​Hello everyone…and a very happy and blessed New Year’s Eve to you all! It’s hard to believe that this year is coming to its end; but do you want to know the good news? God is now providing us with a New Year…one that will give us a new beginning and one that will continue to lead us to His very best…and I pray that as we enter this New Year; that we will all take hold of this hope and hold tightly to it…Amen!!
Well…yesterday, we took the first step towards another new year…so today let me ask you…are you ready to take the final step into the year 2021? As we lift our foot to take this final step, we are now going to prepare our minds for the unknown days that lie ahead of us. Can we all say today that our minds are set to walk in a direction that will lead us to the things in life that can bring peace, joy and happiness…despite what we may be facing at this present time? If we could just prepare our minds to see each new day as something special from God; then life wouldn’t seem so overwhelming. Even now, as we prepare to enter the New Year, we are taking it one step and one day at a time. If we could continue to do this throughout the entire year; then we would also find ourselves in sync with God, which would always keep us connected with Him…and distant from the things that attempt to bring us to a halt.
As we prepare to take this final step into another new year, let’s read Lamentations 3:22-24…and we read… “His compassion never ends. It is only the Lord’s mercies that have kept us from complete destruction. (23) Great is his faithfulness; his lovingkindness begins afresh each day. (24) My soul claims the Lord as my inheritance; therefore I will hope in him.”
As we begin to step into another New Year, can we say that our faith is aiming us in God’s direction...or do we find that we are lingering behind…fearing what may lie ahead of us? If we are lingering behind; then these can be the moments that detach us from God and make life much more difficult to get through, which only makes us feel like giving up on life.
Also…we need to ask ourselves this question…”Are we allowing stress and anxiety to control our lives and dictate our feelings or are we looking for God to lead us peacefully from one day into the next?” If we would stop dragging the problems of yesterday into the moments of today and look for a fresh new start each morning; then we wouldn’t feel so overwhelmed by the difficult moments we face. Remember…when we choose to claim God as our aim in life; then instead of living with dread, doubt, fear…and the symptoms of our problems; we will find it easier to live with a hope that can carry us down each path in life. We need to remember that the connections we make in life, will determine how we are led through life and how the tough moments come to an end.
Now, as we place our foot directly into the year 2021, can we say that we are willing to leave the old way of thinking behind and step into thoughts that will relay a message to God, of the things we truly desire? One thing we should think on today is this…how we enter this New Year, will either give us a rough start or a new beginning. We also need to remember that resolutions can become empty words that never reach their destination. If we want to experience the better things in life; then we need to pursue them with a heart and mind that isn’t willing to give up, until we have found what we’re searching for.
Now that we are in alignment with God, while leaving the excess baggage behind; let’s begin to aim ourselves in a direction that will help us to walk one day at a time…through this brand new year with God. Here we go…let’s close the door to the old year and enter a New Year that is filled with hope…new possibilities and all that God has in store for us…Amen!
Have a very blessed New Year and I will see you tomorrow…in the year 2021, for a very special God inspired writing; that will give us that extra boost we need, for another new year! God bless!
It’s Always & Only Because of Him…
Diane

​Hello everyone…and a very happy and blessed Wednesday to you all!  I hope that your day is going well…and that you will truly know in your heart that God is ALWAYS there for you…no matter what you may be facing…Amen!
Today, I thought that we would do something different…and begin by preparing ourselves for another new year. I’m sure that for some…entering a new year may not be as exciting as it once was; so let’s spend some time together with God…and let His words of encouragement help us take those final steps into a brand new year.
As we begin this time together, let’s read Philippians 3:13-14…and we read… “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.”  
The first thing we must realize is that we are not perfect people and life will always be a time of struggle, as this is how we gain the knowledge…wisdom and strength that’s needed to continue our journey through life. One thing that will help us with this; is to stop living up to people’s expectations and begin to live up to God’s expectations; because when we attempt to be a perfect person…one that God never intended for us to be; then moments such as these only weigh us down and make it much more difficult to continue the journey that’s set before us.
Now that we have left one piece of unwanted baggage along the wayside; let’s let go of another one, by leaving the past behind…because when we choose to live in the past moments of hurt and pain; then we will never be able to enter the present moments, which will only make us feel as though we are not making it through life…which only leads to giving up. I’m not saying that we shouldn’t deal with the past because there may be moments when we need to do so; but at the same time, we shouldn’t make plans to remain in the past. When we can learn how to let go of the pain and heartache from the past…and even our yesterday; then we will soon find that we have gained even more strength for the journey, as this unwanted piece of baggage is no longer weighing us down.
The final piece of baggage that we need to unload before entering a new year; is to quit studying the mistakes and wrong turns we’ve made in life and continue to focus and strive for the prize, which will become our reward, for a journey well-traveled. When we begin to study everything that is wrong in our lives or even the hurtful moments of the past; then these moments only become obstacles that enter our path, which only keeps us from moving forward in life. 
Many today may be suffering with chronic pain…illness and the deep heartache that stems from a trying circumstance…and these moments can make it difficult at times, to even begin to think about entering another new year…because we tend to feel as though this part of the journey will never find it’s end; but rather than focusing on what is happening for the moment, why don’t we do as Paul did and strive to reach for the moments that can allow this awful part of the journey, to serve some great purpose in life.
Today, we can find hope and a reason to take that first step towards another new year, when we are willing to leave all the unwanted moments of our lives behind, while choosing to exchange the negative thoughts and feelings, for a better outlook on life. When we choose to enter the New Year in this way; then we will find that the journey becomes easier, while making more room for God to work in our lives.
May you truly have a blessed day…and I hope you will join me tomorrow, as we take that final step into another New Year! God bless!
It’s Always & Only Because of Him…
Diane  

