​Good evening everyone…and how are you doing tonight?  I’ve had a pretty good day myself…and now I’m just sitting here in my office…enjoying a beautiful evening, with my feet up.
This morning…before beginning my day, I decided to check the weather, as I heard that we might possibly have a storm tomorrow; which I found to be true…as we are supposed to get 3-5 inches of that beautiful white stuff.
Anyways…as I’ve been sitting here…looking out to a beautiful sunset this evening…one would not begin to even imagine a storm headed their way, as the sky today has actually reminded me of an early spring day.
As I’ve been thinking on this tonight…one thought crossed my mind…and that is how life can surprise us with the unexpected. It was just the other day; that I was walking through the dining room with my walker, when all of a sudden something went wrong with my left foot. Here, I had already been dealing with the right foot…and now, it seemed as though I had another foot to match the one that was already giving me trouble.
So many times, when we experience the unexpected, we tend to fall prey to the thoughts of the unexpected, like… “Oh no…how did this happen…and will it get worse?” These unexpected moments in life definitely have a way of taking hold of us for sure; but just like this storm that’s headed our way…God has control over all things.
One of my favorite all-time Bible readings; is in the first chapter of Job. Here we see God and Satan having a conversation about Job. As God and Satan begin their talk; God asks where Satan had come from…and Satan said…“Roaming to and fro around the earth.” As God and Satan got deeper into their talks; God asked Satan, if he had ever considered His servant Job…and Satan said that he would; but that there was a hedge of protection around Job, which had been placed there by God. So to make a long story short…God removed that hedge of protection and said that Satan could do anything he wanted; but he was not allowed to touch one hair on his head…or in other words…destroy Job. I’m sure that this definitely became an unexpected moment in Job’s life…but no matter what; God was there, to watch over Job and control the situation, in which I’m sure Satan thought he had control over.
As I sat here last night…thinking on all that had recently taken place with my health…I stopped in my tracks…took hold of Satan and demanded that he and his demons leave me alone…and then from there, I began to ask Jesus to cover me with His precious blood.
You know…so many times, we don’t realize that these unexpected moments can sometimes be a test…just like it was with Job…a test to see if we will allow ourselves to be drawn further into despair…or closer to God. I have truly come to see that we can’t have an attitude with God; but we certainly can have an attitude with Satan…and it’s about time that we stand up to him, with the One who lives within us.
Maybe life for me isn’t all I ever wanted…but I’ll tell you tonight…I would rather be where I am in life…knowing God, rather than living the life of my dreams…and not knowing Him at all.
No matter what unexpected thing pops into our lives; we just need to remember that God’s got us…and His hand is on the control stick to our lives. Don’t focus on where these unexpected moments could lead you; but rather, look at where God may be leading you, through the unexpected moments of life…Amen!!
Tonight I praise God, for the beautiful words of encouragement He sends us each day…because I need them, just as much as you do! I’m so thankful that God is using this time to bring us together with Him…in a way that can uplift and encourage us all.
Well…time for me to get some dinner and see where God takes me from there. I truly hope and pray that you will have a night of peace and sweet rest…and that you will feel the loving presence of God around you as you rest.
Have a great night…and God bless!
It’s Always & Only Because of Him…
Diane

Hello everyone…and a very happy and blessed Thursday to you all! It’s so good to be back with you today…and I pray that your day will be filled with the sunshine of God’s loving presence…Amen!!
Late yesterday afternoon, I had decided to get around for my evening a little earlier…and as I did, a song of praise began to swell up within me…one that I had never heard before. As I continued to sing out the words that were coming into my thoughts…I found myself praising God even more…and from there, a feeling of great joy entered my heart…one that hadn’t been there, in quite some time.
Anyways…as the song came to an end; that still small voice of God began to enter my spirit…and He began to show me; that even though the day had been a rough one, with much pain…I was still making it on His strength…and the strength that caused me to remain standing throughout my day, had now allowed me to see God clearer than the situation that I had been facing earlier…wow!
As I continued to think on the thoughts that had come from God’s heart to mine, I was now being reminded that it’s not only what we experience after these awful storms...that can be a blessing; but even more, it’s what we experience during the storm; that can bring us to a blessing of hope…one that can help us to keep pressing on through the storm. In other words…even though a storm of pain and difficulty was surrounding me at that time; in the eye of the storm, I was being strengthened; so I could continue to stand and do the work, for which God had called me to do at that time.
