Friday, October 9, 2015

Preparation During the Wait

Like me, you may be currently TTC’ing, or maybe you’re currently in the NICU with your premature child.  Either case, you’re dealing with something that’s beyond your control, especially during a diagnosis of infertility, or battling against prematurity and fighting for your child’s life.  A diagnosis of infertility makes you feel that you’ll never become a mother.  Having a premature child makes you feel that you possibly did something wrong to cause your child to be born prematurely.  I know I felt that way, among other things that I felt during my son’s time spent in the NICU.  But, I want to encourage by reminding us of God’s promise in Isaiah 41:10 “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 (NLT).” Let me remind you of another one of God’s promises.  Luke 1:13-14 (NLT), “But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer.  Your wife, Elizabeth will give you a son, and you are to name him John.  You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.”   Both of these passages start by telling us DO NOT BE AFRAID!  In Isaiah God says do not be afraid because I’m with you.  In Luke He says do not be afraid because I’ve heard your prayer.  If God tells us to not be afraid because He is with us, and He’s heard our prayer we should take Him at His word, literally!  Even when our natural experiences while having a sick baby, or wanting to become a mother makes us feel fearful, God says DO NOT BE AFRAID.  Preemie mother, He will give you strength; He will hold your sick baby and you up with His victorious right hand!  Woman battling a diagnosis of infertility, he has heard your prayer for a baby, and just like Zechariah and Elizabeth you will be able to rejoice at his/her birth.  But first, God requires that you believe Him…trust Him…and have faith in Him.  It is when you and I completely have faith in His ability to heal ANY sickness, diagnosis and open our womb to conceive that He can truly manifest His glory.  I am a living testament to this.  I recently learned that He’s completely healed my right fallopian tube that was diagnosed as severely scarred 3 years ago.  The RE told my husband after an emergency laparoscopy that we’d never be able to conceive naturally because my left fallopian tube was blocked, and my right was scarred; therefore, being unable to get the fertilized egg to my uterus.  Now, 3 years later after MUCH prayer and faith God has healed and COMPLETELY opened my right tube, and I believe Him to do the same for the left. So, give God your faith regardless of what it appears to look like in the natural!
Having said all of that, now that you know how important it is to believe Him…trust Him, and have faith in Him, you should now be getting prepared.  Prepared for what you may ask.  You should be preparing for the homecoming of your preemie, because he/she WILL be coming home!  You should be preparing for your predestined one (baby) because he/she IS on the way!  Faith believes that God will do what we can’t see with our eyes naturally.  It’s knowing that God will heal your baby, and that He will completely heal you of infertility, and he will give you your predestined one (baby)!  So, get that nursery designed and completed, go buy an outfit or two to put your faith into action!  This is a time of preparation during the wait.
How to prepare while you wait for your baby to be discharged home to the NICU:
1.       Keep praying for your son/daughter’s healing.
2.       Meditate on the word of God to keep your faith strengthen.
3.       Buy clothes for them to wear once he/she is home. 
4.       Design, decorate and prepare their nursery.
5.       Plan and organize a baby shower (if you haven’t had one already).
6.       Make any necessary adjustment to finances.
7.       Get rest.

How to prepare while you wait on your BFP (Big Fat Positive) confirming pregnancy:
1.Keep praying for your healing against infertility (if that’s your desire), and for God to open your womb. (Lay hands on your lower abdomen).
2. Meditate on the word of God to keep your faith strengthen.
3.  Buy a onesie/article of clothing for your predestined one (baby).
4.       Design, decorate and prepare their nursery.
5.       Pick a name, and pray daily for the baby that’s on the way as if they are already here.
6.       Make any necessary adjustment to finances.
7.       Choose healthier food choices.
8.       Drink more water
9.       Exercise at least 3x/week.
The above mentioned are just a few things that we can do in faith.  If you feel led to do something else that’s not on the list, go for it!  The point of this is to put our faith to action while believing God’s promises.  We have to see it, before we see it! 
Let’s keep one another lifted in prayer.  I’m praying with you and for you, and know that NOTHING is impossible for God!

God is GREATER THAN prematurity or infertility!

