Just a quick, friendly reminder today — DON’T GIVE UP!
Find your hope in the comforting, steadfast, and powerful promises of God (Romans 15:4).
Image courtesy of Infertility Inspirations
Tag: fertility
Take Your Place at the Father’s Table
We’re celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday in America today. There’s a lot of hustle and bustle in the kitchens of most homes. The preparation of large meals and the consumption of large portions of food are part of the tradition. Some cooks may bring out their fine china to set the table for the occasion. There’s a sense of joy among those seated together at the table because family and friends have come together and most, if not all, are expressing some level of gratitude.
I like to think about the table that God the Father has prepared for every believer (Psalm 23:5). He not only has pulled out the finest of foods, tableware, and furnishings, He has made it available for access right NOW. And the best part is that He is seated at the table with us. No one is relegated to the “kids table!” The Father is ready to serve up everything that He’s prepared. We’re blessed that we don’t have to wait until we get to heaven to enjoy God’s best. We can enjoy His presence each and every day. But there are times that we find ourselves so deceived that we avoid His lavish table. Too afraid to come close. Too self-conscious to take a seat. Too afraid to feel worthy of partaking and delighting in what He has prepared. Too doubtful that He meant it when He said that He personally made it, especially for us.
Instead of giving in to deception, may I encourage you to believe that the Father loves you immensely? Believe that He wants to let His blessings and benefits overflow toward you every day. He said so (Psalm 68:19)! Consequently, expressing gratitude to Him will require less effort and you’ll express it more frequently. Being more conscious of His love will make it easier to approach Him and to enjoy what He has prepared just for YOU.
Find your way to the Father’s table.
Take your place there.
Marvel at His abundance.
Enjoy partaking of His goodness.
“My people shall be satisfied with My goodness, says the Lord.” ~Jeremiah 31:14 NKJV
Photo courtesy of Apolonia |FreeDigitalPhotos.net
5 Ways to Survive the Holidays in the Midst of Infertility
Holidays can be difficult to navigate when you’ve been declared infertile. I remember how easy it was to get caught up in all that was going wrong (infertility). It would have been easy to paint myself into a corner and neglect enjoying what’s meant to be a festive and fun time. With the disappointment that comes month after month, it can become difficult to maneuver through the emotional drain of infertility, the possible health scares, the financial toll, and the marital problems that tend to stealthily creep in.
But during this week leading up to America’s celebration of Thanksgiving and the beginning of the holiday season, I encourage you to make a DECISION to look for the things in life you can be thankful for during the holidays and beyond. A thankful heart looks beyond its present negative circumstances to the positive possibilities that lie ahead.
You may be asking yourself, “What do I have to be thankful for when all I want is to get pregnant and it isn’t happening?”
Be thankful that God is with you.
If you’ve asked Jesus into your heart, He has promised to never leave you and to always bless you with his unfailing grace. Be thankful that you can rest in knowing that God is for you and not against you (Romans 8:31).
Be thankful that there is nothing too hard for God, not even infertility!
Some people believe that we’re to thank God for putting us in tough situations because that’s how He teaches us something. I believe God is a better teacher than that. He can get his point across to us without putting us in tough situations. I believe that tough situations are brought to our lives by the devil but God can and will bring us out of them. Trust in God’s ability and willingness to make good come out of bad.
Be thankful for role models.
Be thankful that He has given so many examples of women who overcame infertility and that He has made promises in the Bible that relate to your fertility. Thank Him that you can count on Him to make good on those promises.
Be thankful that God hears you as you pray His promises.
“So is my Word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me [through your confession of it] without producing results. As you believe and speak it, My Word will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” ~Isaiah 55:11 [paraphrased]
When you’re in the throes of difficult circumstances, life can become overwhelmingly sad and anxiety-laden. But remember, the One who has the power to change your circumstances is always right there with you in the midst of them, ready to display His power as you trust His love and His promises. God the Father wants to bring you out of the grip of tough times into His gentle caress of peace and rest. That’s what He planned for your destiny.
