Come On Over!

We've moved to Dancing Upon Barren Land ~ Spiritual Nourishment for the Infertility Road.

www.DancingUponBarrenLand.com

Future postings will be on posted there. Make sure to subscribe to receive our emails containing Devotional and News/Events. So much has been posted lately. I pray you'll be encouraged!

Thanks!

Lesli

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!

There's a Rooster in the Hen House

Well, if you read the recent Fertility Fact Friday then you will gather why I posted those particular acronyms. For the devotional below, I have transposed the medical acronyms into spiritual acronyms. I must say a God-given idea! I pray they will point you to Christ, His Word and prayer.

Through this 'test' of infertility God has written a testimony through my life, and still continues to do so. His faithfulness to me through my endless doubting and questions to Him have brought me such great comfort. So, it is through my experiences and writing on this blog (and the website, www.dancinguponbarrenland.com) that I hope to portray a loving, caring God who has not forsaken His daughters.

So what you'll read below is how it all got started! As you notice it all began in a Bible Study with my close girlfriends. We've been hanging together for a long time! The picture above was taken awhile back. I'm sure I'll here a complaint from one of them about posting this picture.

I'll just mention that when they have their own blog, then they can post whatever picture they want. (smiles)

Telling the truth...that's what friends are for, right?

Have a great weekend!

Lesli

Present Mental State – PMS Journal your present thoughts.

Living Hope – LH

“There’s a Rooster in the Hen House!” interesting you may think, what a funny title for a Devotional post about one woman’s spiritual journey through infertility. But, it’s a sure thing! It all began at a ‘Hen House’ meeting, amongst my girlfriends. There was a surprise visitor and it wasn’t just another hen or chick, it was the rooster himself!

Before this particular meeting, I would have days where I asked the infamous questions “What am I here for? “What is my purpose in life?” Most likely you have asked similar questions at one time or another. These questions were coupled with such intensity that I would label them ‘crash days’. Nothing or no one could satisfy the deep cavernous ache within. Not realizing that the childhood dream of becoming a mother was buried deep down inside me, only to be unearthed by one simple question.

In December 1997, my husband and I had just moved into our new home. A dream come true! For years my close girlfriends and I would always be involved in some sort of small group Bible study together. Each new study opened our minds and hearts about God and His Kingdom. However, I didn’t know this particular Bible Study would prove to be a turning point in my life. For the most part, we would study the Bible, eat, pray...then eat some more! Our time together afforded the opportunity to try out new recipes, to be filled physically and spiritually.

Over the years we have dubbed ourselves, “THE PeePs”. Of course, a peep is the sound you hear when baby chicks come together, like a bunch of girls coming together. This time around, at my Hen House, on what we consider a cold day in Southeast Texas (sixty degrees), I was leading the Bible Study titled The Mind of Christ, by Henry Blackaby. In one particular chapter there was a question proposed to us: ‘What are the five desires of your heart?’ I proceeded to make my list quickly. After reviewing what I had written I noticed about four out of the five desires were for my husband, only one for me.

In the Bible, God uses His creation to get our attention, just like he used the rooster to crow to indicate to Peter his denial of Christ, a donkey to speak to Balaam and a raven to feed Elijah. For me, figuratively speaking, it was at this Bible Study that the rooster appeared! God Himself! He pecked my heart, not an intended wound, but a light tap. His presence created a tug upon my heart, a strong stirring to begin to pray for the God-intended purpose for my life. Little did I know what was to happen in the coming month.

Now, I write symbolically to portray and give you a visual picture of the setting that I was in, but also, I write in reverence to my Heavenly Father, God. As you will see throughout the forthcoming posts I will express very candidly and openly about my relationship with Christ. He is my friend, I talk to Him as I would my friends, but with a profound respect. I pray that He is your friend too!

My journey down this barren road may be different than yours. In fact, no two journeys’ of infertility are alike. We may not take the same path but our hearts carry the same feelings. There are those feelings of hopelessness, emptiness and a sense of being forgotten. I can say that mine has truly been a journey of faith along a dry, dusty road. Might I add, a very slow, wandering in the wilderness. However, throughout the many miles of the hard road I have traveled, He has stationed Himself along the way for me as the Rock to rest upon and Living Water that is quenching my parched soul and body. He extends His strong arms with nail scarred hands and lifts me to my feet, constantly filling me with joy, for the moment, which gives me strength for what lies ahead.

What about you? How are you making it? Infertility can be extremely difficult! Are you all alone? I know you may feel alone, but you don’t have to be. Let me introduce you to my friend, Jesus Christ, the Savior. The One who is faithful to walk with you and carry you through this barren land.

Faith is the Substance of things Hoped for - FSH A scripture to meditate or memorize. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

His Continued Grace – HCG A prayer for you. Perhaps you may not know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. If you don’t have an understanding of what salvation is then go to the About Page and click the Prayer of Salvation. I hope you’ll think about asking Him to come into your heart and become Lord over your life. If so, consider praying this prayer below.

"Dear Lord Jesus, I am a sinner and need your forgiveness. I ask that you will come into my heart, to be my Lord and Savior. I trust You with my life. Thank you for the forgiveness of my sins, and eternal life. I ask this in Your name, Amen."

Praise God – PG Take a moment to praise and thank Him for touching your heart.

If you prayed the prayer above, please feel free to contact me or leave a comment.