Waiting

“Heavenly Father, waiting is extremely hard, especially when I see so many pregnant women and little children. As I wait on the desire of my heart, help me to delight myself in You, to be strong and of good courage, to not go ahead of your perfect plan. I praise and thank You, as I wait on You, that my strength is restored, so I can soar like an eagle. I choose to place my trust in You in waiting, believing You will answer me and refresh me along this fertility journey.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Psalm 37:4, Psalm 38:15, Psalm 130:5, Isaiah 40:31

For further prayers in dealing with the emotions of infertility check out the Prayer Page.
www.DancingUponBarrenLand.com/infertility-support-prayer/

Scrubbing through some old notes I had, I came across this, Waiting Does Not Diminish Us. Even though it’s not a particular ‘fact’ regarding any fertility issues we’re facing, I believe we all face the fact of waiting. We all, are waiting, one way or another. I thought it timely to share.  I love how Eugene Peterson’s the Message version of the Bible expresses a passage in Romans 8.  May it be just what you need today.

Waiting Does Not Diminish Us

“All around us we observe a pregnant creation.  The difficult time of pain throughout the world are simply birth pangs.  But it’s not only aoround us; it’s within us.  The Spirit of God is arousing us within.  We’re also feeling the birth pangs.  These sterile and barren bodies of ours are yearning for full deliverance.  That is why waiting does not dimish us, any more than waiting does not diminish a pregnant mother.  We are enlarged in the waiting.  We, of course do not see what is enlarging us.  But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy.  Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s spirit is right alongside helping us along… That’s why we can be so sure that every detail of our lives of love for God is worked into something good.”

Romans 8, The Message

Decisions

“Heavenly Father, I thank You that You have the perfect plan to bring about a family in my life. Father, I am faced with so many decisions, the decision to _________________ ___________________ . I ask You to instruct me and teach me in the way I should go. As Your eye is upon me, counsel me along this fertility journey. Since You have consecrated life before it is born, I pray for Your help in my decisions to uphold the sanctity of life. Thank You Father, for leading me in peace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Jeremiah 1:5, Psalm 32:8

For the last 5 years I’ve seen Almighty God move and mend broken hearts and heal barren wombs. Just at Lakewood Church support group alone we’ve seen almost 50 babies born/adopted into loving families!  So please don’t give up!  There is hope in Jesus Christ  and there is HOPE, Christian Infertility Support Group just for you!

Will you come and be filled with HOPE, a Heart Of Promise & Expectation in Him?

Lesli

Lakewood Church Group (Houston) meets 1st Thursday of every month, 7:00 p.m.  February 2nd marks our first meeting of the year. We meet at the church in the New Beginnings Room.

The Ark Church Group (Conroe/The Woodlands Area) meets 2nd Tuesday of the month, 7:00 p.m. at the church.

For specific info click our Resource Page: http://dancinguponbarrenland.com/infertility-resources-information-support/

Book Review

Recently, I have been contacted by authors to review their newly published books written about infertility and adoption. One thing I love about having this online ministry is how it connects you to others.  Other women who have the same heart and goal: To reach those suffering with infertility with the message and love of Jesus Christ.

The two books I’m diving into are  Called To Adoption, A Christian’s Guide to Answering the Call, by Mardie Caldwell with Heather Featherston and Still Waiting (A Bible Study) by Elizabeth Robertson.  Both of these books are chock full of good information and inspiration. I’ve just started Called to Adoption and I can already tell it will be a go-to resource for me, and I’m sure helpful to anyone seeking the adoption route.  For those of you who lead an infertility support group, I encourage you to look into Still Waiting, a Bible Study for your group. I hope you will seek out these resources yourself and support the women behind them.

For today’s Fertility Fact Friday, I thought I’d post astounding statistics gathered from the U.S. and internationally listed in Called to Adoption, A Christian’s Guide to Answering the Call.

• 80% of teen moms are on welfare
• Over 50% of chldren raised by teen moms are reported to Child Protective Services.
• Only 1.5% of teen mothers graduate from college by age 30.  And only 40% graduate high school.
• Children raised without a father are twice as likely to quit school and four times as likely to need behavioral help.
• Children of teen parents are three times more likely to become teen parents themselves.

Internationally, the news about orphans is even worse:

• 5,760 children become orphans every day.
• Every 15 seconds, a child in Africa become an orphan due to AIDS.
• Worldwide, there are over 143 million children in orphanages right now.
• 10 to 15% of children raised in Eastern European orphanages commit suicide before the age of 18.
• Every 2.2 seconds, an orphan ages out of the system with no family and no home.
• In Russia, of those who age out, 60% of girls become prostitutes, 70% of boys will become hardened criminals.

