JESUS PAID IT ALL

“Before my first pregnancy I struggled with body image issues and self starvation to control my weight. I did not know how negatively that impacted my body until I got pregnant with my twins. From the bloodwork it was clear that I have many deficiencies and my iron was dangerously low. My OBGYN team immediately prescribed me a whole slew of supplements and medications to take to get my levels up, but even with taking 10+ pills a day my iron levels were not budging. Around the time of delivery I was told I would need a blood transfusion in order to deliver. I was not at peace with that decision so immediately my family and I went to prayer and made many decrees. On the day that I went into labor it was still unclear what my iron levels were, but I stood by my decrees. I had both of my twins vaginally, and not only did God heal me from my iron deficiency but the midwife also testified that was the least amount of blood she’d ever seen in a delivery. I walked away from that without having to get a blood transfusion! GOD IS FAITHFUL!”

“Becoming a first time Mom is pretty scary. Before I knew I was pregnant I was in the process of learning who I was in God. I grew up in the church and was taught how to worship God but during that season I learned who God is to me and how to connect with him. When I became aware that I was pregnant, that pushed me to stick with God even more. 1) I knew my daily routine was going to change. I was a full time student and worked a full time job and had very little "free time". 2) I will be responsible for another soul. 3) I learned to give it all to God because I needed his guidance during this new season. I became confident in myself as a mother by reading the word of God and watching encouraging seminars on YouTube. I knew I was connecting with God when I allowed myself to be in his presence more. I worship him throughout the day and I enjoyed talking to others about him. I made God my focus. Some days were more trying then others, but I didn't allow myself to feel "defeated" or "out of God's touch". Facing motherhood with Jesus as a priority, made it easier to accept the changes and thrive.”

“Honestly, I wasn't thrilled when I discovered I was expecting my first child. It wasn't that I didn't want a baby, but rather because I (1) believed I was unable to conceive, (2) had just resigned from my job to pursue entrepreneurship full-time, and (3) was unmarried and hesitant to repeat the cycle of becoming a single mother. I never aspired to be referred to as a "baby mama." Instead, I desired more for myself and believed that I deserved better.

Nevertheless, fate had a different plan for me. God sent me an extraordinary, compassionate, and rare partner whom I was confident loved me deeply. We had been dating for a year and a half when he proposed on Christmas Eve in 2016, just three months before our son, Reign, was born. We chose his name to honor God, and we tied the knot in our church a week before his arrival, with only our parents present, as his mother was in Washington D.C. From that moment on, our love and family blossomed quickly. Two years later, we welcomed our son, True Eden, which represented a new beginning for us. However, I struggled to juggle my career, my role as a wife, managing our household, and determining who I was as Rachel. During my second pregnancy, I cut off my hair once again, feeling as though I had lost my identity. I even rejected Jesus as my savior because I was lost and blamed Him for my confusion, which led me to retreat into isolation.

Although the world perceived me as lively, outspoken, fearless, and ambitious, I felt the opposite at home. I was unsure of my identity, struggled to establish a career without feeling as though my husband was coddling me like a child, and sometimes felt lonely despite the love from the many people around me. Eventually, I returned to church, prayed, and spoke to God and my husband about my feelings. God helped me feel whole once more, and I regained my happiness and confidence.

Despite initially feeling elated about my third pregnancy, I began to panic when I realized I would be managing three children. I considered an abortion, but ultimately decided to keep the baby, who turned out to be a girl. This time, I felt different. I was joyful and at peace, and my pregnancy went smoothly. However, after delivering my daughter, I lost myself again, and it was worse than before. I hardly left the house or wanted to go anywhere, struggled to work as I wished, and isolated myself from others. I also had a difficult time juggling my responsibilities as a mother of three while my husband worked long hours. Moreover, my grandmother passed away just two weeks before my daughter was born, adding to my emotional turmoil. Although I was in agony, I refused to confide in anyone and continued to battle my negative feelings alone.

