 Hello everyone and a big welcome today, to Sunday Inspiration…through the Risen Hope Ministries! It’s so good to have you with me today and my prayer for you; is that when you leave this time with God; that you will have taken hold of a piece of hope that will truly see you through the struggles and challenges of this life!
You know…I don’t know what you have faced in your life…or what you are even facing at this time; but through my own life experiences, I have come to truly understand what it’s like to walk down a darkened path…and I mean a darkened path. These paths that we fall prey to…through a circumstance, can be pitch dark and a feeling can surround us, as if we will never see the light of day again. We can even feel as if we are always stumbling over life…and even feeling our way through life; in hopes of finding a glimpse of light that can lead us safely out of these troubling times. One thing I remember the most, while walking down a darkened path, were the moments when I would cry out to God for help, until there were no more tears to cry. It seemed like life had gone silent and the presence of God could barely be felt. Many times I wondered where He had gone to and it appeared as though my life was just one continual mess, rather than a master plan…designed and ready to live out by God. After many months of begging God for His help, I came to see that if I couldn’t understand what He was up to…or whether He was up to anything at all; then I would have to simply trust His heart, to help my heart through the darkness that stood before me. Through this life experience, I came to see one reason why God wasn’t answering my prayer…and that was because He had a plan…a plan that only He could know and understand and that plan would first have to teach me how to lean on Him and trust Him…to walk me through the darkness, until I was able to once more reach the light…the place, in which I could truly see what He had in store through these difficult moments that I was walking through. You know…sometimes, when we can’t see a light through the dark moments of circumstance and when we just can’t see a plan unfold before us…for all we are going through at the time; then we must simply trust the heart of God, to bring us through these troubling moments…and it must be in His way and in His time. A circumstance can definitely make it difficult for us to see what’s ahead and these moments can even make us feel as if God has abandoned us; but we must remember that His light can enter these darkened moments and see what we can’t see…and that’s why we need to trust His heart, rather than our own. Blessings 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 good to have you here today and my prayer for you; is that you will truly come to see that God can be everything….for every little need in your life!
You know…we already understand that God has the power to do all things; but what happens, when we just don’t see anything happening? Do we feel as though God has stopped loving us or that He has abandoned us? How is it that we feel that God always has to meet our need, in the way we foresee it happening? I remember a time like this in my own life, when I was overwrought by moments of pain and heartache. Nothing seemed to be going right and even more…there was no cure coming my way. I remember crying and crying, until there were no more tears to cry, while I begged God continually for a cure to my problem…never realizing at the time; that God was all I needed. In 2 Corinthians 12:8-9, which is one of our Bible readings for today…we read… “Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.” In this reading…Paul begged God three times, to remove the thorn of affliction that Satan had placed upon him; but God’s response was “my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” In other words…God had a plan to use this thorn of affliction in Paul’s life and even though God’s timing wouldn’t allow this thorn of affliction to be removed; God was reminding Paul that He wasn’t going to abandon him; but rather, His grace would be enough to see Him through the difficult times. You know… I have come to truly see; that what we see as our own way out of a problem, may not always be God’s way of relieving us from the problem. Maybe He just wants us to want Him, even more than the healing. Don’t we realize that all we truly need; is what Jesus has already done for us? This is what I have come to truly see throughout my own life…and even though I never received a healing; God’s grace has ALWAYS been there for me…to see me through the struggles and challenges, of a life that lives with disability…and what’s even more important; is the way God has used my disability for Him; so that His power can be seen through my weakness. You know…we must remember that when we give our lives to God; that they are no longer our own; but rather, they are ruled by a God, who has a plan for each of our lives…and sometimes, in order that His plan may be accomplished; we may just have to rely on His grace to see us through…but oh…praise God that we have His grace, through these difficult times! Today, may I encourage you, to let your circumstance teach you how to love God even more! Blessing 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! I am so happy to have you here with me today and my prayer for you; is that you will truly come to feel and experience the closeness, of a great…loving and very caring God, while you’re here today!