Giving thanks to God is the means of focusing on the solution rather than the problems we have. When we give thanks in the midst of our problems, we keep victory’s door open. Thanking God when we’re dealing with infertility or any other trying circumstance is the best way to express that we expect Him to show Himself strong on our behalf and to make good things happen.
Be thankful that He loves you unconditionally.
God the Father loves you just as much as He loves Jesus (John 17:23)! To have someone who always loves you no matter how much you doubt His ability, willingness, and timing…that’s something to be thankful for!
What will you choose to thank God for today?
Monday’s Marinade – I’m Here
Monday’s Marinade is provided to you as a means of “soaking yourself” in the hope-filled Word of God at the beginning of your week. Start your week by meditating about how God is right there with you in the midst of your circumstances. Repeatedly think about this and quietly say it to yourself. Marinate and season your week with hope and a confident expectation of good things happening!
Here’s your spiritual marinade for this week:
Focus Friday – Grace Rules
Focus on this scripture about grace throughout the day.
It’s God’s Word showing how grace, and not self-condemnation, should rule in your life. It’s what He desires us to believe. Believe it is true for you because God’s Word is Truth.
Use it as an affirmation. Speak this Word to yourself throughout the day. Personalize it by putting your name in it!
Focus Friday – Confidence in the Truth of God’s Word
Focus on the truth of the following scripture throughout the day.
God’s Word is Truth. Believe it is true for you. Speak this Word to yourself throughout the day.
10 Bible Verses All Women Facing Infertility Need to Know
Here is a consolidation of a couple of posts that I previously shared. I hope you find this encouraging and a source of light in what can be a dark and lonely experience.
If you are struggling with infertility, you know what a hopeless situation it can become, if you let it. When I dealt with it, I found the best source of hope was the Bible. It contains numerous scriptures that pertain directly to infertility. It also gives many accounts of women who were once barren/infertile/childless but became a mother, all because they trusted God to be true to His promises of fertility.
Infertility Sucks! But I know from personal experience that it can be overcome. Here are some verses that I meditated on and repeatedly used as verbal affirmations, putting my name in each scripture. You’ll find them to be
great sources of HOPE.
Deuteronomy 7:14 [NKJV] ~ “You shall be blessed above all people; there shall not be male or female barren among you.”
Isaiah 50:7 [NKJV] ~ “For the Lord God will help me; Therefore I will not be disgraced; Therefore I have set My face like a flint, And I know that I will not be ashamed.”
Leviticus 26:9 [Amplified Bible] ~ “For I will be leaning toward you with favor and regard for you, rendering you fruitful, multiplying you and establishing and ratifying my covenant with you.”
Hebrews 11:11 [NLT] ~ “It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise.”
Luke 1:37 ~ “For with God NOTHING shall be impossible.”
John 17:23 (NLT)- “…you love them as much as you love me [Jesus]”
Lamentations 3:26 (NKJV)- “It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.”
Hebrews 13: 5 (NLT)- “For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”
1 John 5:4 (NLT)- “For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.”
1 John 5:14, 15 (NIV)- “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.
What other bible verses do you depend on to give you hope during infertility?
Focus Friday – Receive The Gift to Reign
Focus on this scripture throughout the day.
It’s about God’s gift to you– HIS righteousness, not that born of your own efforts– that causes you to reign in life.
It’s what He desires you to believe. Believe it is true for you because God’s Word is Truth. Speak this Word to yourself throughout the day.
Feeling Defeated? Put on Your Armor!
I love to study different words and phrases that are in the Bible. Delving into their meaning can bring to light a rich revelation of new ways that I can apply God’s Word in my life. I thought I’d share a few nuggets that I gleaned from studying Ephesians 6. This is not a summary of the entire chapter. It is a capsule of points of enlightenment about the verses that describe the armor of God (Ephesians 6:12-18).
