Weigh Your Thoughts

I'm reading 'Soul-Full Eating' by Maureen Whitehouse.  Working through this 400+ page book slowly as I have much to think about.  It fits nicely with my Word for 2011, Be Mindful.

Her chapter on "Weigh Your Thoughts" starts with Galatians 6:7, 'As ye sow, so shall ye reap.'

"The most powerful way to affect your outer world is to be mindful of your inner world.  Your mind is like a field into which you can plant any seed and it will grow.  That is why it is of utmost importance that you notice what kinds of thoughts you consistently think and then weigh them to see if they are life-seed-thoughts of compassion, joy, accomplishment, acceptance and love, those things will appear in your life abundantly.  Conversely, if you choose to plant a briar patch of negative, doubtful and fearful thoughts, they too will grow.  Choose wisely. "

image from Garden Web World

It reminds me of scripture in Deuteronomy where God says "I put before you Life and Death, Blessings and Curses.  Choose Life, that you and your children may live."

We have choices.

Are you Choosing Life???

Power in Words

I have a few videos to share from XP Media (ministry of Extreme Prophetic).

They talk about the power of our words, for both good and bad. There are encouragements for us to be careful about what we speak, and to purpose to decree the word of God in our own lives and those of our loved ones, and even for the country and churches and leaders.



The Power of Words

What do we speak over our children? Watch Stacey Campbell here.

One of societies problems that the church of Jesus Christ certainly has not escaped, although we should have, is Gossip. Gossip even seems to sneak in under the guise of 'concern' or even via prayer chains.


Here's simple instruction on how to crush gossip. It's about The Test of Three spoken of by Socrates, and Patricia King shares about it here.

Blessings and Curses

Life and Death are in the power of our words. What a huge responsibility!! Let's encourage.


Getting a Tune-Up. Julie Meyer shares about a dream she had, and how the Lord wants to help prepare the Bride of Christ.

Question for You: Do you have a good word to share?

Is a Short Life God's Will?

I know that Jesus came to give God's children abundant life, and that its the adversary that has come to steal, kill and destroy. But when is death, particularly at an early age, a part of God's plan? I'm not sure. I'm a sojourner in a land that I don't understand. I wasn't really made for here, I was made for the glory (but I too have fallen from that place Rom 3:23) So there is alot of stuff I just don't get. However, I'm of the persuasion that we as His children accept death (particularly untimely death)far too easily. We've assumed that it must be God's will. When we don't understand it we say "God is sovereign, still in control. His ways are higher than ours, and we can never understand His will. We just need to accept it."

I agree that His ways are higher and better and beyond my pea brain. However, just because I can't explain an untimely death doesn't mean I need to accept that as God's will. Yes, He is the God of the Universe. Yes, He can do whatever He chooses (except He cannot lie). However, He has given us His children, responsibility and authority in running this world. Most of us just aren't doing a good job nor taking our responsibility seriously. He's given us a job to do. If we screw up or sleep on the job, we suffer the consequences because we haven't taken His mandates to us seriously.

By us I'm meaning both on an individual basis and corporately. We each have a mandate to fulfill as individuals, but we also work as and are judged as a whole universal body. The problems of this world are because of sin, yes, but as followers of Yeshua we have been given power to rectify situations. We aren't just victims of a fallen world. We are supposed to be armed warriors, trained to tear down strongholds, to set captives free, to be MORE than CONQUERORS.

I am not saying that if something bad happens to a certain individual that it is because they and they alone have done something wrong. Maybe they have, maybe they haven't. Maybe we as the body of Christ have failed them, too. Maybe we haven't entered the battle like the body should, and so although the outcome of the war is already decided, the particular battle might be lost.

On the other hand, we as individuals have to take more responsibility than most of us are comfortable with. Maybe we do have sin issues in our life that we haven't dealt with and we are suffering the repercussions. I know that is not a comfortable idea. I've been paying more attention in the last few months to how we humans seem naturally to pass the blame when it comes to our behavior. It's rampant. And it's been that way since the Garden of Eden. But the reality is that we are to blame. We've screwed up, royally, and continue to. (but thank God for His continued mercies that are new every morning without fail.)

