This has been something weighing on my heart........\n\nGod tells us the following:\n\n1.)  Children are a blessing from God\n2.)  Be fruitful and multiply\n3.)  In ALL things trust God and He will direct our paths.\n\nSo then as Christians, what makes it ok for us to tell God how many children we can have.
216189
Since Adam and Eve graduated from Eden, god seems to have left the building and developed a bad habit of not returning his calls.  We're all on our own, we have to do the best we can.  Don't go looking for reasons to feel guilty, you'll only make yourself crazy.
593539
1)is it sin to have sex,to have kids?\n-- no it is not a sin to have sex to have kids according to my religion that is the only time I am to be having sex.\n2)who loves u more?\n--I would have to say my mom my dad is dead\n3)do u believe in god?\n--yes\n4)who starts the conflict,between the couples?\n-- mainly me (Iam the wife) But most of our fights are started by my mother in law\n5)should kids be given punishments,like slapping,etc..if they do any mischief?\n--I feel the only time to touch a child in a punishment way is if their life is in danger. Like running in to the street. etc.
393973
He wants as many as can to become a child of God. He is willing to wait so that more people can be witnessed to. He will come. In His time.
230744
The bible is 'Gods' word to us.It says to pray without ceasing. That means on a daily basis.I have had prayers that haven't ''yet'' been answered. They are still in his care waiting for right time or till I realize it isn't His will for my life, and I find peace about it.Hang in and hang on..God is faithful.   ''He is able to do exceedingly ,abuntdantly above that which  I ask or think''
584932
This is a tough one.  Your original question reminds me of Matthew 10:37-39.  I had trouble with that passage as a child.  I couldn't imagine loving anyone more than I loved my parents.  And frankly, I knew it wouldn't be okay with them, which was threatening.\n\nWhat I've learned is that what we sometimes call love isn't very loving.  Sometimes we condition it such that it is merely a means of control or selfishness.\n\nI believe God calls us to love Him most, because if we love on His terms, we love everyone else better.  When we learn to define love as patience, kindness, truthfulness, hopefulness; having endurance and belief; able to bear all things; lacking envy, pride, rudeness, self-gratification, evil thoughts; not easily angered, not gloating over the failures of another, and neverending - when we define love as serving others instead of demanding that they please us, we love them to their highest good.\n\nMy husband and I both come from dysfunctional homes.  Abusive homes.  What we learned about love in our families, we knew we didn't want to pass on to the children we hoped we'd have or to incorporate into our relationship.  We promised to help each other love God most - even more than we loved each other.\n\nAnd that's hard sometimes.  But loving God most, helps us keep our family patterns out of our relationship.  It helps us love each other in ways that would not naturally flow from what we learned in our upbringing.
102026
I think I might have an answer to part of your question, if I may. Of course, I can only speak from my own experience, but here goes. Maybe the reason we don't post questions about our relationships with our spouses, friends, family & other such issues is that we get our help from the Lord. We have His big book of answers, that helps guide us along our way. We also have each other, being connected by the same Spirit. We pray, asking God for guidance. We go to our Pastor's, asking for deeper answers from parts of the Scriptures that we're not acquainted quite so well with. You see, some issues need to be given into God's hands. You've seen some of the dating & relationship posts here...would you trust your relationship issue with most of the people that post on those sites? It's not intriguing when you think about it. But, one of the reasons I come to this site is to use my years of various experiences to help people. I don't always use Scripture, because it's not always required, especially when someone wants to know how to get wine stains out of their carpeting. Or how to get their two year old to talk. Things like that are practical, everyday experiences. Being that I've been married for over 28 years, raised two kids to adulthood, and have a mess of other experiences, I can help people...and I do. And yes, I am a "devout" Christian. I treat everyone with respect and answer every question carefully, even the ones that are nasty or just plain goofy. It's part of my nature to treat everyone as I would hope they treat me. For the most part, if you give respect, you get it back. This forum is a wonderful, yet scary thing. Through this site, I'm getting a different view of the world than the evening news ever could give me. There are just so many hurting young people out there, and I want to reach out to them. It's more than just the "mom" in me, it's the Lord Who is in me. Everything that gets to me has to go through Him first. I hope this helped answer your intrigues. <*)))><
375009
Gosh, how do you get such a depressing reasoning out of the religions?  We're being tested here on earth, and it gets tough, but life isn't just all about pain and suffering, hopefully.  Maybe yours is though??  There are still so many wonderful things in life to celebrate, and having a baby is one of them.  I have a little 11 months old, and he is the light of my life, and I will never regret bringing him into this world.  Life in this world is not the perfect state, but we are all going toward that perfect state - the afterlife - but what we do in this life will reflect our next one.  If you are so sad, and have such a bad outlook on your life, I hope you get some relief in family and friends.  Children are the most wonderful thing in this world, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
590665
