Emotions

What in the World is God doing?

As I stare at a blank page unsure of where to even begin, I quietly ask the Lord, “What is your heart for this community? What do you have to say to these ladies and families?”

As we wrap up National Infertility Awareness Week (NIAW), do I write something for the mom who has never met her babies because of miscarriage? Or maybe to the family who just decided on adoption. Or what about to the ladies who are just starting their “ttc journey” and going through what we like to call “delayed fertility.” Or maybe I’ll write to everyone with “unexplained infertility.” Wait, no, I have it- I should write to the woman who’s truly infertile. She like really never had children. She’s gone through menopause. And she has told God “no thank you” on that Sarah miracle. Yes, maybe I should write to her. Or to the mom who has a child at home but is struggling with guilt and shame and- oh yes- secondary infertility. She definitely needs a pick-me-up. Who am I even writing to, Lord?

So I come back to my quiet questions with the Father. God, what is your heart for this community? What do you have to say to these ladies and families? Because I don’t want to write another article just for the sake of another awareness week.

Well I believe He has ALOT to say and here’s what He dropped on my heart.

It doesn’t matter if you’re literally infertile or considering adoption or already have kids at home but about to start yet another round of IUI. It doesn’t matter if you’ve had 7 failed IVF’s or your husband has no sperm or you’re battling cervical cancer. It doesn’t matter how much money is in your bank account or your HSA. It doesn’t matter how many eggs you have, what shape your uterus is, or what size your cysts are. It doesn’t matter how many recurrent miscarriages you’ve had or that you can’t seem to get past the 1st trimester. It doesn’t matter if you’ve never conceived, and you know what?!- It doesn’t matter if your issue is so bad that it didn’t even make this list!

And here’s why!

God’s not intimidated by the list I just gave.

God is not upstairs biting His nails wondering “How do I get her out of this mess?!"

He is not preoccupied or too busy for your issue.

He has not forgotten you or stopped listening to you or put your mail at the bottom of the stack to deal with later.

God is not worried and He’s not confused.

He’s not scared or rushed or hopeless.

He hasn’t pressed pause on your story, and He hasn’t misplaced your prayer request.

He hasn’t rejected or abandoned you or your dreams.

He isn’t dangling bait or trying to tease you. It’s just not in His nature.

He didn’t give you the wrong child or mess up during conception, and He didn’t kill your baby. Nope, He sure didn’t.  

 

Here’s what He IS doing!

He’s showing compassion in tangible ways!

He’s healing cancer and endometriosis.

He’s dissolving cysts. He’s distributing peace and wisdom into your situation.

He’s creating sperm from nothing.

He’s reshaping and repositioning wombs.

He’s carefully preparing your heart for your promise.

He’s creating life and redeeming loss.

He’s re-arranging people and situations and schedules on your behalf.

He’s calming the storm.

 

He’s reaching out His hand for you.

He’s moving mountains into the sea!

He’s raising dry bones and wounded hearts and dead dreams!

He’s handing out freedom.

He’s answering prayers and He’s speaking!

He’s working on your behalf!!!

 

So here’s to raising awareness not just for infertility, but for a God bigger than infertility. I hope this week we see more miracle stories than anything else... in order to stir hope in this community and create an atmosphere for miracles to be duplicated!!

If you are anywhere on the “infertility” spectrum... we hope you’ll stick around and dig through our resources. We hope you’ll find community in our online groups. We hope you’ll be encouraged by our social media posts. But mostly we hope you’ll be pointed to Jesus and refueled in your hope!


 

10 Journaling Prompts Through Miscarriage

If you are grieving the loss of a baby, I am so sorry! It's one of the hardest things to go through, and although you will never forget (and you don't want to)... it will get easier. It IS possible for your heart to heal because we serve a loving Father who comforts us and takes care of us and desires for us to walk in full and complete health- physically AND emotionally! 

Whether your miscarriage was 10 years ago or your baby died at birth last week, our team wants to encourage you to grieve- and that looks different for everyone. Don't be afraid to take the hard questions to God, to figure out why you're angry, to cry, to ask for help, to get some counseling or therapy. In our culture, we have been conditioned to think those things are a sign of weakness, but I believe they are a sign of a very strong woman who is dealing with her disappointment and loss in a healthy way!