A few of my very favorite Bible verses…that truly have been of inspiration to me are found in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9…and we read… “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9) persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”
You know…I think we tend to either think on the intensity of what is happening at the time…or we are just waiting for the end of the storm to come…never realizing that God is found in the midst of the storm.
When we think of a hurricane…we think of a very powerful and destructive storm; but one thing I have come to see; is that there is an eye to this storm…a place where peace can be found. In a similar way…our circumstances can make us feel as if we are facing the worst storm ever. We tend to focus more on the wind that is whipping us around…and the tears of rain that tend to make us feel so lost and hopeless…but today, God is reminding us of a place, where we can experience peace…even in the midst of the storm…a place, where we can experience a strength that can keep us standing, while allowing us to see and experience Him in a clearer way; then the storm itself.
I have truly come to see that we don’t have to wait for these storms of circumstance to end…before experiencing God’s best. When we choose to take our minds away from the storm and the intensity of what is taking place at the time; then we will truly find that we are making it…on a strength that is greater than the storm…AMEN!!
Wow…I have really enjoyed this time with you today…and my prayer is that we won’t allow the storms of life to have their way with our thoughts and emotions; but that we will come to see that we are making it…and why…because of a great, loving and powerful God…One who has entered the storm…to help, strengthen and sustain us, until the storm has come to its end…Amen!!
Well…time for me to begin another new day! I truly pray that your day will be its best…and that you will come to see and experience God, for who He really is, as you walk through each moment of this day!
Have a great Thursday…take care and I will see you soon…God bless!
It’s Always & Only Because of Him…
Diane
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Good afternoon everyone! I sure hope that you are having a nice day! As you can see…I’m doing things a little differently today…as this morning was a busy one. First…I got up and had to make a call; then Keith and I listened to the president speak…and from there, the morning went crazy…and to top it off…something has now happened in my left foot, which is creating more problems, than what I began with…but through it all…I’m trusting God and praising His holy name today…Amen!!
As I’ve been sitting here this afternoon; I’ve been thinking a little on all that has taken place recently in my life. To begin with…my legs have not only worsened with time; but now I am experiencing pain and difficulties in both feet. Also…I’m on a walker, with one foot bandaged. Then…after hearing about all that has been taking place overseas…these moments have attempted to bring me to a stressful place in time; but after sitting here for a while; God began to remind me, as to how His mighty…powerful hand has control over all things, which to me helps greatly…just knowing that there is someone more powerful, than these problems that we tend to face from day to day.
In Proverbs 3:5-6…we read… “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6) In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
Do we realize how much worse life can become, when we lean on our own understanding…in relation to the things that are happening around us? To me…our own form of understanding becomes imaginary thoughts, with no concrete foundation to stand on. In other words…we try to figure life out, while Satan fills in the blanks, of what we may be uncertain of.
In these times that we are living, we need to be able to stand on a foundation that will hold us up and keep us from the destruction that lies around us…and that foundation can only be found through Jesus Christ. When we choose to trust in Jesus, with a whole heart; then a light of hope will remain alive within us, even during the darkest times…and from there; that light of hope will be what leads us down the right path…a path which can keep us distant from destruction.
I don’t know about you…but I don’t want to find myself standing on a weak foundation; that could cause me to sink deeper into total destruction…but instead, I want to be up above despair…no matter what I face…and I know that the only way I am going to be able to do that; is by leaning on no other but God…AMEN!!
Today, we are all living with some uncertainty in our lives; but that doesn’t mean that we have to stand by and allow those uncertain moments to drag us down into a pit of total despair. Instead…why don’t we quit trying to figure life out and let the One who holds the future…lead us away from the fear and uncertainties of life; that attempt to drag us down…that we may live with an eternal peace that can be of comfort and strength to us, until these moments have passed?
Today…I praise God, even in the midst of my own despair; that He has His hand on the control stick of my life…and when I lean on a God, who already knows what’s ahead of me, while having this much control over my life and the world I live in…I KNOW that in the end, everything will be alright…PRAISE HIM!!