I don't know the answer to this question. \n\nOh, sure, I have "head" answers that would seem to make sense; but I've never experienced this situation and learned wisdom from having gone through it.\n\nI do have a child with cystic fibrosis, but his genetic illness is not recognizable except by all the medicines he takes and treatments he follows; otherwise, you would not know that he was even "sick."\n\nSo to me this is very different from a horrendously formed child with lots of physical difficulties. (Maybe we're talking spina bifida here, or multiple schlerosis, or Down's syndrome, or something worse in terms of impact.) \n\nObviously the "religiously correct" answer is to believe that God is in control, that everything works out for the best, that he will give strength to endure, that the child will be a blessing no matter how long he or she lives (days or years maybe).\n\nIt's one thing to make this judgment for oneself and one's own family. It's another matter to cricitize another human being when  one does not have anything at stake. How on earth can I tell someone ELSE what they should do? I can encourage them, offer my support and time, pray and cry with them, share their grief, but I'll be d*mned myself if I'm going to condemn them or give them a pat answer. \n\nThat's why most answers by people to questions like this bother me. They don't see a problem with telling someone else faced with an emotionally devastating prolonged situation what they should and should not do about it.\n\nAnyway, if I were in that situation, I would pray that I and my wife would have the strength to do whatever God told us to do. I would be begging God for mercy and understanding and peace. I would be begging for healing for my child... or at least a sense of blessing.\n\nI have heard the stories of some parents who have pushed forward in the face of such things. Some stories end tragically, others end up transforming everyone involved in positive ways. Those stories are a testimony to God's grace and goodness in the light of what appears to be tragedy. Such experiences change us forever.\n\nI've known people with mental deficiences who, despite not being able to communicate well, still manage to exude love and compassion for others to the best of their ability, setting examples for others to follow. Sometimes they can also be hard to deal with, due to emotional outbursts and the problems of physically caring for them. \n\nIt's not all an "inspirational Disney movie" such as we would like to portray it... but there are high and low points, and people are people, and you just take what comes at you and deal with it.\n\nJust was reminded of my visit to the orphanage in China when we adopted our daughter... there was a whole room of babies with cleft palates, who had been abandoned because of that condition. It's easily treatable over here ($200?); over there it's devastating. Some of the children were abandoned simply because the parents knew they could not afford treatment but the government might be able to. \n\nI remember how close I was to weeping, being in that room full of these kids -- and that one's nothing compared to some of the things we are discussing here. Again, parents must decide what they believe, and then push through no matter what, taking whatever comes along the way.
90800
I agree with roadfish. We will always have those who think they and only they have a direct line to god.Collectively,I think it begins at home. Teach your children tolerance of others beliefs and not to hate others who are different.
394924
We, in spite our of best efforts, cannot keep God out of anywhere... God is everywhere.  Families are primarily responsible for teaching faith, hope, love and peace ... not schools.  Where was God when those children died?  Holding their hands and crying with them and all the parents over the hardness of our hearts toward one another .. all insisting that our God (or violence, or money,or...) is the RIGHT and ONLY way.
227089
Why do people want children? To love and to be loved\nGods purpose or want He wants is to have fellowship with you like He did with Adam in the garden of Edan. The fellowship was broken when Adam sinned so God provided a mediator so we can have that sweet fellowship again and that mediator is Jesus\n1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus
226539
i have actually thought some of those things myself. I do feel selfish sometimes when it slips out when i ask God for petty things. i try to remember that God already knows what i need so theres no point in asking;   but i always pray for all the Mom's and babies in the world every day. and i always thank God for everything he has given me and my family. I hope that makes sense. I try to keep my prayers beyond winning the game etc. but i commonly ask God just to 'help' me or others just in general if they just need a boost.
378625
Do you notice that Jesus first tells the man that all he need do is keep the commandments?  But the man carries on, feeling that it won't be enough for some reason (even though Jesus just said it would)?  He feels he's still lacking.  Jesus tells him what he must do 'to be perfect'.  Not what he must do to gain eternal life.  I don't know about you, but, I have too many other people in my life to take care of to be 'perfect'.  Even as much as I admire Jesus.
569417
I'm torn in what to believe but it really does make a lot sense. If Jesus did have a child, just think, someone alive today could be a direct decendent of Christ Himself. Now that would be an honor!
655098
#  "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:34)\n \n#  "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." (John 15:12) \n\n#"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love." (1 John 4:7) \n\n#"A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." (Proverbs 17:17)\n\n# "But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth." (1 John 3:17)\n \n# "Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the Law." (Romans 13:10) \n\nI think you have a cool idea and I hope this helps.
333686
I agree with Wendy.  I'll be thinking about this and I'll post later if I think of anything new, but at the very least, it would be fornication, which is condemned.\n\nCatholic priests have no business touching children.  Period.  God does not condone it.  In fact, they will be held to stricter judgment for being a stumbling block to their victims and all those who turned away from God because of their ungodly influence.\n\nI appreciate your concern for children.  I know God hates it.  I'll keep thinking.\n\n(As for cutting off one's hand or foot or putting out one's eye - that's how serious it is.)
588653
More a co-result, I'd think would be the accurate way to state it.\n\nThe Lord cursed the woman with childbearing pains - so the pain is a result of sin, but at least she gets a baby out of it. Children are a gift of the Lord.\n\nIf you believe in Original Sin (the predisposition for human beings to err towards sin), then in a way children aren't a result of sin but rather a concomitant.