​Hello everyone…and a very happy and blessed Friday to you all! I’m so glad to be with you today…and my prayer for all of us; is that God will continue to bless us with a hope that can carry us through these hard and difficult times of life…Amen!
Last night, as I was spending some quiet moments alone with God; He began to show me that sometimes we can experience a storm that can hit us so hard; that it can almost seem impossible for the damage to be repaired. Moments such as these can cause us to lose heart…to the place where we no longer imagine life getting better again.
Recently, we had a bad and unexpected snow storm…and due to the leaves being on the trees; limbs began to get heavy with wet snow…and from there, they began to crack and fall to the ground. At first, the mess from the storm began to overwhelm us a little and make us wonder, if we would ever get the yard back to where it once was.
After the snow finally melted; Keith was able to pile up the limbs and rake up all the leaves and debris that had accumulated in the yard. Once that work was finished; we began to see how the backyard could eventually get back to normal.
In a similar way…we too can experience unexpected storms within our lives that can attempt to weigh us down, while changing the way life used to be; but as we begin to see how God gradually cleans up the debris from these storms; we can take hold of a hope that says that life can become even better than before the storm first began.
Today I would like to share a couple of my favorite Bible verses with you from Isaiah 43:18-19, which has helped me so much in my life…and they read… “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. 19) 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.”
You know…I think we lose hope during the difficult times…because we tend to focus even more on the storms that enter our lives, rather than looking beyond them…to see how a powerful God can step in and repair the damage that came about through the storm. The Bible verses above state that we need to forget the former things and not dwell on them. I truly believe…through my own life experiences; that when we take our eyes away from what just happened, to look for what God is about to do; that is when we will begin to experience a glimpse of hope…and see how He can make all things new again.
Right now…with all that is taking place, due to the virus; life can seem so discouraging…and these moments can even make us feel as if life will never return back to its norm…but that is because we are caught up in the storm. Yes…we need to live with reality and deal with it…but not to the place where we let it bring us lower, than when this virus first hit us.
One thing I know from experience; is that God isn’t a god that leaves us in the rubble of despair; but instead, He longs so much to go after the desires of our hearts and help us; but if our desire at the time is to focus on what has or may happen; then we must realize that thoughts such as these, will only keep us from the help we need the most.
As we close this time together, may I encourage you to look beyond the storm…for even though times may change and these storms we face may attempt to take us down to nothing; God still remains the same powerful god that He has and will always be. Maybe your situation seems impossible within your own eyes right now; but I know a God, whose view of the storm is much different than ours…for He is not focusing on the storm itself; but rather, He is already seeing what is on the other side of the storm.
Have a very blessed day…and may God always give you the strength to look beyond the storm…to what God already has awaiting you! God bless!
It’s Always & Only Because of Him…
Diane

​Hello everyone…and a very happy and blessed Thursday to you all! I’m so glad that you stopped by today…and my prayer for you; is that God will ALWAYS give you the strength to press on and never give up…Amen!!
This morning, as I have been looking back on my life…I see a well-traveled road of deep pain and heartache. Even to this day, I continue to go through many things…and believe me when I say; it’s not always easy to keep ones head above the troubled waters. Even while facing these difficult times; God continues to bring hope and the strength I need to keep pressing on, through a Bible verse in Matthew 24:13, which says… “But he who endures to the end shall be saved.”
I have not only seen my life as a long and difficult journey; but also as a race…a race that will eventually lead me right into heaven…to a place where I will live in peace, while the memories of the past and the pain I bear, will be no more.
As I have been thinking deeper into these words that God has laid upon my heart; I think about a competitive race…one that can be long and grueling, with obstacles in the way. This kind of a race can seem unending…and sometimes these obstacles we face can be so difficult to get over; but I have found that when my eyes are away from the obstacles ahead…to focus on the prize that awaits me; then the race does become an easier race to run.
You know…sometimes I think that the moments that make us feel the need to give up the most, while running this race through life…can be brought about by sizing up each obstacle, while allowing our own thoughts to dictate what stands before us. I have come to see that when I get side-tracked into this way of thinking; then these obstacles standing before me begins to weigh me down…and before I know it…I am convinced that I will never make it.
One thing I can say for sure; is that Satan isn’t going to make this race easy, for those who are truly devoted to Christ…for he’s the one who will continually place each obstacle in our way…to cause a fall that can attempt to keep us down and out of commission with Christ…and even life itself.
We must remember that when a circumstance takes us down…that we should never remain there; but rather, we should allow God’s strength to bring us back to our feet, while shaking the dust of that circumstance from us; so we can continue once more to run the race that’s set before us.
As we close our time together today, I would like to encourage you by saying… “Don’t allow Satan to make you lose out on an eternity of peace, joy and eternal bliss; by giving up and giving into the struggles you’re facing right now…“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” (2 Corinthians 4:17)
Today, my prayer is that God will ALWAYS be there to give us the strength to press on…and to never give up or give into the obstacles that Satan may place before us…Amen!!
Have a very blessed day…and I will see you soon!
It’s Always & Only Because of Him…
Diane