One night, I prayed to God to take me because I was grieving my grandmother's loss and felt defeated by life. I realized that people assumed I was fine because I appeared to be, but I was far from it. Recognizing the severity of my negative thoughts, I returned to my faith, resumed attending church and prayer calls, and devoted myself to healing and keeping my focus on Jesus. I knew that His power could surpass all others and that He loved me unconditionally. With the love of my children, husband, and family and friends, and most importantly, my newfound love for myself, I began to heal and find my way back to joy.”

Motherhood has been one of the most rewarding journeys God has taken me on. The level of selflessness required reminds me DAILY of the LOVE God has for His children. I am honored to be raising children for the Kingdom who will know and serve the Lord with all of their hearts. It is truly an honor to be given this task! While it comes with its challenges, I’m blessed to be pushed to a new realm in my prayer life and dependence on Jesus. I don’t always have the answers, but GOD does. When I can’t figure out why my son may be fussy or what he needs in the moment, I instantly take a moment to pray and lean on God’s wisdom for the solution. God always reminds me that my children are HIS children, first and that He’s in control. When the solution isn’t always tangible, I have literally witnessed God touch my son Himself and immediately calm him down. It’s miracles like these that make me so thankful that we’ve been chosen by God to know Him and love Him. I am not overwhelmed anymore by the responsibilities that come with motherhood. He has been so faithful to our family! Even down to what my son needs outwardly.. diapers, wipes, clothes, socks, food, toys, shoes.. God has used relationships to provide ALL of these things for us! We lack nothing! To all of my mommies out there, TRUST JESUS. Rest in His provision and His wisdom. He knows our children better than us and it’s only through true fellowship with Him will He allow us to continue to excel in this role.

“Saved by the Light of Jesus's Love, I was able to find Strength and Grace to move forward during an Unexpected Traumatic Pregnancy. It was during this difficult time that I turned to Jesus and found solace in the light of His love. Through prayer and reflection, I was able to tap into a well of strength and grace that I never knew existed. Despite the challenges that lay ahead, I felt emboldened by His love to face them head-on.

And face them, I did. With each passing day, I found myself drawing closer to God and experiencing His presence in my life in new and profound ways. I felt empowered by His love to take control of my situation and to trust in His plan for me and my baby.

Looking back on that difficult time, I am grateful for the experience and for the ways in which it strengthened my faith and my relationship with God. I now feel equipped to face any challenges that may come my way, knowing that with Jesus by my side, I am never alone.”

"When my husband and I found out we were pregnant with twins after just giving birth to our first child only 6 months prior, worry filled my heart. How would we be able to take care of 3 babies, feed 5 people in the house, and pay for childcare for 3 toddlers? We had so many questions and concerns throughout the pregnancy. As the babies got closer to being born, my husband kept assuring me that God had us covered, but I couldn’t help but worry. We planned for me to stay home, but we would now be a one-income household. How were we going to make it? How would we survive?

One day, the Lord thundered and said, “O YE OF LITTLE FAITH!” The Lord reminded me of His promise. He said that He would take care of each child that He gave us… So why didn’t I believe that? I had to activate my faith! I had to believe everything that I was taught. I had to believe the word of God and cling to His word.

After I gave birth to the twins, the Lord truly showed us that NOTHING shall be impossible. God literally took the money that we had and stretched it to cover every meal, every bill, every medical expense, daycare, etc. One Sunday I was tested in a major way! We had $400 in our account and a gas bill for $403 (which was unusual) that was due that day. Before service, I cried my eyes out because worry began to fill my mind. We had another week until my husband got paid. How would we survive? How would we eat? How would we put gas in the car? How would we get diapers? I immediately tried to quiet those thoughts and speak the word of God, but I was just so uneasy. We got dressed and headed to church with a 1-year-old and two 3-month-old babies and our faith.

