Is Abortion Wrong? Part 2

Leviticus 17:11

For the life of a creature is in the blood...

So is abortion wrong? Is it a political issue? Or is it a moral issue?

The God of the Universe; the Whom we must one day give an account says, "Life is found in the blood."  And facts reveal, the heart begins pumping at Week 3. 

 Years ago, God used grabbed my attention on this issue with Proverbs 6:16. (For brevity, I'll abbreviate.)

There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to Him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood...

Innocent blood can have many definitions.  However, how can abortion not be defined as the shedding of innocent blood?

If you've been following my blog for any length of time - you know I love the Chronological Bible.  I've been using it as my devotional for 2 years now. 

Recently, the term "innocent blood" kept coming up again and again and again in my reading.  And suddenly, the state in which I live, North Carolina, the issue is BIG in the news.

"They shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters..."

Psalm 107:38

 

"Moreover, Manasseh also shed so much innocent blood that he filled Jerusalem from end to end - besides the sin that he caused Judah to commit, so that they did evil in the eyes of the Lord."

2 Kings 21:16

 

There are many verses that reference God's anger because of idol worship and the shedding of innocent blood in the Old Testament.  Due to these reasons, He eventually allowed His people to be carried into captivity by another nation. 

Captivity for God's people was not sudden.  It happened gradually over a period of years. (609-586 BC)

I wonder if this is the path we, the United States are on?  I wonder about China... as we are in much debt to them?  (Especially with the news this week that China is buying one of our largest pork producing business', Smithfields.)

Today, this post is for YOU - the believer, those who belong to Jesus.  I plead with you, do not be deceived by public opinion or how you feel or how you want things to be...

There is a God in heaven.  Abortion is the shedding of innocent blood.  Even though it's a political issue in our country (in fact, a sacred cow).  In actuality, it's a God issue. 

And the God of the Universe says "it's wrong."  

How do you stand on this issue?  How do you stand now that you've read these posts?

Next Posts: 
"What do I Now?"
"What do I do if I'm the one who shed the innocent blood?"

Is Abortion Wrong? Part 1

2 Corinthians 11:3

But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

Is abortion wrong?  After all, it's just a chunk of cells and if you have the procedure early on - it's not actually an abortion - but a medical procedure.  Problem solved!

For many years, these were lies I believed.

Now keep in mind - I was a believer.   In church each week.   Served in the church and in Bible Study.   Abortion was a political issue.  It was about a woman's right to choose for herself.  In my mind there was NO connection to God or the Bible

Today and tomorrow, I'll share how God shattered those lies.  After tomorrow, I pray you'll see - it's not a political issue in eyes of God.

Lie #1:  A woman should be able to choose for herself. 

After all, a woman should be able to dictate what happens with her body. 

God's Word says: "You are not your own; you were bought at a price.  Therefore honor God with your body."  1 Corinthians 6:20

Lie #2:  It's just a cluster of cells in the early stages.  

Well, the "it," as commonly referred, is a baby from early on.  I've had 2 children. I learned about my pregnancies during week 7 and 8.   Look at what's happening in the womb from Week 7-10 of Gestation:

Your baby becomes more baby-ish, losing her embryonic “tail”

Your baby's eyes are facing forward

Your baby has little arms, legs, hands and feet

Your baby is developing neurons she'll use her entire life

Your baby makes her first movements

Your baby will grow to about 2 inches long*

*Information found from a secular source

God says:  "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you."  Jeremiah 1:5

It's a BABY - not an "it."

Lie #3: Abortion is not really a big deal if performed early.

I used to think, 'If it's done early in pregnancy, then it really doesn't count as a technical abortion.  It's just a medical procedure at that point.   After all, it's just a big cluster of cells...   Right?'

God says:  "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb."
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."  Psalm 139:13

God knew us, saw us, and began knitting us together from the moment of conception.  From the time the sperm penetrates the egg cell, a new human organism comes into existence.  This is a scientific fact - not just a religious claim.  The heart begins to beat at 21 or 22 days.

We should be careful before forming opinions based on what we think or how we feel or the opinion of others.    If we call ourselves believers in Jesus Christ, our beliefs and convictions should be based upon what God's Word says.  

