Tag: Infertility

Make a Decision to Declare — “Enough is Enough!”

Posted on by Evangeline

 

Have you reached the point of saying “Enough!” to a particularly trying circumstance?

I think sometimes it takes reaching a point of where we’re no longer willing to tolerate a negative circumstance before we take faith-rooted action. You know, that “last straw” that makes us decide to firmly speak to that “mountain” (Mark 11:23) so that we begin to experience relief from its oppression. This oppression is part of the curse outlined in Deuteronomy 28:15-68. Yes, over 50 verses speak to the bad stuff that the enemy is waiting for an opportunity to introduce into your life.

Included are:

  • confusion
  • frustration
  • sicknesses
  • inflammation
  • chronic illnesses
  • poverty
  • drought
  • oppressed and robbed continually
  • defeat in wars
  • and sooo much more!

It’s a long litany of various curses found in those verses.

Thankfully, there’s a Holy BUT…

BUT (!), don’t be scared of these things. The good news is that there is a powerful antidote to every curse! Galatians 3:13 assures us that Jesus became cursed for us so that we could be redeemed from all the effects of the curse. He paid the price that set us free from every curse. Jesus bought us so that we can no longer be held captive to defeat, sickness, poverty, etc., when we use the authority He’s given us. What was the price? His life. And once we receive Him as Savior we’re officially released from that captivity and He blesses us by making us kings and priests with Him.

But here’s the deal— using the antidote means you’ve got to speak to that mountain! You’ve been given the authority to do it. So if you’ve never spoken to your “mountain” of infertility, miscarriage, chronic illness, poverty, hopelessness, etc., it’s time to get mad, and be resolute in addressing this mountain and consistently telling it, “Enough!”. Find scriptures that promise what you need. No matter what the doctors, lawyers, bosses, or other authority figures have said, understand what God has said about your situation. His Word is settled and true (Psalm 119:89; John 17:17)!

How to say “Enough”

So how can you say “Enough!” to your circumstances? By consistently saying to your circumstances what God has said in His Word about them.

The passage in Deuteronomy 28:61 gives us an overview of the curse regarding your health:

Also every sickness and every plague, which is not written in this book of the Law, will the Lord bring upon you until you are destroyed.

And that covers everything that tries to attack your body. But because Jesus has redeemed those that believe in Him, this verse also shows that He has redeemed you from every form of sickness.

Declare Enough is Enough!

Psalm 107:2 CSB encourages you to speak up, to say “Enough!” by saying that you are redeemed from the curse by the Lord God Almighty:

Let the redeemed of the LORD proclaim that He has redeemed them from the power of the foe.

So here’s an affirmation you can speak and believe daily as you confidently wait for the manifestation of your healing:

(Name of the condition), you are from the curse. BUT God’s Word says I am redeemed from the curse because Jesus became cursed on my behalf. I praise God that I am now and forever redeemed from this condition!

No matter how long you’ve dealt with it, the condition must bow to the name and finished work of Jesus!

Because He loves you, you can take God at His Word. So decide to use His Word as your way to say “Enough!”!

greatest hits - together

Greatest Hits – Sources of Encouragement

Posted on by Evangeline

Thank God, 2020 is DONE! It certainly brought its share of challenges. Many people, including myself, lost family members due to COVID-19. Numerous jobs were lost. Social turmoil filled the streets. People needed encouragement more than ever before!

I’m honored to say that 2020 had some high points for myself and iHope Coaching. Clients were lifted up to their potential and experienced victory in the midst of downturn. Women who are struggling with infertility took advantage of my fertility coaching. My new book, Conceived by Grace Pregnancy Journal was released. My co-author and I hosted an online fertility event that encouraged numerous women. I attribute this success to the support of amazing blog and newsletter subscribers like you.

Greatest Hits

If you recently discovered this website, you may have missed some of my popular articles posted in 2020. Here’s a list of my “Greatest Hits from 2020” in case you’d like to glean some hope from them:

When You Feel Like Giving Up

7 Actions You Can Take to Build Your Faith for Fertility

Moving On or Moving Forward?

