Monday Morning Prayer

From Dancing Upon Barren Land Ministry

A Prayer for the Future

http://dancinguponbarrenland.com/2010/12/monday-morning-prayer-18/

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Fertiliy Fact Friday

Infertility Etiquette for Ministry Leaders!

Click on the link below:

http://dancinguponbarrenland.com/2010/12/fertility-fact-friday-11/

Monday Morning Prayer

Monday Morning Prayer

A song in prayer:

http://dancinguponbarrenland.com/2010/12/monday-morning-prayer-16/

Have a great day!

The First of Many

Check out a personal note to you from me!

But you have to click on:

www.DancingUponBarrenLand.com and go to the Devotional Page!

Praying your holiday season is going well!

Lesli

Fertility Fact Friday

Fertility Fact Friday

Infertility Etiquette for Doctor's

posted at

www.DancingUponBarrenLand.com

Monday Morning Prayer

Monday Morning Prayer is now being posted at:

www.DancingUponBarrenLand.com

Today's topic: When You Face the Holidays/Family Gatherings

Once you are on the website, please consider subscribing to receive inspiration in your inbox and come back for another visit!

Thank you! Continuing to pray for you! Never give up!

Lesli

Fertility Fact Friday

Now posting Fertility Fact Friday's over on the website:

Dancing Upon Barren Land ~ Spiritual Nourishment for the Infertility Road.

Please visit: www.DancingUponBarrenLand.com.

Thank you!

Monday Morning Prayer

Hello!

For those who have been following this blog, I am now posting back on my website. Dancing Upon Barren Land ~ Spiritual Nourishment for the Infertility Road. Please visit www.DancingUponBarrenLand.com for more resources and inspiration! Once you visit, join our email list to receive devotionals, news and updates!

I sincerely appreciate you visiting this site and pray its' contents will be a blessing to you!

Lesli

Fertility Fact Friday

Fertility Fact Friday

For the next couple of 'Fertility Fact Friday's' I am going to post on Infertility Etiquette. How friends, family and ministry leaders can respond to those who are going through infertility or infant loss. Be sure to check back each Friday during the month of December for some great info!

For Family & Friends

How to Respond

• Recognize infertility exists.
• I am sorry that you’re having to go through so much.
• What can I do for you?
• Teach me about what you are going through so I can better understand.
• Never give up. Keep believing.
• It is okay to cry.

What to Say

• Non-selfish comments.
• Voice interest in medical treatments.
• I’ll be praying for you and your husband.
• I am here for you.
• God can do anything.
• Give a scripture.
• You’ll be a great mom!
• I can’t wait to meet your baby!
• Give a call on Mother’s Day.
• Remind them of God’s promises.
• Don’t say anything, just listen and encourage.

What NOT to Say

• When are you going to have children?
• Just adopt.
• Are you sure you want to try for a child?
• Shouldn’t you wait until ‘this’ happens or ‘that’ happens?
• Quit trying so hard.
• From a medical specialist, “You will never have a baby.”
• Give up. Let it go. It will happen.
• It is not the end of the world if you don’t have kids!
• Just relax.
• You’re too old to have a child.
• Just stop thinking about it so much, then it will happen.
• It will happen when you are least expecting it.
• Just go get drunk.
• There is more to life than just being a “mom”.
• At least you’re an aunt. That’s fun!
• Complain about your own children.
• Questioning the ability to be a mother.

For Other Family Members

• Let up on the questions, “Do you want children?” or “Where are my grandchildren?”
• Do not treat the woman/infertile couple differently.
• Do not test them on how they will react to other children in the family.
• Keep the issue within the family.
• Be their biggest cheerleader.
• Get educated on fertility treatments and terminology.
• Be sensitive that they may not want to share the highs and lows of the journey.
• Ask how they feel, not just ask superficial things.
• Encourage faith. Pray with them.
• Try not to fix the situation.
• At family gatherings: Be aware that the couple may not come around as often.
• After the initial issue is shared within the family, don’t sweep it under the rug. Silence about the matter can be a killer.

For additional infertility etiquette or spiritual inspiration as your traveling down the infertility road, please visit: Dancing Upon Barre Land ~ Spiritual Nourishment for the Infertility Road, www.DancingUponBarrenLand.com.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Here in the United States today we celebrate "Thanksgiving", a national holiday. A day to pause, give thanks, spending time with our family and partake in gluttony! Eating until there is no tomorrow!

But I wanted to take this chance to convey a heartfelt "Thank You." Thanks for visiting and reading this blog. For your kind comments, expressions of what you are going through and your prayer and financial support of the Dancing Upon Barren Land ministry. It means so much to me!