To say the least these stats are overwhelming.  Some of you reading this post may be presently considering adoption. Even though I haven’t completed reading the book yet, I feel this informative book may answer some questions you just might have about adoption. The most important thing; pray and be in agreement with your partner about adoption.  God will lead you, keep your requests before Him.

**My apology if you are a subscriber and are receiving multiple e-mails from Dancing Upon Barren Land Ministry.  I’ve had difficulty with my webmail and web service.  Thank you for your patience. I’d appreciate your prayers as well for the technical function and ministry as well.  ~ Lesli

Direction

“Heavenly Father, I ask that You will fulfill Your purpose for my life, my desire for children. Help me not to lean upon my own understanding or to rationalize the thoughts in my head. When there is a fork in the road and I don’t know which path to take, I ask You will direct a straight path on this fertility journey. Teach me to know when to move forward or to stop or rest along the way. As I put my trust in You, I thank and praise You that You are perfecting every little detail that concerns me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Psalm 138:8, Proverbs 3:5-6

As I do my normal chores around the house I always like to listen to great Bible teachers, one of them is Beth Moore of Living Proof Ministries.  www.lproof.org.  She is gifted with a genuineness, a love for God and His Word.  I listened to one today, titled A Fresh Advent, a two part lesson.  I encourage you to listen to it.  The message spoke so deep to my heart and stirred some things in me.  I pray you’ll be touched too.  Whether your dealing with infertility or deep disappointment from prayers not being answered, this message is for you!

Be blessed!
Lesli

Sorry, I realize I’m not able to embed the lesson here, but follow the instructions below:

Living Proof Ministries  click, www.lproof.org, click ‘Media’, click ‘Beth Moore’, then click ‘Hear Beth’. Scroll down to the lesson:: A Fresh Advent – The Divine Interruption (Part 1), be sure to listen to part 2 as well.

Thank you again for subscribing.  It means so much to me personally someone is not only interested in what I have to share, but is touched by what God has done and can do in a life affected by infertility.

I’m praying for us all for this New Year to be filled with peace, joy and more than we could ever ask, hope or dream!  (Ephesians 3:20).

Blessings to you! I’ll be in touch soon.

Lesli

Stress & Infertility

Helpful information from the American Society of Reproductive Medicine

What can I do to reduce my stress?

• Talk to your partner.

• Realize you’re not alone. Talk to other people who have

infertility, through individual or couple counseling, or support

groups.

• Read books on infertility, which will show you that your

feelings are normal and can help you deal with them.

• Avoid taking too much caffeine or other stimulants.

• Exercise regularly to release physical and emotional tension.

• Have a medical treatment plan with which both you and your

partner are comfortable.

• Learn as much as you can about the cause of your infertility

and the treatment options available.

• Find out as much as you can about your insurance coverage and

make financial plans regarding your fertility treatments.

Reproductive Cycle vs. Relationship

Scripture Reference: 1 Samuel 1:1-18, with emphasis on verses 8 and 15.

Our Husband: An understanding of their perspective

• Men usually want to ‘fix it’.
• Often times men deal with grief, sadness or helplessness in the only way they know how…by being strong.

Does your marriage have tunnel vision?

Question to ponder:

• Is your tunnel vision directed toward your marriage instead of motherhood?
• Is infertility or your loss an element in every conversation you have with your husband?
• Do you seem agitated when speaking with your husband?
• Do you seem to focus on this void in your life too much?
• Are you focused on ‘mandatory romantic encounters’ each month, or do you truly have a passion / desire to love your husband intimately?

When we feel deprived of a family, we have forgotten the gift of God He has given us already in our spouse.  Don’t allow infertility to rob you off this realization.

What if you and your spouse disagree?

Caution:

• Be careful not to always see things from your point of view.
• Be aware of how you interpret your husband’s response to infertility or loss of a child.

“Although two views may cause unwanted conflict, when we choose to listen to each other lovingly, with open hearts, we enlarge our perspective.”
Longing for a Child, Kathe Wunnenberg

Submit and Pray

• “Wives be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.  For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body.”                   Ephesians 5:22-23
• You will find that submitting to your husband will be vital when major decisions come.  Prayer is helpful in keeping your heart attitude right.
• Prayer is powerful when you and your husband come into agreement.  (See previous post, ‘Your Marriage’)
• What does submission have to do with infertility?  EVERYTHING!

Our Relationship with God:

God’s desire is that we put Him first place!  All throughout the Bible it speaks of God being a jealous God over us.

And He said to them, “You shall love the Ord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.”     Matthew 20:4

“Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.”                                         Matthew 6:33

Questions to ponder in your relationship with God:

• Do you love God for who He is or what He can do for you?
• Are we seeking the created thing (children) more than seeking the Creator?

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I pray the information in this handout will help you to see your perspective in relation to your spouse and to God.