WATCH BELOW TO HEAR A LITTLE ABOUT THE BOOK, OUR HEART FOR THIS PROJECT, AND WHAT WE HOPE THIS BOOK WILL ACCOMPLISH.
BIG THANKS TO CHRIS STETSON FOR THE VIDEO.
The Bourne's share about their new book... RELEASING TODAY!
1 Amazing Thing That Happens When We Overcome Fear
I hope you have seen a breakthrough in your life as we've gone through this short series on fear! You can catch all the videos HERE! And, of course, if you missed any of the posts, check them out here:
I'm so stinking excited to share what I've recently learned about victory over fear. This is from the Bill Johnson sermon from the post 9 Sermons to Help Overcome Fear, where he teaches us what happens when we have victory over fear! This rocked my world. Seriously.
Phil 1:27-28 ESV
"Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God."
The message version says, “Your courage and unity will show them what they’re up against: defeat for them, victory for you—and both because of God.”
And this is what Bill Johnson said in his message, “Everytime you and I are victorious over a fear issue, what is broadcast over the PA of hell or the powers of darkness is pending doom, absolute eternal judgement and they try to get you to fear so they don’t have to think about what’s coming. That’s what victory over fear does!! It announces what’s coming their way.”
What?! Holy cow, yes. The enemy doesn't want to have to think about their own depressing and horrifying eternity... so they want us to fear instead. It takes their minds off their own prisons. And when we have victory over our fear- it's broadcast over the loudspeakers of hell and they remember what's coming for them.
We have the victory in Christ. Fix your eyes on Him, and you will have the victory!
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6 Tips to Overcome Fear
We've been going through a series on our live streams about overcoming fear. You can check those videos out HERE! Today, I want to share some of the things the Lord has been showing me lately as I've been going to Him in prayer and researching for this series! If you sneak a scroll... don't freak out! It's long, I know. But it's long because I've included whole CHAPTERS from His Word! Feel free to use this in your quiet time the next few days and meditate on these scriptures!
1. Delight in His Word
This is seriously an amazing chapter to meditate on if you’re dealing with what ifs or maybe having a difficult time aligning your heart with God’s. I love this chapter so much that I've included it below for you in 2 versions!
Psalm 112 (NLT)
Praise the Lord!
How joyful are those who fear the Lord
and delight in obeying his commands.
2 Their children will be successful everywhere;
an entire generation of godly people will be blessed.
3 They themselves will be wealthy,
and their good deeds will last forever.
4 Light shines in the darkness for the godly.
They are generous, compassionate, and righteous.
5 Good comes to those who lend money generously
and conduct their business fairly.
6 Such people will not be overcome by evil.
Those who are righteous will be long remembered.
7 They do not fear bad news;
they confidently trust the Lord to care for them.
8 They are confident and fearless
and can face their foes triumphantly.
9 They share freely and give generously to those in need.
Their good deeds will be remembered forever.
They will have influence and honor.
10 The wicked will see this and be infuriated.
They will grind their teeth in anger;
they will slink away, their hopes thwarted.
Psalm 112 (ESV)
[a] Praise the Lord!
Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,
who greatly delights in his commandments!
2 His offspring will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches are in his house,
and his righteousness endures forever.
4 Light dawns in the darkness for the upright;
he is gracious, merciful, and righteous.
5 It is well with the man who deals generously and lends;
who conducts his affairs with justice.
6 For the righteous will never be moved;
he will be remembered forever.
7 He is not afraid of bad news;
his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.
8 His heart is steady; he will not be afraid,
until he looks in triumph on his adversaries.
9 He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever;
his horn is exalted in honor.
10 The wicked man sees it and is angry;
he gnashes his teeth and melts away;
the desire of the wicked will perish!
2. Seek wisdom & understanding
Really no need for me to explain this one. Read below to understand!
Proverbs 3 The Message (MSG)
Don’t Assume You Know It All
3 1-2 Good friend, don’t forget all I’ve taught you;
take to heart my commands.
They’ll help you live a long, long time,
a long life lived full and well.
3-4 Don’t lose your grip on Love and Loyalty.
Tie them around your neck; carve their initials on your heart.
Earn a reputation for living well
in God’s eyes and the eyes of the people.
5-12 Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
he’s the one who will keep you on track.
Don’t assume that you know it all.
Run to God! Run from evil!
Your body will glow with health,
your very bones will vibrate with life!
Honor God with everything you own;
give him the first and the best.
Your barns will burst,
your wine vats will brim over.