Most of all, I give thanks to the Lord Jesus Christ! I reflect on what took place two years ago today. We received the heartbreaking news from the doctor's, "No hope for you to conceive." When I think about that day, I thank Him because He took away my grief and replaced it with joy! He healed the memory of that moment! It is a testimony I'll share on another day at another time!

I know holiday time can be quite a challenge! But just pour your heart out to Him. He loves you and has not forgotten about you!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Lesli

For additional inspiration click on: www.DancingUponBarrenLand.com

Monday Morning Prayer

~THANKSGIVING~

from the Book of Common Prayer

Accept, O Lord, our thanks and praise for all that you have

done for us. We thank you for the splendor of the whole

creation, for the beauty of this world, for the wonder of life,

and for the mystery of love.

We thank you for the blessing of family and friends, and for

the loving care which surrounds us on every side.

We thank you for setting us at tasks which demand our best

efforts, and for leading us to accomplishments which satisfy

and delight us.

We thank you also for those disappointments and failures

that lead us to acknowledge our dependence on you alone.

Above all, we thank you for your Son Jesus Christ; for the

truth of his Word and the example of his life; for his steadfast

obedience, by which he overcame temptation; for his dying,

through which he overcame death; and for his rising to life

again, in which we are raised to the life of your kingdom.

Grant us the gift of your Spirit, that we may know him and

make him known; and through him, at all times and in all

places, may give thanks to you in all things.

Amen.

Happy Thanksgiving to those who live in the States!

Fertility Fact Friday

Since this month is National Adoption Awareness Month here in the United States, I thought I'd post about embryo adoption. Not many people are aware of embryo adoption, but it is another avenue in which a childless couple can explore to become parents. I've personally attended a meeting of the Snowflake Adoption Program met the parents and heard the story of the parents who have chosen embryo adoption, a very precious way to honor life. Here are some facts and great resources below!

Frozen Embryo Donation and Adoption - Donation: Frozen embryos represent hope for infertile couples. With close to 500,000 frozen embryos stored in the U.S.A. alone, this can give a childless couple a chance to adopt and birth a child. Pray and consider donating your frozen embryo(s).
Adoption: If you are one who has ovulation dysfunction, yet have a viable uterus to carry a child, this may be an option for you. Prayerfully consider adopting a frozen embryo.

Support Organizations

• www.embryoadoption.org Increases awareness and understanding of the hope embryo adoption and donation offers to peoples struggling with infertility.
• www.nightlight.org Snowflake Adoption Program. This program recognizes and advocates the person hood of pre-born children. Assisting birth parents and genetic parents in making a wise and loving plan for their child’s future.

If you this is your first visit to this blog, hop on over to Dancing Upon Barren Land ~ Spiritual Nourishment for the Infertility Road, www.DancingUponBarrenLand.com. You'll find more inspiration and resources there. Also, become a fan of DUBL on Facebook!

It's Back!

The website that is!

After 152 days, Dancing Upon Barren Land ~ Spiritual Nourishment for the Infertility Road has returned with a new face and features! For those who visit this blog you now can go to www.dancinguponbarrenland.com. You'll find Prayers, Infertility Etiquette, Resources and a Devotional to inform and inspire you!

A big 'thanks' to Jake Reed and Matt Crawford, the web design team for their expertise and patience with me as they recreated the site. www.gowithjake.com. To my husband Larry, who encouraged me greatly when I was so discouraged thinking that the website was down forever! To extended family and friends their undying, consistent support!

Most of I'm grateful to Jesus Christ!

The enemy, the hackers of the website tried to stop the outreach of this ministry. But this is what I say to the enemy today:

"Don't you see, you planned evil against me but God used those same plans for my good, as you see all around you right now—life for many people." Genesis 50:20

My continued prayer is this ministry will bring life spiritually and physically to those silently suffering with infertility.

Thanks for your continued support and prayer for this ministry,

Yours & HIS,

Lesli

P.S. If you go to the website, please make sure you sign up for the email list! You'll receive news, updates and a devotional. Thanks!

Monday Morning Prayer

FINANCES

“Heavenly Father, You know the path we are to take even before one step. You see how our fertility challenges have brought us to the place of making major financial decisions. Father, give us wisdom regarding our finances as we seek Your direction for our future children. We believe Your Word and praise You that You will supply all of our needs according to Your riches in glory through Christ Jesus. Father, we will be obedient to your Word to honor you with our wealth, with our tithe and offerings. Thank you for Your abundance in our finances.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Proverbs 3:9-10, Malachi 3:8-11, Philippians 4:19

Forward & Upward

My husband and I took a short, well-needed break last week. We flew to Idaho, explored some beauty of the state and stayed with some great friends! We left for our trip very early in the morning. As we were rushing through the airport I ask myself ‘Why do I plan these early flights? Then I answer myself “Because it’s cheaper!” After all it’s about getting a good deal, right?

