 Hello everyone! Welcome today, to Sunday Inspiration…through the Risen Hope Ministries! I am so happy to have you with me today and my prayer for all of us; is that we will be able to focus more deeply on God’s faithfulness, rather than the problems that attempt to take us down!
You know…so many times, it seems that we find ourselves focusing so deeply, on every detail of a problem; that we completely bypass God’s faithfulness. It seems like we have to find everything completely back to normal, before we can acknowledge that God has been a faithful friend to us. After a very rough night of pain and sleeplessness a while back…the following morning, I caught myself saying, “Thank you God, for giving me a good night.” That probably doesn’t make much sense to you; but what I was really focusing on at the time; was not the painful moments and the lack of sleep that I experienced; but rather, I was focusing on how God got me through those very difficult moments and when I focus on a problem in this way; then I have come to see that I am really focusing on God’s faithfulness, rather than the problem itself…which truly keeps me connected to Him. When life seems to be at its very worst; this is not the time to focus on every symptom of the problem; because these thoughts will only keep us connected to the one who is responsible for these difficult times…the one who can keep hopelessness alive, just by the way we think and react to these moments of affliction. Today, we need to experience something that will give us hope through despair and that is to focus on the moments, when God was there or had brought us through one of these overwhelming moments in our lives. For instance…we may have had a rough day; but God brought us through the day…no matter how difficult it seemed at the time and when we are willing to let go, of what took place in that day and praise God, for bringing us to where we are at this moment; that is when we will begin to see a glimpse of hope, which will always be a reminder to us; that we are not alone…but God is still there. Right now, I would like you to look back on your life and ask yourself this question. “Has there ever been a time, when God wasn’t faithful to me?” In other words…was there ever a time, when you felt as though you weren’t making it; but yet you were? Well…to me; that’s a sign of a faithful God. I think that if we could just quit focusing on what had attempted to take us down and look for the One, who has made a path through the rubble…to walk us out of these moments of despair; then our problems wouldn’t overwhelm us so much…we wouldn’t feel so hopeless…and we would truly know that God was still there for us. Let me ask you a question as we close… “Since Jesus…God’s Son was faithful at the cross…and since He continued that faithfulness, in the past years of your life; then why wouldn’t He continue to be faithful, for the difficult moments that you may be facing right now? Hebrews 13:8 says… “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Just take hold of this hope that I’m offering you today; that Jesus will always be faithful in your life…whether it would be in the midst of the storm…or after the storm. His love for you is the same, as when He once brought you through other trying moments in your life; so hold tightly to this hope and look for the moments of God’s faithfulness…the moments that will truly become a glimpse of hope, even while facing the darkest storm. Blessings so much on your day! It’s Always & Only Because of Him… Diane  Hello everyone…and a big welcome today, to Sunday Inspiration…through the Risen Hope Ministries! It’s so nice to have you here today and my prayer for all of us; is that God will help us to truly see how life doesn’t have to seem so hopeless, while feeling so broken!
Many times our circumstances can make us feel as if we are standing in the rubble, of what was once a good moment. We can feel as though life is going well and we have it all together and then… within a second’s time; that beautiful life that we once enjoyed, has now fallen to pieces and has now become shattered, with what appears to be no hope in sight. As we see the fallen pieces of our lives around us, we begin to panic, as we quickly attempt to put each piece of our lives back together on our own…and once we see that it’s not going as well, as what was first planned; then that is when the moments of hopelessness attempt to convince us; that there is just no way out, which opens up the door, for us to walk away and give up. Today, we need to come to the realization; that only the One who designed us and put each piece in place; is the only One, who can fix what’s been broken in our lives. As I look back on my life right now, I’m reflecting on the long years of needless suffering…all because I wouldn’t hand the broken pieces of my life over to God. I would say that I held onto them all, until I was around 43 years old, which was 16 years ago…close to the time, when this ministry began. We need to come to the place, where we no long stand tough on our own or continue to look for the answers, as to how and why these moments even took place in our lives. Instead, we need to turn away from the rubble of despair and turn to a God, who is already waiting for us to say… “Lord, I don’t know where these broken pieces belong…will you help me?” One thing I have come to truly see; is that no matter what God allows within our lives…He will be there, to make it all brand new again…that is, if we are willing to let Him do so. You know…sometimes, I think we just need to let go of what we once had, before our lives fell to pieces and allow God to start all over again and make us into something brand new…something that He truly desires for our lives. I remember the difference I felt, from the life I once had…over 33 years ago, when I moved 2500 miles away from home; to the place I’m at, in my life right now. Sometimes, I think we just need to come to the realization that we can’t always pick up, from where we once left off…and just maybe God doesn’t want us to; because He has a new path that He longs for us to walk down with Him…a path that will make us distant from the past and other things that could keep us distant from Him and His will for our lives. See…this is the reason why we truly need God to put the broken pieces of our lives back together; because knowing us…we probably would put the pieces back together, according to our own liking, rather than God’s will and true desire for our lives. One thing I have really come to see within my own life; is when God makes us into something brand new…we will never long for the moments, we once lived…before our lives became shattered and broken…and why? Because God has put everything back together in a way; that truly gives us peace. Blessings so much on your day! It’s Always & Only Because of Him… Diane  Hello everyone…and welcome today, to Sunday Inspiration…through the Risen Hope Ministries! I am so glad that you came to join me today and I pray that we all will find the strength to disconnect from the problems that are weighing us down…that we may press on, in the direction of God and heaven!
