Bible readings... 
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28
“However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them.”
John 6:37
“And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Revelation 22:17
​“Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14
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Hello everyone…and a big welcome today, to Sunday Inspiration…through the Risen Hope Ministries! I am so glad that you came to join me today…and my prayer for you is that you will truly come to experience the presence of Jesus, in a very loving and caring way!
 
You know…I remember a time in my life, when I didn’t feel worthy of anyone’s love, including Jesus’ love. The circumstances I faced at that time...especially the moments I dealt with, while dealing with a past sexual abuse only made me feel like a rag that was tied behind a car, while being dragged down a dusty and dirty gravel road.
 
Isn’t it amazing how Satan not only afflicts us but uses these moments of affliction to bring us so low that we don’t even feel worthy of Christ’s love or help. When I think on this…that is when I see Satan’s plan in action…a plan that can make us feel so put down in life; that we will never turn to Jesus, which only keeps us trapped within a pit of total despair.
 
There was a time in my life, when I felt so down and out; that when my husband would attempt to convince me that Jesus loved me…I would just say… “How could anyone love someone like this?” The overwhelming circumstances that had taken my life hostage, were now dictating my feelings…to the place where I felt as if I would just remain in the muck and mire of my despair forever.
 
For the longest time, I continued to hold onto a thread of hope…my own so-called hope…thinking that I could keep myself afloat, while struggling to hold my head above the troubled waters. Finally one day, my strength failed me and there was nothing more to hold onto…and that is when I began to test the waters with Jesus and see if He would truly listen to my cry for help.  As I looked up from where I was sitting at the time, I began to tell the Lord that I couldn’t do it on my own anymore and from there, I laid my life before Him…just as I was…a woman that had fallen beneath the weight of her circumstances. From there…that is when Jesus came along and picked me up into His loving arms and held me and loved me in a way that I had never felt before…a love that I truly experience, even to this very day.
 
Many times, we can feel so put down by our circumstances…and even feel unloved by those around us because we tend to follow after the feelings that had at one time become so embedded within us, due to these very overwhelming circumstances. When I grew up, the only so-called love I experienced, were two parents that fought continually or lived a life that attempted to hide the dysfunctional life I was caught up in…so I had to learn how to experience real love for the very first time. Later, I came to see that this was why I felt so unworthy of Christ’s real and genuine love. I guess I felt that the only love I was worthy of, was an artificial love…that was abusive…a so-called love that only made me feel like a piece of nothing.
 
You know…I came to see over time that we don’t have to be this perfect person in the eyes of Jesus, to experience His perfect love. He just wants us to come to Him as we are…broken and in need of repair. One thing I know…Jesus isn’t mad at you and He will never be disappointed in you, for your imperfections and weaknesses; but rather, He will take hold of you, in such a loving way and He will lift you into arms that will hold you close and love you through the problem…in a way that you have never experienced before.
 
As we close…let Jesus gently push you through the darkness and deceptive lies that surround you…lies that are attempting to keep you distant from His love, while placing you deeper in despair…and let the light of His presence bring these dark moments in your life to light; that the chains of despair may be broken; so you can experience a love that will keep you free and close to Him…a love that will never let go, for all of eternity. Come now to Jesus…He’s waiting to accept you…just as you are!
Blessings so much on your day!
It’s Always & Only Because of Him…
Diane

Bible readings...
“Praise be to the God and Father of our LORD Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.” I Peter 1:3-4a
“Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26) and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?" John 11:25-26
“And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.” Romans 8:11
“Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Romans 6:4
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Hello everyone…and a big welcome today, to Sunday Inspiration…through the Risen Hope Ministries! As we begin our time together, I would like to wish everyone a very blessed Resurrection Day! Praise Jesus…that He became victorious over evil and the grave, through His death on the cross…and that we have a hope to hold to…a hope that will eventually walk us out of this life and into a life eternal with Him…where there will no longer be any heartache, suffering or pain!
 
During the Easter season, we tend to hear about the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ; but I have found within my own life that this isn’t where the story ends; for Jesus’ resurrection now points us to not only newness of life; but also to another new resurrection that will take place, for those who have placed their faith, trust and belief in Christ.
 
