​Hello everyone! Today I felt God prompting me to stop by and share a word of encouragement with you. With all that is happening around us right now, it can be so easy to fall prey to hopelessness; so let us look to God for a word of hope…a hope that can keep us upright, during the moments that can so easily attempt to take us down…Amen!
Early this morning, I got up and went into the living room and began to look through 5 or 6 of my own personal journals…words that God had given me in the past, while facing some very hard and difficult times. As I read through one journal and into another; God began to lead me to a writing, which I would like to share with you today...and I pray that it will uplift your heart and help you to see how you can experience a real and perfect peace, during these difficult times.
“In the stillness of the night, I am writing. Lights are dimmed…and all that surrounds me is the presence of God. These are the moments when our hearts easily connect with His…with a deep connection that cannot be severed.
When God’s presence enters the room…peace is felt, even in the midst of pain and deep heartache…for His presence alone is what instantly calms the troubled moments of despair; that attempts to take us deep beneath the waves of circumstance.
When we are standing in the presence of God; we find that we are no longer vulnerable to evils ways…or the open territory that can cause us to be direct prey, for the enemy to feast on.
In God’s presence…His almighty wings of love surrounds us and creates a safe haven; where we are sheltered from other destructive blows that can wound us deeply. God’s presence alone becomes the light that illuminates the works of darkness, while allowing the truth of Satan’s deceptive ways to be made known.
No other one can be what God longs to be for us; but first, we must walk the path with our hearts that will lead us into His presence…and that path is found, when we are willing to turn around and walk away from the paths of circumstance, whose only aim is to keep us distant from God, while drawing us closer to other paths of despair. Once we choose the right path that leads us to where the presence of God can be felt…while walking in footsteps of faith; that is when we will be led into the presence of One who can truly become everything…for everything we need! Amen!!”
You know…so many times we get caught up in what is taking place around us; that before we realize it…we have walked into unknown territory…a place where Satan can see the weaknesses we are struggling with, which only makes us open prey to his thoughts and ways…and from there; that is where we see nothing good, which only leads us to a place of hopelessness.
This morning, God is reminding us that we need to remain deeply connected with Him…for this is the only way we are going to survive what is taking place around us. When we can truly find ourselves in the loving and sheltering presence of God almighty; that is when a light of hope will remain lit within our hearts and souls.
No matter what may be attempting to bring you down today; may I encourage you to walk away from these dark thoughts and feelings and enter the light of God’s presence…One who will love you through these hard and difficult times…and shelter you with a love that will always keep hope shining brightly within your heart.
Have a very blessed Sunday…and remember…Jesus is only a prayer away! God bless!
It’s Always & Only Because of Him…
Diane

​Hello everyone…and a very happy and blessed Friday to you all! I truly hope that your day is going well…and as we begin this time together, I pray that no matter what you may be facing right now…that you will truly come to experience a God, who will NEVER give up on you…Amen!
You know…the most difficult storms in life; have a way of convincing us that God will not be there for us. Our friends and family can grow tired of us and what we are enduring; so then we begin to wonder if God is growing tired of us too.
I remember a time in my life, when I was at my lowest. Many had walked away…and there were even some who had said to me that I shouldn’t call or contact them, until I got some help. At the time, I knew that the deep pain and heartache that I was experiencing was related to many problems of the past; but because there were so many, I just didn’t know where to even begin.  I guess that I was just reaching out for someone to love and care for this hurting soul; but that just didn’t seem to happen at the time.
Through that brokenness…God allowed me to go down to my weakest; but that wasn’t because He had given up on me; but rather, it was because His love longed to take me down…only to bring me up with Him this time. Moments made it tough for me to believe His loving promises to me; but He did remain patient…and why…because His love for me was greater than what I was putting Him through…and that’s the difference between this God I serve and any ordinary person.
You know…many times we can find ourselves asking this question… “How could this God love me…for I am struggling to even love myself; but one thing He reminded me of in Deuteronomy 31:6; is to “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you or forsake you.” Once we can take hold of these promises made to us by God; then we will be able to see the difference between God’s love and the love we experience here on earth…and from there, we will also see how He is a God that can be trusted to keep His word…knowing that He will never leave our side during these difficult times.
Even when there were times, when I found it hard to believe His promises to me…He remained faithful and never walked away, like others had; and to this very day, He has always been there for me. When I ask Him to not give up on me…because of what I may be experiencing at the time; He stands true and loves me through it all. I may have moments when I feel as if I am in a world of my own, with the pain I experience each day; but you know what…He continues to step into this world of mine…to always love and care for me…and one thing I know without a doubt; He WILL do the same for you!
No matter what you may be experiencing today…and no matter how alone you may feel; may I encourage you to turn to the One who will NEVER give up on you.
Have a very blessed day…and may you ALWAYS know that God is there…waiting to love and care for you! God bless!
It’s Always & Only Because of Him…
Diane