So on to our journaling. One of the ways we figure out how we feel and begin to move on is by writing! And you don't have to write a novel. There were days after my miscarriages that I filled pages of my journal with ink and tears, but there were days I couldn't write at all- or I could write a single, angry sentence. Both were good. Both were healthy. 

Here are 10 simple journal prompts while you're going through the loss of a baby:

1. I feel God's presence most when...

2. Sometimes I feel guilty because...

3. I feel like I'm missing out on...

4. I feel angry because...

5. I'm grateful for...

6. I feel shame when...

7. A scripture that's helping me is...

8. God's showing me that He is...

9. The hardest time of day is...

10. I find the most hope when...


If you feel this was helpful for you, don't forget to Pin and Share it for other ladies as well!


Joy Comes in the Morning: Coloring Through Infant Loss & Miscarriage
$12.99

If you have experienced a miscarriage, still birth, or infant loss- this coloring book is for you!  It also makes a thoughtful gift for a friend going through the devastating loss of a baby. 

This collection of designs forms a beautiful and therapeutic tool for grieving. It provides a creative way to express your grief while meditating on the Word of God and filling your mind with truth.

It is a beautiful collection of over 25 inspiring pages designed by artists from Alaska to Hawaii, from East Coast to West! The pages include a variety of styles, ink drawings, and digital creations. Many of the artists have experienced miscarriage or infant loss, and on the back of each page they share encouragement for the grieving heart.

*Also available on Amazon Prime!

Going through infertility or loss? Share this with your family...

I'm so excited to introduce you to my amazing mom, Pam Grosse. I'm so thankful to her for sharing her heart during National Infertility Awareness Week. If you're going through infertility or loss and your family just doesn't seem to understand... send this to them. It's a great way to get a conversation started! Chances are they WANT to be there for you, they just may not know how!! And most likely, they don't have any idea how you feel or how hard this is!! I'll be following up this post soon with a list of ways to support family members going through delayed fertility.


Written by: Pam Grosse

I have never experienced the excruciating loss of an infant or child, or had a miscarriage, or spent years of waiting, hoping, and praying that I would become pregnant.  Nor have I dealt with the stress that can manifest in a marriage when any of these things have occurred.  But, I am the mother of someone who has endured several miscarriages, has spent hours in doctors’ offices, waited and waited and waited for months to conceive only to receive disappointing news, and probably cried buckets of tears.  Sadly, most young women or couples in that position feel very alone and frustrated – and many get depressed.  What is even sadder is that the people around them don’t even know how that person is feeling.  Not even family.  Not even Mom.  That is why I am so thrilled to see I Am Fruitful reaching so many lives and helping so many to heal and have hope.

Lauren & Pam

When my daughter, Lauren Bourne, and her husband, Billy, started I Am Fruitful I was so happy to know that even though they had already had one baby and another would soon be on the way, they wanted to reach out to couples like themselves who were going through similar situations.  There just wasn’t much out there for them when they were going through a tough time, so before they even received their first miracle, God began speaking to them to begin their ministry to women and couples who were going through similar situations or even worse.

As Lauren’s ministry began taking shape I began to realize just how much my daughter hadn’t been able to share with me and how much pain she and Billy had experienced.  Even though Lauren and Billy have a solid marriage with God at the center, they suffered heartache that people who are not in their situation will ever understand.  I thought that because I had such a great son-in-law, he would be there for Lauren and she would be there for him, and I just needed to let them be alone.  Time would heal their wounds. Besides, her dad and I lived 4 ½ hours away, so I would just pray and trust God to answer.  Sadly, they felt very alone with little support.  They were experiencing deep pain and hopelessness and very few people knew what they were going through or how to help.  I believe that most family members or friends who have never gone through a long season of waiting to get pregnant, suffered miscarriage, or even worse – the loss of an infant, will ever fully comprehend what someone going through any of those events truly feels.

Fast forward to two precious gifts (my grandchildren) from God and a ministry that is reaching out to couples who are hurting – just like Lauren and Billy were hurting.  And it all comes down to them surrendering their hearts completely to their heavenly Father, believing that His word to us is true, that His ways and thoughts are much higher than ours, and His plans for His children are  great – to give them a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11).  Now, there is a wonderful place to connect with others who are trying to conceive or have suffered an immeasurable loss – a safe place where they can share from the depths of their heart and find resources to help in such a difficult season of grief or waiting.