Well…I truly enjoyed this time with you this afternoon…and I pray that the remainder of your day will be filled with the loving and peaceful presence of God! Please take care and I will hope to be with you again tomorrow! God bless!
It’s Always & Only Because of Him…
Diane
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Hello everyone…and how is your Tuesday? I truly hope and pray that this brand new day that the Lord hath made, will be its very best for you!
Last night…before going to sleep…God was really speaking to my heart. Even before turning the lights off…a question came to my thoughts and it truly made me think about what was being conveyed to me. Have you ever stopped to wonder why we work so hard to get Jesus to love us, when He has already loved us from the start? I think sometimes, we tend to compare Him to others around us. In other words…we feel we have to prove ourselves to Him…when really; His love has been there all along.
A Bible verse that God placed upon my heart last night; is found in John 3:16…and we read… “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Can you imagine a love that would go way beyond the love we experience here on earth…a love that would be willing to sacrifice everything…to display such a great and eternal love? Well…that’s what God did for us…thousands of years ago.
I know for me…it’s not always been easy to believe that someone could love me in such a way…as I grew up in such a dysfunctional home; but as I thought on this last night…I was reminded that Jesus has truly been “it” in my life…for He has never gone back on His promises to me…and He has truly displayed such a love…a love that would reach deep within the pit of my despair…to lift me out and save me, from what I saw as impossible…Praise Him!!
No matter what you are facing…or no matter how others have treated you; just know that there IS One, who will love you…no matter what you have or are going through at this time…and He will NEVER let you down…I KNOW!!
After thinking on these thoughts…I came to see last night; that God was truly reminding me, of the love that He has always had for me. Seems like lately, the pain and misery that I have had to face, has attempted to take me down…but praise God; that His love is ALWAYS there to lift us back to our feet!
Once I had left those thoughts behind, to go to sleep last night; I was lying on my pillow…and almost asleep, when God once more approached me with this question… “When we go to God for help, do we believe even more in the problem, by expecting God to help us by a certain time?” In other words…are we fearing the problem and placing demands on God, rather than trusting this powerful God, to bring us through the problem…in His way…and at His time?
I guess we need to stop and reflect on who this God truly stands for in our lives. We must remember that no problem will ever be greater than the power of this mighty God; so it’s time to stop letting the problem control us; so God can continue to control the problem.
In Jeremiah 29:11…we read… “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”  In other words…God knows about everything that is going on in our lives…and especially the problems we are facing at the time…and this loving and powerful God longs to use it all, to bring about a better peace; that will continue to connect us closer and closer to Him. Also…God’s plans for our lives do not include defeat, but rather a future of hope and His very best.
You know…I can see where God had these two questions marked out for me first. This again reveals a God of great love…as He would take the time to not only remind us of His love; but also remind us, of the control He truly has over our lives and the problems we face. Sometimes I think we just need these little reminders; because of what the problems in our lives attempt to convince us of.
No matter what we go through…and no matter how it conveys defeat to us…that will NEVER happen…and why…because our God loves us and is always on alert, to what is taking place in our lives. Once we stop listening to the voice of circumstance…and truly focus on God’s word and the thoughts of hope He implants within our minds and hearts; that is when we will truly find peace, even in the midst of the worst and most raging storm…AMEN!!
Well…it’s been another time of encouragement for me! I truly pray that you too, will take hold of these words of hope; that come directly from God’s heart to yours…and that you will experience a strength; that can truly cause you to rise closer to God…and further away from despair…AMEN!!
Have a very nice Tuesday…take care…and may the God of peace…love and goodness reign within your day! See ya soon!
Many…many blessings on your day!
It’s Always & Only Because of Him…
Diane
PS…Remember one thing…God’s love is an eternal love…not a defeated love…AMEN!!

Good evening everyone…and how was your Monday? I thought I’d stop by tonight…and share the goodness of God in my day!
You know…life is never easy…is it? It seems like if it’s not one thing…it’s another; but I have come to see that when I continue to press on and pursue God in my day…no matter what the day may bring…He does crown every effort I put forth with His success…PRAISE HIM!!
Tonight, I was looking through a couple Bible verses and God led me to one in Luke 1:37…and we read…“For with God nothing shall be impossible.” How many times do we find ourselves winging it alone, during the hard and difficult times of life? For quite some time now, I have taken the time in my morning, to invite God into my day…and even when I leave my office…and the work is done for that moment…I ask Him to be with me, in other things I do; because I not only need Him when I serve Him; but also in my daily life.
