Hello everyone…I truly hope and pray that your Tuesday has been going well! This afternoon, I thought I’d stop by for a bit and spend some time with you before doing some other ministry work.
Let’s see…this morning, I did some cooking and I made chicken cabbage rolls for dinner tonight. It’s a recipe that I kind of put together on my own, which Keith and I enjoy…so that and some chicken flavored rice is what is for dinner tonight. Once I finished in the kitchen…Keith and I had an early lunch and now I’m writing you and Keith is getting ready to mow the yard before it rains.
While having lunch, I was thinking on what I should share with you today…and God was reminding me of one thing that He has been working with me on, while going through the struggles of arm and leg pain. In fact, last night…before going to bed, I truly had my eyes opened, as to how these ailments are more about what Satan is up to, as a means of keeping me distant from this ministry.
You know…I remember many times, in the past 18 years of ministry work, when I would press on through pain and tiredness…and it was amazing as to how the pain would simmer down, after the work was completed. Anyways…lately, God has been reminding me of those moments, when I truly did rise above the despair in my life, to accomplish much for Him.
Today, as I’m sharing my heart with you, I would also like to share some of my favorite Bible verses with you from Philippians 3:12-15…and we read, “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13) Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14) I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15) Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in anything ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.”
With all that is going on in this world right now, I have come to see that we can easily fall prey to what we are experiencing; but one thing I have truly learned…we will never make any headway in life, if we sit in the midst of it all and let the problem control us. Maybe we may lack strength…and maybe we are finding it difficult to have the desire we once had to press on; but I definitely know a God who will be strength for us…that is, if we are willing to let Him do that for us.
You know…through all that I have had to endure lately; I have also been reminded that we can find ourselves focusing too much on every symptom of the problem…to the place where we completely bypass the One who longs to help us…walk with us and lead us away from these moments of despair. Maybe we aren’t perfect in our ways…and maybe we haven’t taken hold of everything in life; but when we can let go of everything except for God; that is when our focus will be on Him, rather than everything else that surrounds us, which will make it that much easier to press on and focus on the prize that will soon await us in the end.
Today, the problems due to this Coronavirus may be piling up high around you…or maybe you are going through a personal problem; but remember one thing…even though life may change…God never does…and He is more than able to help you and give you the strength you need to keep pressing on; so let go of everything that is attempting to make you give up on life.
Have a very blessed day and God bless!
It’s Always & Only Because of Him…
Diane
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Hello everyone...I hope you are having a nice day...and that you are experiencing the loving presence of Jesus! This morning, Keith and I were spending time with God and He led me to this beautiful writing of hope...and oh how we all need to feel loved, especially during these hard and difficult times we are living in. As we share these words together today, I pray that you will ALWAYS know that you are loved...and that you will also know that Jesus accepts you...just for who you are! God bless...Diane

​A love that accepts you...just for who you are...

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
For more writings like these, visit the "Sunday Inspiration Blog!"