As we begin today, what can we actually say is responsible, for keeping us from pressing on in life? Could it be that maybe we are too caught up in the past or could it be that we have found ourselves sitting in the middle of a darkened path, with a huge circumstance standing in our way? If we were to picture ourselves walking down a road towards heaven; at first we may feel like nothing could ever stop us…even the load that we may have on our shoulders at the time; but as we travel for a while, we begin to feel different. The feelings that once said that we could make it; may now be saying…I don’t know how much more I can take…so we stop in the middle of the road and sit down and as we are sitting there, we begin to say to ourselves…I think I’ll just give up and before we know it…that is where the journey comes to an end…at least for now. One thing I have come to see within my own life; is that we can never walk the paths that God longs for us to travel down, when we are carrying excess baggage on our shoulders. When we do so; this excess baggage only slows us down and can even be the determining factor, as to whether we will keep pressing on or give up. My journey of pain and heartache has been going on, for most of my life. It took some time to overcome…forgive and let go, of so much that was riding on my back…and one thing I can say today; is that God never allowed me to serve Him, until I had let go of it all, which actually happened 16 years ago…the time, when this ministry began. You know…a person who sets out to run a race doesn’t give up, just because their foot may catch onto an obstacle in the course. No…they have their eyes on the prize and their eyes are so fixed on that prize…that nothing is going to get in the way, of them winning that prize. Could it be that we have our eyes more deeply fixed on the past…or the problems that stand before us? If so; then the first obstacle we catch our foot on, may become the reason for giving up, rather than finishing the course. If we are ever going to walk out of this life, into a new life…a life that will be eternally spent, with the One who can keep us free from these obstacles and the past; then we need to keep pressing on. Believe me, when I say…I know that the paths in this life aren’t always easy; but we can do it, if we have our eyes focused on God and heaven. You know…there have been many days, when I’ve wanted to give up…and many days, when I’m so tired of the pain in my body; but one thing I know…if I give up; then I will never make it to my new destination, which is heaven. In Matthew 7:13-14, we read… “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life and only a few find it.” In this reading…“the narrow gate” is referred to as the most difficult passageway to cross. This narrow gate is filled with struggles and obstacles and can be very difficult to walk down; but for the one who will trust God, to get them through these difficult moments; that will be the one that will make it thru. But on the other hand…the one, who is always looking for the easy way out, which can mean giving up…will only find the worst in the end. I know this may not make sense to some of you; but this is a test, of our true trust, love and devotion to God. Today, you may be walking down this narrow passageway and you may feel as if you are not going to make it. May I encourage you today…to join me and keep pressing on. The journey may seem endless, tiring and difficult; but a time will come, when we will take that final step and enter a place, where we will live eternally in peace with God. Blessings so much on your day! It’s Always & Only Because of Him… Diane  Hello everyone! Happy Resurrection Day…and a big welcome, to the Risen Hope Ministries! I am so glad that you stopped by today and my prayer for all of us; is that we will truly experience the powerful presence of Jesus…One who is no longer dead; but is very much alive!!
As we begin today, I would like to ask you a question. Have you ever experienced Jesus in your life…in a way that turned your life around completely and allowed you to see Him, in a way that you had never seen Him before? Well…this is exactly what happened to Mary Magdalene, as she approached the tomb. Can you even begin to imagine what Mary must have felt that day, as she entered the tomb…to see that Jesus was no longer there? I’m sure that all kinds of thoughts raced through her mind...even thoughts…as to where someone may have taken him. As panic set in and tears began to fall…Jesus approached Mary and even though she wasn’t able to touch Him…the evidence was standing before her, as she saw the scars on His hands and feet. This short time with Jesus must have become deeply embedded within her heart and I’m sure that she was never the same, after experiencing these precious moments with Him! As I look back on my own life, I can tell you exactly…the specific moment, as to when Jesus had touched my life…in a way that changed me forever and that was at a time, when I was at my lowest, while going through counseling, for a past sexual abuse. At that time, I remember sitting on my bed…crying, until there were no more tears to cry and as I looked off to the side…from where I was sitting; I saw my Bible sitting not too far from me on the bed. As I picked it up and opened it…this is the verse that stood before me… “The Lord is close to those whose hearts are breaking…” Psalm 34:18a One thing that I can truly say to you today; is that my tears definitely drew Jesus to my side and from that moment on…I was never the same again! Can you truly say that Jesus is alive? Not just alive; but alive within you? Is there a relationship between Him and you that is like no other? When you’re hurting and you feel as if all hope is gone; do you know that He is close by…to love and care for you; at a time, when you just can’t care for yourself? One thing we must realize today; is that religion will never save us…love us or even care for us; for only Jesus can do that and when we are willing to fall powerless…before a powerful God; that is when we will rise together with Him…and that is where a new life will begin! No matter what you’re facing today; don’t muddle through your problems alone…suffering needlessly; but rather, let go of everything…and I KNOW that Jesus will come to you, as each tear falls from within…and life for you, will never be the same again! Blessings so much on your Sunday! It’s Always & Only Because of Him… Diane |
