Hannah To Hannah
June 2002 All rights reserved. Copyright ©2002. Issue #29
Providing "Christian
Support for Fertility Challenges"
including infertility or the loss of a
child at any time from conception through early infancy.
A monthly publication of Hannah's Prayer Ministries.
This month's topic:
Male
Issues, Father's Day
A Grieving Father's Prayer…For Father's Day
Hannah's Prayer Board Meeting Update Hannah's Prayer Director, Stephanie Bixler
Helpful Web pages on Hannah.org
Encouraging Words - New Monthly Feature
A Response to "A Relinquishing" Jill Amack, Hannah to Hannah Editor
Hannah's Prayer Medical Hall of Fame
Newsletter Submission & Reprint Information
A Grieving
Father's Prayer...For Father's Day
© June 2001, Laura. Written for the Heavenly
Lights Children's Memorial. Reprinted with permission.
Our Father…Who art in Heaven
I come to you with a heavy heart today
I know you know…but I have lost my child
And am feeling like I have lost my way.
People seem to think I am so strong
I am not invincible…I am not superman.
I am just a grieving Father…missing my child
And could use a friendly helping hand.
I have always been the typical fixer-upper type of Dad
I could fix anything…ever since I was ten
But I cannot fix the clock of time.
Please God, can you help me wind it up again?
Please bless all the grieving Fathers
Each hour throughout this day
With the strength to keep moving ahead
Even one baby step at a time…would be okay.
Please bless all grieving Fathers
Each day throughout this week
And guide them on their journey of grief
As the meaning of life they do seek.
Please bless all grieving Fathers
Each week this whole month through
With memories to last a lifetime
And understanding friends to turn to.
Please bless all grieving Fathers
Each month throughout this year
With hugs to comfort…in our time of need
And people to realize…our grief just doesn't disappear.
Please bless all grieving Fathers
Each Year until the end of time
With faith in You…to see us through
From sunrise to sunset…for our whole lifetime.
Please God bless all grieving Fathers
Each day throughout this year
As seasons change
And time unfolds
Day by day
Month by month
Year by year
And especially today… on this Father's Day.
Amen.
Hannah's Prayer
Board Meeting Update
© June 2002. Stephanie Bixler, Director
of Hannah's Prayer
On Saturday May 25, 2002, the Hannah's Prayer Board of Directors
met for their annual board meeting. The day was filled with great
fellowship and we were able to get a lot accomplished at the same time. We
appreciated all the support and prayers that our Hannah's Prayer members gave us
while we came together. God was truly with us on Saturday as we made some big
changes to the ministry. The biggest change will be seen in the Ladies in
Waiting (LIW) e-mail support groups. Currently the LIW groups are active through
Yahoo email groups. Over the past year we have experienced problems with their
security and inappropriate advertisements. Hannah's Prayer now has the
capability to have bulletin boards on our Web site, which means we will have
more control over security. Jenni is in the process of changing over the e-mail
groups to the new Community Forums. This will be a time consuming process and we
plan to have it all completed by the end of 2002. As the new boards are up and
running, we will let you know. Please note that if you are already a member of
LIW you won't need to go through the application process to post. New members to
LIW will have to sign our Statement of Faith before being allowed into the
boards.
Board Member Ralph Camp has graciously offered to set up a booth at an upcoming
Pastors Convention in Lansing, Michigan, on July 22-25. We are in the
process of putting together information packets for the pastors attending the
convention. Our goal is to equip pastors with the information needed to minister
to church members who are dealing with infertility or pregnancy loss. Please
keep Ralph in your prayers that week, as he and his wife will be traveling to
that convention.
Stephanie, Julie, Jenni, and Ralph have all accepted their current board
positions for the upcoming year. We are in prayer for the 2003 annual meeting to
add more board members at that time. The board has a lot of vision for the
future of Hannah's Prayer and more board members will make our visions become
reality.
Thank you once again for the support you have all given the Board of Directors
this past year. We appreciate your comments (positive and constructive) and look
forward to hearing from each and every one of you. This is your ministry as well
as ours and we want your input on all that we do.
God Bless—
Steph
Working Out Your
Faith
Author Unknown
A man was sleeping at night in his cabin when suddenly his room
filled with light. The Lord told the man he had work for him to do, and showed
him a large rock in front of his cabin. The Lord explained that the man was to
push against the rock with all his might.
So this the man did, day after day. For many years he toiled from sunup to
sundown; his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the
unmoving rock, pushing with all of his might. Each night the man returned to his
cabin sore and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain.