I remember a time in my life, when I could honestly say that I didn’t have the reassurance of this hope. It seemed as though my head and heart were so clouded over with multiple circumstances; that the peace I was longing for at the time, just wasn’t there…but do you know what…as I slowly walked out of my deep dark moments of despair; I found an anchor to hold to…one that would not only keep me safe and secure in this life; but in a new life to come…and because of this, I can truly say within my heart… “It is well with my soul!”
 
You know…there’s a peace that truly comes into the heart, of the one that is connected to Jesus…a peace that reassures the soul that these moments of affliction won’t last forever…a peace that truly lifts a person up to Jesus, with a hope that says... “One day these difficult moments will all come to an end.”
 
Through the past 30 years of my life, I have journeyed with Jesus and as I have walked through the rubble of a broken life; I no longer see this time of the year, as a time of memorial; but rather a triumphant end that led to a new beginning…and I have peace within my heart…knowing that one day, Jesus will call my name and I will rise to be with Him…what hope!
 
One of the very first writings that was shared, from my heart to God’s heart…just after walking out of many years of despair 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 heavy 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…restoring me back again. And when I saw the little things that you would always do; it was a reminder that You loved me…and 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 if I didn’t know it was meant to be. Your arms I once 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 You would always do; and now You want us to be friends forever, in this home You’ve built brand new. Happy tears begin to flow…realizing that the pain and loneliness we shared, would never more be; I then turned to my Friend, with a great big smile…and said, “I love you Jesus…thanks for choosing me!”
 
As we think back to the time of the cross…we don’t grieve; but instead, we anticipate the moment, when we will also join Jesus and rise to meet Him in the air. So you see…Resurrection Day isn’t where it ends…for it is only the beginning of better things to come!
Many blessings on your day!
It’s Always & Only Because of Him…
Diane
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Bible readings...
“He spreads out the northern skies over empty space; he suspends the earth over nothing.8 He wraps up the waters in his clouds, yet the clouds do not burst under their weight. 9 He covers the face of the full moon, spreading his clouds over it. 10 He marks out the horizon on the face of the waters for a boundary between light and darkness. 11 The pillars of the heavens quake, aghast at his rebuke.12 By his power he churned up the sea; by his wisdom he cut Rahab to pieces.13 By his breath the skies became fair; his hand pierced the gliding serpent. 14 And these are but the outer fringe of his works; how faint the whisper we hear of him! Who then can understand the thunder of his power?” Job 26:7-14
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Hello everyone…and a big welcome today, to Sunday Inspiration…through the Risen Hope Ministries! Whether you don’t have a church to go to…or whether you are unable to go to church, due to your health…please always know that you are welcome here…and I pray that as you are visiting Sunday Inspiration today; that you would truly be blessed by a God, who will ALWAYS be greater than anything you endure in this life!
 
Isn’t it amazing how our circumstances can attempt to make us believe that they are greater than the One who lives within us?  I don’t know about you…but in the past, while I was going through one circumstance after another, it seemed as if the so-called power of a weak circumstance began to rise up within me, while attempting to make me believe that it was the biggest thing and the most powerful thing in my life…one that could even possibly bring me down to total defeat.
 
How is it that we find ourselves turning our attention to a weak problem…above a strong God? Could it be that we have come to know our problems more than God? Could it be that we have allowed ourselves to become caught up in what is happening around us…to the place that we can’t take our eyes off the problem long enough, to look up and see how big God could truly be for us?
 
After walking out of pain, loss, abuse and much more, I can truly say that God is bigger than anything we may go through. Even though pain can attempt to control the mind and bring us down to nothing; I have truly seen where God’s perfect peace can calm the storm that rages within…and even though moments of loss can make us feel alone and in a world of our own; I know a God who can fill the emptiness within and make life more complete…and even though abuse or deep heartache can make a person feel worthless; I have experienced a God who can make us feel worthy of His love.
 
