Pro Choice: Enslaving of Women

Even as a little girl I was as tomboy as a girl could be, being an Army brat I preferred playing War over my Barbies.  So it wasn't a surprise that I joined the Army when I was in my Junior year at College.  I was already working two jobs while going to SHSU and decided to prove to myself (and everyone else) that I could do whatever I wanted!  I was looking forward to going to Bosnia and experiencing combat as an MP.  I was always upset when I saw fellow females playing the 'but I'm a girl' card and slacking in their duties; as far as I was concerned - if a guy could do it, so could I - and for the most part, I think I did...and even some more.  I was picked on for being the "Golden Child", who could do no wrong - I maxed out my PT test, I won Soldier of the Month, Soldier of the Quarter (Company and Battalion) even turned down my chance for Soldier of the Year because I didn't want to miss out on our Battalions "War Games" - all while I was still taking college classes at night.  

With that enlightenment it kind of makes you wonder why I never considered an abortion when I became pregnant with my boyfriend's baby - a whole soap opera of circumstances made it extremely messy.  So why not an abortion - I was a woman's woman, empowered and successful - I was fast tracking, getting promotions, talk of special schools, all the things I desired; a pregnant unwed soldier was a HUGE stigma - no one in their right mind would give up all the glory for that difficult burden!  

Yet, years before this, I had a personal relationship with Jesus.  I knew Him as my Lord and Savior, and even though I was as far away from God as I could run - He never left me.   I knew my situation was my own making, but I also knew without a doubt that the life inside me wasn't a curse, this was a blessing, and this was never my 'choice' - this was a life and it was never mine to take.

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
    and knit me together in my mother’s womb.

Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
    Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.

You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
    as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.

You saw me before I was born.
    Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
    before a single day had passed.

(Psalm 139:13-16 NIV)

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV)

God created you for a purpose.  God knew who He created you to be.  You weren’t created by accident (even if your parents claim you were).    God is love - love doesn’t harm.  A baby in the womb with a disease, syndrome or illness is no less a beautiful creation than one without.  Each and every life is precious and to be cherished.  

“What sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator.
    Does a clay pot argue with its maker?
Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it, saying,
    ‘Stop, you’re doing it wrong!’
Does the pot exclaim,
    ‘How clumsy can you be?’

How terrible it would be if a newborn baby said to its father,
    ‘Why was I born?’
or if it said to its mother,
    ‘Why did you make me this way?’”

This is what the Lord says—
    the Holy One of Israel and your Creator:
“Do you question what I do for my children?
    Do you give me orders about the work of my hands?

I am the one who made the earth
    and created people to live on it.
With my hands I stretched out the heavens.
    All the stars are at my command. 
(Isaiah 45:9-12 NLT)

For we are the product of His hand, heaven’s poetry etched on lives, created in the Anointed, Jesus, to accomplish the good works God arranged long ago. (Ephesians 2:10 Voice)

“Never! Can a mother forget her nursing child?
    Can she feel no love for the child she has borne?
But even if that were possible,
    I would not forget you!

See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands.

(Isaiah 49:15-16a NLT)

“The greatest destroyer of peace is abortion because if a mother can kill her own child, what is left for me to kill you and you to kill me? There is nothing between.” 

As Christians, we count the Word of God as truth, and we know that by attempting to change God's designed family, essentially we have told God he had it wrong.  We know God is mocked when people say marriage isn't just for man and a woman - because their way is better.  We know any attempt to make things fit to human standards and not God's - is only to fulfill selfish desires.  We know that picking apart scripture to twist into our own wants is a sin that we fear; it should make us afraid for those who've chosen acceptance in their worldly ways because they no longer fear God but only man's disapproval.  We are not surprised that from this godless world fathers are mocked as weak and unimportant, children are burdens, and mothers are celebrated when they kill their unborn as empowered feminist.  We see what was once beautiful has become corrupted and perverted.

“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it. (Matthew 7:13-14 NLT)

"We must not be surprised when we hear of murders, of killings, of wars, of hatred. If a mother can kill her own child, what is left but for us to kill each other.” Mother Teresa

We know that hard work pays off, so why is it a surprise that with time, the fast and painless way is only temporary and any ‘results’ just fade away.  How many women have been deceived into believing that an abortion is quick and easy fix, that your ‘problem’ will just go away.  But how many of these women are haunted by nightmares, wracked with guilt, emotional scars and pain?  Women are naturally nurturers,  everything about an abortion, is at odds with our very human nature - to protect, love, comfort and care for our children.  Is this really empowering women or is it just another way to enslave women - even statistics show that women who aborted are at a higher risk of suicide.