But don’t, dear friend, resent God’s discipline;
don’t sulk under his loving correction.
It’s the child he loves that God corrects;
a father’s delight is behind all this.
The Very Tree of Life
13-18 You’re blessed when you meet Lady Wisdom,
when you make friends with Madame Insight.
She’s worth far more than money in the bank;
her friendship is better than a big salary.
Her value exceeds all the trappings of wealth;
nothing you could wish for holds a candle to her.
With one hand she gives long life,
with the other she confers recognition.
Her manner is beautiful,
her life wonderfully complete.
She’s the very Tree of Life to those who embrace her.
Hold her tight—and be blessed!
19-20 With Lady Wisdom, God formed Earth;
with Madame Insight, he raised Heaven.
They knew when to signal rivers and springs to the surface,
and dew to descend from the night skies.
Never Walk Away
21-26 Dear friend, guard Clear Thinking and Common Sense with your life;
don’t for a minute lose sight of them.
They’ll keep your soul alive and well,
they’ll keep you fit and attractive.
You’ll travel safely,
you’ll neither tire nor trip.
You’ll take afternoon naps without a worry,
you’ll enjoy a good night’s sleep.
No need to panic over alarms or surprises,
or predictions that doomsday’s just around the corner,
Because God will be right there with you;
he’ll keep you safe and sound.
27-29 Never walk away from someone who deserves help;
your hand is God’s hand for that person.
Don’t tell your neighbor “Maybe some other time”
or “Try me tomorrow”
when the money’s right there in your pocket.
Don’t figure ways of taking advantage of your neighbor
when he’s sitting there trusting and unsuspecting.
30-32 Don’t walk around with a chip on your shoulder,
always spoiling for a fight.
Don’t try to be like those who shoulder their way through life.
Why be a bully?
“Why not?” you say. Because God can’t stand twisted souls.
It’s the straightforward who get his respect.
33-35 God’s curse blights the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the home of the righteous.
He gives proud skeptics a cold shoulder,
but if you’re down on your luck, he’s right there to help.
Wise living gets rewarded with honor;
stupid living gets the booby prize.
3. Declare your Strength
Bill Johnson says, “Our deliverance begins when we are no longer impressed with the size of our problem. Declare your strength and watch it become a reality. Some people are only a declaration away from victory! He put His Word in your mouth- declare it!”
Another thing I've learned from good 'ole Bill is this- “strength becomes a reality when it’s declared!”
4. Fix your Eyes
I was so blessed to be invited to a worship conference (Presence 2016) in Austin this past weekend. Kim Walker-Smith shared such a personal story about her struggle with fear. She was basically crippled with fear while she was pregnant with her second child. Right before she became pregnant, her good friend's baby died of a horrible disease. Then, near the end of her pregnancy, another friend delivered a stillborn baby. She found herself screaming at night and completely paralyzed by the fear that something was wrong or something would happen to her precious child. Quoting scripture didn’t seem to help, praying didn’t seem to remove the fear (can anyone relate here?). But she knew she had to deal with it because she didn’t want to deliver a baby with this hanging over her head.
Then she FIXED HER EYES ON GOD. She said, “When you fix your eyes on God, your issues don’t go away, but they don’t have control over you anymore." She also reminded us that our eyes and ears are so important if we are to be carriers of His presence and stay in alignment with Him.
One of the best things I took away from her message was this- “To be filled up means there is a constant pouring in so there is a constant pouring out.”
Put on blinders, and fix your eyes on Jesus, my friends.
5. Serve Someone
I’m a big believer in planting seeds in the area you need a harvest. There’s always someone worse off than you. Do you need a financial breakthrough? Sow whatever you can to someone worse off. I mean- true story- last night I got a call from a friend which resulted in me pouring through my pantry, fridge, and freezer to give to a mom who literally did not have any food and couldn’t feed her kids. Always someone worse off.
Is it time to stop relying on other peoples generosity and begin cultivating a generous spirit in your own family? Finances will turn around for you. If you want a baby… pray for your friend who can’t conceive. Happily send her a note letting her know you’re praying for her. Need healing? Pray for someone else who’s believing for healing.
Point being- serve someone else.
6. Praise God
Yep, even in the fear. Even in the storm. Praise Him. Thank Him.
Thank Him for what He's already done for you. Thank Him for what He's doing and for what He's going to do. And Praise Him for who He is!
Psalm 50:14-15 New Living Translation (NLT)
14 Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God,
and keep the vows you made to the Most High.