I now have a much greater understanding of what my children went through with delayed fertility and multiple miscarriages, and I feel honored to be part of the prayer team at I Am Fruitful.  We are here to be a voice to God on behalf of those who are unable to express theirs or for those who need someone to stand with them for their dreams and desires to be met.

You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!  
— John 14:13-14 (NLT)

My heart goes out to every person who writes in, and although I am not connecting with them on a personal basis, I am interceding on their behalf, thanking our faithful heavenly Father for hearing every prayer and for bringing every answer.  I have already heard many happy stories of what God has done in so many lives, and I want to encourage anyone reading this who is going through a difficult time to press into God and let Him take your burden and pain in exchange for His peace, joy, and healing.  

No matter where you are right now, God knows it, He sees it, and He is there to comfort you, strengthen you, and give you hope – even in the midst of what may be a very dark time.  Joy truly does come in the morning, because the Lord’s mercies are new every morning – and He will never leave you alone.  EXPECT His faithfulness in your life!

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.  
— Ephesians 3:20 (NLT)

Lauren, here! Can I just tell you how amazing this woman is?? This woman I get to call Mom. The one who drives over 4 hours to babysit. The one who always reminds me it's okay to be a little feisty. The one who has encouraged me over the decades to pursue my dreams. 

She may have downplayed her involvement during our waiting season. She and my dad may not have understood, but they were CONSTANTLY encouraging me, sending me emails, shooting me texts with scripture, calling, asking how I was, reminding me that God is bigger. I'm so grateful to have a supportive and Christ-centered family, and I say we need to make Mom's writing a regular thing around here!


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Check out OUR IDEAS for raising awareness and getting involved during National Infertility Awareness Week! It's not too late!

Lately on Instagram:

A new program that will greatly impact lives!

Long before we started I Am Fruitful, I would pray for ladies who told me they were having trouble getting pregnant. I'd take a gift when I heard of a miscarriage. I would meet for lunch to help ease a nervous friend's mind about IUI. I would send a text and ask how it's going. It was one friend at a time. And although our ministry has grown, my heart remains the same. I deeply desire to support you on this journey to grow your family. 

We have so many requests for support and prayer, and my personal capacity to pray has reached its cap.

Enter our new Prayer Team!!  

We're so blessed to have a team of people ready and willing to come alongside you in prayer. 

 “Therefore, confess your sins to one another [your false steps, your offenses], and pray for one another, that you may be healed and restored. The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) can accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God--it is dynamic and can have tremendous power].”

‭‭JAMES‬ ‭5:16‬ ‭AMP‬‬

Many issues can arise while dealing with delayed fertility or the loss of a baby- financial strain, marriage issues, health problems, emotional stress, procedures and tests, adoption processes. The list goes on! 

Let us know how we can support you! 

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A poem from a daddy after miscarriage

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My husband, Billy, wrote this poem after our first miscarriage with our son, Levi.

Miscarriage is HARD for the moms. But it's hard for the dad's too! I hope this blesses a hurting daddy today.

To Levi
by Billy Bourne

There's no direction for my emotion

I'm confused on what to feel...

A hurt without a name 

But, a hurt I can't conceal.

You’ll never see a day begin

A life without a breath

Innocence that knows no sin

My wife's spirit without rest

I'll never recognize your mother

Behind the smiles of your eye

I know you only by your heartbeat

And by your name - Levi

 Your eyes will never open

 Your hands will never hold

 Your lips will never kiss

 Your story never told

You will never say you love me

I'll never see you wed

I'll never make you pancakes

Or carry you to bed

 

 I'll never make you laugh

 I'll never let you win

 I'll never pick you up

 I'll never tuck you in

I'll never hold you in my arms

I'll never hear you cry

I'm blind to see your face

There's no answer to the - why?