“The greatest destroyer of love and peace is abortion, which is war against the child. The mother doesn't learn to love, but kills to solve her own problems. Any country that accepts abortion is not teaching its people to love, but to use any violence to get what they want.” Mother Teresa

For those who don’t count themselves as followers of Christ, they see the majority of Christians as uptight, self-righteous, hypocrites forcing their views on everyone else.  But those who truly follow Christ, don't judge others, we know we are far from perfect, we just want to share with others what they are missing by not knowing Jesus as their personal Savior.  If you knew something was so amazing that it could free you from your worst sins, give you new life and bring you joy and peace that the world can't give you - wouldn't you want to share it?  Or if you knew something was bad for you and could harm you - you’d want to warn others -  society understands that's what concerned friends do, they care about others and want the best for them - Christians are the concerned friends of the world.  In the case of abortion we know that someone has to be voice for those who aren’t given a chance.  Isn’t that why so many people rush to defend an innocent - whether it’s a small child, a puppy, or some endangered animal?  So when someone tries to tell us that because a baby is in a woman’s body, it’s her choice - those of us who have been given new life through Christ recognize the voice of Truth - our good Shepherd, and recognize the deception of the enemy. 

The thief approaches with malicious intent, looking to steal, slaughter, and destroy; I came to give life with joy and abundance.

 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep in His care. The hired hand is not like the shepherd caring for His own sheep. When a wolf attacks, snatching and scattering the sheep, he runs for his life, leaving them defenseless. The hired hand runs because he works only for wages and does not care for the sheep.  I am the good shepherd; I know My sheep, and My sheep know Me.  (John 10:10-14 Voice)

"Abortion kills twice. It kills the body of the baby and it kills the conscience of the mother. Abortion is profoundly anti-women. Three quarters of its victims are women: Half the babies and all the mothers.”  Mother Teresa

Before my promotion to E4 Specialistthe 'boyfriend' who is now husband, with out first son

our family volunteering at our church's kids camp this summer

 I'm blessed to be married to this man, for better or worse, God has a plan for us - it's up to us whether we follow it or not.

Choose God or the World

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Galatians 6:7-10 NIV)

Silence is a choice, we are living in times where we must choose where we stand.  One day we will have to give an account of all of our actions before God and I believe the times that we stood quietly while injustices, mockery and evil took place will weigh as greatly as if we had participated in those ungodly acts ourselves.

When Jesus went into the Temple, he didn’t speak to the merchants calmly and say,’ God loves you and so do I, so let’s stop making a business out of my Father’s House’ – NO! He was consumed with passion and drove those merchants out with a whip!

So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” 17 His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.” (John 2:15-17 NIV,  ref v17 Psalm 69:9)

Jesus came to save us, but he’s not going to let anyone mock God in the process.  We need to align ourselves with God’s Word and not the world. There is a choice that every Believer has to make, either you will follow God or you will follow the world. Make your choice, God wants your heart and your obedience on a full time basis, He’s not looking for part-time Believers.

“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn “‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—36     a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’  (Matthew 10:34-36 NIV, v35 ref Micah 7:6)

There are many issues today that are given as a choice (these same issues are in the Bible as black and white, not gray areas) from abortion to same-sex marriage – we are asked to choose where we stand; with God or with the world. If we don’t have passion on these topics, then maybe we need to spend some time with God praying about this and ask God why we aren’t passionate about His Word and His will – not ours, He will always give us His wisdom when we ask.

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. (James 1:5 NIV)

Sadly, there will be a never ending sorrow for the people who choose the world over God.

“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. 22 On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ 23 But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ (Matthew 7:21-23 NLT)

DEC 19, 2013****Updated

I've decided to revisit this post in light of recent events, it seems Christians are fighting against one another over Phil Robertson's opinions in a GQ article when asked his thoughts on homosexuality. After reading the entire article, I found no offense against any person, there was no hatred, no animosity, no judging or condemnation, as a matter of fact, most media outlets seemed to leave out this key statement he made:

 "Robertson issued a response to the controversy that reinforced his point rather than backed down from it. "I myself am a product of the 60s; I centered my life around sex, drugs and rock and roll until I hit rock bottom and accepted Jesus as my Savior,” he said today. “My mission today is to go forth and tell people about why I follow Christ and also what the Bible teaches, and part of that teaching is that women and men are meant to be together.”

Robertson concluded, “However, I would never treat anyone with disrespect just because they are different from me. We are all created by the Almighty and like Him, I love all of humanity. We would all be better off if we loved God and loved each other."

These key statements should show that their is no judging nor condemnation, as a Believer we all know a sin is a sin, regardless if it's a lie or adultery - there is no degree of sin and as a human we all sin, and just like Jesus told the adulteress, "Where are your accusers? Didn't even one of them condemn you?" "No, Lord," she said. And Jesus said, "Neither do I. Go and sin no more." (John 8:10-11 NLT)  Once we have the Holy Spirit living in us, our life is a constant battle of the flesh (the world) and the Spirit (God's holiness) so as Believers we have to say no to the sin and yes to God, that includes stopping whatever sins we battle with. 

Believers need to stop watering down the Gospel, we need to share with everyone the Truth as it is, we can't seek repentance from a sin if we stop calling it a sin. Live the life we were called to live, a life of Truth and of love, but staying in alignment with God's Word and accepting His grace for our sins, but not living outside His will.