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Thoughtful Thursdays: Installment #24

For some, it's easy to turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to the hurt, pain and tragedy of others, as long as they or someone they personally know is not involved. But I'm praying that God will continue to develop compassion and empathy in the hearts of every Daily Cup reader, so that when others are wounded, we feel their pain. As I always say, we don't know what the future holds for us and when we'll need somebody to go to God on our behalf.

Today, join me in praying for those on our Thoughtful Thursdays list.

1. First, we're seeking God for the comfort of those who are yet whirling from devastation, after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Tuesday, January 12, 2010--the largest ever recorded in the area. Government officials said the death toll may exceed 100,000.

2. We're also praying for a woman named LaNise Miles, who is dealing with several things at once. Although she just earned her degree in accounting (An exciting accomplishment), her husband lost his job and she has not yet found suitable employment either. As a result, both she and her husband are unemployed and living with her parents, along with their children, which hasn't been at all easy. We're asking God to give the Miles family favor in this situation, that they might find gainful employment and move back into their own place.

3. We're seeking God on behalf of a woman who requested that her name remain confidential. She, like LaNise, finally finished her degree too. But then, she lost her job due to the company's financial issues. Now, she's in the process of scouting out jobs in the Nashville, TN area and needs God's guidance and help in opening doors. Also, this woman, with the help of the Lord, got out of a bad 41/2 year relationship with a man who was unfaithful. Now, she struggles with fear of being hurt again. So, we're petitioning God to help her find another job, heal from her brokenness, as she picks up the pieces of her life once again.

4. We're asking the Lord to honor the request of LaKeisha Rainey-Collins, who is soliciting prayer for her mother-in-law, who recently had knee replacement surgery. Though the operation went smoothly initially, blood clots have begun forming in her mother-in-law's leg and her blood count levels are off.  When one of the nurses said to her LaKeisha's mother-in-law that, her blood clots "could be the death of her," she has been struggling with a bit of fear and anxiety ever since.  So, we're praying for her physical healing, as well as the strengthening of her faith. 

5. Finally, we're praying for a woman named Margaret whose 42 year old husband recently died of Colon Cancer. Now, she's struggling to pick up the pieces of her life and find the will to live without him. Let's all pray that the Holy Spirit would comfort her in her time of mourning and give her the strength she needs to go through the healing process.

Thank you for praying and agreeing with me. I genuinely appreciate your collective prayers for all those mentioned. I believe that it is done according to God's will, in Jesus' name, amen.

As always, thanks for reading and until next time... may you be empowered to prosper.

Dianna Hobbs

www.eewmagazine.com

Thoughtful Thursdays: Installment #17

ON THIS THOUGHTFUL THURSDAYS, before we go into our prayer list, I want to make mention of an e-mail I received from a Daily Cup Reader who shared a personal relationship issue she was struggling with earlier this year. This thing had been tearing her up on the inside for quite some time, leaving her filled with bitterness and deeply rooted hatred toward a certain individual. 

I don't know if you've ever experienced a serious hurt before. If you have, however, you're likely aware of how difficult it can be to let that thing go and overcome it emotionally; but God is truly able to heal all wounds if we open our hearts. I was so pleased to hear that, not only did this reader experience the power of divine forgiveness, but God also restored the relationship she had written off as irreconcilable.

When I read that message, I was so excited. There goes proof of the power of prayer!

I want you to know that I rejoice right along with you when God works a situation out on your behalf, and I'm believing God for even more "praise reports" from those who have been included on our Thoughtful Thursdays list. I want to thank all of you who are faithfully praying along with me each week! Remember, if you have a prayer or a praise to share, let me know about it at dailycup@eewmagazine.com.

Alright, here's this week's list of prayer requests that we fully expect to turn into praise reports:

1.) We're seeking God on behalf of Kesi Keys who was laid off from her job as an Engineer on June 2, 2009. Kesi has been diligently seeking employment everyday. Her search hasn't yielded any positive results to date. On top of the financial obligations that come along with taking care of her mother, who lives at home with Kesi, she's also concerned about the risk of losing the new home she just purchased three years ago. Kesi is feeling distressed and discouraged because of her fruitless job hunt and needs God to intervene. Let's join our faith with hers for gainful employment and a renewed faith in God's ability to work this situation out.

2.) There's an anonymous request from a reader whose husband first turned away from God and then, subsequently abandoned her and their two children. She's desperately praying for his return to God and to his family. Please join me in asking God to completely restore this man, first for his soul's sake and secondly, for the sake of his family who loves him.

3.) A prayer request has been submitted by Jennifer on behalf of her 47 year old sister, Pam, who has cancer. Pam recently had a successful hysterectomy, but the doctors think the cancer may have spread throughout her body. Jennifer is requesting that we earnestly seek God for the healing of her sister and join her in believing for positive test results.