The church service was exactly what I needed! Our pastor spoke about FAITH and how we have to believe the scriptures and the Word of God. If God did it for so many in the Bible, then why don’t we believe that He WILL do it for us? My eyes welled up with tears. I knew this word was for me. During service, I repented for every idle word that was spoken. Every doubtful thought that I had before the service began to go away. Then it was time for Tithes and Offering. We had already given our tithes, but it was offering time. The Lord spoke and said, “Give $50.” I immediately felt uneasy again. “$50? How? We will have even less than what we came with!” The enemy tries to whisper lies in your ear, and it’s up to us to fight it. I gathered myself and said, “Tara. You have no choice but to be obedient. God has been too good to you and your family. He has kept you, and He sent this word to remind you of His faithfulness and promises.”

We gave the $50, and then after Tithes and Offering, our Apostle began praying, and the atmosphere changed in the church. The glory of God fell in the church, and while we were all praying and crying out to God, someone came up to me and put something in my hand and walked away. I didn’t look at it, but I felt like it was paper. I was thinking someone was giving me tissue because I was crying, but the paper felt too thick. I just kept on praying and thanking God and never looked at what was in my hand.

Once our pastor had us sit down, I noticed that I had a folded check in my hand. I just put it up in the diaper bag. Church ended and after we fellowshipped with others and got into our car, my husband and I talked about how amazing church was. My husband told me “See, God’s got us. That service was for us!” At the time, my husband didn’t know about the check I received. So I said “Yes it was! Someone blessed us with a check. Probably a late baby shower gift.” I pulled the check out and couldn’t believe my eyes. This person blessed us with a $500 check. I immediately began crying and thanking God! Wow! Not only did He take care of the bill but He gave us extra to sustain until my husband’s pay day. I text the church member who blessed us and she said she had a strong unction from the Lord to sow a seed into the Martin family for the things that she has personally been desiring. Wow! God is Amazing!

This specific testimony has stuck with me throughout my motherhood journey. Anytime I have a glimpse of worry or doubt, I remember how faithful God was in this situation. I could never question or doubt him again! He promised that He would take care of our children and He has done that and more.

Title : From Impossible to Reality by the power of a Decree.

Pre Pregnancy- I was told that I would probably not get pregnant and if I did, I would struggle and be considered high risk. Doctors gave me their opinions, but the Word of God told me who I was. Hearing from the doctors I had a choice to believe the doctors or believe the Word of God.

The doctor said “ No”. “You’re overweight”. “You have fertility issues”. “You need to go to a fertility specialist”, but the Word of God said , “ I’m fruitful in every good work”. “I’m fearfully and wonderfully made”. “I’m blessed”. “I’m healed”.

Despite the tears, the years of waiting, the frustration, the MANY negative pregnancy test, I chose to believe the Word of God.

Trusting God was not easy, but it was necessary. The Lord saw my faith, my little bitty faith, and had mercy on me and gave me a huge miracle right before my eyes.

My Apostle was instrumental in guiding me back to the Word of God constantly and through prayer and fasting, my faith began to arise a little. Every year my church goes on a 21 day fast at the beginning of the year. Usually every year I decide not to participate, for whatever reason I make up. This time I was desperate. I needed a breakthrough. Being a mother was not just a dream, for me it was a necessity. I felt like being a mother was a part of my identity I was lacking and if it never happened I questioned my “womanhood”. I felt inadequate, broken.

Through the fast, God showed me who I was in Christ. How much I meant to Him. He showed me that my past did not determine what God had for me in the future and most importantly, He showed me areas in my life where I had to forgive myself.

This fast, without me knowing, prepaid me to be a non-toxic parent. I say that because if He would have never purged me of ME, I would have passed down so much trauma, anger, judgments, and more to my children.

My Apostle, by the Holy Sprit spoke life into my husband and decreed that our seed would come forth right before our eyes and just as it was decreed, it happened!!! Right before our eyes. Two weeks later I received a positive pregnancy test, without medical intervention, just God.

