​Hello everyone…and a very happy and blessed Monday to you all! It’s so good to be back with you…and I pray that as we begin another new week together; that we will truly come to see that no matter what life may bring our way; that there is always a God who is much greater than these times…Amen!!
You know…it just seems that no matter how much I go through in my life…and no matter how much I learn and grow through these experiences; the struggle is still there…and why? Because a power not always known to us, wants to invade these lessons learned, while taking us back to the moments where we once experienced the difficult moments of weakness. In other words…life is a battle…and I would say that most of my life has been a battle…and I find that the more I long to serve God and help others…the battle becomes very real.
As most of you may know…my life has been a life of dislocations, surgeries…and especially pain.  For many years, I had prayed for God to heal me. I truly believed that His power was so real; that He could even make my legs brand new.
After many years of prayer…I found myself mentioning to Keith that we needed to stop the prayers…for God was revealing to me that these legs weren’t created in this way to be healed; but to be used for Him.
As we continue, I would like to share a few of my favorite Bible verses with you; that are found in 2 Corinthians 12:8-9, and we read… “Three different times I begged God to make me well again. 9) Each time he said, “No. But I am with you; that is all you need. My power shows up best in weak people.”
Lately, I have been experiencing so much pain…more than some will ever be able to understand…and probably right now, you are asking me… “Where has God been?” You know…maybe God didn’t choose to heal me; but He has been there, just as the Bible verse says.
This past Thursday, I was so desperate for help, as I have chosen not to take any prescriptive pain relievers. One thing I can tell you right now; is that my God has been there for me, even more than any other form of narcotic could ever be. In fact…He began to speak to my spirit and show me a way of escape…and within a short time; I began to experience no pain. Yes…a battle remains…and why? Because I have come to see that Satan longs to have my soul and this ministry.
You know…one thing I am being reminded of right now; is that even though God is there for us…evil is to…and as God takes us several steps forward…it is truly Satan’s desire to push us back into the weak moments of the past; but the Bible verse that always keeps me pressing on; is found in Matthew 24:13, and we read “…but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.”
The lessons we learn and the moments we overcome in life can truly give us hope; but we must be alert to the moments, when Satan may attempt to take us down or push us back…that we may not go back into the weak and beggarly elements of despair, from where we once came.
Let’s face it…for the one who truly knows Christ…the battles rage on; but I know One who will always be there to lift us back to our feet and strengthen us for the journey that still lies ahead…that is; if we are willing to let go and accept His help. Yes…life may not always be what we desire…believe me, I know; but for the one who stands firm to the end…that is the one who will be saved for all of eternity.
As we all walk through these uncertain times, I pray that God will ALWAYS be there, to help us and nudge us along, until we reach the other side…God bless!
It’s Always & Only Because of Him…
Diane

​Hello everyone…and very happy and blessed Friday to you all! I pray that your week is ending well…and that your weekend is off to a great start…Amen!!
As we begin our time together today, I would like to begin by asking you an eye opening question. Why do we fear Satan’s power, when that so-called power can only come through God’s consent?
To be honest with you…I had never thought of it that way, until God took me to a Bible reading in Job 1:6-12, and we read… “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. 7) And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, “From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.” 8) And the LORD said unto Satan, “Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? 9) Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, “Doth Job fear God for nought? 10) Hast not thou made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. 11) But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.” 12) And the LORD said unto Satan, “Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.” What we see here is one of the greatest pieces of hope that we could ever take hold of…and that hope is; that Satan cannot afflict us without God’s consent.