4.) We're crying out to God for Allen who is soliciting earnest prayer for his mother, Janet Wilson, who suddenly fell ill and now, she's in the hospital on a ventilator. We're joining him in prayer for full restoration of her health.

5.) A concerned family member is asking that we pray for Tonya Williams, who is suffering from pancreatic cancer and needs to move back to New Orleans with her immediate family to receive  ongoing treatment, as well as an immediate surgical procedure. We're believing that God will remove all barriers and hindrances, so Tonya can do what is necessary for her full and speedy recovery.

God bless and thank you all for joining me in prayer.

As always, thanks for reading and until next time... may you be empowered to prosper!

Dianna Hobbs

www.eewmagazine.com

Give Me 15 Minutes

Ever had one of those days when your "To Do" list for one day was really more like a week's worth of work? If so, then, you'll understand perfectly what  I mean when I say yesterday was a "heavy" day of work for me.

Well, midway through the day, I started feeling smothered under the weight of the workload. So, you know what I did? I talked to the children and told them, "Mommy's about to pray. Give me 15 minutes alone OK?"

"OK," they all agreed. I knew when I made that request I couldn't really bank on the Hobbs clan not bombarding me. Even still, directly after that, I went into my bedroom and started talking to the Lord and He talked back to me. Together, the Lord and I had a wonderful time... and the children didn't even interrupt for the whole 15 minutes. I think that might've been the miracle in and of itself!

Thankfully, after I spent those  moments in God's presence, I felt like a brand new person. In fact, I was more productive after carving out that space. Of course, I recommend spending as much quality time with the Lord as possible and finding a regular time to do so everyday. But in those times when you need a refreshing during the course of your day, I recommend making some additional room to run into your Father's arms. He's always right there waiting for you and me.

You might be on your lunch break at work. Why not spend a portion of your lunch praying, meditating on God, and allowing Him to minister to your spirit? There's nothing like His touch.

You see, sometimes, we just need to steal away and talk to the Lord in the middle of the day. Even if we've had our prayer time in the morning, there will inevitably be days when the everyday stuff of life wears us thin. In moments like these, if only for a quick 10-15 minutes, we need to seek God and call upon Him. It's His pleasure to come to our rescue!

Aren't you glad we serve a God who alleviates the pressure we feel, lifts our heavy burdens, and gives us a fresh perspective and outlook?

Next time you're feeling overworked, overwhelmed, and overtaxed, take 15 minutes... it'll be time well spent. "From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I" (Psalm 62:1 KJV).

As always, thanks for reading, and until next time... may you be empowered to prosper!

Dianna Hobbs

www.eewmgazine.com

Thoughtful Thursdays: Installment #4

What a week...what a week. It's Thursday again and I can hardly believe how quickly the time has passed by. Today is my youngest daughter, Kaiah's 8th birthday and I have a cake to bake this morning. So, on this Thoughtful Thursday (The time we set aside to pray for others), we're gonna pray that this cake turns out well :-)  As you may already know, I'm an excellent cook, but the "Betty Crocker anointing" passed over me, so I do the best I can when it comes to baking.

Today's Thoughtful Thursdays list, however, is somewhat brief, which I suppose is an indication that all is well with you guys. If it's not and you need prayer and would like to be mentioned on the blog, I want to hear from you. Send me an email to dailycup@eewmagazine.com. Perhaps, you may be doing fine and simply want prayer for a new initiative, guidance on a project, or favor for your pursuits. Be sure to email me.

Alright so, there's just one person on our list today and the news is great. The news comes from one of our most loyal Daily Cup readers, Keisha Collins.

I received word last night that she had her new baby boy, Jaxon, yesterday afternoon and I'm so excited for her. Both she and the new baby are doing well, so just pray for her recovery and that God would bless her family as they take home their new  bundle of joy.

Be sure to take out some time today to pray for someone else.

As always, thanks for reading, and until next time... may you be empowered to prosper!

Dianna Hobbs

www.eewmagazine.com

Thoughtful Thursdays #3

Hello all! It's that time again to take a few moments to be deliberate about praying for others from an authentic place of love and concern.

Here's the list of people:

1. My eldest sister was in a car accident last week-end when a car rear-ended her and her husband, forcing them to smash into the back of another vehicle. Please pray for Cherisse Stephens, that God would give her and hubby a speedy recovery.

2. Faithful Daily Cup reader, Keisha Collins, is due to have a baby boy named Jaxon very soon. She's in the final stages of pregnancy and has been in lots of pain. Pray that the Lord will give her strength and comfort, so she can bring a healthy, bouncing baby into the world.

3. Cherise Young, recently re-launched her ministry website, which is dedicated to empowering others through faith-based workshops, counseling and more. Her daughter has been working so hard on the site, so please visit Cherise online.  