~ Tiffany Finley


Thursday, August 20, 2015

Ready and Fearful














There are many women and loved ones in my life right now that I know are currently pregnant.  They’re right now expecting their predestined ones (baby) after experiencing a loss of some sort at one time or another in their life, such as miscarriage, stillbirth, death after giving birth for whatever reason, ectopic, blighted ovum’s, and the list goes on- many after desperately waiting on their BFP (Big Fat Positive).  I also currently know women who are fighting infertility; longing in their hearts for healing, and to become a mother, or conceive another child.  And, I currently know women who have given birth prematurely due to circumstances beyond their control, and are praying and fighting to overcome the premature birth of their infants.  I too am each of these women.  So, I know all too well some of the emotions associated with each of these experiences.  Some of the women in my life have personally shared with me how they’re afraid…ready to give life and become a mother, but still afraid of what lies ahead.  Some of you, like myself, are trusting God for healing in your reproductive system, and your baby that you’ve prayed for, but you’re still afraid of not ever conceiving, adopting, or finding a surrogate.  In whatever way you believe God to bless you with your baby, you’re STILL afraid.  Some are afraid of their babies never leaving that NICU incubator.  You’re afraid that your baby will lose their battle, because of what you see before you with your natural eyes, and heard with your natural ears.  You’re just afraid…we’re just afraid!
I know and understand that war of being ready and afraid at the same time. You’re ready for healing, pregnancy, your preemie to discharge from the NICU and FINALLY be home with you, but still paralyzed with fear, worry, and doubt.  You can’t FULLY enjoy your pregnancy because you’re afraid of miscarrying again, not hearing a heartbeat again, stillbirth again, ectopic pregnancy again, setbacks due to prematurity again, failed adoption again, not being able to conceive again.  You’re just paralyzed by this all consuming fear, worry, and doubt; although, you’ve been praying.  You want so badly to not be afraid or fearful and to rejoice, and be happy about your prayers being answered to conceive, answered to be healed, answered to have your baby out of the NICU and home, but paralyzed by the unknown. 
Sisters, I understand your fears, worry, and doubt and so does our Father in heaven.  He intimately knows every minute, second, hour, and day we have experienced (good and bad), and every minute, second, hour and day that is yet to be experienced.  I know at times it’s difficult to have faith that all will work out, and all will be well when we’ve gone through so many painful experiences.  Our experiences sometimes replace the faith we should be holding on to.  But, you have to know that the best way to fight your pregnancy fears, adoption fears, healing fears; fertility fears…any fear is with the WORD; thus, developing and strengthening your faith. 
You see, we shouldn’t be daughters of God walking around afraid of what he’s promised us, and paralyzed by fear, worry, and doubt.  Jesus wants you and I to not be afraid, and to just have faith (Mark 5:36 NLT). When we allow faith to rest in our hearts and minds, fear and worry has no place to reside. When we become intentional about praying more, making our request and telling God what we need.  His peace will overflow in our lives internally and externally (Phil. 4:6-7 NLT). Also, speak and pray the word of God over the situation that you believe God to change.  What better way to fight your fears, than to do so by using the word.  Additionally, write your own prayer of declaration over the predestined one (baby) that you’re carrying in your womb, your baby that’s waiting to be adopted, or reproductive health.  Whatever you trust God for; write your own prayer of declaration over it. 
Here are a few scriptures that God gave me to share with you to help you fight fear of pregnancy, fertility, healing, adoption, and prematurity.  It is my prayer that you would meditate on them, and pray them over your situation.  I pray that you will begin to understand the power that lies in the word of God.  I pray that being afraid, and that fear that you have will dissipate.  I pray that your faith will be strengthened and will rise up, so that you can walk in peace, joy, love, and freedom, while rejoicing in His goodness and faithfulness.  Trust Him.  No matter what you’ve gone through in your past, what you will go through in your present, or future you can trust Him, and walk in peace. 
Scriptures to Fight Fear During Pregnancy, and When Trying to Become a Mother:
Philippians 4:6-7        Psalms 112:7
Isaiah 26:3                  John 14:27
Psalms 113:9             Exodus 23:25-25
Hebrews 11:11           1 Samuel 1:27
Luke 1:13-14              Isaiah 41:10

Are you pregnant with your predestined one (baby)? Are you just beginning the adoption process, or in the finalization of your adoption process? Are you TTC (Trying to Conceive)?  Are you currently in the NICU with your preemie? Let me know, so that I can be praying for you.  Or, if you have a friend, or family member that needs prayer, please let me know.  I would love to pray for them as well.  Send your prayer request to Tiffanfin@gmail.com.  You’re my sisters, and we’re in this together.  You are not alone! 

Yours in Christ,
Tiffany



Tuesday, July 7, 2015

" Why? God I Blame You!"