My prayer is that 2021 will provide a lot of hope and peace for everyone as we recognize that we’re in this together.

How will you encourage yourself in 2021?

Greatest Hits – Sources of Encouragement Click To Tweet

Give Your Body a Pep Talk CONSISTENTLY!

Posted on by Evangeline

No matter how long you’ve dealt with infertility or some other condition, you can use God’s Word as a tool of transformation by consistently speaking it aloud. When is the last time you spoke to your body? What did you say to it? If you’re like most people it was a put-down, not a pep talk.

Most people will say things to and about their body that are negative—how they don’t like their hips, thighs, hair, chin, skin, muscle tone, etc.

If you are a child of God, it’s important that you speak to your body as if you’re giving it a pep talk. Speak to  it

Positively…

Gently yet with authority…

Intentionally…

Consistently…

and Scripturally.

Pep Talk

The best things you can say to your body come from what God has said in Scripture; after all, He loves you just the way you are because He made you in His image.

So here’s a short reminder of what to do with your words when you give your body a pep talk:

Speak what you seek until you see what God said.

My Gift to You for Your Pep Talk

To help you with that, I’ve created something that will help you develop/enlarge this habit — it’s a Guide, filled with God’s promises.  Click the button below to download your guide. Speak them as a means of whispering to the Fear that’s trying to invade some part of your life. Use them to thank God for His Presence, His grace and peace, and His willingness to bring good things you.

REQUEST YOUR GUIDE HERE

It’s important to remember Proverbs 18:21–The power of death and life are in the tongue (your words). What YOU say about you matters! So, develop this healthy habit of giving your body a pep talk.

Will you say what God said about being healthy until you see what God said?

Give your body a pep talk! Speak what you seek until you see what God said. Click To Tweet

 

 

Exciting News!! Listen and Watch to Get the Update

Posted on by Evangeline

I’m thrilled to share this exciting news with you because I know that you can greatly benefit from it!

Pregnancy Journal

The most recent book I’ve written is a pregnancy journal. WHY? Because when you become pregnant after a fertility struggle, fear creeps in to color how you view and experience your pregnancy. This weekly journal, Conceived by Grace Pregnancy Journal, will help you stay faith-filled so that you enjoy the pregnancy journey.

My co-author, Maria Mwangi, and I decided to share all the pertinent info via a video chat.

Click here to watch the video


Maria and Evangeline

 

AND, here’s more exciting news–

Join us on Saturday, August 22nd, at our virtual fertility event as mighty women and men of God share how they became victorious over infertility/miscarriage. You’ll also be encouraged by God’s promises for your path to motherhood.

 

CBG Event Flyer

 

 

You’ll find more information at www.ConceivedByGrace.com

Conceived by Grace Pregnancy Journal

Don’t Give Up on God’s Promises

Posted on by Evangeline

Are you feeling like you want to give up on God’s promises of fertility? You’ve got to find ways to hold tightly to them so that you don’t give up.

In the Bible, the fourth chapter of Romans tells us how Abraham believed God’s words. God had promised him an heir through his wife Sarah. This divine promise was fulfilled through grace because Abraham had faith in what God had promised. Abraham is a great example of believing what God said. Here’s what the Romans 4:18 TPT says:

Against all odds, when it looked hopeless, Abraham believed the promise and expected God to fulfill it. He took God at his word, and as a result he became the father of many nations. God’s declaration over him came to pass.

If you are feeling discouraged about your fertility, I’ve got good news! I’m planning an event that will bless you. It will encourage you to maintain hope that you will conceive by grace.

When the world shouts, “Give up!”, hope whispers, “Try one more time.”

This online event will be on Saturday, August 22, 2020. No matter where you live in the world, you can view this as long as you have internet capability. So take a moment right now and pencil me in on your calendar. We’re busy creating lots of things that will provide hope if you have experienced infertility, miscarriage, or infant loss. It’s all centered around holding tightly to God’s promises so that you expect victory!