Do we realize that God can be seen, during the darkest moment of circumstance? It doesn’t matter how far we wander away from God…because no distance is too great for Him. I remember a time when I was just coming out of a long bout of deep…deep heartache. This was also a time, when I was beginning to connect with God, in a way that I never thought I’d experience in my life. There were times, when thoughts out of nowhere would come up to the surface of my mind so quickly; that I could barely jot them down in time. It actually got to the place, where I would leave ink pens in almost every room of our home…and there were many times, when I would write these inspiring thoughts on toilet tissue and Kleenex. One summer, I had decided to take all my extra time and spend it with God and write…as a means of seeking Him for guidance and continual help in my life. After all my housework was finished, I would gather up my notepad and Bible and head for the covered deck. Sometimes I would just sit there and do nothing…just open my heart up to God. I even remember watching a mother robin feed her little one, while writing on how God truly cares for His own children. One day, as I was sitting outside, I decided to get up and stretch my legs and as I leaned over the deck railing…out of nowhere, a huge gust of wind hit me head on and about knocked me over. As I stood there…thinking on how strange this moment seemed; I began to see this moment, as though the breath of God had just come down upon me…and from there a poem was born, titled… “Breathe on Me Oh Spirit.” I’ve also had moments, when I had been sitting in my office in tears, due to pain or some other moment of distress and looked out my office window…only to find one tree branch moving…or should I say shaking, while everything around that branch remained still. To some…moments such as these may seem strange or they may even think it’s all in the mind …but I don’t agree because I truly believe that God’s presence surrounds us everywhere. Through the life I’ve lived, I have come to experience God in so many ways. In fact, I had a moment, when I became speechless, due to a deep moment of heartache…only to find myself humming a song that I had never heard before. As the words came to life within my mouth…I began to see this moment, as a time when God was relaying a message of love and hope to me…one that only remained with me, until that storm had passed by. One thing I truly believe; is that God knows His own and will do anything to come to that person, during a time of need. Many times people don’t experience His presence because they may be praying for help; but not truly looking for God to come to them, in their hour of need. You know…a heart that craves God, especially during the tough times…will become a heart that searches for God, until they have found Him...and once God sees the heart that is searching for Him…I have no doubt that He won’t break down every barrier or obstacle; to reach that person and allow them to truly experience the love they need…a love that will ease their moment of pain, while holding them close in His loving arms, until the storm has passed. No matter what you’re facing today…don’t just ask God for His help; but also anticipate His presence…and I’m sure you will come to find Him, right in the midst of your storm. Remember one thing…God is there, and He’s in everything that surrounds you! Blessings 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! I am so happy to have you with me today and my prayer for you; is that you will truly find a piece of hope to hold to…through the words that God shares with us today!
As we begin our time together, let me ask you some questions. How are you coping with a circumstance? Are you in a panic…are you crying out and begging God to stop what has been raging within your soul or are you seeing these moments, as a time when God may be using them, to make you better and different for Him? As I look back into the past, I remember many times, when I would cry and cry and cry, while begging God to remove the awful moments of deep…deep heartache from my life. I just couldn’t understand why He wasn’t listening to me…and most of all, I couldn’t understand why He wouldn’t give me relief and walk me out of these awful moments of despair. Through time, I came to see that it wasn’t because God wasn’t listening to me…and it wasn’t because He didn’t want to take me out of what appeared to be…“walking through the pits of hell;” but rather, He had a plan…a plan that would change my life forever…from an old broken down life…to a life that would truly connect me with Him, while allowing Him to stand out in my place. You know… a Christian’s life should never have the same appearance that it once had before accepting Jesus into their life; but instead, a Christian’s life should be one that stands out and appears to be different…and I have come to see that sometimes; this is why God allows moments of affliction to enter our lives; so He can empty the chambers of the heart that once were filled with ourselves; that there may be room for Him to come in and do a great work within us. In my early teens there were two sets of Bible verses that actually became deeply embedded within my heart…which are actually two of our verses for today. (Philippians 3:7-8 and Luke 9:24) Never did I know in my lifetime that those verses would come to life within me later on. As God began to do a deep cleaning of the heart…one by one, the rooms of my heart became empty and prepared for God to move in. I’ll have to tell you something…the “cleaning of the heart” was no easy task and the process seemed never ending at times; but once each chamber of the heart became empty…cleaned and polished up; that is when I began to let God move into those empty rooms, where I had once lived; that He may fill my heart totally with Himself and begin the work that He had planned, since the day He had created me. No matter what you’re facing…and no matter how long these difficult moments have resided within you; just know that God has a reason and a purpose behind everything He allows within your life; otherwise, He would have never allowed it. One thing I’ve truly come to see; is that no matter what takes place in my life…I KNOW that God has the control stick in hand and when He’s finished with the great work He’s doing in my life…He will relieve me from the hurt and pain that I’m experiencing…and just as He does this in my life…He will do the same for you; so never give up on God or ever feel that He has walked away and forsaken you. Instead of begging God over and over again for help; why not open yourself up to what He longs for you to be a part of…something that can strengthen you and make you different for Him! Blessings on your day! It’s Always & Only Because of Him… Diane |