I shared some encouragement about prayer and faith this afternoon with some ladies in a groupme chat.  After reading what I’d shared, it dawned on me that I needed to share this with my fertility and preemie mom sisters:
I just want us to encourage each other to NEVER stop praying, b/c sometimes it's easier to complain and try to take matters into our own hands, instead of talking to God about them, and trusting Him to help and do what needs to be done. I just have a quick testimony about praying: I was diagnosed with pcos in May '07(irregular periods, anovulatory cycles) and was told that I would need progesterone to induce periods. So, up until January this year I would go sometimes 4 or 5 months before having a cycle.  But this year I made up in my mind that I was going to REALLY pray and trust God to heal my reproductive organs. Our church had a prayer & healing conference this past January, and the minister prayed over me and a few other women for healing in our reproductive health. I kid you not, that following week I had a cycle, and have continued to have cycles regularly since. I prayed and believed God for healing before the conference, and He healed! And, they're not anovulatory cycles either b/c I can feel the change in my body during ovulation time. So, I just wanted to share with y'all that testimony, and encourage all of you to NEVER stop praying and believing. They go hand and hand. Prayer and faith moves God- NOT our fears, worries, complaints, and disappointments. It's ok to share those emotions with God, but after sharing those emotions don't forget to share with Him the most important thing of all...your FAITH! Don't just share your struggles and frustrations, and disappointments, but never give Him your faith. He needs to know that we TRUST Him as our spiritual Father. We're His daughters and he'll withhold NO good thing from us! So, keep praying and believing! Our flesh doesn't want to pray and believe, but kill that lower nature (flesh) and pray and believe anyway. Don't allow the enemy to keep your mouth shut! Open it and pray, and believe!

Even after sharing this with the ladies in the chat, God impressed upon my heart to share this in my blog.  Therefore, I’m sharing in hopes of it encouraging you, and changing your perspective about prayer, and faith, especially as it pertains to fertility, conceiving, caring for a preemie, and not understanding why it’s happening to you.  But, remember even in the midst of our lack of understanding God knows His plans for our lives (Jeremiah 29:11), and he will answer our prayers.  I recall stating earlier this year that 2015 will be a year of supernatural possibilities, and I still profess that! God has already moved in my health this year, and I’m anticipating Him doing more supernatural things in my life.  Sisters, keep praying and believing.  As stated before, don’t allow your sorrows, worry, fear, frustrations, anger, guilt, or whatever else to separate you from God’s love.  Furthermore, don’t allow those emotions to cause you to blame God for what has happened in your life – job loss, pregnancy loss, infertility, death of a loved one, etc.  The enemy would LOVE to have you all in your feelings, resenting God, turning your back on Him, blaming Him, and not praying, believing, or professing the Word over your life.  Satan will have you so wrapped up in your negative emotions that you’ll feel justified in blaming God, and resenting Him.  But you and I must remember that God is a God that cares, consoles, encourages, and loves.  He’s not in the business of intentionally causing us pain, harm, or grief; For He does not willingly bring affliction or grief to anyone (Lamentations 3:33 NIV). 
So, don’t allow Satan to have you angry with God.  Talk to God, and tell Him what you’re feeling…anger, disappointment, and sadness about losing what was so dear to you.  Journal about it if you must, but don’t leave God! Satan will use those emotions to create separation between you and the Father.  Don’t turn your back on the one who loves you.  Cling to Him, and your faith in His supernatural power!  Sisters, I’m continuing to keep you lifted before God in prayer; that your reproductive system will be healed, and that God will open your womb to conceive.  I also believe that God will heal every preemie baby that’s ill right now.  I declare and decree by the power of the blood of Jesus Christ that their health status will improve.  This is the year of supernatural possibilities, amen! And, lastly don’t be ashamed of your story.  There’s no shame in telling your story to encourage others, and glorify God! 

Peace & Blessings,
Tiffany Finley


Thursday, January 15, 2015

2015: A Year of Supernatural Possibilities!!!!!!!!!!