15 Then call on me when you are in trouble,
and I will rescue you,
and you will give me glory.”
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9 Sermons to help overcome Fear
Last week I shared 10 awesome scriptures that will help you combat fear, and you can check out that list HERE. This week, we've got 9 of our favorite sermons on fear. These sermons range from Steven Furtick to Joyce Meyer and Priscilla Shirer, and so many other amazing men and women of God. We hope this helps, and we're so proud of you for proactively fighting whatever fear you're struggling with!
Bill Johnson- Love Versus Fear
T.D. Jakes- My Heart Attacks
Joyce Meyer- Overcoming Fear with Faith
Steven Furtick- Brave the Waves
Charles Stanley- Victory over Fear
Steven LeBlanc- Breaking the Snare of Fear (Fear of Man)
Lisa Bevere- Freedom from Fear
Priscilla Shirer- Gateway's First Conference
Jimmy Evans- I Changed My Mind About Fear
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10 Scriptures to Overcome Fear
10 scriptures to Overcome Fear
Matthew 10:28 The Message (MSG)
“Don’t be bluffed into silence by the threats of bullies. There’s nothing they can do to your soul, your core being. Save your fear for God, who holds your entire life—body and soul—in his hands.
Isaiah 41:13 The Message
That’s right. Because I, your God,
have a firm grip on you and I’m not letting go.
I’m telling you, ‘Don’t panic.
I’m right here to help you.’
Isaiah 41:10 New Living Translation (NLT)
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.
Psalm 56:3 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You.
Deuteronomy 31:6 The Message (MSG)
“Be strong. Take courage. Don’t be intimidated. Don’t give them a second thought because God, your God, is striding ahead of you. He’s right there with you. He won’t let you down; he won’t leave you.”
2 Timothy 1:7 Amplified Bible (AMP)
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control].
1 John 4:18 Amplified Bible (AMP)
There is no fear in love [dread does not exist]. But perfect (complete, full-grown) love drives out fear, because fear involves [the expectation of divine] punishment, so the one who is afraid [of God’s judgment] is not perfected in love [has not grown into a sufficient understanding of God’s love].
Psalm 27:1, 14Amplified Bible (AMP)
The Lord is my light and my salvation—
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the refuge and fortress of my life—
Whom shall I dread?
Wait for and confidently expect the Lord;
Be strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for and confidently expect the Lord.
Psalm 46:1-3 The Message (MSG)
God is a safe place to hide,
ready to help when we need him.
We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom,
courageous in seastorm and earthquake,
Before the rush and roar of oceans,
the tremors that shift mountains.
Jacob-wrestling God fights for us,
God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.
John 14:27 Amplified Bible (AMP)
Peace I leave with you; My [perfect] peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. [Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge.] 2
Gird Your Loins: Day 1
We are doing a series on Periscope called "Gird Your Loins!" It's all about health and trying to conceive!
We're going to cover topics like guilt, balance, emotional and spiritual health, and of course physical health!
Why the title? "Gird
M is for Miscarriage
Back in the fall when I first started Periscope, I did a Fertility A-Z series. When we got to M is for Miscarriage, I shared a little about our own 3 losses. In the first few minutes I share statistics to bring awareness and also explain some of the different types of miscarriages, in case you are not familiar!
Skip ahead to 7 minutes if you want to get to my story.
If you have experienced a miscarriage, you will be so ridiculously encouraged by something my dad sent me (skip ahead to the 21 minute mark). Ya'll, it's really good.
I also share a list of scriptures that brought me comfort during our time of grief, and I've listed them for you below! Check back soon, because I'll be posting a list of 5 scriptures to combat fear of miscarriage!
- Psalm 23
- Psalm 25
- Deut 20:3-4
- Psalm 9:9-10
- Isaiah 43:18-19
Find us on INSTAGRAM @i.am.fruitful to receive daily encouragement!
L is for Loss
So many people stay quiet about loss and miscarriage. We want you to know that you're not alone, that we know it's hard, and that you CAN and WILL get through this.
I remember it felt like the breath got knocked out of me when the (not so friendly) tech told me there was only one heartbeat. There were supposed to be two. Twins. Two boys to be exact. And now there was one. And my heart stopped. It was devastating. That was the first of 3 miscarriages, and I keep my story short because I'm writing this for you, not me. This is to help you through your time of loss and tears, and to help you navigate through it.