So I sat down with the lord

And asked him to help me see

Why he would let this happen

Here's what he said to me:

 

Like a son that I've created

Who never knew me while on earth

Eternal separation from me    

Like your son without his birth


 
They will never know my love

Or who I created them to be

Lost forever and unknown

Their true identity a mystery


But, my grace is SO sufficient

Your broken heart I clearly see

But on the day you see my face

You'll see Levi standing next to me


 
I'll be your voice, I'll be your dad

And I'll love and pray for you

Until the day I see the Father

And the first day I see you


Little Mountain Momma: The Story Behind Her Pages

Little Mountain Momma: The Story Behind Her Pages

It was a true battle for me to surrender this part of my heart to the Lord.  I didn’t want His answer to be, “no.” This certainly wasn’t my vision for our family.  What if my vision didn’t line up with God’s?  Would I be able to trust that His heart for me, and for our family was in fact good, even if it looked different than what I had imagined?  

Pregnancy Loss Journey Podcast

I'm so honored to have been interviewed by the lovely Christy of the Pregnancy Loss Journey Podcast.

In this episode I share briefly about our own delayed fertility and miscarriages. Here are a few things we dig into:

  • choosing faith over fear
  • hope in the waiting
  • what do we have faith in?
  • managing emotions
  • accountability
  • redemption for loss

 If you need a little hope in your struggle... have a listen.

Psalm 126:5-6 (NLT)

"Those who plant in tears
    will harvest with shouts of joy.
They weep as they go to plant their seed,
    but they sing as they return with the harvest."



thoughts from a father on miscarriage

I'm so blessed to have a husband who not only supports me in the things I pursue, but who participates with me. Although you may hear more out of me, He's been actively working right alongside me in this ministry from the beginning. He loves the I Am Fruitful Community, he's constantly showing me a new perspective, and his heart for men and couples is inspiring. 

We experienced 3 miscarriages throughout our delayed fertility, and this is one life-changing thing that the Lord showed my husband as we battled with loneliness, difficult questions, and anger towards God. Now, from Billy...


"I Know How You Feel" - God

If you're like me– you may have read this with a slightly sarcastic tone, or maybe you know it is SUPPOSED to be true but you haven't yet unlocked the mystery of truth that seems to be alluding your thoughts. 

I remember how angry I was when I was digging into the injustice of our 2nd miscarriage.  

I remember sitting down (the way I had historically approached prayer) and taking out the checklist of thoughts I had to build my case against the so called 'goodness' of God. 

Somehow deep down I wanted to be corrected. I wanted to have my perspective change the way He had shown me so many times before. Maybe because my anger blinded me or maybe because I was experiencing emotions on a level I hadn't experienced before, or both; I went in and out of those conversations without an answer and without a response that seemed to help me understand or bring me peace.

At the time I had all but given up trying to understand the how and why of miscarriage...  I had seemingly moved on and chalked it up as "something I just won't understand until I get to heaven," and that's when completely randomly– God downloaded this...

It started with an intense emotion of empathy–  as if I felt and connected with God before I understood fully what He was going to unpack. Then I stumbled onto this scripture.

Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you.
— Jeremiah 1:5

Then God hit me with this–  "I've had billions of miscarriages."

Wait...  huh???

The idea began to unfold...  He showed me that every time one of His children is born, they have the choice throughout their life of whether to spend eternity with their Father.  They have a choice to spend their life pursuing a relationship with Him or not. When they choose not to, they will be apart from Him for all of eternity. 

He loses them, but they aren't forgotten. 

We think of this verse, talking about the point of conception and even before it, that God the Father had us in mind. He knew us. And so, He also knows our children, even though we never will on this earth. Our children will be apart from us through our time on this earth, but we serve a Father who redeems. His perfect design unites us forever with not only our earthly children, but the children we haven't known.

God can change our perspective in a moment. I want to encourage you to pursue a conversation with Him in faith– that He is good, He understands, and He wants to comfort you...  

He knows how you feel...



Lately on Instagram


A Podcast Interview about Miscarriage, Grief, and Faith

I'm so honored to have been interviewed on the Holistic Fertility and Wellness Podcast with Stephanie Risinger. In this interview I share our personal story of loss and our struggle to conceive. We also discuss grief, faith, and I share valuable suggestions for how to support couples experiencing miscarriage.

Click HERE to listen and be encouraged! You are not alone.


 

 

When Your Stork Gets Delayed

We took our kids to see the new Storks movie. I've honestly been waiting anxiously to see it since I first saw the preview.  Major spoiler alerts in this post (I know, I know... it's not the latest Star Wars or Bourne movie... it's just a kids movie... and it's animated. I should calm down... I know)! But still- spoiler alerts.

