Category: lifestyle

When God Brings Peace.

D'EbiLeave a comment

What does peace look like? I  asked the kids at  Sunday school.

Their answers were surprising and came in quick succession.  

One replied: when I don’t have any fears. another, when I am happy, sleeping and playing, holiday brings peace. when I lie down and there is no sound.

But one child replied: When God calms the storm.

That stopped me in my track. This Child remembered the story of Jesus and the storm. When His disciples were worried about drowning and Jesus spoke bringing calm to the waves and seas.

The various replies can be woven into this one statement: When God calms the storm.

Certainly when Jesus said peace be still there was calm, the waves ceased in obedience to Him.

I wonder, what do you need to be cam in your life today? Your heart might be torn from endless wait in various places at various time.

14 day wait or two weeks wait, for the change in the pregnancy test stick. From the results of a recent surgery.

None of these wait brings peace, we are often anxious for what’s to comes or what might not be.

In this season of Advent, ask God to bring His peace into your heart whatever the situation and he will.

He will calm your storms, because that what he does. He bring peace to every situation. All you need to do is ask Him.

Your Partner in Hope

D’Ebi

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Reason To Celebrate

D'EbiLeave a comment

My best friends birthday was approaching, It was a significant milestone. I remembered planning ahead trying to figure out what we’re going to do for her.

I contacted her to find out what she had planned, I persisted in asking her until she said “I won’t be having any celebration”.

I sort of expected it because I’ve known for over 20 years and I have never celebrated a birthday with her or celebrated her birthday. I knew her reasons. However, I did not think that such a milestone would go uncelebrated.

She’s single and not currently in a relationship, she’s approaching the age where having children is considered risky, she’s premenopausal. She is in between jobs and between homes.

The last few years have been really difficult for her having lost her dad, which means both parents will not be around when and if she eventually gets married and have children.

Lack of success and achievement in certain areas of our lives, leaves us disappointed and robbed.

You too may be asking yourself as Christmas approaches, what’s there to celebrate?

Our lives are measured by our achievements, the absence of which deemed us failures.

There is a perceived natural progression of ones life, grow up, go to school, meet your partner, graduate, get married, have children and live happily ever after.

As I’ve come to know, life isn’t always a straight line from A to Z. Life will take you from N to B and, from S to W and back again from V to K.

Live doesn’t give you what you order, God does. Life doesn’t give you what you expect, faith in God does. Life doesn’t give you what you think you should have, trust and hope in God does.

And as a result of not getting to those milestones we decide what, when to celebrate and how to celebrate.

Celebration is not about things. We celebrate because we look inside ourselves and we know that regardless of where we are and how far we still have to go, we have a reason to be thankful because a lot of people did not get as far as we have come.

We are thankful because against all odds, are still standing. we reflect on the good we have in our lives.

 I want to encourage you today,  If you find yourself void of joy, void of any enthusiasm to celebrate let the births of Christ inspire you.

What is there to celebrate?

For starters, your health, Your amazing support group, The families in your life. For the strength to keep going, your nieces and nephews, for your job.

Count your blessings, and let your focus well on God’s goodness, not on the absence of should have been.

Our cup is not half empty but half full.

This Christmas rejoice in the fullness of joy that Christ brought when he came into our world. This is why we celebrate.

Your Partner in Hope

D’Ebi

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Celebratory seasons, Celebrating Mother’s day,In Silence, True Light, A Costly Gift, God’s unchanging nature, GOT A BIG STONE PROBLEM?, Trust and Joy in the mist of pain

Hope does not bring shame.

D'EbiLeave a comment

Here we are, the last day of 2021. We were given 375 days, but not everyone made it to the end.

My prayer at the start of 2021 was for protection, to remain in health and strength. Looking back I can see that my prayers were answered. Of course I asked for other blessings, but I have come to know that lasting blessings are worth more than material wealth or comfort.