One thing I have a difficult time with is when Christians use Romans 8:28 so flippantly. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.


One thing is, many people stop at the All things work together for good. But the verse says, for those who love God. So this is directly for Christians, not for the population at large. It is clarified by to those who are called according to His purpose.

Secondly, I don't understand this verse to say that all the things that happen are God's will. Yes, in His sovereignty He has permitted them, but that does not equate to them being His will. Like adultery. It is always wrong. It is never right. But in spite of that, God can restore marriages and relationships (and He loves to). He can even make them better than they were before. But only when we take action, take authority, choose to live according to His statutes & decrees and choose Life. So, a bad situation can be worked together for a good, bringing life out of what had brought death. But does that mean that the death was actually good, and was God's will? I don't necessarily think so.

Well, I can't say that I always know God's will, so I can't say that in a particular situation it was or wasn't God's will.

In John 12:24 (NIV) it says: I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.
So, sometimes death bears much fruit.

It does seems that a principle of scripture is that God will give His people a full life if we live in obedience to Him.

Ex 20:12 & Deut 5:16 “Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

Ex 23:26 and none will miscarry (early death of baby) or be barren in your land. I will give you a full life span.

Deut 6:1-2 These are the commands, decrees and laws the LORD your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life.

Deut 32:46-7 he said to them, "Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. They are not just idle words for you—they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess."

I believe God's intentions are that we live full lives of health and in years, but it is by our own choices that we make that shortens our lives.

The Choice of Life or Death

Deut 30
11 “For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off. 12 It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend into heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ 13 Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ 14 But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it.
15 “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, 16 in that I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the LORD your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess. 17 But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, 18 I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess. 19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; 20 that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”

Question for You: Are you comfortable with your own thoughts and ideas about these issues, or do you still question it all?

Our Words Create

We've heard on our childhood playgrounds "Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me!" That just is not true. Names and those words do hurt us. We so often take those words to heart, accepting those fiery darts of the enemy and then we let them fester and grow.

Our words are more powerful than most of us ever realize. They create.

Genesis 27 is the record of when Jacob pretends he is his brother Esau, and presents himself before their father and successfully sneaks a blessing out of Isaac. This story clearly shows how much power these people believed that words had. For in verses 33-36 Isaac tells Esau "Who-where-is the one who hunted game, brought it to me, and I partook of all when you had not yet come, and I blessed him? Indeed, he shall remain blessed!"
When Esau heard his father's words, he cried out an exceedingly great and bitter cry, and said to his father, "Bless me too, Father!"
But he said, "Your brother came with cleverness and took your blessing."
He (Esau) said, "....Have you not reserved a blessing for me?"

Esau and Isaac both knew and understood the power of their words, and that the blessing that Isaac gave to Jacob would be played out in Jacobs life, which also effected Esau's life because part of that very blessing was "be a lord to your kinsmen, and your mother's sons will prostrate themselves to you; cursed be they who curse you, and blessed be they who bless you." (v29)

We need not be victims to the words spoken by others towards us. When somebody says something to you that does not line up with the Word of God, take those words and related thoughts captive. Take Action!!



Isaiah 54:17
"No weapon forged against you will prevail,
and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.
This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD,
and this is their vindication from me,"
declares the LORD."

From the Torah it says:

"Any weapon sharpened against you will not succeed, and any tongue that will rise against you in judgment, you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of Hashem, and their righteousness from Me -- the word of Hashem."

There's power in words. And when they come at us, we need to be discerning to know the source from which they come, so that if they are coming from our adversary, then we can refute them, or condemn them. We must take action. In Eph 6 we are told to be wise about the devils means of attack, so that we can overcome him.

Below I have a list of scriptures that talk about the power of our words. Consider how they effect your life, and those around you.

Prov 16:24 "Pleasant words are like a honeycomb: Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones." (So, if pleasant words are good for our soul/body, then what do unpleasant words actually do to us? Is that where some of our bad health originates from?)

Matt 15:11 "It’s not what goes into your mouth that defiles you; you are defiled by the words that come out of your mouth.” (With regards to the above verse, could those defiling words coming from our mouth effect our physical bodies?)