​Hello everyone…and a very happy and blessed Tuesday to you all! I hope that your day is off to a good start! As we begin our time together today, my prayer is that fear will not have control over the unknown moments that we may be facing right now; but that we will have a steadfast faith…knowing that our God will always be there to care for us…Amen!!
A few Bible verses that have come to my thoughts lately, are found in Matthew 6:25-26…and I would like to share them with you today…and they read… “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26) Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”
Today, there may be some who are truly struggling financially. With this pandemic, it seems like there are more people out of work, with families to feed and bills to pay. During times such as these, we can find it so easy to fall prey to the fear that attempts to accompany these moments; but one thing we must keep reminding ourselves of; is that our God holds all resources within His mighty hands and He can work in ways that we can never even begin to imagine.
Some of you may be thinking to yourself right now…how can you understand situations such as these…for you are the author of 16 books and you have a ministry. First off…I would like to say that I took in just over $8.00 royalty this month…and it’s not because I’m not selling books; but rather, it’s because I am giving away the books that I can on Amazon, while giving all my e-books away for free on Google Play…Smashwords and other affiliated bookstores…and why; because I feel that we should never get rich off of God’s words; but rather, we should offer them freely to those in need. Also…as for the ministry, I don’t take in any donations, unless someone comes to me and wants to help the ministry. The money for this ministry is taken out of my husband’s and my pockets and what may be donated is given to help another person in need. Due to running the ministry in this way…there can be times of struggle; but no matter what we may have need of; I have always seen God make a way…and always do it through His resources.
As I’m sitting here this morning…looking out into a yard that’s filled with birds, I am reminded as to how God not only created them; but also as to how He cares for them. In fact…sometimes I think that these birds have a greater faith than what we have…because they don’t store up; but rather, they trust their maker to take care of them…one day at a time.
Maybe today, you are just barely making it. No matter what you are facing right now…I know a God who is always there…to care for the one that He had at one time created. Remember…God didn’t place us down here, to make us suffer beyond our means. Each day, we must turn away from the fear that can debilitate us and look to the One who made us…the One who longs so much to care for us. From experience, I have truly come to see that when we place our trust in Him, rather than placing our trust in ourselves or some other means; that is when He will step in and care for the One He truly loves.
If you have been struggling to trust God, while facing a difficult time in your life right now; begin anew by casting all your anxieties on Him…because He truly does care for you! (I Peter 5:7)
Have a very blessed day…and ALWAYS know that God is there for you! God bless!
It’s Always & Only Because of Him…
Diane

​Hello everyone…and a very happy and blessed Monday to you all! I truly hope that you had a nice Christmas…I know I did! In fact…I was able to get some extra rest and just celebrate Jesus with my husband. Now, as we begin another new week…and prepare to enter another new year, I pray that God will continue to strengthen us and draw us even closer to Him; that we may continue to press on and walk beyond the circumstances that attempt to take us down…Amen!!
A few days ago, I was spending some time with God…and as we were conversing heart to heart; He began to speak to me very deeply…and this is what He shared with my heart… “When we pursue God, rather than giving into a problem…we go beyond the boundary line that Satan has set up to defeat us…wow!”
As I was sharing this thought with my husband, a Bible verse began to cross my mind, which is found in Psalm 18:29…and we read… “For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.”
So many times we find ourselves walking down the path of life…only to be stopped by a trying circumstance. Instead of allowing God’s strength to take us beyond it; we find ourselves letting go of the One, for whose hand we once held so tightly to. From there, we discover that our decision only allowed us to become caught within the snare of a boundary line that Satan had longed to use against us.
I’ll tell you…when God placed this new thought upon my heart the other day…it was as though I was awakened to something fresh and new…that I had never known before. Do we realize that when Satan afflicts us; that this affliction is set up in a way to keep us caught within a web of despair? Even though this thought alone can seem very discouraging; we need to remember that there is a strength that can free us from this web of despair…and it comes through Jesus Christ. Instead of sizing up what is now standing before us; we need to remember whose power is greater. Even though Satan can display himself as someone great and powerful…his ways can never supersede the ways of God…Amen!
I will never forget the time, when I first read Psalm 18:29. I was weak…frail and struggling very much in life, with no hope to be found. As God led me to this Bible verse, for the very first time, I began to truly see that even though I couldn’t go beyond these troubling moments on my own…I could with the strength of this mighty and awesome God. From that moment on, I began to pursue God, rather than the problems that came my way…and to this day, I pursue…pursue…and pursue. You see…I have come to recognize these circumstances that block my way…and I’ve also come to see that even though they appear to be large in size; there is nothing that my God can’t help me to overcome. Yes…it may not always be easy. Maybe God is teaching me to let go of myself and trust Him more, which can sometimes make these times in my life seem long and drawn out; but in the end, I do find myself beyond the problem, rather than stuck in it, as I once was.
No matter what you may be facing today…and no matter how large of an obstacle may be standing before you right now…just know that with God, you can run through it…and with His powerful strength, you can leap over these walls that Satan has placed in your way…for even though it may be impossible for us to get through these trying times alone…with God all things are possible…Amen!
Have a very blessed day…and I will see ya soon!
It’s Always & Only Because of Him…
Diane