As we taxied out to the runway in darkness for our departure, it started to sprinkle. As we climbed higher in altitude, it began to storm. I had a window seat near the wing and peering out the window looked like chaos! There were strong winds, pelting rain, and flashing lights from the aircraft.

A myriad of thoughts rummaged in my head:

I am not pelted by rain...

I am dry

The storm is raging...

I am sheltered

I am not tossed to and fro by the strong winds...

I have a foundation, or in this case a paid seat in row 11, seat F

I am not stagnate...

I am moving upward and forward due to the thrust of power

These collected thoughts and scripture remind me of how good and great God is to us.

We may be pelted with set backs and disappointments, it could be a negative medical report or news that our job is ending, but we have God’s protection.

Psalm 61:3 AMP
“For You have been a shelter and a refuge for me, a strong tower against the adversary.”

Psalm 91:1
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.”

Just like the storm, things feel shaky and may not look pretty on the outside. There may be tension in our family or a strain in working relationships, or our finances may look bleak. Yet we have a sure foundation through Jesus Christ.

II Thessalonians 3:3 AMP

“Yet the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen [you] and set you on a firm foundation and guard you from the evil [one].”

Hebrews 11:1 MSG
“The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It's our handle on what we can't see.”

As I sat on the plane the effect of the storm did not touch or stop us, the powerful engines kept us moving in spite of what was coming against us. In our minds we think we are not moving on in life, stagnate, in a rut, but the unseen powerful hand of God is moving us forward and upward.

Psalm 138:8
“The Lord will work out his plans for my life- for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever. Don’t abandon me, for you made me.”

Jeremiah 29:11
“I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope.”

Job 17:9
“The righteous keep moving forward and those with clean hands become stronger and stronger.”

The start of the early morning flight was dreary, wet and chaotic, but the view at dawn was quite different, as you can see in the picture above. He knows the end from the beginning!

Proverbs 4:18
“But the path of the righteous is like the light of the dawn, that shines brighter and brighter unto the full day.”

Friend, that’s our God!

Fertility Fact Friday

November marks the National Adoption month here in the United States. Today's Fertility Facts include some resources and support organization providing adoption information. I hope you'll pass this on to someone who is pursuing adoption. Also, this would be great for pastor's and women's ministry leaders as well!

Adoption
Support Organizations
Show Hope
Adoption aid, how to start an adoption fund ministry at your church and orphan care, created by contemporary Christian singer Steven Curtis Chapman. www.showhope.org

Christian International Adoption
One of the largest international adoption agencies in the U.S.A. www.cwa.org

National Adoption Foundation
Provides financial resources, info and services for adoptive or prospective adoptive families. www.nafadopt.org

Adoptive Families of America Magazine
A magazine with information for families before, during and after adoption. www.adoptivefamilies.com

Monday Morning Prayer

WORRY

Today, instead of giving you a written prayer, I thought I’d pass along this article I found on ‘worry’. I believe at one time or another we all have ‘worried’ about something or someone.

Are you worried today?

Read the scriptures below, allowing His Word to get your mind focused in the right direction. Pray a simple prayer from your heart. When your mind starts to worry again, meditate on the scriptures. Prayer, trusting God is the antidote to worry. It is not easy, but with His help we can do it!

4 Reasons Not to Worry

What does the Bible say about Worry?

If you're not convinced yet to give up your worrying, here are four biblical reasons not to worry.

Worrying Accomplishes Absolutely Nothing. I don't know about you, but I don't have any time to waste these days. And worrying is a waste of very precious time. Worrying won't help you solve a problem or bring about a solution, so why waste your time and energy on it?

Matthew 6:27-29

Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.

Worrying is Not Good for You. Worrying is destructive to us in many ways. It becomes a mental burden that can even cause us to grow physically sick.

Proverbs 12:25

Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up.

Worrying is the Opposite of Trusting God. The energy that we spend worrying can be put to much better use in prayer. Here's a little formula to remember:

Worry replaced by Prayer equals Trust.

Matthew 6:30

And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

Philippians 4:6-7

Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Worrying Puts Your Focus in the Wrong Direction. When we keep our eye focused on God, we remember His love for us and we realize we truly have nothing to worry about. God has a wonderful plan for our lives, and part of that plan includes taking care of us. Even in the difficult times, when it seems like God doesn't care, we can put our trust in the Lord and focus on his kingdom. God will take care of our every need.

Matthew 6:25

That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life-whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn't life more than food, and your body more than clothing?

Matthew 6:31-33

So don't worry about these things, saying, 'What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?' These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

1 Peter 5:7

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

Written by Mary Fairchild, about.com.