This morning…after a few days of rest and relaxation, I was a little tired of the daybed and wanted to get out of the office for a while; so I thought…why not make a pot of soup for tonight…a salad and maybe even some cinnamon bread. You know what…that sounds so simple to whip up, when speaking these words; but I came to see that this little adventure in the kitchen was going to take a little more time than what I had planned on…especially at my speed; but you know what…I asked God for His help…and now I’m happy to say that all my efforts were truly crowned with His success. In fact, I now have a great pot of ham and cheddar soup sitting on the stove…and just before coming in here; I sliced a beautiful homemade loaf of cinnamon bread, while the fruit and lettuce salad awaits me in the fridge.
So many times, it seems as if we try to make life work on our own…and then we wonder what happened to God, when everything goes wrong; but yet, we never even gave Him the invitation He rightly deserves, to come in and help us. I praise God tonight; that no matter how I feel…or how I’m walking…that nothing is impossible for me to accomplish…and why…because God is there, to pick up the slack and make it work for me…PRAISE HIM!!
You know…I completely understand how frustrating life can get at times, especially as I am on a walker…and limited in what I can do…but one thing I choose in life; is to let God be the One, who can turn the impossible, into something possible…and I’ll tell you…I don’t know how I would make it without Him.
No matter what you are experiencing in life…and no matter how difficult it may be for you right now; may I encourage you to turn to the One, who can take the hard times and turn them around into something better…something that can bring hope once more into your heart and life. I have seen God work tremendously in my life…and not because I’m anything special…but because I choose to invite Him, into every little thing I do…for I have come to truly see that with God…nothing is impossible…AMEN!!
Well…that beautiful dinner is awaiting me and Keith; so I think that I will let you go for now…and enjoy the fruits of my labor…and even more…thank God, for all He did for me today…PRAISE HIM!!
Have a great night…and may you truly experience a God, who longs to love and care so much for you! Take care and I will hope to be with you tomorrow!
Goodnight & God bless!
It’s Always & Only Because of Him…
Diane
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Hello everyone…and a very happy and blessed Monday to you all! I hope that your brand new day…and your brand new week are off to a great start! This morning, I am looking out to a rainy, dreary day…but praise God that His light can shine through any dark and dreary moment in our lives!
Recently, I have felt as though life has been different for me, as the pain in my body has increased, while the writings have decreased. Many times, we find ourselves trying to keep up with the habitual things of life, while all along; God has reasons, for why these moments change.
Some of you may already know this…but I have a photo hanging on my office wall that reads… “Be faithful, not popular…God’s secretary, not His boss.” I remember a time, when one of my books was first published…and the publishing company was putting pressure on me, to do this and to do that…never taking into account, as to what God may want instead. After some time, I left that company and chose to self-publish from there…knowing that God would be the One in charge…after all, these were His words…and He had the right to do whatever He wanted…right?
Through the past years, I have left the old habits behind; that were formed through this publishing company…to make God first, in everything I do for Him; but sometimes, life can change and make a person feel as if they are struggling to adapt to those changes.
Last night, as I was relaxing…and listening to some music; God led me to a song that I had never heard, titled…“He Knows My Name”…and a little of it goes like this… “Spent today in a conversation…in the mirror face to face, with somebody less than perfect. I wouldn't choose me first if I was looking for a champion. In fact I'd understand if You picked everyone before me; but that's just not my story. True to who You are…You saw my heart and made something out of nothing. I don't need my name in lights. I'm famous in my Father's eyes. Make no mistake, He knows my name. I'm not living for applause…I'm already so adored. It's all His stage…He knows my name.” What a beautiful song! How many times, do we try to convince God, as to how our lives should be? Don’t we realize the peace that we could have…just by following His lead, while allowing Him to have the stage in our lives?
As I was sitting here this morning…thinking on the words to this beautiful song; God led me to a Bible verse in Isaiah 43:1…and we read… “But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.”
