faithful birth.

 I often think back to the time when I was preparing my mind and body for my first "freebirth". I've referred to it here probably in most every post! This is because it was such a radically transforming time for my faith and you just don't forget easily what it is like to be trained personally by The Master.

Psalm 23 fits here, because "I have all that I need" was a constant refrain coming from my lips.

But also, Psalm 32: 

You are my hiding place;
you will protect me from trouble
and surround me with songs of deliverance.
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.

Psalm 32:7-8

I unwittingly commented on an instagram post that was responding to "the labels". I've most often used the term "freebirth" for my last three births, because of my previously described distaste for the term "unassisted".

Quite intentionally, I have also never called it "autonomous" or "sovereign". Until now I considered these personal preferences because of my inherited passion for words.  I do not wish to become entangled in a war about words, (for we know that is unprofitable...) I think that it is quite essential that women who have entrusted themselves to a faithful Creator might consider what kinds of battles we are trying to stand in. Are we fighting a flesh-and-blood battle that only applies to The Nations, those who do not believe or understand His Ways?

Yes, the stork in the sky knows her appointed times. The turtledove, the swallow, and the crane observe the time of their coming; but my people don’t know My judgments. Jeremiah 8:7

 What is freedom? What do we who belong to יהוה consider free?

I run in the path of your commandments, for you have set my heart free. Psalm 119:32

Who defines your birth? Who defines freedom? 

Some women will say it is to do what pleases them. To trust their body, their intuition. Some have said it's a matter of who is or isn't at your birth, or where. Some feel that empowering freedom is to enter a medical realm and do it your own way anyway. 

The answer for me has come through the experiences I've received as a being belonging to YHWH. For me, freedom is in receiving what He is offering me, and without any kind of fear that would intimidate me into cooperating with the enemy's destructive and thieving agenda.

I hadn't fully considered where that left me with the "freebirth" label until recently, when the term has been tossed around, arbitrarily being redefined based on an individual's interpretation of "freedom". 

If a teenager identifying as the opposite sex wears a shirt saying "free to be me", does that indeed make them free?

"If the SON sets you free, you will be free indeed."

Wearing His yoke is the only place of true freedom. There's no other rest.

The only thing I want is Faithful Birth. Birth that acknowledges a single Authority as the only Protector, Provider, and Generous Giver of life and health. 

We aren't entitled to define our own births. I am not sovereign. I would be terrified to birth with myself as the only authority. I have no power of my own. In fact, I would not recommend "freebirth" as a “safer” option to anyone who has not rendered full authority of her being over to the One Shepherd. (Yet even on a merely physical plane, it remains true that most often, birth IS uncomplicated when it is undisturbed!) This has led me personally to receive my births in the intimacy He's offered--at my home with my covenant partner. But who am I to judge another man's servant? (Rom 14:4)

As long as we are the ones defining our own births, we are not receiving the fullness of His freedom. As the Authority of Life, giving ourselves to Him, for His pleasure, goodness and protection is our freedom. 

And they brought it, and He said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” And they said to Him, “Caesar’s.”
So יהושע said to them, “Render to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to Elohim what is Elohim’s.” Mark 12:16-17

I want to point out something that Yeshua said here: your very being, your entire self--mind, body and spirit--are belonging to YHWH. Our whole selves bear His Image, our very lives exist by His Word.  We are one: spirit, mind, body, because He is One. (Deut 6:4). This is why there can be no separation of this authority and that over different parts of our beings. This is where faithfulness is defined, like Ananias and Sapphira. All or part?

My heart ardently yearns for a simply faithful birth. One that trusts His Word. One that glorifies Him only. One that reveals His nature and goodness. One that affirms His faithfulness and exclusive ability to bless a woman, a family with a living child. Free to me means having my ears open to Hear His Voice throughout, and in this position receiving nothing but confidence. Not a single fear, because I have all that I need.

The Lord is my shepherd;
I have everything I need. Psalm 23:1

Faithfulness can't even be defined by a human. It is a yielding. Submitting. Recognizing that ways we've inherited are false and disintegrated, unfaithful to His Word and turning toward His integrity. Jeremiah 16:19

“But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah." Matthew 23:8-10

This revelation to me means I have one work: to trust my Messiah, my Deliverer: יהושע  (John 6:29) and no one else, most especially not images and idols. That is pure freedom.

“What I am leaving with you is shalom — I am giving you my shalom. I don’t give the way the world gives. Don’t let yourselves be upset or frightened. John 14:27