Since the man was showing discouragement, the adversary (Satan) decided to enter
the picture by placing thoughts into the weary mind, "You have been pushing
against that rock for a long time, and it hasn't moved." Thus giving the
man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure. These
thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man.
Satan said, "Why kill yourself over this? Just put in your time, giving
just the minimum effort; and that will be good enough."
That's what he planned to do, but decided to make it a matter of prayer and take
his troubled thoughts to the Lord. "Lord," he said, "I have
labored long and hard in your service, using all my strength to do that which
you have asked. Yet, after all this time, I have not even budged that rock by
half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing?"
The Lord responded compassionately, "My friend, when I asked you to serve
Me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with
all of your strength, which you have done. Never once did I mention to you that
I expected you to move it. Your task was to push. And now you come to Me with
your strength spent, thinking that you have failed. But, is that really so? Look
at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your back sinewy and brown, your
hands are callused from constant pressure, your legs have become massive and
hard. Through opposition you have grown much, and your abilities now surpass
that which you used to have. Yet you haven't moved the rock. But your calling
was to be obedient: to push and exercise your faith and trust in My wisdom. This
you have done. Now, my friend, I will move the rock."
At times, when we hear a word from God, we tend to use our own intellect to
decipher what He wants, when actually what God wants is just a simple obedience
and faith in Him. By all means, exercise the faith that moves mountains, but
know that it is still God who moves them.
Father's Day provides a special opportunity to minister to
husbands and wives who are struggling with infertility or who have children in
heaven. Hannah.org has a wealth of ideas for encouraging or consoling fellow
brothers and sisters in Christ.
Why not send an encouraging e-mail with a link to the article "Surviving
Parent's Days: 101." In addition to
thoughtful suggestions for surviving these holidays, there are links to other
articles addressing the particular struggles of hurting almost-parents. It's at:
www.hannah.org/resources/holiday.htm#ParentDays
Encouraging Words
If You Will Only Let God Guide You
A hymn by Georg Neumark, 1641
Reprinted from the Cyber Hymnal at http://www.cyberhymnal.org
If you will only let God guide you,
And hope in Him through all your ways,
Whatever comes, He'll stand beside you,
To bear you through the evil days;
Who trusts in God's unchanging love
Builds on the Rock that cannot move.
Only be still, and wait His leisure
In cheerful hope, with heart content
To take whatever the Father's pleasure
And all discerning love have sent;
Nor doubt our inmost wants are known
To Him Who chose us for His own.
Sing, pray, and swerve not from His ways,
But do your part in conscience true;
Trust His rich promises of grace,
So shall they be fulfilled in you;
God hears the call of those in need,
The souls that trust in Him indeed.
If you have an encouraging quote that has especially
challenged you,
please e-mail Jill at newsletter@hannah.org
so that we may consider
it for an upcoming issue of Hannah to Hannah.
A Response to
"A Relinquishing"
© May 2002. Jill Amack, editor
of Hannah to Hannah
E-mail from Lisa Ellison, Hannah's Prayer member:
Reading the two articles: "Encouraging
Words" and "A
Relinquishing" brought me many questions. Maybe you can help answer
those questions? First of all, how do I know if I haven't given everything to
God? If I am upset with Him because things aren't going my way, is that a clue
of not giving it to Him yet? Secondly, how do I give it all to Him? I just say,
"Your will be done," and that's it? How do I live that? For instance,
our infertility is my husband's, and we'll find out this month if it might be
fixable. If it's not, we've already decided we'll be parents no matter
what—even if it's through adoption. Is that saying "Your will be
done," or is it saying but not living it? How do I know for sure?
Hannah's Prayer's response (Jill Amack):
I've been thinking about your question since last night. It is an excellent one.
For myself, I am only certain that I have submitted to God's will completely
when His peace comes. It is like sweet exhaustion after a long battle. And that
doesn't mean that I no longer wish for whatever it is I have (FINALLY!) given to
Him. Oftentimes there is a pang in my heart when I see a beautiful child or a
happy couple. It is a reminder of what I don't have. But the peace is there,
reminding me that God is faithful to me, and He has either said "Wait"
or "No" in answer to my prayers.
If I think I have given everything to God, but when I face heartache and I find
resentment, anger, or bitterness in my heart, I realize that I haven't
relinquished everything to Him. While I thought that I was trusting God with
everything, I was holding something back. I think that is the bittersweet part
of trials. They hurt so much, but they do reveal in me the things that I ask God
to remove. I am reminded of another quote from Stepping Heavenward,
"You said just now that you would gladly go through any trial in order to
attain a personal love to Christ that would become the ruling principle of your
life. Now as soon as God sees this desire in you, is He not kind, is He not
wise, in appointing such trials as He knows will lead to this very end?"