Luke 4:36 Amazed, the people exclaimed, “What authority and power this man’s words possess! Even evil spirits obey him, and they flee at his command!” (Mark 16:20, John 14:12 Greater works/signs will we do as believers. Our words must hold huge amounts of authority & power. Are we careful how we wield that power?)

Job 22:28 says about His people (when they are obedient)
"You would utter a decree and it would be done." (Is this a decree that God mandated them to say, or is it their own words spoken from a heart in-line with God's Word?)

1 Sam 6:18 "The large rock, on which they set the ark of the LORD, is a witness to this day"

This is an amazing and yet scarey thought. That even the rocks around us, the materials in our house, have an ability to hear and record and play-back what they have heard. Before you think I'm off my rocker, consider technology today, that can store information and then we are able to retrieve it. That's the whole workings behind computer chips!!

Ecc 10:20 "Do not revile the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich in your bedroom, because a bird of the air may carry your words, and a bird on the wing may report what you say."

Now this verse jumped out at me about a year ago after hearing some Christian science men talk about quantum physics. When I read this verse it hit me, that it wasn't even just my spoken words, but it was my thoughts, really the intent of my heart even, that was somehow tangible. My thoughts create a frequency, and that creates a change in my own body (my feelings of rejection are translated into emotions and effect my behavior) and influences the environment around me. (I think this verse is very likely where we get the saying "A little birdie told me.")

There is a Japanese scientist named Dr. Masaru Emoto who is famous for his studies and photos of water crystals, and how they react to music, words both spoken or written. You'd find some of these photos absolutely amazing. Look here for a start.

Question for You: What would you like to create with your words?

Just Because You're Not Sick

Just because you're not sick doesn't mean you're healthy. ~Author Unknown

I love this quote. So simple, but so true.

It's like seeing a skinny woman and thinking that she's healthy and fit. Not necessarily true. She may be skinny, but have weak muscles....lacking strength and endurance. And she can have numerous ailments or disease.

A friend's mother would say that "If I ever got cancer, THEN I would eat differently." I think that's the mentality of our western world. We aren't willing to give up our way of eating and living, as long as we aren't aware of some health issue that's big enough to make us take action. Like we are told that we have 6 months to live. Drastic change is finally in order.

In reality, we probably all have health issues, but we think they are normal. We catch colds or flus every fall. We have post-nasal drip all year (might be food allergies to wheat?) or we have seasonal hayfever. We have chronic dry skin patches. Our nails and hair aren't healthy. We don't have several easy bowel movements every single day. Our digestion just doesn't seem to be as good as it used to be. We think achiness is just part of growing old (anytime after 40?) Our eyesight ain't what it used to be. Nor is our hearing.

Yes, we age, but we don't have to be falling apart piece by piece. We could be like Moses:

Deuteronomy 34:7 Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone.

Health is part of our inheritance as the children of God.
3 John 1:2 I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.

In Isaiah 53:5 it says that He (Jesus) took the beatings and whippings (the stripes) so that we would be healed. Great health is for us. Not just for the time coming when we are given new heavenly bodies. It is for now. In Isaiah 53 it also says "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities;" Yes, just as He was crucified for our sins and transgressions, that we can receive forgiveness NOW, so the healing is for NOW! We can have it NOW!!

It's our inheritance. But just as the Promised Land was the inheritance of God's chosen people, they had to walk in obedience to what God required of them. They couldn't just sit back and expect to wake up one morning in the Land of Promise. They had to work towards that end, always listening to God's instructions.

Well, God has given us instructions in His Word. If we aren't following them, then we may be falling under the curses of Deut 28, or other scriptures, where we aren't living in the fullness of what Jesus died to give us, here and now, and forevermore. Maybe we are allowing our adversary to come and steal, and kill, and destroy us without even recognizing what he is doing, because we just think it is 'normal'. But Jesus says that He came to bring us LIFE, and that LIFE ABUNDANTLY!! Back to Deut 28, there's a list of blessings. But God's blessings for us are for those who follow His commands and statues, and who love Him with all of their heart, soul, mind and strength. There's actually a doing for us, just like the Israelites who didn't sit and wait....they went and fought, and marched, and sang, and worshiped, all as God commanded.