Here are a few tips (from a girl who's lost 3 precious babies) on how to get through a miscarriage. It's not all-inclusive. But these ideas may help set you in the right direction. There's light at the end of the tunnel, I promise you. Watch the video for the full content.
TIPS TO GET THROUGH MISCARRIAGE
- Allow yourself to grieve. Miscarriage is downplayed so much in our culture. It's no wonder since we're living in a time and a place where we discard life like kitchen trash. But because loss of life is so completely downplayed by most of the world, we can feel ashamed for grieving (since, after all, "it's no big deal"). It IS a big deal. Grieve. And don't be ashamed. If you're grieving the loss of an infant, my heart breaks for you. Don't rush your grief or put a time frame on it.
- Get help if you need it! There's NO shame in this! In fact, I commend you, dear friend!
- Let this struggle bring you closer to your spouse. Communicate! Tell them what you need, specifically.
- Receive support from friends and family. When they offer, say yes.
- Don't lose hope in God or your promise!! God is good, and He is faithful!
“Blessed is she who believed that He would fulfill His promise to her.”
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K is for Know
I'm continuing to (slowly but surely) post up my Fertility A-Z Series from Periscope in the fall. Today, we're on K is for Know! I felt the Lord put 3 "knows" on my heart to discuss, so watch the video to hear what He put on my heart.
- No one KNOWS how I feel.
- How do I KNOW I'll get pregnant?
- Do you KNOW God? Are you seeking to know who He is and who He is in your situation?
Jenni's Fertility Boost Smoothie
First of all, YUM! Secondly, yum AND it boosts my fertility?? Count me in.
I have to say thank you to Dr. Jenni Blossom over at BlossomToBeFit for sharing this amazing recipe. If you are intimidated by these ingredients (admittedly, as I was), I highly encourage you to stick with us and give it a try! Go to your local health food store and don't be afraid to ask where things are! That's what I did, and I found everything I needed. It's delicious and can aid in conception!
This is Jennifer Blossom's photo.
Here is a link to Jenni's recipe! And please watch the video from this afternoon!
Jenni generously broke down the fertility health benefits for you below! I want to encourage you to go to the original recipe to see the measurements and amounts for ingredients...
- Frozen Mixed Berries: Excellent source of antioxidants, vitamins, and prove to be an anti-inflammatory, which helps in creating an optimal environment for the egg.
- Bee Pollen (*do not consume if you have a bee allergy): Helps to boost the immune system, packed full of vitamins + minerals, and helps to enhance conception.
- Frozen Bananas: Packed full of vitamin C, B6, potassium, fiber, folate, and other high nutritional components; helping with hormone regulation and conception.
- Spinach: Zinc, folate acid, iron, antioxidants, and powerful nutrition, helping to support the woman's body AND reproductive system!
- Almond Butter: An excellent choice for omega-3 fatty acids! Almond butter is a "good fat" and helps with brain development (and your baby's!) and helps to balance out the body.
- Ground Flax: Another excellent source of omega-3s! Great for balancing the body and hormones, along with brain development (for you and your baby!)
- Green Powder (spirulina, chlorella, wheat grass): A power source of energy, vitamins and minerals to help strengthen and enhance your body.
- Almond, Coconut, or Hemp Milk (depending on how creamy you want your smoothie!): An excellent substitute for dairy, and packed full of powerful nutrition!
- Click here for the recipe and to see the last ingredient that is high in antioxidants, vitamins, increases libido, and enhances the reproductive system!
Enjoy your Fertility Smoothie once a day!!
J is for Joy
Continuing our Fertility A-Z Series! Check out this short video! You can skip ahead to about 2 and 1/2 minutes to skip intros.
We're talking about choosing joy, what that looks like, and that it's OKAY to be sad! It's ok to be happy for them and sad for you. Just because you're sad for a day, doesn't mean you're not choosing joy in your season. But what does choosing joy look like?
Romans 15:13 "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
I is for "Infertility" the word
"Words kill, words give life. They're either poison or fruit- you choose." Proverbs 18:21
What are you confessing over your life, situation, family, and fertility? Are your words killing or giving life?? Are they poison or fruit??
Do you call yourself "infertile?" Do you say you are dealing with "infertility?" If so, how often? A lot of us have a stock answer ready for everyone who asks us when we want to have kids, why we don't have kids, Why there's not a sibling yet, etc. It's easy to say "I'm infertile" or "We're dealing with infertility." I want to challenge you to reconsider your vocabulary. Watch the video below for some tips and suggestions for how to change what you say! Feel free to skip ahead to about 2.5min to avoid intros, etc.