(Page 125.)*
I think all of the Christian life will be like this. After salvation, when we
gladly give all that we have (pitiful though it is) in gratefulness to our
Savior, we then begin the path on the narrow road. As we travel it, we are faced
with each little relinquishing, each time gaining a greater realization of what
it means to "count the cost." Each little sacrifice reminds us of our
Savior, who gave up everything on our behalf. It also makes us a little more
like Him. And God plans out each sacrifice and heartache for our benefit. Just
when I fully give to God my current heartache, another is waiting for me.
Because I am a sinner and have much sin to root out, God gently performs the
painful work, and will continue to throughout my life. So just because I've
relinquished my will in one area doesn't mean I'm finished. My life will be a
series of opportunities to sacrifice what I hold dear to Him.
I am not able to tell you whether or not you have given Him everything. It is
something only you and God know. If you haven't, He will provide opportunities
for you to try again. He loves you and wants the best for you, which is a
relationship of love and fellowship with Him. Search your heart before Him; and
ask Him to search it, as well. I am so sorry to hear of your struggles with
infertility, but I know God is faithful and good. He alone can bring blessing
from pain, and His blessings are worth waiting for.
* Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Prentiss, (c)1995
Calvary Press. Reprinted with permission.
The new publisher of Stepping Heavenward, Solid Ground Books, is
willing to offer this wonderful book to subscribers of Hannah to Hannah
for $10.00 and free shipping (the list price is $10.95 plus shipping). In
addition, if you make it known that you are ordering from this offer, Hannah's
Prayer will receive $1.00 for each copy ordered. Call them toll free at
1-877-666-9469 or visit them on the Web at http://solid-ground-books.com.
Hannah's Prayer Medical Hall of Fame
I've had three big moves in the last five years, and the first
thing I look for (after the post office and a hairdresser, of course!) is a
doctor. I expect a lot from my doctor. Because I've had a variety of
infertility-related health problems, I want a doctor who is up-to-date in the
latest diagnoses and treatments. If at all possible, I want a doctor who will
listen to me, who will encourage me to do research on my own, and who will
partner with me in my treatment of choice.
If you've ever found such a doctor, you know what a rare and special gift you've
been given. I've been through a lot of doctors, and I am wiser now for the
experience. I love to recommend the few exceptional ones that I've been
privileged to work with, because I know how hard it is. Personal recommendations
are always the best place to start if you're looking for a medical professional.
I especially have appreciated recommendations from women who are struggling with
some of the same medical conditions that I am.
For this reason, we've decided to create a "Hannah's Prayer Medical Hall of
Fame" for our August
newsletter "Diagnosis and Treatment" with doctors recommended by
our members. If you've found someone in your area that has made a difference for
you in your struggle with infertility, please share with it with us!
Please write to newsletter@hannah.org
and include:
Doctor's Name
Specialties (in any)
Address
City, State, Zip
Phone number
Web site address (if applicable)
Your name
Your City and State
We would like you to include your name, since we would like to send a copy of
the August Hannah to Hannah to your doctor with a note telling who
recommended them. We'll also send some general information about Hannah's Prayer
for them to share with other patients who might benefit from our ministry. We
will also re-create this list on our web site at www.hannah.org.
Certainly, this will not be an all-inclusive list. But if your new to an area or
just looking for a new doctor, our "Hall of Fame" will give you a
great place to start.
Hannah to Hannah Topics & Submission
All submissions to the newsletter (whether by snail mail or
e-mail) must include the following information:
- Full name
- Address
- City, State Zip
- Phone number
- E-mail address
- Has this work been published
previously? Yes No
- (If yes, please provide publisher's
name and address)
- Does H2H have your permission to use
this work in the newsletter? Yes No
- OPTIONAL short biography about your
infertility journey
If you have several submissions (example: sending one e-mail with several poems
attached or mailing several poems in one envelope) each individual
submission must include this information. Submissions not including this
information will not be used in H2H. Thank you for your assistance with
this policy!
Newsletter Submission and Reprint Information
Hannah's Prayer is a California based, non-profit 501(c)(3)
organization, established Jan 1, 1995. All staff members are unpaid volunteers who are proclaiming
Christians (from a range of denominational backgrounds) and have personal
experience with the heartache of fertility challenges. 
was
designed exclusively for Hannah's Prayer by