Happy New Year, ladies!!! 2015 has swiftly approached us, and I pray your year has been amazingly beautiful so far. I’m expecting God to do some pretty mind blowing, supernatural things this year, and for years to come. This year will be the year of supernatural change, and shifting for me spiritually, for my family, for my marriage, for my child, and for my health. What was will no longer be. I believe that! I believe that this year and years following will be nothing but a year of turnaround. However, can I just be transparent for a moment? The end of 2014 leading to 2015 I began to feel hopeless for a lot of reasons. I felt like some things in my life weren’t going to get better; although, I felt I was praying, and seeking God, I just felt heavy. Needless to say these feelings carried over into the New Year with me. The first part of the New Year was dowie, as I was holding onto feelings that were contrary to God’s word, and His plan for my life. It wasn’t until I began fasting, praying, and talking to my husband that God showed me that my feelings of hopelessness was tied to my unbelief in Him. He began to echo this phrase in my spirit: “NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD, AND NOTHNG IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD! To be brutally honest, if I truly believed Him, and His word, my hopelessness wouldn’t have existed in the first place. If I had been truly praying and believing before this revelation; I would’ve been more confident in my Father who withholds nothing good from my life. Even the sermon at my church that following first Sunday drove home the message: Lord, help me with my unbelief, and nothing is impossible with God! It was then, that I said, “Lord, I hear you, and I’m listening.” I also had to repent for my unbelief. I had to let my Father know how sorry I was for not trusting Him, and believing Him. From that moment forward, I resolved to keep my eyes on the Father, to trust Him during the good and bad seasons of life. I refused to allow myself to walk around hopeless, and unbelieving of a God that can do the impossible. 

 So, sisters, I want you to know that as you journey through this year, know that God can do the impossible. For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment (Luke 1: 37 AMP). Your “predestined one,” (baby) that you believe Him for- know that it’s on the way. It may be delayed, but NEVER denied! God is the one who opens and closes our wombs. He’s the giver and taker of life. It’s not impossible for Him. To my fertility sisters, I believe that God will do some supernatural healing in our reproductive health this year. We will not continue fighting this assignment of infertility over our lives. I believe that we are healed by the healing power of the blood of Jesus Christ. I believe that He will give you the gift of a child this year. He gives the childless woman a family,making her a happy mother. Praise the LORD (Psalm 113:9)! This is your year of conception, and healing in Jesus name! I believe it, and I’m keeping you lifted in prayer! We can pray for anything, and if we believe that we’ve received it, it will be ours (Mark 11:24)! Speak these scriptures over your life daily. Don’t allow those negative feelings and emotions to weaken your faith and trust in your Father. Additionally, I have a whole page of scriptural “biblical truths,” concerning conceiving. Check those out! Meditate on them daily. This is your year! 

 To my preemie sisters, know that God has your baby covered as he/she lies in that incubator fighting for life. Push past that fear, pain, worry, anxiety, confusion, and anger, and allow the truth of God’s word to wash over you, and His plan for your life to comfort you. For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome (Jer. 29:11 AMP)! I too have been down that NICU road. So, I totally sympathize with you! Each day brings something new to worry about, and stress about. However, hold tight to your faith. Pray over your gift (baby), and watch God work a miracle. My now 2-year-old is a former 25 weeker. He was intubated for much of his NICU stay, because he couldn’t tolerate CPAP. Consequently, he was diagnosed with Chronic Lung Disease. The doctors thought they’d need to perform a tracheotomy because he had such difficulty weaning off of the ventilator. Additionally, his oxygen levels continued to be low, and he had to have several blood transfusions. He extubated (removal of breathing tube) himself MANY times, had hernia surgeries (during and after NICU stay), and then came home on supplemental oxygen for 10 months post the NICU stay. There were days that the doctors would tell us, “He is very sick.” They didn’t expect Caleb to survive….BUT GOD! My husband and I kept him before God in prayer, and had other prayer warriors interceding for him, and I’m Godly proud to say that today, Caleb is a healthy, happy, rambunctious 2-year-old. God did it, and he gets ALL glory for my little miracle of a son! My sister, remember: NOTHING is impossible for God, and with God! Trust Him for your baby’s healing, and survival. Speak healing and restoration over your gift (baby). Speak life over him/her, and believe it! Remember, we can pray for anything, and if we believe that we’ve received it, it will be ours (Mark 11:24)!

 I believe God for your baby’s healing and restoration, your peace and strength, and for an awesome testimony! I believe that your baby will have a supernatural turnaround in his/her health while in the NICU, in Jesus Name! I’m praying for you, and your little ones. Sisters, keep in touch with me. I would love to hear your testimonies of conception, and healing received for your reproductive health and your preemies health this year. There’s a page just for your “testimonies,” as we believe God for supernatural shifting in our lives. Please come back, and share with me, and others what God has done. You will be of encouragement to another sister. I love you guys, and remember…NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD, AND WITH GOD! 


 XOXO, 
Tiffany