As you look back over the year, what blessings stand out to you?

What battles did you overcome? Where there small mile stones you celebrated?

We sometimes over look some blessings because they don’t seem to come front and centre. compared to the big things we asked for.

I get it. For years having a child of my own was front and centre for me as well, it was my number one prayer at the beginning and end of each year.

At some point, I yielded my expectations, dreams and hope to God. I prayed for strength and he gave me strength to continue to expect, I prayed for wisdom and he directed my steps to the right places, he placed good friends in my path a support system through trying times.

These blessings were not front and centre non did they featured in my prayer list at the beginning of the year, but taking stock at the time, they were answers to prayers.

So as you look back, to 2021. Give thanks for those who helped you on this journey, the spouse/partner who stayed and support you. The Holy Spirits leading and the strength to continue and hope on into 2022.

Hope is defined by Webster: “to desire with expectation of fulfil.” Continue to hope in 2022, but give hope wings, infuse your hope with faith in the God who makes all things possible.

Because hope expects, faith believes and receives.

Your partner in Hope

Debi

Other pieces

Good News of Great Joy, Our Hope For The New Year. 2020: The Year Where the impossible, becomes Possible. Faith Vs Fear, New Again , Kick Start Your Fertility in 2020

Tips on Staying Healthy.

D'EbiLeave a comment

It is no secret that the first lockdown came as a surprised. With no warning at all, countries around the world closed none essential businesses.

With most countries in Europe going into a second lockdown last week, we find ourselves in isolation one more time.

If you are alone and TTC, now is the perfect time to ramp up your fitness level. Winter months makes it harder to execise, but don’t pull back now. 

This post examines how to maintain our bodies and mind by staying fit during this second lockdown.

Particularly for women trying to conceive maintaining a healthy immune system can play a major role in boosting our chances of being pregnant. 

Here are a few suggested ways to staying healthy.

  1. Have a nutritious diet. The saying you are what you eat holds true. Having a diet rich in fiber, fruits and vegetables will ensure that your body is provided with vital nutrients it needs to fight, not only the winter blues but viruses. having a mediterranean style diet of low carbs and sugar, packed with leafy vegetables and oil has been proven to enhance infertility. These food types are packed with vitamins which are essential for fetal health.
  2. Regular exercise: exercise is just as important as it produces the feel good hormones, combined with a healthy diet, you can maintain a normal BMI. The NHS sees a BMI of 20-30 as a healthy normal body weight.
  3. Healthy mental well being: Execise produces the feel good hormones, endorphins. This improves our mental health greatly and releases us from the stress brought on by TTC. It is important to not over do it, If you are new to execise simple walking, Biking, swimming for half an hour a day is a good place to start. As you build up your fitness level you can then increase the intensity. The NHS recommends 150 moderate execise a week.
  4. Up your vitamins intake. Most adults who regularly consume a healthy meal will have sufficient vitamins levels. However vitamins D has been linked to a healthy immunity and 10 mins daily sun exposure is enough of our daily dose. However in colder months when we are less likely to be exposed to sunlight, it is recommended to take a Vitamin D supplement along with folic acid.
  5. Drop any bad habits like smoking and excessive consumption of alcohol. Several research studies have shown that these habits reduce one’s chances of falling pregnant.
  6. Reduce your stress levels: TTC is extremely stressful, but we have to constantly try to identify external stress triggers and reduce them. Take time daily to refocus by meditating. This frees your mind and calms you from within enhancing your mental health. Practice mindfulness, it is beneficial to maintaining a calm atmosphere around you.
  7. Positive Affirmation; This is another way of boosting your mental well being. positively proclaim good things about your self and body. Speak what you want to see, it can be a word. Hold on to it. Being positive about your situation, boosts your energy levels. It has been said that positive affirmation moves your body in the direction of your mind.
  8. finally, eat, pray and hope.

Your Partner in Hooe

D’Ebi

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