It’s Not Our Armor
The armor we are encouraged to put on is not our own, it’s God’s. When David decided to face Goliath, King Saul wanted David to put on his royal armor for protection against the powerful enemy. But David told Saul that he’d prefer not to put on the king’s armor. It was unfamiliar and uncomfortable. David had no confidence in that armor. But, he was accustomed to God’s protection. God had protected him when he fought against a bear and a lion as he watched his father’s flocks. As he talked with Saul, he recalled how God had come through for him so many times. David had confidence in God. He chose to trust God as he went out into the field to battle the giant. David was refusing man’s mode of protection– he didn’t want to fight in his own strength. Instead he put on God’s armor by his faith in God’s love for him and his confidence that God was willing to protect him (1 Samuel 17:23-46).
” We must all be aware that our defeats have mainly come from one of two errors– the one being that of fighting in our own strength and the other being that of leaving unused our God-given power.”
Alexander MacLaren
Putting on the Whole Armor
Putting on God’s armor means having an attitude of dependence on Him. This provides a higher level of confidence in His power. It makes it easier to have an expectation of the fulfillment of His promises. As we draw closer to Him and commune with Him, we rest and receive His power. It’s all about receiving Him. It’s all about receiving His love.
Hear Jesus encouraging us, “Be of good cheer, I have already overcome the world [the troubles that we face].” If He has already overcome whatever we are facing, why would we try to defeat an enemy who has already been defeated? If He has already finished doing everything it takes for us be more than conquerors, why would we try to complete a work that’s already been completed? He wants us to rest in His victory.
Jesus accomplished the vanquishing of every foe on our behalf (Colossians 2:15). He stripped them and disarmed them, publicly shamed them, and triumphed over them on the cross and through His resurrection. That’s why we can now stand as more than a conqueror– He did all the work in order to let us enjoy the spoils of His victory.
Would it make sense for a soldier to only wear one piece of armor and then expect to enjoy complete protection? No! A soldier can expect complete protection only when wearing the whole/complete armor provided. It is likewise with God. We’re instructed to put on the whole armor of God in its entirety so that we can experience all the blessings He has planned.
- Put on the helmet that your salvation provides so that your mindset is one of belief in God’s love for you.
- Put on the breastplate that your righteousness in Christ provides so that your emotions will reflect the knowledge that you have been made “right,” in God’s eyes.
- Put on the belt that the Truth provides so that God’s armor is securely fitted on you and you can believe that His Truth is protecting you at all times.
- Put on the shoes that the peace of God provides through the promises of God, equipping you to stand your ground erectly and to move forward.
- Pick up the shield that faith provides. Faith believes and speaks the Word of God in order to quench the devil’s fiery tactics. Faith enables you to take hold of God’s strength, so that you can rest from trusting in and using your own strength.
- Pick up the sword that the Spirit provides so that you can make preemptive strikes and enforce the victory Jesus has given you by telling the enemy what God says about your situation.
- Pray consistently so that your attention is directed toward the One who is able and willing to dissipate and dispel any fear caused by the enemy.
Photo courtesy of Sattva | FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Flow — My F-Word for October
It’s already the ninth day of October! Time is flying fast so here’s my F-Word of the month:
Flow is defined as “to proceed continuously and smoothly.”
[Source: Dictionary.com]
I don’t want to be stagnant–I want to flow! I want to flow with Holy Spirit’s intentions for my life on a daily basis. I want to have a smooth ride in living with His comfort, guidance, and counsel. I want His grace to flow to me unhindered. I want my words to agree and flow with His words so that the manifestation of His plan matches my plan.
Here are some scriptures that relate to flowing with Him:
Luke 1:50 (MSG)
“His mercy flows in wave after wave on those who are in awe before him.”
Isaiah 48:16-18 (MSG)
“I am God, your God, who teaches you how to live right and well.
I show you what to do, where to go.
If you had listened all along to what I told you, your life would have flowed full like a river, blessings rolling in like waves from the sea.
Children and grandchildren are like sand, your progeny like grains of sand.
There would be no end of them, no danger of losing touch with me.”
Luke 6:45 (NLT)
“A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart … What you say flows from what is in your heart.”
Read about my previous monthly F-words for July – September:
July: Thanks to F-words, I’ll Be Rockin’ It For the Rest of 2014
August: Focus–My “F-Word” for August
September: Follow Through–My F-Word for September