Do we even stop to realize; that the One, in whom we invited into our lives, not only knows what’s best for us…but He does know us by name. Just think…He sees our hearts…looks deep within our thoughts…and listens to every word we speak. He follows our every step throughout the day…and steers us in directions that can keep us safe from all harm…that is, if we are willing to listen to Him too.
I have come to see that life can take a sharp turn…and these sharp turns can attempt to convince us; that we have been taken away from the presence of God, when all along, these sharp turns are either steering us away from evil…or getting us back, to the true path that God longs for us to be on.
Sometimes, we just don’t always understand God’s ways; but I have found that it only gets worse, when we try to make up for what we don’t understand, by piecing our own lives in the direction, for which we think God longs for us to go.
You know…the storms of this life may make us feel sidetracked in life…but one thing I’m being reminded of today; is to just ride out the storm with God…because when we choose to do this, rather than trying to figure everything out on our own; we will come to see that these storms do have an end, which will truly lead us to God’s perfect will for our lives.
Well…I don’t know about you; but I have been encouraged this morning…and I praise God, for the loving care He has shown me today! As you walk through your day, I pray that you will have the strength to keep pressing on…no matter what may arise…and that you too, will come to see; that following in God’s direction, is the only way to go…no matter what! Remember one thing as we close…God knows your name…and He will NEVER let you down…AMEN!!
Have a great Monday…take care and we will talk soon!
Many…many blessings on your day!
It’s Always & Only Because of Him…
Diane
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​Hello everyone…and a very happy and blessed Sunday to you all! I hope that your day is going well…and that you will truly experience the depth of God’s loving presence in your day!
This morning, as I was relaxing in the living room…before coming on here for our visit, I was thinking on God’s perfect strength…and you know what; He has truly become my strength, during the difficult times of pain.  
While continuing to focus on God’s perfect strength; I was also reminded, as to how we can miss out on that perfect strength…just by deeply focusing on the strength we lack. How many of us wake up from a rough night’s sleep…only to convince ourselves that we won’t make it, due to a lack of sleep? Don’t we realize that there is a greater strength; then what we can even begin to obtain on our own?
This morning, as I was thumbing through some Bible verses…God led me to a verse in I Chronicles 16:11…and we read… “Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.”
If we are ever going to expect the Lord to keep us uplifted with His mighty strength, during the hard and difficult times of life; then first, we must be focused on Him…and what He is able to do for us, rather than focusing on where we are at the time. Don’t we realize that when we focus on the things we lack; that this only causes us to miss out, on the things that we could truly obtain through Him?
Sometimes, I sit and think to myself…how is it that we find it much easier to focus on the worst, rather than what God could do, to make life it’s very best?  It seems like it would be the other way around.
Lately…before leaving my office in the morning, to do other things throughout the house…there is one thing I do…and that is to ask God for His strength…to keep me lifted up, on the weak and painful legs that seem to attempt to keep me down. You know…I have actually experienced a power, after a prayer like this; that I would have never experienced on my own…and that was because I turned to God, rather than being drawn into what has actually tried to keep me down.
We must realize that these moments of affliction we face, are only going to make us weaker, when we focus on what they are attempting to convey to us, rather than what a strong God longs to do, through these moments of weakness.
Today, we can either choose to believe the deceptive lies; that stem from these moments of affliction…or we can rise above them, by turning to a God whose strength can truly lift us high above these moments of despair…that attempt to take us down in life.  I don’t know about you…but I choose to lean on the everlasting strength of God, rather than a broken down circumstance. I truly believe that when we walk beyond despair…to seek a strength that goes way beyond our weakness; that this is when we will truly begin to experience this powerful God at work, even in the midst of affliction…AMEN!!
Well…I’m looking forward to some time alone with God and my husband…and then an afternoon of rest. I truly pray that your day will be a day of peace…and that even more; you will truly come to experience a strength that is greater than weakness…PRAISE HIM!!
Have a great Sunday…take care and I will hope to be with you soon!
God bless!
It’s Always & Only Because of Him…
Diane
PS…Thought for the day… “Let God be the strength that can take you up and over the mountaintops of despair…AMEN!!”

​Hello everyone…and a very happy and blessed Saturday to you all! What a great day the Lord hath made…we shall rejoice and be glad in it…no matter what…praise Him!
Well…I hope your weekend is off to a good start! Mine started on a good foot, by getting a full night of sleep…one that I have not experienced, in quite some time…and I praise God for that today!