During Pregnancy- I struggled with what seemed like imposter syndrome. I felt like I didn’t deserve to be pregnant because my faith was so little and my attitude during the waiting period was so bad. I felt like I didn’t do enough for God to show up the way He did. Feeling this way I withdrew from people, and began to feel super low at times. After months of feeling this way God reminded me that there is NOTHING I could ever do to earn or deserve His love and blessing.

I realized I was full of pride, and that humbled me. Pregnancy humbled me, but brought forth such a joy of a son ( My Caleb Zachariah)

Post pregnancy- I saw God faithfulness. He provided. My son had everything he needed and more. He paid our bills. He fed us. He blessed us. He increased my husband financially. He blew our minds and is still doing it.

Being a mother is by far the best hat that I wear, and I wear it knowing that God Himself blessed me. He made me a mother and He will sustain me as a mother and there is nothing I do to ever cause God to love me less.

Now I’m pregnant again. Naturally, and all I can say is THE LORD IS FAITHFUL!!!

After the birth of our first child, my spouse and I faced numerous challenges in our marriage, which led to hurtful comments being exchanged. Unfortunately, these comments resulted in us suffering two miscarriages. However, we went to the altar and sought forgiveness from the Lord for all the things that we had said, and we made a seed offering in May. In October, our Apostle declared that any physical affliction would be eliminated, and we would be set free. Then, on December 25th, 2021, I discovered that I was pregnant with our second child, whom we named Timothy Isaac John. God is, and will, forever be Faithful.

“Moving Forward with Faith was the key for me and my family. The Word of God Provided Peace and Courage in the Face of Child Loss. I thank God I did not lose myself in the mist of such storm.”

Motherhood is the most beautiful thing that a woman can accomplish in her life. To be blessed to bring life into this world is amazing. When I was pregnant with my second child, a girl, it was a very high-risk pregnancy, and I was in and out of the hospital on a weekly basis. During my first trimester, the doctors said my daughter would be born with a rare condition called Trisomy 18 (Edward's syndrome), which affects fewer than 20,000 babies per year. They said she wouldn't live to be two months old and recommended that we terminate the pregnancy. They told my husband and me that we were young and could try again. This was one of the first times I had to use my faith and trust God to do the impossible. Our Apostle prayed with us and made a decree that she would be healed of this condition. So we stood on our faith and continued with the pregnancy. I am here to testify that our daughter is now 12 years old. She was healed in my womb and is now a thriving, energetic, and fiery child of God. She loves Jesus with all her heart, dances, runs track, and loves theater. Amen, Hallelujah! God can do the impossible. Man will say no, but God has the final say. Put your trust in God, and He will give you an abundance of grace to go through motherhood. He will equip you with everything you need to raise Godly children.

Throughout these seven (almost eight) years on this motherhood journey, God has shown me so much about His love using my baby. During sick times, irritable moments, happy times, and even sad times, God has used this blessing to show me what unconditional love looks like. While motherhood, at times, is not always picture-perfect, the beautiful moments of her little hands curled in mine, the touch of her beautiful soft skin, a smile that can light up 15 baseball fields - motherhood has been the most amazing and rewarding experience. I cannot thank God enough for that text message from my mother, the word from the doctor, and touching my heart to not get an abortion. Honestly, it’s amazing to see the strong, confident, bold leader God has made my daughter to be. Yes, I thought my life changed, and indeed it did, but oh so much for the better. Now, I get to raise my daughter with the understanding that Jesus is all you need - a concept I did not know prior to my pregnancy and journey as a mother. God gets all the glory for my motherhood journey. He continues to provide and take care of us come what may. I hope that anyone who may read this knows that your journey as a mother is one of the greatest rewards we can be given on this earth. Teach your baby to know Jesus in a real way, as that will be their anchor when the storms of life rage. God has blessed you with a special mission to raise this baby for Him. I know you will succeed in Jesus' Name. Amen. God bless.