​Hello everyone…and a very happy and blessed Thursday to you all! I hope that your day is going well…and I pray that no matter what you may be experiencing today; that you will find comfort in knowing that God is already on the other side of your storm…Amen!
In the stillness of this early morning, I am seeing everything being made new. The trees outside my window may be standing in the same place as yesterday; but the dark clouds that once covered the sky in my yesterday, are now being replaced with rays of sunshine, as if to tell me that God is making this day into something brand new.  
Do we truly take the time to see and experience the new moments that God lays before us each day…moments that can keep us lifted high above the moments of our yesterdays? One of my favorite Bible verses is found in Isaiah 43:19, which says… “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”
Our yesterdays might have been stormy…or they may have made us feel as if we were stranded in a desert of despair; but I am here to remind you that today is a new day. Can you not see that God is bringing a new day to you? Look…He is now allowing it to spring up before you…can’t you see it…or are you still caught up in the bad moments of your yesterday.
Just as the dark clouds and rain bring a dreariness to our day…the hope that we live with; is that after the rain has passed, the sun does shine once more…and just as the sun sets from a day filled with difficulties; so does a new day begin, with new hope and new possibilities.
There is one thing that God has truly taught me throughout the hard and difficult times of my life…and that is to not remain stuck in the past moments of despair; but rather, we should continue to press on and pursue what God has before us. Maybe the storms have a way of lingering around us…and the dark clouds too; but God is on the other side of the storm…longing for us to meet Him, at a place where the sun is already shining brightly with His blessings; but one thing…we will never find Him…and the blessings He has for us, if we remain stuck within the storm.
Life isn’t easy…believe me, I know; but I personally know a God who can make it easier. If we could just stop focusing on what is happening around us and seek the new things that God is longing to spring forth through the difficult times; then that is when I believe that we will automatically gain the strength we need, to continually press on.
No matter what you may be facing today…and no matter how hopeless it may seem at this time; may I encourage you to not remain caught in the dismal moments of your yesterdays…or even these present moments; but instead, stand up with the strength of a mighty God and keep pressing on, until He has led you into the sunshine of a brand new day…one that He has had in store for you, even before the storm began.
Have a very blessed day…and ALWAYS know that God has something special for you, even if you don’t see it at this time! God bless!
It’s Always & Only Because of Him…
Diane

Hello everyone…and a very happy and blessed Wednesday to you all! It’s so good to be back with you today…and my prayer is that we will always live with the hope that God is on our side…no matter what we face in life…and no matter what attempts to remove us from His loving presence…Amen!
This morning, as I’ve been relaxing and watching the snow fall outside my office window; God began to lead me to a song titled… “You Know My Name”...and as I was listening to the song; He began to remind me that He not only knows our name from the time He first created us; but because He does know our name…He can also hold our hand and walk us through the darkest moments we face in life…and one of the best verses in the Bible that reminds us that He does know us by name; is found in Jeremiah 1:5a, which reads… “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart;"
How many times have we felt forgotten in life, especially during times of affliction? Moments such as these can make us feel forgotten by God; but I’m here to remind you that God hasn’t forgotten the one He created. Remember…He has known you from the very beginning…and one thing I know…He doesn’t forget us, during these difficult times of need. Maybe He doesn’t always answer our prayers at the time we expect Him to; but He is there in the shadows of these darkened moments…working to repair what has been broken within our lives.
You know, there is one thing that I have truly learned to do, while facing moments of affliction; and that is to continually search God’s word for the truth that can keep my mind and heart free, from the deceptive lies that Satan attempts to take me down with; so today, I would like to share another Bible verse with you that God has used as a reminder to me that He truly does know us by name…and this Bible verse is found in Psalm 56:8, which reads… “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.” When I think on the words in this Bible verse…I not only feel drawn to God; but I also see the connection that God has with us. Just think…God not only watches over us; but He also keeps track of every sorrow that crosses our hearts; and the tears that have fallen from these moments are stored and recorded in His book. In other words…He’s constantly in touch with us…making sure that we are alright, even when we don’t always see it that way.
You know…out of all that I have experienced in this life of mine, I have come to truly see how moments of affliction definitely have a way of turning our thoughts around, while working to keep our hearts low. It seems that when we don’t see or experience anything good; then we begin to wonder if we have truly been taken captive by these moments of affliction; but one thing I would like to remind us all of today; are the words in Isaiah 43:1, which reads… “But now, this is what the LORD says-- he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.”
No matter what is hurting you today, I would just like to remind you; that these moments of affliction don’t own you; for you belong to the One who created you…and one thing I know…God does not create anyone or anything, unless He knows that He can love that person or thing first…and since He was the One who created you out of love; don’t you think that He will always know you by name?
Have a very blessed day…and ALWAYS remember that God has loved you, even before He created you…and because of His true love for you; He will never forget you…or forsake you…Amen!
It’s Always & Only Because of Him…
Diane