Here…we go back to a time, when Satan had been roaming the earth…seeking whom he may devour. As God began to have a conversation with Satan; God asked him, as to why he hadn’t considered His servant Job…and Satan replied and said that it was because God had placed a hedge around Job and everything pertaining to Job, which really meant that God was in control and the power of Satan…and the power of evil wasn’t strong enough to penetrate the power of God almighty.  Then Satan said… “But put forth thine hand now and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.” From there, God allowed Job to be tested by Satan, which meant that Satan needed God’s permission first, before afflicting Job. Even though God allowed Satan to afflict Job…it wasn’t meant to defeat Job…and even though Satan probably thought that he would win this battle and rise above the power of God…he never did, as later in this book of the Bible; we see that Job was strengthened and that he increased even more, in everything that pertained to his life.
Sometimes, it’s not always easy to understand what is happening to us at the time…and from there, we can easily blame God; but once more, we need to remember that even though God may allow something to enter our lives, for a purpose or reason that we may not understand…His eye is always upon us…controlling every move Satan makes.
You know…often I’ve wondered why Satan feels he is greater than God…and even more…how is that we feel that Satan’s power is greater than God’s power? Could it be that we are too tightly focused on what Satan is up to, rather than why God may be allowing these trying times to enter our lives?
I don’t know about you; but I have truly begun to see my circumstances in a different light. Often, I don’t always understand why the pain increases…or why another circumstance may enter my life; but when I think on this story in Job; I am reminded that just as God had control over what He had allowed Satan to do with Job…He is the same God that controls what Satan is doing in my own life and your life too.
Every day, we must remember that God never allows anything to enter our lives, unless He is using it for our good…and even more, we must always keep this thought in the back of our mind; that we do not have to fear Satan’s power, when that so-called power only comes through God’s consent…praise God!!
No matter what you are facing right now…and no matter how difficult it may seem; just know that God has allowed it for a reason…and that His hand holds the control stick to your life continually…praise Him!!
Have a very blessed day…and a great weekend! You all will be in my prayers…God bless!
It’s Always & Only Because of Him…
Diane

Hello everyone…and a very happy and blessed Thursday to you all! It’s so good to be back with you today…and my prayer for all of us; is that we will be able to find the strength through Christ to rise above despair and see that there truly is a means of escape, during the deepest darkest moments of life…Amen!!
Yesterday, it was time to once more venture out and get groceries. Like I’ve said in the past…Keith and I have been shopping for a month at a time…not only because of the virus; but also due to the condition of my legs.
After being gone for a couple hours…I got home and got all the groceries put away and began to clean up and prepare to rest a little. Even before hitting the shower, the pain in my legs began to go out of control and I was once more sitting in tears.  
Anyways…I finally decided to get a shower and see if that would help, while sharing my heart with God. Within a short time, the pain began to settle down…that is, until the evening…and boy did it come with a vengeance. Finally, I decided to go to bed around 8:30 and try to get some rest.
As I woke up this morning, I had felt as if a truck had run me down…and every negative thought that could have entered my mind did…like how was I ever going to be able to do a few early chores around the house, which absolutely needed to be done, along with some prepping for dinner tonight and of course the ministry work.
Finally, after finishing the early chores this morning, I sat on the couch…feeling pretty rung out and once more, the tears began to flow. Between Keith’s prayers and my cries for help…God began to work…and right now, I can say that I am stable…praise Him!
One thing God showed me; is that He is truly a God who can walk beyond what is wrong, to find a way to make it right…for He is not a God who is focusing on the problem; but rather, He is a God who is focusing on fixing the problem.
While sitting here…preparing to write you; God began to lead me to a Bible verse in I Corinthians 10:13…and we read… “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”…and this is exactly what He did for me.
You know…it’s so easy to become trapped within a web of our own problems; but when we choose to seek God in the midst of it all; then He will come to our rescue. The problem I think we all struggle with; is that we tend to relate more with the problem, rather than God and His word. I know for me…that this can easily happen, as the pain is attempting to take over my thoughts.
No matter what we face in this life…we need to remember that there is a means of escape; but that means of escape only comes through Jesus Christ. When we look back to the cross, we see a time when Jesus went through enormous moments of suffering; but as He cried out from the cross…”…saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? That is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (Matthew 27:46);” His Father never forsook Him; but rather made a way of escape; that would not only free His Son…but at the same time…would also become a testimony of how God will never allow us to suffer beyond what we are able to endure.