As I was getting around this morning, I was thinking on all that God has done for me, especially since Thanksgiving. As I was thinking back on some good times…a thought came into my head that said… “What about tomorrow…and the days that still lie before you.” I think we all know where that thought came from…and it wasn’t from me.
Anyways…as I came into the office; God began to speak to my heart…and this was His response, to what Satan had to say this morning… “God provides, as we take each step with Him. We lose hope, when our thoughts race ahead of His ways.” Wow…what a word from God this morning! What He’s trying to say through these thoughts and words; is that He will ALWAYS be there, to meet every need…but not in advance…only as we take each step with Him. In other words…we should never allow our thoughts to jump ahead of His ways; because for one thing…we will quickly find ourselves lost in a world of our own; where we will definitely meet up with worry, doubt and fear…and why…because when we think ahead of God; then we are also out of sync with God.
I am learning more and more; that I must always be in tune with God, to experience all He longs to do within my life. When we allow our imaginations to get ahead of what He longs to do; then Satan will be there, to fill in the blanks…which will only cause us to suffer needlessly.
In Ephesians 3:20, we read… “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,” The key words in this verse are, “…according to the power that works in us,” which means that God will be able to provide in any way we need Him to; but it has to be according to how He is working within our lives at the time. When we are in sync with God; then there will be no imaginary thoughts…and there won’t be any reason to fear what we are experiencing at the time…because we will be right beside Him, as He walks us through all the unknown moments that may lie ahead of us; ready to provide for us, as He sees fit along the way.
One thing I’ve been reminded of this morning; is to praise God, for all He has done…and allow those blessed moments to become hope along the way, as we walk in His footsteps. We must remember that when we get ahead of God; that is when the already darkened pathway, will only seem darker.
Today, I praise God…for the times that He has stood on His promises to me and has walked me out of despair. These moments will continue to be the hope I cling to, as I walk hand in hand with Him…AMEN!!
Well…time to begin my day. I truly hope and pray that your Saturday will be a very special day…truly filled with the loving and peaceful presence of God! Take care and I will see you soon!
Many…many blessings on this brand new day!
It’s Always & Only Because of Him…
Diane

Good evening everyone…and how has your Friday been? Today, I took the day off…and stayed on the daybed in my office, where I could remain off my foot.
As I was relaxing…I was thinking back to the many laid up…post op days…and I can tell you; that these kind of days can sometimes seem worse to me, than an actual surgery…because each day of recovery only seems to be a reminder, as to what is really taking place in my life. Even as I hobbled to the bathroom on the walker…to get around for the evening, I was feeling a little low; but then God stepped in and reminded me; that these days won’t last forever. As I’ve been sitting here…thinking on that; my thoughts were also being taken to a road that can sometimes seem hopeless, when we come to a dead end. After all…where are we going to go from there…and when will we find something better, than what we are experiencing at the time…but then a glimpse of hope began to shine through all these thoughts…and from there…God began to remind me that when we are on the road that will eventually take us to a place called Heaven; then all hope isn’t gone; because even though we suffer now…this road will eventually find its end and lead us to a place, where we will be eternally free, from any form of suffering.
As I entered my office this evening…God was taking my thoughts back to a poem that I wrote about 17 years ago…just after coming through some of the worst times of my life…and I would like to share it with you this evening. It’s titled, “Meeting an Old Friend for the First Time”...and it goes like this…
“I remember the days when I would sing to You…my loneliness would soon go away; or just to tell You all my feelings, would lift my load and make a better day. I knew You were always with me, when I would cry to You in pain; that’s when I felt your arms around me…reassuring me…that You were working, to restore me back again. And when I saw the little things; that You would always do; it was a reminder that You loved me, as I loved you too! And now when we meet for the very first time, Your face I will finally see. I will meet the One who was always my friend; even though I didn’t always see it, as something that was meant to be. As I approach you Lord, my lifetime friend…I realize I have no pain; I also feel the loneliness leave, as a different kind of strength I now gain. Your arms I felt around me, are now very real; Your touch that drew me to Your side…I can once more feel. My Friend, as You reach for my hand, I can’t describe what I’m feeling, as we begin to walk; sweet and gentle words keep surrounding me, as I listen to You talk. And now, as You lead me to a beautiful place, I think back to the things that You always would do; and now You want us to be friends forever, in this home you’ve built brand new. Happy tears begin to flow…realizing the pain and loneliness we shared, will never more be; I then turned to my friend, with a great big smile…and said, “I love you, Jesus…thanks for choosing me!”