​Hello everyone…and a very happy and blessed Wednesday to you all! I am so happy to be back with you today…and my prayer is that God will continually give us the peace and strength we need to press on; that we may never give up or give into the circumstances that come our way…Amen!!
After coming into my office this morning, I had a few things I had to complete before writing you today; so even before starting, I took some time and asked God to enter my day and to help me accomplish what needed to be done.  At first, everything seemed to fall into place; but as I began to finish the work, I ran into some complications. From that moment on…I began to feel a little overwhelmed. As I sat here looking out the window…trying to see how this problem could be resolved, I turned to God and asked Him to help me once more. Within a few minutes, I began to feel peace, as His wisdom began to reveal to me what needed to be done…and within no time, the work was completed.
I just wonder how often our thoughts turn to God, rather than the problems we face. You know…it’s so easy to get wrapped up in what is happening; that we forget that Jesus is the true remedy to whatever is ailing us. In Isaiah 26:3, we read… “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”
I have truly come to see that when I have my mind set on Christ, rather than the problem; that I not only discover a lasting peace and the remedy I truly need; but I also find that my choice of thoughts removes me from the problem and what it’s attempting to do to me.
Last night, as I began to prepare for some good sleep…all sorts of things began to race through my mind, which made me realize that Satan was up to no good. Instead of allowing these thoughts to destroy the rest I needed, I began to talk with God and ask Him to shower me with His perfect peace…and as I let go of each thought…to focus on His perfect peace; that is when I began to relax and fall to sleep.
We need to realize that the only way we are going to be armored with a peace that can walk us through these fiery trials; is when we have our focus on God, rather than the problem. When we can turn our thoughts often to the Lord; then we will be made completely whole through Him, which will steady us along and keep us from giving up.
You know…there are people who say that they are trusting in God; but are these words just words? I have come to see through much brokenness; that true trust in God means that we no longer need to think on the things that are attempting to bring us down…knowing that when we are truly connected with God; that He will be right there to help, strengthen and uplift us in spirit, while giving us a perfect peace that can calm any troubled moment.
Maybe today, you are feeling overwhelmed by a circumstance…and maybe you feel as if you will never have peace in your life again. May I encourage you today…to not only give your need to God…but to also keep your thoughts fixed on Him and what He can do for you, rather than where the problem may possibly be leading you? One thing I can say without a doubt; is that when we ask God for His help…and pursue Him all the way, while leaving the problem behind with Him; then we will discover a perfect peace that can sustain and walk us through these troubling times…Amen!
May you truly have a blessed day…and may the God of all peace be with you!
It’s Always & Only Because of Him…
Diane

​Hello everyone…and a very happy and blessed Tuesday to you all! What a beautiful day the Lord hath made! As we walk through this new day…my prayer is that we will always feel and experience the loving and compassionate presence of God, especially while walking through the darkest moments of life…Amen!!
Last week, I was thinking on how life can be filled with uncertainties…and how these unknown moments can make us feel as if only darkness awaits us. Times like these can bring all kinds of questions to our thoughts…questions that can lead to worry, doubt and fear…and even hopelessness.
One thing that God is reminding me of today in Matthew 6:34; is to not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow may not happen in the way we feel it might…and if it does; then God will be there to help us through it.   
I wonder how many of us step into the darkened days of uncertainty…days that haven’t even been created by God. Don’t we realize that when we walk this dark and unknown path; that we are only allowing ourselves to be needlessly beaten up, by moments that may never arrive?
Right now, as we live in this world that is full of uncertainties; we can truly find it easy to let our thoughts wonder off into unknown territory…and before we realize it, our thoughts have taken us to a place that only causes us to believe in the “what if’s,” which I have come to see as a dangerous place to be.
Over time…God has shown me that there is enough to deal with in one day…so when we choose to step out of that one day…to wander off into other unknown and darkened moments of worry doubt and fear; then we eventually do find ourselves out of sync with God and more in sync with Satan.
We must realize that it’s Satan’s desire to drag our thoughts off and away from God, into unknown paths of deceit…for he knows that when he can take us away from reality; then he can also work in a way that causes us to lose hope and give up on life.
The only way we are going to remain in sync with God…and the only way He is going to be able to work with what may possibly be awaiting us; is when we choose to take life one day…one minute and one second at a time. In other words…look at what is before you at the moment and stop allowing your thoughts to predict what may happen beyond these moments.
I have truly found that when I keep my thoughts in the moments that lie before me; then God and I are always together as one…and truly…I have seen Him work in ways that I could have never imagined…and why…because I was with Him…where He could hear my voice and go to work on my behalf.
Maybe today, you are facing some unknown issues in your life. Maybe you have lost your job and you just don’t know what’s going to happen with you and your family…or maybe your health has failed you and you just don’t know where these moments may lead you. No matter what the need…may I encourage you to remain in sync with God…and not allow your thoughts to drift off into other uncertain moments that haven’t even arrived? One thing I have truly come to see within my own life; is when we can take life one step at a time with God; then He will ALWAYS be right there beside us…to help us and walk us through the uncertain times.
Have very blessed day and I will see you soon!
It’s Always & Only Because of Him…
Diane