As we face the difficult challenges of life; may I encourage you by saying that no matter how dark and hopeless the situation…God is there; but He’s waiting for us to let go of the problem and seek Him and His word for help. Once we choose to walk the path that leads us in His direction; that is when God will be able to work with the problem and make a way of escape.
May God truly be with you…no matter what you face…and I pray that you too, will experience a loving and compassionate God, especially during what may seem to be the deepest darkest hour of despair.
Many blessings on your day!
It’s Always & Only Because of Him…
Diane

​Hello everyone…and a very happy and blessed Tuesday to you all! I pray that your day is going well…and even more, I pray that you will ALWAYS find the strength to press on…no matter what may stand before you…Amen!
From time to time…God fills my thoughts with ideas for these writings in advance…and as I write them down, I just thank Him in my heart; for we definitely needs words of hope and encouragement, to see us through these trying times that we’re facing.
The other day, as I was talking with God; one of the thoughts that He shared from His heart to mine; is that we need to continue to press on…no matter what we may be facing. Believe me when I say; that this isn’t always easy. In fact…I have found that sometimes pressing on can mean that the steps become smaller, while the body and mind become weaker; but on the other hand, I have come to truly see that when we pursue and press on, during the worst of times; then we do gain strength and a greater faith that becomes the hand; that can truly take hold of us and lead us to the source of God’s help.
Another one of my favorite Bible readings is found in 2 Kings 4:1-7…and we read… “The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.” 2) Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?” “Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a small jar of olive oil.” 3) Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. 4) Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.” 5) She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. 6) When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.” But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing.
7) She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.”
In this Bible reading, we see a woman who had just lost her husband and was left with a debt that the creditors were seeking after. As she approached Elisha; she opened up her heart and told him of all that had happened…and that the creditors were coming to take her boys as payment for the debt. At first, Elisha didn’t know how to help; but God did.
As the woman and her sons pursued the answer to their need; that was given to them by God, through the prophet Elisha; they began to collect and fill jars and bowls with olive oil and once each vessel was filled…the oil stopped flowing…and they were able to not only pay off their debt; but they also had extra to live on.
Now what would have happened, if she wouldn’t have taken hold of the answer to her problem and pursued it? I would think that she would have lost her sons, as a means of paying off her husband’s debt…and her circumstance would have only worsened with time.
How many times do we find ourselves giving into the problem that stands before us, rather than pursuing God’s help? One thing that I have truly learned in my life; is that if I would have never pursued the help that God was longing to offer me…through the pain and deep heartache that I once faced; then I know without a doubt that I wouldn’t be writing you today…and my husband wouldn’t be eating great meals…and the house wouldn’t be what it is.
One thing I can say to you today…is that pursuing isn’t always easy; but it does lead us to God’s very best. We must remember that if we choose to sit in the midst of despair and focus on what is taking place in our lives; then we will never go anywhere in life. You know…sometimes the hardest answers are found…through the long, hard and difficult journeys of life; but once we choose to pursue and never give up; then we do come to see how far God can take us with our faith.
No matter what you are facing…now is not the time to sit in your ashes of despair; but now is the time to seek God with all your heart…and as the answers begin to flow from His heart to yours; get up…shake the circumstance from you and begin to pursue with all your heart and with all the faith you can muster. One thing I can say to you today… from my heart to yours; is that when we pursue…pursue…and pursue; then our faith will walk us into the answers we so desperately need…Amen!!
Have a great day…and I pray that you will never give up on life; but that you will seek God with all your heart and soul. God bless!
It’s Always & Only Because of Him…
Diane
PS…Tomorrow, there won’t be any writing; but I will hope to see you on Thursday…so come back and see what God has laid upon my heart to share with you then.