So, God's Word tells us that the plants are to be our food, and our medicine. He tells us what foods aren't good to eat, and he tells us what foods are good to eat. It's all throughout the Books of the Law. In New Testament it says:

1 Corinthians 6:12
"Everything is permissible for me"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"—but I will not be mastered by anything."

1 Corinthians 10:23
"Everything is permissible"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"—but not everything is constructive."

So, no matter what you think of Old Testament Law, isn't the point I want to linger on here. The basic truth is, not everything we do is constructive to us, or it doesn't build us up (ie.,make us healthy). If it isn't building us up, it may very likely (probable) to be undermining us.

I personally believe that God has His reasons why He told the Israelites to eat or sustain from certain foods(and whether science today understands why or not doesn't matter). So, although I may be free to choose otherwise, I think it's foolish to eat what He told His chosen people not to eat. Not because I can't eat it, but because I don't think it's constructive or beneficial. That doesn't mean I have followed all His directions. I haven't. But it makes total sense to me that our health would be far more vibrant if we did!!!

When Paul says, "I will not be mastered by anything" it makes me think of cravings, or bad habits, or obsessions and addictions. Those are clearly things that show that I am NOT in control, but something else is mastering me.

Choose Life

Shortly after we arrived on Cape Breton in the fall of 2007, it seemed like Everette and I entered into our own kind of Discipleship Training School with God. We had all of our previous support gone and we had begun a new journey. The process had started at some point before we left BC, but it was very clear and intense when we were here on Cape Breton and especially once the cold eastern winter set in. We were home much of the time, engrossed in the Word, online teachings thru podcasts or videos, and reading books. We each had our own journey, but they were overlapping quite often.

I was seeking to know God better, and to clear my mind and heart of all the religious things I'd grown up with. I had put God in a pretty small box, and had limited Him pretty much to my experience. I was wanting to serve a powerful BIG God. I was on the search to find Him.

I started to hear a voice. I don't know how to explain it, but it was clear and precise. I suppose it was in my head that I heard it, but it wasn't like the flurry of thoughts that seem to be constantly going around in this females head. It was loud, and everything else stopped. It got my total attention, although it was just one single word. It stood out like a beacon amidst a storm.

LIFE!!

How simple was that? Of course, I choose life. I wasn't considering suicide. I don't agree with abortion or euthanasia. Of course I choose life.

But then God brought me to Deuteronomy 30:19 "This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live."

As I pondered this verse and started looking into blessings and curses, it became more apparent to me that through ignorance and/or naivety I was living with a form of death and with curses in my life, considering it a normal part of living in a fallen world. But when I became aware of the life and the blessings that God has for His children, and I recognized that as a citizen of the Kingdom I don't live under the rulership of this world (unless I'd choose to), then I really started to LIVE!

I started to evaluate my thoughts, and wonder if they were bringing life to my soul and spirit. If they weren't, then I would "take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." 2 Cor 10:3-5
I would reject lies for I recognized that "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I (Jesus) came that they may have life and have it abundantly." John 10:10

Jesus came and died for me, that I would not only have life, not only eternal life, but abundant here-&-now life. He sent His Spirit in fullness to live in me, that I can have a very different life than those that are without Him. But I must constantly be choosing life, not death and the ways of the thief.

I started to see things more simply. Life....or death. Blessings......or curses. No brainer, of course I wanted the Life and the Blessings. So, how did that look in my daily life? (You can check out Deut 28 for a list of blessings and curses)

I would choose to think thoughts of Life. This isn't the same as being a positive thinker. This is thinking thoughts or words that originate from God, and from Jesus, since He is the Truth and the Life. (John 14:6)

Bill Johnson says, "I can't afford to have a thought in my head about me that is not in His." Chew on that for awhile. That was a biggie for me. It was a turning point, actually.

So, by choosing Life I was definitely choosing Jesus who is the Life, and I was choosing His thoughts about me. Thoughts like.....