Hello everyone…and how are you doing today? It’s been another great day for me…and even though last night was a rough night…God has once more proven Himself as a God that is greater in strength than my weakness…praise Him!!
As I began my day, I went into my kitchen and made a cold chicken pasta salad, as today was supposed to hit 90 degrees. You know…some people who deal with pain seem to like the warmer weather, rather than the cold winter months; but I’m actually the opposite…yeah…I’m one of a kind for sure…in fact, I was not only born with two bad legs; but also one kidney that is pointed, rather than rounded off. Anymore, I just laugh at life…and moments like these only make me long for heaven even more.
Anyways…after I was done in the kitchen and a few other things were accomplished; Keith and I had lunch…and as I was relaxing for a bit; I was thinking on something that Keith and I were talking about earlier this morning. I don’t know what brought this to my thoughts; but I was saying to Keith, as to how we tend to make God seem weak during the difficult times of life. In other words…we either want Him to do something our way…or we don’t seem to express our faith in a way that says that we serve a strong God…One whose strength is far greater than weakness.
Earlier in my life, I was going through some very difficult times and one thing God showed me; was that even though we are weak…and even though our prayers aren’t always answered according to our timing; there is a God whose grace is sufficient to carry us over the rough times in life, until we can be permanently free from them. In other words…His strength can enter our weaknesses and go into overdrive and take us far beyond the pit of destruction that Satan longs for us to fall into.
These past few weeks for me have definitely been some difficult times, as I have felt bombarded by Satan. You see…I believe that his aim is to do whatever he can, to take me out of commission with God, so others won’t find the encouragement and hope, to help them press on; but through it all, I have come to experience a God who is truly strong…one whose strength is sufficient for times such as these.
A few of my life Bible verses are found in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10…and we read… “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8) For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9) And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10) Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”
I wonder how many times we have begged God to help us…thinking that a healing would be the only way out, of what we were experiencing at the time. Don’t we realize that at the moment, when God isn’t quite ready to relieve us of these trials; that He will be there for us…for His grace is sufficient? One thing I have learned; is that safety isn’t always found through the absence of danger or trial; but rather, safety can be found in the presence of God…even through the darkest trial; for even though the trial has weakened us…to a hopeless state of mind; it’s His strength that can step in and be made perfect through our weakness.
No matter how hopeless life may seem today…and no matter how long you have been waiting for God to answer your prayer; there is a way…a place of hope that can brighten a darkened path and that hope can be found through Jesus Christ…for He can take hold of you and the weak moments your facing…and sustain and hold you up above these pits of defeat that have been set up by evil. Instead of accepting thoughts of defeat…why not accept help from a God who longs to be a perfect strength for you…One who can take hold of the weakness in your life and exchange it for a strength that will never fail or forsake you.
Have a great evening…and many blessings on your day!
It’s Always & Only Because of Him…
Diane
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​Hello everyone…I hope that your day has been a good one…I know mine has! I’m still taking it a little easy right now…but still pressing on and trying to accomplish what God has given me to do each day…and I praise Him so much for His loving care and strength…for without it, I couldn’t do these things!
This morning was such a nice part of my day, as I went outside under the tree near my office and painted a birdhouse that I have wanted to paint for quite some time. I also did a little cooking and then picked a few pink roses from my front flowerbed, to bring in the office. Now I’m relaxing and longing to share something very special with you that happened to me yesterday, while grocery shopping.
You know…one thing I never seem to come to grips with; is how God’s timing truly does play an important part, in every little thing that takes place in our lives each day. It’s so amazing how we tend to forget this…that is until something happens that reminds us of this.
Yesterday, I had planned on going for another grocery shopping spree, as I only go out just as needed…especially since I have been in so much pain lately. Anyways…I had just walked into the store and was looking at some items that I wanted to buy and all of a sudden a lady called out to me. At first, she thought that I was a lady from her church; but as I turned my face in her direction…she quickly came to see that I wasn’t her.  You could tell that this lady had been through some difficult times in her life; but her heart seemed to be so on fire, when it came to knowing God.
As we began to talk at a distance, I told her that I did have a ministry, which made her even more excited. Within a short time…she held out her hand and said only a few words…“Drug addict”…“Wedding Ring”…and “Trailer.” At first, I couldn’t quite understand what she was attempting to tell me; then it all came together…she had been a drug addict on the streets…thinking that even God couldn’t love her. You see…her husband had verbally abused her and it appeared as if much more had taken place in her life; but through it all…God used a wedding band and a trailer, to provide a home for her off the streets…and now she’s experiencing God’s love, rather than the effects of drugs.
Later, as Keith and I were talking, I began to say to him that I truly believe that people who take drugs and drink heavily, are usually looking for something to not only make them feel better; but to also fill the emptiness within…from something that has hurt them deeply…just like this woman did; but just as this woman came to see; there is a God who can fill up the empty voids of life and make life complete…something that is not temporary either…but eternal. 
Later, as this woman and I parted company, I gave her my name and ministry web address and in response to what I had given her…she asked me, if I would share her testimony with my readers…so here I am today…praising God for sparing another life, from the clutches of evil.
You know…it doesn’t matter what you are going through…or how bad the situation may seem…for there is One who can fill the emptiness of a life gone bad and His name is Jesus Christ.  One thing I know…when we let go of everything except for Him; then we will truly come to see that He is all we need. May I encourage you today, to let go of the temporary things that you are attempting to use, as a means of sufficing the soul and let God move in…and from there, He will truly come and make your life complete, just as He has done for this lady and even myself.
Many blessings on your day!
It’s Always & Only Because of Him…
Diane
PS...if you want to experience Jesus in your life, rather than the effects of the storm you're walking through, please visit our page... "Come to Jesus."