I’ll share more details soon!

Will God Fail to Fulfill His Promises?

Posted on by Evangeline

Has God failed to fulfill his promises? This question is asked and answered by Paul in Romans 9:6-9 to drive home a very important point—that God has NOT failed to fulfill His promises.

“Well then, has God failed to fulfill his promise to Israel? No, for not all who are born into the nation of Israel are truly members of God’s people!  Being descendants of Abraham doesn’t make them truly Abraham’s children. For the Scriptures say, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted,” though Abraham had other children, too.  This means that Abraham’s physical descendants are not necessarily children of God. Only the children of the promise are considered to be Abraham’s children.  For God had promised, “I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”

It doesn’t matter whether it’s God’s promises of fertility, of good health, of prosperity, or of protection. He always keeps all of His promises.

Have you questioned that point? I have from time to time. But I always remind myself that He is indeed a promise keeper! In my laundry room, I’m reminded  of what a good promise keeper He is by a poster I made many years ago…

 

Believe His Promises

 

Promises

So what promise have you pinpointed in God’s Word that you’re waiting on Him to fulfill? Make a decision to remind yourself that His promises have a zero failure rate. That’s right, none of God’s promises have failed. Scripture assures us of this in 1 Kings 8:56 and other passages as well (like Isaiah 45:19).

 

Promise Keeper

 

How will you remind yourself of God’s faithfulness to fulfill His promises so that, no matter what, you have confidence in them and hold on tightly to them?

Make a decision to remind yourself that God's promises have a zero failure rate. That's right, NONE of His promises have failed! Click To Tweet
7 fertility faith actions

7 Actions You Can Take to Build Your Faith for Fertility

Posted on by Evangeline

I recognize that faith is not always easy to execute. Sometimes we need faith-boosters–especially when dealing with dark/difficult circumstances in life, like infertility.

Here are seven actions you can take to boost your confidence in God’s promises of fertility. Be intentional about taking Scripture-based actions as you prepare for pregnancy and parenthood. Do them and you’ll increase your faith that His fertility promises are true for YOU.

7 Actions to Build Your Faith

  1. Speak God’s Word daily. Find scriptures that are directly related to overcoming infertility and speak them out loud. Decide that because you are made in God’s image you will do as God does…declaring the desired end results from the beginning of a matter (Isaiah 46:9, 10). Nothing is too hard for Him so speak His Word into any dark circumstances so that LIFE and LIGHT can be brought into them (Job 22:28).
  2. Pray together. If you haven’t already, pray together with your husband, asking God to make hubby’s sperm healthy and motile, your uterus ready for impregnation, to have a healthy and safe pregnancy, and to deliver a healthy baby. Ask to become wise and godly parents from the beginning. And then, get together to pray prayers of thanksgiving often, trusting that God has heard your request and answered it (Psalm 138:3; Philippians 4:6-7).
  3. Prepare your body:Get a health check-up from your doctor or health care professional. If you already have weight-caused health issues, execute a plan to help you get to a healthy weight. Begin to take prenatal vitamins, especially a formula that includes folic acid. Eliminate sources of caffeine in what you eat and drink. Some studies have shown that caffeine intake may affect fertility. Eat more healthy foods—leafy vegetables, fruit, whole grains, and lean protein. Eliminate smoking cigarettes/marijuana. Eliminate all alcoholic beverages. Begin an exercise routine to strengthen your muscles. Learn how to do Kegel exercises and do them consistently to strengthen your pelvic muscles for a vaginal delivery.  ***(This is not medical advice. These are general suggestions applicable to most people.  You should consult a health care professional for advice that is specific to your needs.)***
  4. Watch your words. When you’re having conversations and hear yourself mention something negative about the status of your fertility, make a course correction! Use what I call “the Holy BUT”. In English grammar, the word “but” implies that you’re negating what was said previously. You may have said something like,”We’ve been trying for long! Seems like we’ll never get pregnant.” You can course-correct and say, “I may not be pregnant “BUT” God said that none shall be barren and that includes me” (Exodus 23:26).
  5. Take Communion regularly at your home. You can take communion at home as well as at church. As you receive communion, remember your faith works by love (Galatians 5:6). Be ever conscious of God’s love for you. Jesus died so that you can live in His righteousness knowing that you have been made a worthy recipient of the Father’s unconditional and unending love, kindness, grace, and goodness. Jesus’ body was broken so that yours can be whole!
  6. Consistently speak God’s Word without fear and doubt. When fear and doubt come knocking at the door of your mind, repel them with gratitude. Take a moment to thank God for what He has done for you through Jesus’ finished work on the cross and through His resurrection (Ephesians 2:6).
  7. Pray in advance that all of your children will choose at a young age to accept Jesus. Pray that all of your children will be Spirit-filled and Spirit-led.