Continue saying "I am fruitful!"
Believe Despite: A Story of Hope, Loss, & Extreme Faith
I sat down the other day with an amazing woman, Elisa Rumbo, who bravely shared her story with me. She struggled through 15 years of infertility, PCOS, 9 miscarriages, the devastating loss of her infant daughter, and yet she believed despite. She believed that the Lord would make her a mother!
If you are struggling with infertility or loss, you HAVE to hear her story. Her perspective is so wise, unique, and encouraging. She will, without a doubt, re-ignite your faith, remind you who our God is, and provide that extra jolt of hope you need to make it through the next hurdle in your own journey.
H is for Have Fun!
This is a super short and spontaneous video from my Fertility A-Z series. Honestly, I was going to share about something completely different that day, and I felt the Lord reminding me of something so important. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in our problems, our situation, our desires and needs... that we forget to enjoy the season we're in, no matter what it looks like.
G is for God Is...
Hey guys!! Still re-capping my series from the fall on Fertility A-Z. If you missed it, I'm posting all the videos from periscope and much of the content in the blog.
This one is really big for me. Who God is. It's important. It's relevant in our lives and in each of our situations. It's crucial to your faith. So let me ask you this- is there something that you believe about God, but you don't think He will be that way in your life or in your situation? For instance, you believe He is faithful (in general), but when you really think about it, you don't think He will be faithful in the situation you're going through right now. Or what about this one- You know and believe He's a jealous God, but you don't really think He cares if you put Him first or not. Do you believe He's full of compassion, but that you may never experience it? Those are all lies from the enemy and they've got to be dealt with before you can really step into freedom and into the fullness of who God created you to be.
Check out the video (you can feel free to skip ahead to about 2.5min to skip intros/smalltalk).
When I was trying to conceive and I first began journaling my feelings about the whole process, I felt led to make a list of who God Is and what He is like. So I googled a little, I flipped through my Bible a LOT, and began writing. When I'm feeling low on faith, down in the dumps, or feel like I'm losing hope... This list snaps me out of my fog quickly! It's not all-inclusive, and many of these have several more scriptures than I have listed, but it's a good starting place to remind yourself WHO GOD IS. I highly encourage you to take a good long look at this list and ask yourself if there's anything here that you're struggling to believe about God in YOUR life. If you believe these things about God, then choose to believe that He will be this way in your situation as well. He doesn't change!
GOD:
Is Good PSALMS
Is Righteous Ps 116:5
Is Full of Compassion Ex 34:6, Ps 103:8, Ps 111:4
Is Sovereign Is 61:1-3
Is A God of Peace Eph 2:14, 1 Cor 14:33
Is Light 1 John 1:5
Is Love 1 John 4:8, 16
Is Slow to Anger Ex 34:6
Bestowes Favor & Honor Ps 84:11-12
Does not show Favoritism Acts 10:34
Heals Is 59:1
Hears Is 59:1
Fights for Me Josh 23:3, Deut 9:3 Deut 20:4
Bears My Burdens Daily Ps 68:19
Will Not Abandon or Destroy You Deut 4:31
Does Not Withhold Any Good Think From Those Who Walk Uprightly Ps 84:11
Is Faithful Is 4:7, 1 Cor 1:9, 1 Cor 10:13, Ps 100:5, Lam 3:22-23
Is Holy Is 49:7
Is Lord Is 49:23, Ps 114:15
Is Savior Is 49:26
Is My Redeemer Is 49:26
Is A Jealous God Deut 4:24
Is Merciful Deut 4:31
Is My Refuge, Fortress, & Rock Deut 33:27, Ps 46:1, Ps 94:22
Is My Shield & Strength Prov 30:5, Ps 46:1, Ps 73:26
Is My Help Ps 54:4
Is My Comforter Is 51:12
Is The First & The Last Is 48:12, Is 44:6, Rev 1:17
Is Gracious Ps 116:5, 2 Chron 30:9, Ps 84:11
Is My God Forever Ps 48:14
Is My Portion Ps 73:26
F is for Faith
If you are low on faith, I have a couple of scriptures, stories, and a resource that I know will fuel up your hope. You don't need a TON of faith, remember!! Luke 17:6 (MSG) says, "But the Master said, 'You don’t need more faith. There is no ‘more’ or ‘less’ in faith. If you have a bare kernel of faith, say the size of a poppy seed, you could say to this sycamore tree, ‘Go jump in the lake,’ and it would do it."