I am a new creation in Christ; old things have passed away and all things have become new. (2 Cor 5:17)

I am united to the Lord and am one spirit with Him. (1 Cor 6:17)

I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. (2Cor 5:21)

I am righteous and holy. (Eph 4:24)

I am hidden with Christ in God. (Col 3:3)

I am more than a conqueror through Christ. (Rom 8:37)

I am a child of God who always triumphs in Christ and releases His fragrance in every place. (2 Cor 2:14)

I am a recipient of every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. (Eph 1:3)

If I sin and confess it, I now stand righteous before God. (1 John 1:9)

When I started to decree the truths God gave in the Bible, I was choosing words of LIFE over the lies of death that my spiritual enemy tried to feed me. I was working at doing what Bill Johnson said......not having thoughts about myself that God doesn't have. I find LIFE the more my thinking truly lines up with God's Word. There is really no other way to have LIFE than from the Life-Giver.


Question for You: Have you ever audibly heard the voice of God?

Our Journey to Quiverfull

Everette and I met and were married within 5.5 mths. Two weeks after our wedding night we conceived Layne. It hadn't been in our plans, but we were excited. Seventeen & half mths later Rauchelle was born. Four months later I conceived again but that ended in our first miscarriage (m/c). It seemed obvious to us that if we didn't pursue something stronger than the mini-pill and condoms/spermicide, we'd be multiplying like rabbits. We didn't like the idea of long-term pharmaceuticals.

Our pastor had pre-maritally suggested we not have children for at least 2 years into our marriage so we could really get to know one another. We obviously hadn't followed that plan (well, we had intended on waiting 4 years, but we started out differently than we had anticipated. And its turned out fantastic!) Now as parents of 2 dd's and a recent m/c, we sought 'spiritual counsel' from other married couples in the church, and they each suggested that "the guy should get a vasectomy because the wife's already been through enough with the pregnancies and deliveries." We also heard that "women will always have that nurturing desire/urge to have more babies" and "God gave you a brain and He expects you to use it", and "You are supposed to be good stewards."

So, we dutifully went ahead and Everette had a quick and free vasectomy.

At first we thought it was like a new-found freedom. We no longer worried about getting pregnant, and didn't have to bother with paraphernalia. We had the 'perfect little family' of two girls close in age. What could be better?

After a few years I started to regret the vasectomy, and the self-inflicted infertility that we had brought to our marriage. I started to question the reasons why we had decided to limit our family size, and basically it came down to an underlying issue of FEAR and SELFISHNESS. Fear of the future, of the ability to provide physically, financially, spiritually, emotionally for more children. Fear of the state of the world we'd be bringing more children into. Selfishness concerning sleep, personal time, self-development, ministry involvement.

We never searched the Scriptures to see if what so-and-so said was true (Acts 17:11) which was a big mistake of ours. Although we had both grown up in the church and knew that children were considered blessings according to Psalm 127, we didn't consider that limiting our family size might be a form of rejecting what God considered a blessing. And honestly, we didn't seek God's will in the decision.

It was through God bringing particular people, books, teachings and events into our lives that He began to speak clearly to my heart. I realized that I had rejected His perfect plan for the Christian marriage which I believe is to enjoy the marriage bed AND ... "Has not the LORD made them one? In flesh and spirit they are his. And why one? Because he was seeking godly offspring. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith with the wife of your youth." (Malachi 2:15)

Yes, I know that Malachi is saying that He wants godly offspring and it can be argued that we would have more time to devote to achieving godly offspring if we had fewer children, but a major element about all of life and the stuff (ie. ministry) that we do is that we predominantly do it in our own strength vs abiding in Him (that's a whole other post!)

Anyways, from Scripture it's very clear that God likes children, He calls them a blessing, He even calls grandchildren (which you can't have unless you've had some children somehow) "a crown to the aged" Prov 17:6

Throughout the Old & New Testaments I repeatedly find that God is a God of fruitfulness and multiplication, and ever since the Garden of Eden He's been wanting His people to be blessed likewise.....Be fruitful and multiply.

Throughout Deuteronomy but particularly in chapter 28 I find clear descriptions of what He says are Blessings, and the things that He calls Curses. Verses 4 & 11 both talk about being fruitful in the womb. Verse 11 actually says "The LORD will grant you abundant prosperity—in the fruit of your womb". What? Abundant prosperity?? Doesn't our mindset say that the fruit of the womb will suck our bank accounts dry? I've heard that until each of our children are 18yo he/she will cost us something like US$250,000?