You know…as I’ve walked through 21 knee operations…chronic pain…abuse and a dysfunctional home life, along with many years of loss and depression and a worthlessness that I can’t even describe, I’ve truly come to see that I only came out of those overwhelming moments because of a big God. I can honestly say that no one could have broken the chains that bound me up for many years, like He did for me!
 
As I look back on the many painful moments of my yesterdays; I also think back to moments when I used to see them as though nothing or no one could have been more powerful or greater than what I experienced at the time; but then later, I placed them on a scale with God on the other side and that is when I truly saw how big my God had been for me. Words cannot describe the hopelessness He brought me out of. He didn’t have to do that either; but His love for me became greater than the evil that was attempting to bring me down for good…and that in itself shows me how big of a God I serve.
 
Even with all that I have experienced in my yesterdays…God continues to be the biggest one in my life for each tomorrow. One thing I’ve truly come to see about God; is that He is a God that never wavers…weakens or becomes less of a God in my life. I think that sometimes, we just need to take a tight focus off of a circumstance and place a tighter focus on God. When we can see how God can be greater than what we may be experiencing at the time; then hope will always remain alive within us…just knowing that nothing will ever be able to rise above this big God!
Blessings on your day…
It’s Always & Only Because of Him…
Diane

Bible readings... 
“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.”
John 15:16
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” Romans 8:35-37
“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39
“The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” Jeremiah 31:3
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Hello everyone…and a big welcome to Sunday Inspiration…thru the Risen Hope Ministries! It’s so good to have you with me today…and my prayer for all of us; is that we will truly come to see that there is a love that never fails or forsakes us!
 
As I’ve been sitting here today, I’ve been thinking on all that God has brought me through…but to be honest with you; there was a time in my life, when I felt as if God had stopped loving me…for nothing good was happening in my life…only one bad moment after another.
 
Isn’t it amazing, as to how these moments from the present and even the past, can attempt to convey a message to us; that says that God could never love us…either for the wrong we have done…or even due to all the problems we’ve been through. As I think on this today, I find myself looking back to a time, when I was so overwhelmed with surgeries…pain and the things I was dealing with from the past; that all I could think of at the time was this…where was God and had He stopped loving me?
 
I think the problem we have, when it comes to convincing ourselves of God’s love; is that we are too much in tune, with what Satan is trying to get us to believe through a weak circumstance…and so we find ourselves in the midst of a battle…a battle, where we are longing to reach out for God’s love, while the harsh moments of a circumstance are on the other side…trying to convince us that if God loved us that much; then why would we be experiencing such difficult times in our lives.
 
You know…one of the hardest times in my life that I can remember; was trying to figure out why a powerful and loving God would ever turn his head, while my grandfather molested me. It took a long time to figure out how a God of love could allow something so bad; but as I began to let go of the deep hurt from the past; He also began to show me that it wasn’t Him that had brought on such pain in my life…for we all have a means of making choices in this life and some people just make the wrong choice. But the victory that comes out of it all; is that God uses these weaknesses that hurt us so deeply; so we can grow and become even stronger in Him…and in this way; I have come to see this as God’s way of picking me up and gently scraping the dirt from me. Now to me…that’s love…because He could have abandoned me at the time; but instead, He chose to be there for me and take that weakness upon Himself and give me His perfect strength in its place!
 
Sometimes…I think we are looking for God’s love, in the way we feel it should be; but I truly believe that if we were to slow down and look for Him at work within our lives; then these would be the moments, when we would truly find ourselves connecting with a real and lasting love…God’s love.
 
Maybe today, you are struggling to feel the depth of God’s love for you…because you feel as if you are not good enough…or maybe it’s a problem from the past that has convinced you that God’s love will never be there for you. May I encourage you today…by saying to you; that there is a love that will never give up on you…a love that can never be erased from your heart…a love that won’t judge you for your past; but a love that longs to heal and restore and make all things new and this love will reach out and accept you…just for who you are…it’s that’s simple. Reach out to God today and let His love become very real within your heart…and remember; even though we may run away from Him; He’s still always there…holding onto us, with a love that will never let go…believe me, I know!
Blessings on your day!
It’s Always & Only Because of Him…
Diane