Love is demonstrative and takes action on behalf of others.
14 Days of Love – Day 1
Tag: Infertility
Focus Friday
Focus on the following scripture throughout the day. It’s God’s Word and 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!
“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in Me [Jesus].” John 14:1 (NLT)
Infertility Encouragement
Today, I’m sharing an excerpt from my book, Infertility Sucks!How to Maintain Hope in Your Marriage During Infertility.
Infertility is stressful. No doubt about that! When you look for articles with helpful information, most articles about the impact of infertility on marriage are full of doom and gloom. They tell you to expect breakdown in communication, permanent loss of joy in sex, etc. As predictors of what can happen, they fall short of supplying any hope for a loving, long-lasting, and strong marriage after this struggle has “run its course.”
BUT, THERE IS HOPE!!!
Here are three of the 7 tips I share in Infertility Sucks! that will help you manage the stress of infertility:
- Discuss how you can help each other feel safe in sharing difficult and emotional thoughts. This may take time to achieve, depending on how you’ve dealt with them so far and how open your lines of communication are right now.
- Pray together. If you’ve not done this before, it may feel awkward at first. To help reduce the awkwardness, write out the prayer you want to pray and use it as a starter. Consider scheduling the time and then be sure to respect your spouse and keep the appointment. Husbands, I encourage you, as the spiritual leader of your family, to be open to initiating these prayers. The side benefit of doing so is that your wife will find it VERY sexy!
- Be proactive. Take some time to think and then discuss with your spouse what your response will be to troubling circumstances. Define and put in writing your “will do’s” and your “will not’s”. For example, decide now that divorce is not an option. Infertility can begin to put a squeeze on your finances as well and that adds another level of pressure that must be addressed with open and honest communication. Seek God for direction as you make decisions about managing your money wisely as you continue to have doctors visits, procedures and treatments. Setbacks from these things can bring about an enormous amount of stress. Be proactive and secure your relationship on a foundation of commitment to each other and to Jesus.
Of course you’ll find lots of other tips, activities, practical examples, and encouragement in Infertility Sucks!
I’m honored to give you another opportunity to hear some words of encouragement tonight (1/23/14). Sonja Sells will interview me on Blog Talk Radio’s Breath Inspired broadcast. You can listen on your computer or mobile device. Here’s the link:
Join us tonight at 8pm EST.
Thanks for your support!
A Booster Shot for Your Day
Related Articles: Do You Smell Victory? Ridiculous Hope Scriptures For Daily Living
Focus Friday
Focus on the following scripture throughout the day. It’s God’s Word and 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!
“So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.” Colossians 2:10
Focus Friday
This is the last Focus Friday post of 2013. My prayer is that 2014 will prove to be a year where you focus and meditate on God’s promises to you and that you will bear fruit in every season, prospering in all that you do!
Focus on the following scripture throughout the day. It’s God’s Word and 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!
“But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night.They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.” Psalm 1: 2, 3 (NLT)
Focus Friday
Focus on the following scripture throughout the day. It’s God’s Word and 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!
“For with God nothing shall be impossible.” Luke 1:37
Trust God
I was listening to Nicole C. Mullen sing an old hymn this past weekend. The title was “Tis So Sweet.” Many times, the lyrics of hymns like this one become so familiar that we don’t really pay attention to the words and their meaning.
This song struck me this morning, reassuring me that trusting what God has said is key in enjoying the benefits of His grace. His words are containers for His grace. His words are a life-giving source. His words are a reflection of His loving character.
Trusting the stability and effectiveness what God has said allows us to experience His grace. I want more of His grace exhibited in my life and in the lives of those I love. So I choose to trust His words and thereby trust His character and love for me.
Below is a video with the lyrics to this hymn. I hope the words bless you and assist you experiencing the sweetness of trusting in God’s love for you.
How do you encourage yourself to trust God for the things you desire? Do you use His Word to increase your confidence in Him?
Ebook — Infertility Sucks! — is Now Available
“Infertility Sucks! How to Maintain Hope in Your Marriage During Infertility” is now on the bookshelves of your virtual bookstore!
It’s available on Amazon.com and Smashwords.com. Look for it to be available soon on iTunes and Barnes and Noble.
Here’s the description of the ebook:
“Infertility Sucks!” is written from the perspective of Evangeline Colbert’s victory over infertility. It gives practical advice on how to address the spiritual aspect of infertility, how to manage stress in the midst of infertility, and how to make sure your marriage not only survives but thrives.
Infertility is a huge stressor in a marriage and many couples don’t survive its pressure. Numerous couples suffer in silence, experiencing incredible shame, pain, and disappointment month after month. Couples will gain insights from chapters covering: Seven Strategies to Manage Stress in Your Marriage, How to Maintain Hope During Infertility, The Advantages of Affirmations and much more.
A prayer for those desiring children is included along with much more information about the spiritual aspect of infertility.
There are also activities included in the book to get you started in taking action to increase your hope and to protect and strengthen your marriage.
You must have tenacious hope in this struggle and “Infertility Sucks!” shows you how.
Please share this powerful resource with others by clicking on any of the social media links below.
Buy Infertility Sucks! How to Maintain Hope in Your Marriage During Infertility NOW.
Why Should I Be…Thankful?
You may have asked yourself, “What do I have to be thankful for when all I want is to get pregnant and it isn’t happening?”
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 and that God can and will bring us out of them.
But when you’re in the throes of difficult circumstances, life can become overwhelmingly sad and anxiety-laden. So what is there to be thankful for? Start by remembering that God is with you. If you’ve asked Jesus into your heart, He has promised to never leave you. Just think about that. The One who has the power to change your circumstances is always right there with you in the midst of them, desiring to lovingly see you through them. He 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.
Rest in knowing that God is for you and not against you (Romans 8:31). Trust that He hears you as you pray His promises. Believe that He loves you unconditionally, 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!
“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” ~~ Isaiah 41:10 [NLT]