You know…sometimes we just need some words of hope, to keep us walking down that path; that can sometimes seem endless. I thank God tonight…that no matter what we face…He’s always there to lift us back to our feet and draw us even closer to Him.
No matter what you’re facing right now…and no matter how long you’ve been walking down this path of affliction…don’t give up; because when we know Jesus…the path will find it’s end…and that end will be in Heaven…a place, where we will never experience anything this hurtful again…praise Him!
Well…I truly hope and pray that no matter what you may be facing tonight; that you will leave this writing, with a piece of hope to hold tightly to, as I have tonight.  Always know that God’s got you…and He loves you so much…and no matter what storm you’re facing…He will never abandon you or leave you as an orphan in the storm…for He will come to you…I know!
Have a good night of rest…and may God’s peace be with you, as you rest! Take care and I will hope to be with you again tomorrow!
Goodnight & God bless!
It’s Always & Only Because of Him…
Diane

Hello everyone…and a very happy and blessed Friday to you all! I pray that your day is off to a great start…and even more, I pray that you will truly experience God, above all else in your day…Amen!!
In the early hours of my morning, I just laid in bed…starring out the window, while talking with God. One of the first things I talked with Him about; is how there can be days, when waking up with the same problem as yesterday, can be quite the challenge.
As we continued our talk…heart to heart; He began to open my eyes to one thing that can definitely be the culprit, to how we handle these ongoing problems…and that is begging God for His help, which definitely does not reveal a heart of trust. You may ask me why? Because when we beg and beg and beg; then we are more focused on the problem and where it might lead us, rather than trusting God, for the reason or purpose behind the problem…which in the end can help us to have peace of mind, rather than a heart of turmoil.
Each day, we need to realize that God would never allow anything into our lives, unless it was meant to serve some kind of purpose. Also…if He is allowing something; that appears to not be going away at the time; then we need to realize that God is still in control of these moments…and we need to truly put trust into action and know that He will always be there for us, until He has safely walked us out of these moments of despair.
A Bible verse that truly has brought hope into my life over the years; is found in Romans 8:28…and we read… “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
Let’s ask ourselves a couple questions today. Why do we doubt a God, who is greater than anything in this world…and why do we tend to trust the circumstance, even more than this powerful God? When we find ourselves studying the problems we face; to the place, where we imagine the very worst; then in a way, we have chosen to trust the problem, instead of a God who can take us beyond that problem. Wow…what an eye opener!
Last night, as I was preparing to get around for the evening; I began to take the bandage off my foot. As I was lightly rubbing the foot…I could see areas, where the foot appears to be deteriorating more. Now, if I focus on what I’m seeing with my eyes; then my thoughts will probably take me down for good…and maybe even cause me to give up on walking and all the things I strive for each day; but when I look beyond what I see with my eyes; to trust a God who is allowing these moments, for some unseen reason; then I will be able to always have the strength through Him, to pursue the reason behind what I’m facing. I’m not saying that we should ignore our health issues…I’m just saying that for me…dealing with a situation that holds no cure…I need to trust God even more. Even though the doctors have done all they can do for these legs…I know a God, who still holds the control stick to my health, in His mighty and powerful hands…and when He’s ready to turn the situation around…I believe He will; but until that moment comes…I have to trust Him…knowing that He knows what’s best.
We all seem to face some discouraging moment in our lives…some less and some more; but no matter what it is…and no matter how long it seems to last; we need to trust the One, who has control over everything He allows within our lives. Satan may feel that he’s going to win out in the end…but even though God has allowed him to afflict us, for some unknown reason; we need to remember that God especially has control over the ways of evil…and that is the direction, in which I am striving to head each day.
Well…I don’t know about you; but I needed these words today! I pray that you too, will find the hope you need through Jesus Christ, to keep pressing on!
Have a great Friday…take care and I will hope to be back with you later today!
Many…many blessings on your day!
It’s Always & Only Because of Him…
Diane​