After all, everyone of us will stand before Him one day.  "So the, each of us will give an account of Himself to God."  Romans 14:12

Part 2 tomorrow.

5 Tips in Dealing with Men

Matthew 5:37

"Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes' and your 'No,' 'No.'

 

If you are visiting from Proverbs 31 Speaker, Lynn Cowell's blog -

WELCOME!   I'm so glad you're here! 
What an honor to join hands with Proverbs 31. 

Lynn is giving away a copy of Intimacy with God, Establishing a Vibrant Quiet Time and Prayer Time.  Check her BLOG before Tuesday night in order to enter and win.
 

Today, I'm discussing the differences between men and women - and there are lots of differences.

For the last few weeks I've been working primarily with men in the planning and execution of our Annual Golf tournament.  (And thank you Jesus, it was a successful tournament.)

In dealing with men, I've learned something very important:  Men are vastly different from women.  (As if you didn't already know!) 

Please know that today's post does not mean ALL men. However, from my experience in dealing with women and then transitioning to men - you'll find these tips worth reading.  Hopefully this will help in whatever corner of the world you may live.

1.  Men do not communicate with emotion.
Ephesians 5:33, "Each one of you also must love his wife... and the wife must respect her husband."

Men rarely use exclamation marks, smiley faces, or half smiley faces.  Some of the emails I received came across brash and to the point.

On the flip, when dealing with women, smiley faces are how we communicate... along with lots of other emotion in our emails.  But men desire respect.  My husband once told me, "It's not manly to put a smiley face at the end of my emails." 

I agree. 

So know in advance, if you desire to have a man's respect, I would encourage you NOT to communicate with alot of emotion.  (If any)  But get straight to the point.

2.  Men are bottom-liners. 
Ecclesiastes 5:3, "... so let your words be few."

My mentor once told me, "Tara, your husband is not your girlfriend.  Tell him what you want and get to the point.  Share the fun details with your girlfriends."

Same is true in business with men.

Drop the pleasantries and get to the point when dealing with men.  Men get overwhelmed when you give them T.M.I. (too much information) and may only scan or possibly delete the email all together.

3.  Men honor their commitment.
Matthew 5:37, "Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes' and your 'No,' 'No.'

This is not to say that women do not honor their commitments, many women do.  But let me use our Iron Sharpens Iron luncheon as a comparison. 

Most every month, we have no less than 10 who commit to coming... and then they never show.  (Hence, why we reward paying in advance.  Otherwise we have to pay once we RSVP for them.)  However,  I understand.  Life happens.

So to my surprise, every man who committed to being a Team Captain - kept his commitment.  AND every man who committed to playing - on a Monday (not a very good day for a business person) - to support a women's ministry - came!  Every one of them.

At the last minute, 3 men could not come - but found someone to come in their place.  I WAS VERY IMPRESSED.

This is not a slam against women, I'm simply encouraging you: When working with men, let your 'Yes' be 'Yes' and your 'no', 'no.'  It helps drive respect.  They do not do wishy-washyness at all.

4.  Men are not last minute.

As a whole, I found that men respond quicker than women. 

From my first email blast, 6 weeks prior to the event, 90% responded. 

With our luncheon, we send out an invitation 10 days in advance.  Generally, 10% respond to this first email.  The Tuesday and Wednesday emails that we send prior to the Friday luncheon, is when we receive 90% response.  (As a planner, this does tend to freak me out.  But for the last 2 years, God has been faithful.  And our luncheon is growing.  But the trend I've experienced is this: women (as a whole) are more last minute.  Men are planners. 

Keep this in mind.  They will get very frustrated with you if you expect them to operate last minute.  Give them advance notice.

5.  Men do not want multiple email reminders. 
Judges 16:16, "With such nagging she prodded him day after day until he was tired to death."

I asked my husband to send another email to a specific group of men. There were several men I thought would play, but had not responded.   "Perhaps they just need a little nudge, I told him.   "This is what works for our luncheons."

He quickly responded, "No. If a man can do it, he'll respond to the first email.   I'm not going to nag them."

Interesting...

Unless it's new information, men DO NOT  want or need multiple reminders.  It comes across as nagging.  Be careful!

Clearly - there are many other differences in dealing with men.  These are the 5 biggies that I encountered.  God made both sexes unique -

Share differences you've experienced...

Have a great day:)