My husband will be the first to tell you that when I get into a show or movie, I REALLY get into it. Like, if you overheard me discussing the movie, you'd think Jen Aniston and I were besties. Yeah, I call her Jen.

So yes, it's animated. But I really got into this one.

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I'm a grown woman. And I wouldn't consider myself overly emotional. But Lord have mercy, this grown woman cried during an animated film about storks. Not tears running into my popcorn crying, but my five year old looked over at me wondering what was up.

Well I'll tell you. This movie hit home with me for so many reasons!  

First- doesn't the stork idea sound so amazing? You send a letter for a child and the storks produce the perfect baby for your family and deliver it in no time, to your doorstep. No waiting. No tears. No childbirth. No failed ivf's. No infertility. Just a baby and a bird on your doorstep. 

An infertile couple's dream.

The storyline was centered around an 18 year old girl who lives with the storks because she had never been delivered to her family. Now she's grown and accidentally turns on the baby-producing machine that's been shut down for so many years. She screws up, makes a baby, and now she and a stork have to deliver it to the boy who ordered a sibling. 

This boy was in serious need of affection. He had workaholic parents with horrible priorities and he just wanted someone to love him. Someone to play with. So he ordered a baby.  

By sending a letter.

For all those who have gone through infertility on ANY level... Absolute dream.

Well what got me were how many obstacles the girl and the stork faced trying to get that sweet, pink-haired baby girl to her family. It should have been an easy delivery. They had the address and transportation.

Then a broken wing. Then a plain crash. Then a wolf attack. And it was one thing after another. Well that hit home. 

Thats how it felt when we were trying to conceive. One thing after another. Failed iui. Then a miscarriage. Then months of nothing. Bad reports. And the list goes on. It felt like the enemy did everything in his power to stop our children from joining our family. Some days I lost faith and thought it would never happen. It was one of the most challenging things I've ever faced. 

Back to spoilers. They began to show the storyline of the little boy and his family. The change that took place in their hearts as they waited for their baby. They began spending time together, re-prioritizing, allowing change to happen in their ralationships and in their hearts. And I thought- if that baby had been dropped off at their door right away, their family could have fallen apart. WOULD have fallen apart! They would NOT have been ready.

And I know- this isn't Les Miserables. It's an animated movie about storks. I'm not trying to win a movie critic award.

But it really got to me! How many of us want the stork to deliver the baby right away, when God has so many things He'd like to work in our hearts and families. He may or may not be causing the delay. Every situation is different. But why not use that time to build our dream families in our hearts. Become the best wives we can. Love fearlessly. Grow our relationships and capacity for love. Work on the deep stuff, get emotionally healthy so that when that delivery does come... our families are ready for it!!  Cue "We are the champions!" 

I grew so much during my struggle to conceive, during my miscarriages, during my marriage struggles, during each failed fertility procedure or negative test. I was in a place of complete reliance on the Lord and I deeply desired to change in any area the Lord wanted me to. That's when breakthrough happens, my friends!

And so as amazing as it sounds to send a letter and receive a delivery...  

I want to challenge you to open your hearts and your families to change. Please hear me... I am NOT saying that you're not getting pregnant because there's something wrong with you or you're being punished or you've got a long list of things to change. I don't believe that! What I AM saying is don't allow this time to go by without ALLOWING God to do a work in your heart.  You'll be even more ready when you're "stork" arrives!

  “[Gabriel] stood before me and said, ‘Daniel, I have come to make things plain to you. You had no sooner started your prayer when the answer was given. And now I’m here to deliver the answer to you. You are much loved...” Daniel‬ ‭9:22-23‬ ‭MSG‬‬

God sent an angel with Daniel's answer the first day he prayed, but did you know it took 21 days to arrive because there were forces not of this world that were delaying the angel!!  Daniel's personal stork, in this context. 

 “Relax, Daniel,’ he continued, ‘don’t be afraid. From the moment you decided to humble yourself to receive understanding, your prayer was heard, and I set out to come to you. But I was waylaid by the angel-prince of the kingdom of Persia and was delayed for a good three weeks.” Daniel‬ ‭10:12-13 ‭MSG‬‬

Answers get delayed. Storks in movies get delayed. Actual angels even get delayed. But we serve a God of redemption!! And He restores much more than what was lost! Whether it be time, life, hope, finances! He redeems it!

