Psalm 127

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Psalm 127

• If the Lord does not build the house  in vain do
  its builders labor  If the Lord does not watch
  over the city,  In vain does the watchman keep
  vigil.
• In vain is your earlier rising,your going later
  to rest,you who toil for the bread you
  eatwhile He pours His gifts on His beloved
  while they slumber.

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Do you believe??

• In Gods goodness?
• In Gods infinite love for you?
• In Gods wisdom?
• That God has a plan for you, and that it is
  better than any plan you could dream for
  yourself?

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Gods plan for married couples

• He gave us a way to express our love for each
  other through sexual union. This act of giving
  ourselves to one another brings two gifts

• Unity

• procreation

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Part of this plan, one that modern society
sometimes leaves out, is procreation
Truly sons are a gift from the Lord,a blessing,
the fruit of the womb.Indeed, sons are like
arrows in the hand of a warrior. O the happiness
of the man who has filled his quiver with these
arrows! Psalm 127
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But what if there are serious circumstances

• and the couple believes they should not have a
  baby at this time?

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Or

• What if the couple feels that God is calling them
  to have children, but theyve been unable to
  conceive?

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Natural Family Planning
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What is NFP?

• Natural family planning.
• The observation of fertile signs in the womans
  body. (Men are always fertile, women are rarely
  fertile.)

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What is NFP?

• Some types of NFP
• Ovulation method mucus observation.
• Sympto-thermal method mucus temperature

NOT the rhythm method!
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Advantages

• Can be used at any time in the womans life
  breastfeeding, menopause, irregular periods.
• Can be used to achieve pregnancy and plan time of
  birth.
• No cost or adverse side effects to the woman or
  the child.

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Advantages

• Can be used at any time in the womans life
  breastfeeding, menopause, irregular periods.
• Can be used to achieve pregnancy or to avoid
  pregnancy if serious reason exists.
• No cost or adverse side effects to the woman or
  the child.

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Advantages

• Can be used at any time in the womans life
  breastfeeding, menopause, irregular periods.
• Can be used to achieve pregnancy and plan time of
  birth.
• No cost or adverse side effects to the woman or
  the child.

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• NFP requires abstinence during fertile times if
  pregnancy is to be avoided.

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Why not contraception?
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Why not contraception? answer 1

• The teaching authority of the Church the
  Magisterium
• Contraception is intrinsically evil.

God is the source of our life, joy, peace and
happiness both in this world and the next.
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Why not contraception? 2, 3

• Harmful to the woman.
• Hormonal cancer, infertility, cardiovascular
  problems, uncomfortable side effects
• Other types not as effective as NFP.

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Contraception Why not? 4 Hormonal
contraceptives are Abortifacients
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Contraception Why not? 5

• Sexual union is for unity AND procreation
• Must be open to Gods will in your life.
• The sex act in marriage is sacred, God is present
  in a special way as a new human life comes into
  existence.
• The openness of the parents to Gods will in
  their lives honors Him and shows their love for
  Him and their trust in Him.

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This is definitely countercultural!

Ill do it My way!
Not My will, but Yours be done! OBEDIENCE
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What should I do?

• Pray for your future marriage and married couples
  everywhere.
• Become trained in NFP with your fiance before
  your marriage.
• Prayerfully seek Gods will in your life and pray
  that you continue to grow in your love for others.