For a deeper dive into Scriptural encouragement about your fertility, join me in the Fertility Hope Huddle. We’ll gather online in March 2020! Click HERE to get the Fertility Hope Huddle details.

5 day fertility challenge

5 Days to Focus on the Spiritual Aspect of Your Fertility

Posted on by Evangeline

When dealing with the challenge of infertility, women often only address the physical aspect of the struggle. But what about the spiritual?

I am happy to give you the opportunity to focus on the spiritual aspect of your fertility through a 5-day Challenge on Facebook, starting this Monday, 2/10/20. If you are a member of A Seed of Hope Fertility Group, you can easily participate. If you haven’t joined our group, I’ll be happy to approve your request to join.

For 5 days, I’ll share how to powerfully address the spiritual aspect of infertility.

Get ready to receive great tips about how to enhance your fertility journey– less stress and anxiety, more peace and hope.

Sign up for the challenge  and invite a friend to join you so you both can get the FREE goodies I’ll share!

hope - a healthy habit

How Will You Enhance Your Life and Fertility with Healthy Habits in 2020?

Posted on by Evangeline

What are some of the healthy habits you resolved to develop/keep during 2020?

Did you know that when you have hope it operates to enhance your fertility? Researchers say that positivity– having hope– directly impacts the function of our biological systems. This means that maintaining a higher level of optimism may possibly affect your fertility in a positive way.

Optimism is a healthy habit!

One way to stay optimistic is to use scripturally-based affirmations that fill you with hope about God’s promises of fertility. Here are a couple:

Deuteronomy 7:13,14—”And He will love you and bless you and multiply you; He will also bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your land, your grain and your new wine and your oil, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flock, in the land of which He swore to your fathers to give you. You shall be blessed above all peoples; there shall not be a male or female barren among you or among your livestock.”

“God’s desire is that I be fertile and not barren. I live in the delight of His desire and His faithfulness to keep His Word.”

Hebrews 11:11—“Because of faith also Sarah herself received physical power to conceive a child, even when she was long past the age for it, because she considered God who had given her the promise to be reliable and trustworthy and true to His word.” [AMP]

“Through faith and confidence in Jesus’ love for me, I receive from God the physical power His Word imparts to me to conceive a child.”

Repeat these out loud on a consistent basis, along with others you develop. It can be helpful to write them and put them in a place where you’ll regularly see them. They’ll be a visible reminder to affirm God’s Word and to stay focused on hope-filled thoughts about your fertility.

More Fertility Affirmations

If you need some suggestions about other Scripture-based affirmations to use that are specific to your fertility, check out my Bible reading plan on YouVersion. I’m thrilled that there have been thousands of readers that have used it as they look for victory over infertility.

Blessings to you as you add this to your arsenal of healthy habits. What else do you do as a healthy habit?

victory over infertility -breakthrough - sticky note

My Story of Victory Over Infertility – Part 2

Posted on by Evangeline

I’m so glad I didn’t give up or give in to the doubts and fears that bombarded me during the season of infertility. You can read more about that in part 1 of my story of victory over infertility. I had friends who I trusted to give me solid and godly  advice during that season. One friend shared that I should read the accounts in the Bible of women who had overcome infertility. These were real-life stories of victory that I could hold on to, trusting that if God did it for them, He would do it for me. He would be true to His word and keep His promises of fertility. I kept a journal during this time to record my thoughts and prayers, Scripture, and experiences.

