. One lived and one died because of the nature of their illnesses or accidents. <p>It was nearly 4 a.m. my time when I posted. I should know better to post when I am that over extended.<p>Peace,
MJ

I just reread. You're pregnant? Oh, I pray that all goes well. What a wonderful celebration of the rebuilding of your marriage that could be.<p>Praying for you health and a full-term, healthy baby.<p>MJ

MaryJanes,<p>I am hoping that I can shed some light on your concerns and your questions. Your concerns are legitimate and I can remember a time not so long ago where I needed some clarity as to what God was trying to DO or WHY or HOW in the world could God do this to ME type of stuff? The blame was initially all put on God because, after all, He created EVERYTHING, right?...even created the Devil. He knows the beginning and the end, but WHY allow something so heart-breaking? Hopefully the answers God placed in my heart will be able to settle all uncertainty tonight or when you read this.<p>[QUOTE]Originally posted by MaryJanes:
[QB]I have struggled greatly with the idea that God zaps us with horrible things to teach us lessons; in order to reconcile my belief in a loving God I have had to conclude that most of the horrible things that happen to us do not come from God; things happen to us (mostly) because we are fallen beings living in a corrupted world.[QB]<p>Not only do most of the horrible things that happen to us NOT come from God, but ALL of the horrible things that happen to us never come from the hand of God - because that is not his divine nature. God stands for Good. The devil stands for evil. Horrible things, also known as trials or affliction (suffering) are a part of life. Too often, people want to blame God for EVERYTHING that happens - such thinking may be blasphemy. Here is scripture (that I had to read about 50 times, no exaggeration) to find the answer to WHY I had to be the one of the many others to suffer this way...<p>2 Corinthians 12:9-10
My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distress for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then I am strong.<p>[QB]Therefore, I also have a tough time accepting the good things in life are blessings. Because if I, a sinner, know that I CANNOT earn anthing good and certainly can't work my way into God's presence, then if I get something good from God and someone else, equally "good" gets tragedy, how can we explain it?[QB]<p>You will never be able to earn or do enough good to attain salvation - it is a free gift from God. However, God DOES want to bless you. Anything good that comes your way is a blessing from God. I believe that we cannot earn our way into God's presence, but it is our right and priviledge as believers, and the Bible does say to come boldly to the mercy seat in prayer - you are in his presence. When tragedy strikes, only God has the answers to WHY he would allow suffering. We can't attempt to answer something that only God has the key to. Possibly God has allowed it to try and get people's attention and focus on Him, rather than the world. Or maybe to strengthen the person and prepare that person for something great. Accompanying each trial, God provides an escape. The trying and testing of your faith works patience. Even though most people would cringe at the thought of problems and difficulities, man needs resistance and trials to challenge amd make him or her a better person. Without trials, at least for me, people will see no need to step out of arrogance and into humility. Only God knows WHY... And it's a wonderful thing to trust Him. Have you ever heard of God testing us or refining us through fire? The scriptures talk about refining us as gold. God wants to look at that finished gold plate and see His own reflection. It will take a lot of testing, refining, molding to ever be able to reflect His image... and what a priviledge.<p>Regarding your half sister's pool accident:
[QB]Sooooooo....my Dad and step-mother attribute her recovery to a miracle. Well, what does that say about the family that had a child in the ICU bed next to hers? They prayed just as hard, they believed, they lead good lives--their child dies. Did God do either of those things? I don't know; I don't think so. One lived and one died because of the nature of their illnesses or accidents.[QB] <p>In high school, one of my close friends 3 year old sister was found face first in their pool. My friend gave her CPR and the ambulance took over and they eventually got a heartbeat. She was in coma for a couple months. They knew there was brain damage, extensive at that. They brought her home and the mother cared for her, in a vegetative state (hope that is not offensive), until she was 9 when she died. I was 17 years old, and going to a catholic school, remembering all that I had been taught (which wasn't much) I believed that God was either punishing the family or trying to get the focus off themselves (they were a wealthy family, my friend drove a brand new convertible at 17 and was mad when her parents bought her a corvette because her friends wouldn't fit in it - it was only a 2-seater, so they bought her a brand new convertible that sat 5). From the outside looking in, I thought it is arrogance that has made God DO this TO them. Looking back now, I didn't have the answers then, and I don't have them now... But the thing I do know is that this particular family was in church every Sunday after the accident. Every family member turned to God for strength. God works in mysterious ways. Sometimes He may just point in the right direction and we follow, but for some of us (ie. me) we need a swift kick in the pants and led through the mud, just shows God's love for us. <p>Psalm 119;71 says,
It is good for me that I have been afflicted: that I might learn thy statutes.<p>When all is said and done and Jesus comes to rapture His church, it won't matter how many children we have, how many wonderful deeds we did, how much money we have, how successful we are, etc, but that we have had a Lord-servant relationship with Christ.<p>God bless.
And may all the plans to pick up the boys go well, we will keep you in prayer.Thanks for the prayers regarding the pregnancy. We most certainly need them.<p>Love, Julia<p>[ March 06, 2002: Message edited by: mnca6713julia3 ]</p>