On the other hand, if "you do not obey the LORD your God and do not carefully follow all his commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come upon you and overtake you:....v18 The fruit of your womb will be cursed". Other books in the Old Testament talk of times that God said He closed the wombs because of judgment. A closed womb was never considered a desirable thing, until recent history. That isn't because God changed His view on the womb and children, but because society has changed its view on His blessings.

When I read the whole 28th chapter of Deut, I find that the fruit of the womb is about the only thing mentioned as a blessing that in today's society we choose to limit or even resist. Okay, maybe I wouldn't desire a herd of cattle, but considering that they were a great source of income as was olive oil, I'd gladly accept an abundance of that! I wouldn't want to limit or reject anything that God says is desirable!! The blessings are because the LORD wants to grant us abundant prosperity.

I started to get grossed out thinking about what we had actually done to Everette's body, that had once been working wonderfully according to God's plan (but not ours). When I researched about vasectomies and found out what undo stress it places on the man's body (because fluids that were meant to be kept within the vas deferens now went into the body cavity and were seen as invaders), I was anxious for Everette to have a reversal, even if we never had more children. I wanted his body to be working the way it was designed.

There were many issues we had to work out in our individual lives, and hash over as a couple. Months after I was convicted that we hadn't trusted God fully, Everette came to his own realization. Honestly, I did hope to have more children, but Everette didn't particularly desire more. He was content with the 2 we had, and really the sole purpose that he pursued a reversal was to make right what he had done out of lack-of-faith. He felt it was necessary for him to pay restitution for his sin.

It was 6.5 yrs since he'd had a vasectomy, and once we found the right surgeon to do the operation, they wanted to check his level of sperm-antibodies before agreeing to the surgery (lower antibodies supposedly equals greater chance of successful outcome meaning pregnancy). But even before we got the blood test results back Everette decided that it had nothing to do with the possibility of conception, but being made clean before the Lord. It was within our means to have a reversal (free snips for the vas, but thousands of dollars to get it reversed!! Oh, and its a lie (from the pit of hell) that a guy gets 'fixed' when he gets a vasectomy! He's gotten broken.)

We anxiously awaited the surgery date, which was February 16th, 2 days after we celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary. Everette felt like he was awaiting a big spanking.....while I anticipated receiving more children from the hand of God. But both of us felt utter peace...unexplainable peace...during the time immediately around the surgery. That peace has remained all these years as long as we keep abiding in Him, and don't get our eyes onto our own limitations.

Absolutely amazing to me was that the first cycle I had after Everette was 'back to normal', we conceived Danaka. That was a miracle. It is normal to conceive between 3-12 months after the reversal.

So for those that don't know each of our children and their spacing, here's a list of the of the girls and boys and the years they were born.
DD1 1986
DD2 1988
m/c 1988
reversal 1996
DD3 1996
DS1 1998
DD4 2000
m/c 2001
DD5 2002
m/c 2003
DD6 2004
DS2 2006
DS3 2007
m/c 2009
expecting 2010


I've often thought about writing out what my QF (quiverful) philosophy is, and so I've given it a try. Hope it makes sense. It is part philosophy, but mostly our journey. A journey in growing in our faith in a good God who has abundance for us. Abundance in ALL things that are good.


**Now, a common misconception (no pun intended) is that quiverful is equal to having lots of children. That just is not true. Quiverful is more of a mindset rather than a particular look. One can be quiverful with 1,5,8 or 20 children. The goal is not 'more is better'. It's a trust that God has a perfect family size and spacing for each married couple, and we won't end up with too many nor too few by not using contraceptives.

***Stupid Comments and Smart Come-backs


Question for You: If you have a larger-than-average family size, what are some of the stupidest questions you've been asked?


NOTE:  As of July 2011 neither my dh nor I attest to be QF-minded.  We have gone through a few years of questioning our religious beliefs, which have made us re-evaluate our QF beliefs.  I no longer stand by what I wrote above.