Make sure you read my related (exciting) announcement at the end of this blog post!

My Story Continues…

After five days of not having a period in November of 1987, I did a home pregnancy test and the test stick turned blue— its result was positive! I could hardly believe it. After all that time of “trying,” after all the failed attempts and negative test results, I was finally pregnant! Once it actually happened, it did not seem real. But Freeman and I celebrated (very calmly). That following Saturday, we were to play in a volleyball game with some church members. I chose to not play. I did not want to take any chances of falling or someone bumping into me.

After the game, I got a phone call from a close friend wondering what was going on since I didn’t play. We told her the good news and swore her to secrecy. 🙂  I couldn’t allow myself to completely trust the test result until I could confirm it with a test at the doctor’s office. I went in, having already told myself not to be too disappointed if it produced a negative result. The fear was real!

Finally Pregnant!

As I sat nervously in the examination room, the nurse came in and said with a big grin, “You’re pregnant!” All the nurses in the office were so happy. They had seen me go through many pregnancy tests that turned out negative. Even my doctor was surprised that it finally happened! I was to meet Freeman for lunch that day and I could hardly wait to give him the good news. After we finished eating, I showed him the test results and congratulated him for officially being a daddy. He cried! It was a precious moment.

Just a week later, I experienced some spotting—small amounts of vaginal bleeding. Of course my first thought was, “Am I going to lose the baby?” Yes, even though I had experienced victory over infertility and had finally gotten pregnant, there was still fear of an attack from the devil on my body and now, also on my baby’s life.
I had to choose whether to give in to the fear or trust God. It was my choice as to whether to accept the fearful thoughts, to cast them down, or just ignore them. I certainly did not want to give in and live with fearful thoughts. Ignoring them would have left them harboring in the recesses of my mind and having a place to silently grow into even larger, more fearful thoughts. I had to cast them down by re-directing my thoughts to God’s love and the power of His Word.

Jesus ALREADY Did It

As the spotting continued during the next several weeks, I wrote in my journal that I had to remind myself of Colossians 2:15—“Jesus spoiled principalities and made a show of them openly”. He did that for me and for my baby growing inside of me. I had to trust that this baby would make it through a full term pregnancy. Thankfully, we also had prayer support from many people which boosted our trust in God over the next few months as the spotting continued and even some cramping began.

But God was faithful to His Word that Jesus had given us victory over infertility and childlessness! My pregnancy proceeded successfully. Our precious baby boy was born in June 1988, completely healthy and handsome.

#ttc- I had to remind myself of Colossians 2:15---“Jesus spoiled principalities and made a show of them openly”. He did that for me AND for my baby growing inside of me. Click To Tweet

In time, God added to our family. He blessed us with a healthy and handsome son two years later. We were blessed with a healthy and beautiful daughter four years later. Those pregnancies occurred as soon as we started “trying” and both progressed smoothly.

God is your source of breakthrough. He can truly make a way when there seems to be no way.

Victory over infertility is indeed possible!

ANNOUNCING…

Fear, worry, and doubt have an insidious way of creeping into our minds and hearts as we navigate pregnancy after experiencing infertility, miscarriage, or infant loss. That’s why I have co-authored a new book, Conceived by Grace: A No-Fear Pregnancy Journal, with a friend who experienced multiple miscarriages. We know from experience that focusing on God’s love and power is a game-changer.

We’re excited about providing this pregnancy journal so that you keep your focus on the truth of God’s Word during pregnancy. You can record your thoughts, prayers, and experiences, read Words of Wisdom, and rely on scriptures provided to empower you. It’s coming in early 2020 so that you can be encouraged to expect victory throughout your entire pregnancy.

Fill out the form below for more info about how you can get Conceived by Grace!