E is for Emotions
Women are often labeled as crazy because of our emotions. When you are going through a struggle with fertility, loss, or miscarriage, you DO have so many emotions!! You are not crazy!
Your emotions can change so frequently, especially when you're on hormones and fertility drugs! If you are struggling in this area, please watch this encouraging video! Remember, you are not alone!
Here are the scriptures I referenced in the video:
Prov 29:11 NLT "A [self-confident] fool utters all his anger, but a wise man holds it back and stills it."
Phil 4:6 The Message "Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life."
D is for Doubt
When I was in the middle of my fertility crisis, there were days I thought I could conquer the world... days I knew FOR SURE that we would get pregnant. Then, there were days that I felt doubt creep in...days I heard the enemy speaking through my thoughts, "I might never get pregnant," "what if I'm never a mom," "there's something wrong with me."
Well my husband and I decided one day to stop asking for our promises in a half-hearted, doubtful way, and to begin claiming the promises of God instead! We began thanking God in advance for the things we didn't see, and man, was that powerful. Please watch the 5 minute clip below for the original video.
As Thanksgiving approaches, it's a great time to begin thanking the Lord for the things you don't see happening yet, for the things you're trusting God for, for the baby you're hoping for. And, of course, fill your mind with truth and not lies by reading the word of God and tossing negative thoughts as far away as you can. Our thoughts are SO powerful, and can affect your health, emotions, and fertility!!
“When we implant God’s word into our minds through our thinking, we fill our brains with the powerful environmental influence of God’s love, which directly impacts our mental and physical health in a positive direction. Talk about a sound mind!”
Anytime doubt begins to creep in, anytime you begin thinking, "what if God doesn't do what He said He would," or "God is good but probably won't pull through for me," remind yourself who God is.
God is faithful. God is Holy. God is your Redeemer. God is merciful. God is your refuge and rock. He's your shield and your strength. God is your help. The Bible says He fights our battles for us. God is the one who comforts you. He's righteous. He's full of compassion. God is GOOD, and He will be good in your situation and your life. Don't doubt who He is or that He will be who He is in YOUR life and YOUR situation.
Say "I am Fruitful!!"
Periscope Purpose
Hey guys! Do you know that I share encouragement, almost daily, for couples trying to conceive and dealing with loss? It's uplifting and always God's truth!
I wanted to share the very first Periscope video I did so you can catch the vision and understand why I began doing this in the first place. Unfortunately, it does not come with comments and hearts, because at that point, I didn't know how to save the videos that way. But the point is, you can catch the vision for this whole project!
I want to personally invite you to join me LIVE. The cool thing is you can comment, ask questions, and get involved in the fertility discussions! If you want to join us, download PERISCOPE for iPhone or Android (or you can watch the daily replay on your Mac or pc at http://www.periscope.tv/laurenbourne). Lots of husbands tune in as well! It's a great way to let your husband in on this piece of your world. I share almost daily, and my aim is to always be encouraging and to always share truth. I remember when I was going through the toughest part of my struggle, I needed encouragement ALL the time! You are not alone!
Daily Encouragement through Infertility and Miscarriage (Periscipe- @LaurenBourne)
C is for Comparison
Playing the comparison game is dangerous, no matter what you're comparing. Your spouse, your possessions, your body, your friends. We all do it.
Everybody compares at some point, but it's dangerous! When you compare yourself to someone else, you're either better than or worse than. Your situation is either better or worse. Or it's harder or easier. There's no in between. It's dangerous because it takes the focus off God and puts it on ourselves. Watch the video below for full content!
Feel free to skip ahead to about 2min 25seconds to skip intros, etc.
One of the dangers of comparing yourself to others (or another's situation) is that you end up in one of two camps: pride or envy. Neither is a good place to be. Try to remember that God has you RIGHT where He wants you. And the grass isn't greener on the other side! It's greener when you accept and embrace who you are in Christ, and you thank Him for what He's done, what He's doing, and what He's going to do in your life!
My challenge to you is this: Thank God for the promise that you don't see yet instead of being ungrateful for the promise that you don't have yet!
If you struggle with comparison, I highly suggest watching this sermon of my pastor, Pastor Robert Morris of Gateway Church in Southlake, TX. It's called The Sin of Comparison, and I am confident that this will give you direction and hope as you navigate this tricky battle. You can watch here:
Be encouraged!! Your breakthrough will come, and you will be stronger on the other side!! Say, "I am fruitful."