So have hope. Continue believing and praying and allowing God to work in your life. Praise Him BEFORE your stork arrives. Because He's already received your letter. He's already packaged up your delivery... sometimes it just gets delayed and arrives differently than we expected it to. It's what you do in the meantime that will change the course of your family and your legacy. 

Please Pin or Share if this encouraged you in your waiting!

 

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Lately on Instagram

Desperation: A Beautiful Form of Faith

Desperation: A Beautiful Form of Faith

I’m actually tearing up as I begin thinking about the desperation I felt while we were in the midst of our “delayed fertility.” It was one of the most difficult struggles I’ve experienced in my life and in my marriage.

The unknown. The what-ifs. The bad reports and negative tests— desperation.

The phone call telling me I lost the baby. The phone call telling me I lost the next one too — more desperation.

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

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

TTC Exchange

Hi friends! I want to share something that's on my heart for future mommas around this time of year. Mother's Day can be HARD for the future mommy. I remember this very well. It's a day you're reminded of what you are not, of what you don't have, of what you desire so desperately. You see more photos of moms with babies, pregnancy photos, pregnancy announcements, and the list goes on. It's hard. Many ladies who haven't had kids yet can feel forgotten, left out, and heartbroken. It can be a very isolating time, if you allow it to.

So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you’ll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you’re already doing this; just keep on doing it.
— 1 Thess 5:11 (The Message Version)

We've put together a fun way that future mommy's can support and encourage each other as Mother's Day approaches! This Trying to Conceive (TTC) Exchange is for future mommy's (although I'm excited to tell you that we will be doing an exchange soon that will include secondary infertility as well)!  

We are setting out to build community, to support and encourage couples who are struggling to conceive, and to create an atmosphere for miracles! I highly encourage you to participate in this project and to share it with your friends who desire to be moms! You will not only be encouraged, remembered, and cared for, but you will also support someone else and possibly make a new friend in this difficult journey! For this exchange you will mail one card and receive one card!

Details for the FREE TTC Mother's Day Card Exchange:

  1. Sign up for the TTC Exchange HERE by April 14! (you will receive an email soon with a partner match)
  2. Send a card (in the mail) to your assigned exchange partner
  3. When you receive a card from your partner, post a photo to Instagram with the hashtag #iamfruitfulexchange

To sign up for this fun exchange, click HERE! We are capping this exchange at 100 ladies!

We believe this will not only encourage future moms, but also bring awareness to infertility! Feel free to download and use the photo below to share with your friends!


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Gird Your Loins: You are Flawless

Gird Your Loins: You are Flawless

If it seems silly including God in every little detail of your health, I want to ask you this- If God gave you a free detailed health plan that included a personalized workout calendar, a detailed cookbook that changed as you did, and a roadmap for mental and spiritual health, wouldn't you JUMP on that? Of course you would, because you would know that doing whatever the Holy Spirit led you to do would be the perfect plan and far better than anything you could create for yourself! So, now I want to encourage you to ask Him about your physical fitness.

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 

 http://youtu.be/286PGmJ74bo

 

 

 

 

Christmas Prayer for the Future Mommy

My heart has been so burdened for future mommy's. I've been seeing so much pain and obvious heartache all over social media, and I feel led to pray for the mother that so deeply desires a child. The woman who is a mommy in her heart, but hasn't held her child yet. I can so vividly recall the same emotions that you are no doubt feeling if you're struggling to conceive- jealousy, confusion, joy, sadness, fear, doubt, anger (this list goes on...and on...).   If you are struggling with infertility or loss, I am praying this prayer for you. I hope you can read this like I've sent you a personal message. Because I have. You are so important. God sees you. He hears you. He has great things in store for you, and He will pull through for you!

May He make you extremely fruitful!
— Lauren Bourne

Lord, I thank you so much for this precious woman who so deeply desires to conceive. God you have given her that desire and I ask that you would not be slow in fulfilling your promise to her. God, show her your compassion and wrap her in your arms this holiday season. Catch every tear that falls, and then comfort her in a tangible way. As she sees pictures of families with babies, pregnancy announcements, stockings hung up in a row, and Santa pictures from the mall... as she feels that twinge of longing over and over, would you please give her a peace that surpasses all understanding. Would you show her how to protect her heart and her mind. Give her the tools she needs to not just trudge through this season , but to enjoy this time. Give her something to cling to- a word, a vision, a hope, a picture of her future. Make it clear to her that it's you.

