holden family experience

On Monday, September 15 Dwayne & Kathleen Clark will be starting an infertility support group at Sevier Heights. They are both retired pyschologists from GA who have recently moved to the area and joined SHBC. They have experienced infertility firsthand themselves. This group is for husbands and wives. Jess and I are so excited about this because up until now the only groups we have done have been for women only. I think it will be really great for the both of us and so many more out there who are walking down this road. 

Please pass this information along to anyone you know who might receive a blessing from this new ministry. I am praising Jesus for sending the Clark’s to SHBC and look forward to meeting them. So many times during this journey God has sent us people to encourage us. Just last week a man at our church shared his struggle with infertility in his marriage and then prayed with Jess. It made a huge impact and Jess was very encouraged to hear this from a man’s perspective. I have met so many awesome women through all this and not one of them have given up on God or decided to leave the faith. Over and over I hear the same thing….how God worked out His perfect plan and revealed Himself to them in the process. They are rejoicing, they are thankful…it has brought much fruit in their spiritual life. One good friend told me that infertility was their “first real test of faith” in their marriage. I can say amen to that and even though this hasn’t been the first, it is likely to be the hardest so far. 

Once again I have to praise Jesus for Sevier Heights and all the amazing servants God continues to lead here to minister to broken and hurting people. One of our pastors reminds us often that “the work we do here is the most important work we can do on this earth. It is kingdom work.” I become more and more assured of that and more and more grateful to be a part of it. 

I hope you and your family have a great weekend!!!!

Leslie

In my quiet time today God asked me this question…

“Do you fear any person or anything more than God?”

As I sat there and thought about this question my gut hurt. Yep, I do Lord. I fear lots of things. Fear has really reared its ugly head in my life over the past 3 years. Fear of cancer, fear of losing my husband, fear of losing another member of my family, fear of never having children of my own, fear of giving up on my dreams….anybody been there?

So as I prepare for my surgery this Friday I wanted to share something with you that has helped me a great deal to lay down my fears in the area of having children. Our infertility story is like thousands of couples out there right now. We know that we are not alone. But this prayer has helped me put things in perspective and lay down my fears…day in and day out. This is from an awesome book I read recently called, Hannah’s Hope. I hope it encourages you in some way…to lay down whatever fear you have and know that God is in complete control of our individual circumstances. Whatever our desire…our first love must always for Him and to know Him. He alone can satifsy us….He is more than enough.

Thank you all so much for your prayers! Have a great week!

“Lord, help me to know that You are enough. Take my eyes off myself. Take my eyes off the child I desire. Help me to delight myself in You. Mold the desires of my heart to be in line with Your will. I don’t want to need to be a mother more than I need to be your humble, obedient child. I don’t want wanting to have a baby to be a stumbling block between You and me anymore.

I want to give this desire, this drive, this ache up to You. Help me not to snatch it back as I so often do with the burdens I place in Your hands. Help me to truly be content with Your will and Your timing.

You know that I still desire a baby — someone to mold, teach, train, shape, guide and help to grow in You. But until the day You give me that joyous blessing, help me to grow in You. Let me reach out to those around me. Let me witness and minister to the children You place in my path.

Lord, if adoption is the path You would have us take, prepart our hearts and prepare the child who will share our home. If adoption is not Your will for our lives, keep me from pushing ahead of Your plan. Help me to stay submitted to my husband’s will, and to Your will. If we are headed in the wrong direciton, change our hearts.

Thank you for lifting my burden. Help me to keep You first! Let me seek Your face daily, and let me know that you are enough!

“Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” Psalm 51:12