Lord, you have not given this sweeet woman a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. Would you replace her fears with your perfect love. Please show her how to throw that fear, worry, and anxiety right out the window. Show her and put the right people in her life to lift her up and encourage her. When she feels like her hormones, moods, and emotions are out of control- please help her to manage them and give her grace when she can't. If she gets another negative pregnancy result, would you be with her on that day, comfort her, and then give her more hope than she has seen before. Show her husband how to support her as well.

God, as this journey to motherhood has no doubt affected her marriage, would you please raise up her husband as the head of their home. Show him how he can love her and support her and encourage her in ways that show your love for us. Mold him into the leader that you have called him to be. Shape him into the strong man of God that you have placed as the leader of their growing family. Any confusion that has come in, I ask that you would take it away and replace it with peace, clarity, and a sincere understanding. Give them both a renewed sense of longing for each other, a deeply replenished desire, a rekindled romance built on your truth and love. Place mentors and Godly men in her husband's life and then give him ears to hear and a willingness to learn.

Lord, I ask that you would remind this precious woman of the things you've already done for her, and give her the hope she needs to press on. I pray that any thought that is from the enemy would be thrown out and that you would give her the strength to hold every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. Any diagnosis she has received- show her what you have to say about it. Make yourself evident as her healer. Lord, if she is struggling with anger, even anger towards you, would you work gently in her heart and reveal to her where you were during the toughest moments. Those moments she was on her knees in tears, those moments she was curled up in a ball crying, those moments she was yelling, and those moments she felt nothing at all. Where were you, Lord? Please show her as she seeks you for answers.  God, I thank you that where any type of confidence has been lost, that you would restore self-esteem, hope, and a complete trust in you. God, if she has had to go through miscarriage or loss of any kind, would you please show her specifically how to pursue healing for her heart, soul, and body. As you put the pieces of her heart together, I pray that her relationship with you and with her husband would be strengthened in the process. I thank you for full and complete emotional healing. Would you show her friends and family how to lift her up and comfort her, how to support her in ways that heal and not make things worse. Give them wisdom about when and how to support her, give them fresh ideas along with the willingness to carry them out.

God, I praise your name. You are so good. You are faithful and I believe you will be faithful in this woman's life. You are jealous, and you desire a deep and intimate relationship with her. Show her what that looks like as she pursues you. I believe you will work gently within her heart and heal the broken pieces, restore lost time, and provide hope for her family's future.

God, make yourself so clear to her. Reveal yourself to her in mighty ways- ways that give her hope for tomorrow, ways that bring her peace, ways that draw her to your side, ways that inspire her desire for more of you. God, would you lavish your favor on her life. Open up doors for her, pour out blessings on her, and bring her into a brighter and more fulfilling season. Prepare her heart for the miracle that you want to perform in her life, in her marriage, in her fertility, and in her family. Lord, I declare that her victory is on the horizon and that anything that is trying to come against that victory will be stopped immediately. Shelter her from the enemy. Give her the best of care, get her out of any trouble, and as she makes YOU her refuge- evil won't be able to get near her. Send your angels to guard and protect her everywhere she goes so they'll catch her anytime she stumbles and keep her from falling. Show her if there is something she needs to address or change, and make it evident what she should do. Lord, show her how to fight, remind her what it looks like to put on the full armor of God, and teach her how to use that armor well! God, you are faithful, you're reliable, you're trustworthy, and you're ever true to your promise!! Show her that she can depend on you, that you are much stronger than anything that she has faced, is facing, or will ever face. Show her how to clothe herself with strength and dignity, how to laugh without fear of her future. Bring her into the victorious and joyful future that you desire for her.

Lord, Your word says, "Blessed is she who believed that He would fulfill His promises to her." So God, please bless her as she believes in you, in your word, in your promises for her future. I pray that you would give her what her heart desires and accomplish all her plans. Transform her barren places into a fertile Eden and make her extremely fruitful!

In Jesus' Mighty Name, Amen!

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."