4. A 24-year-old woman named Cherisse Richardson is battling Liver Cancer and is in need of your prayers. You'll be able to read her story in the new issue of EEW Magazine on Monday.

Please know, I want to hear from you, so drop me a line. If there's something you need prayer for, or would simply like to share during Thoughtful Thursdays, just email me at: dailycup@eewmagazine.com

As always, thanks for reading, and until next time... may you be empowered to prosper!

Dianna Hobbs

www.eewmagazine.com

I Want to Care

Today is a great day.  Kenya doesn't have to work. I don't have to  am not going to do any work. Instead, we're gonna fire up the barbecue grill, cook some burgers, hot dogs, play outside with the kids and just relax. Hopefully, you'll have a relaxing day too.

But, even though this is a "free" and fun day for my family and lots of others, there are many families that will be mourning and remembering loved ones who have died while serving our Country. For some, Memorial Day evokes mixed emotions--feelings of pride, coupled with sadness for their enormous loss.

Though I've never lost anyone close to me due to the perils of war, my heart still goes out to those who have. As a mom, I can't imagine what it must be like to lose a child; as a sister, I can't fathom the pain of losing a sibling; as a wife, I can't grasp the deep agony of losing a husband. As a friend, I can't know the kind of void the death of a close companion creates.

But someone knows that excruciating pain and emptiness all too well.

For them, today is not a day of celebration, light-hearted conversation, or joyous fellowship; rather, a day of solemn remembrance and re-opening of old wounds.

So, even if you don't personally know of anyone who has died at war, still, take time to say a quiet prayer for someone else today. That doesn't mean you can't have a great time and enjoy family, friends, and fellowship. It simply means, you and I have to be compassionate and mindful of others.

I know that, if we haven't been through it, we can't fully understand the real intensity of the pain in such a sensitive area, but we can pray. We can sympathize. We can allow ourselves to feel and be touched by the infirmities of others. "Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep" (Romans 12:15).

You know, I never want to get to the point where I'm not affected by the pain of others, just because everything is OK in my world. I don't want to be selfish and so "me-centered," that the unfortunate plight of others doesn't move me at all.

I want to care.

I know you do too.

I always want to be aware that none of us is exempt from tragedy, pain, and loss. It's an inescapable part of our human existence. That's why, when all is well with us, we must remember to uphold those who happen to be in the midst of a storm. After all, we have no way of knowing when we will need someone to lean on, to comfort and pray for us in our time of need!

*Note: The yellow ribbon you see posted is symbolic of the families waiting for the return of military troops who are temporarily unable to come home. Pray for our troops!

As always, thanks for reading, and until next time...may you be empowered to prosper!

Dianna Hobbs
www.eewmagazine.com

Content but Not Complacent

There's a fundamental difference between being content and  being complacent. Contentment is a state of being where you accept the reality of your situation, without complaint or resentment. When you're content you work on the things you can change and accept the things you can't, all while refusing to be disheartened.

You don't let circumstances steal your joy.

When you're complacent, on the other hand, you somehow adopt a "good enough" or "that'll do" mentality. You become satisfied with mediocrity, possessing no real aspirations to do and be more.

Contentment is healthy, but complacency...well, that's dangerous.

We must ask God to help us strike a balance, so we can say like Paul, "For I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who  strengthens me" (Philippians 4:11b-13 ).

That doesn't mean we should lower our expectations and anticipate hardship. No, no, not at all. But it does mean that, we must learn to accept where we are, even if it's in the valley, with full assurance that trouble won't last always.

Again, we have to strike a balance.

We must work toward our goals while not becoming impatient and frustrated with the journey. We have to remain  thankful for where we are today, though we have a deep-seated desire to move beyond where we are today. We must praise God for the territory we currently have covered, while believing and expecting Him to enlarge our territory.

We have to be content during this season, while anticipating an even better season to come. Don't spend all Winter longing for the Spring, or all Spring wishing it were Summer, or all Summer frustrated that it's not Autumn.

No.

Appreciate the season you're in while eagerly anticipating the change of seasons that will inevitably come in time.

Listen, God has so much more for you than what you now see. So don't become complacent with where you are. At the same time, don't lament where you are either. Don't get impatient and restless. Enjoy the journey.

Don't become consumed with temporal things. God will provide for every need. As Paul told Timothy, "Now godliness with  contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain that we will carry nothing out" (1 Timothy 6:6).

That's why we have to remember to do as Jesus instructed: "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Matthew  6:33).

Wake up every morning with a heart full of thanksgiving. Smile and say, "This is the day that the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalm 118:24).

And as you rejoice and celebrate your today, you'll wake up to an even brighter tomorrow.

As always, thanks for reading, and until next time... may you be empowered to prosper!

Dianna  Hobbs
www.eewmagazine.com

Next Time You'll Know...

My  husband and I have four young children and no matter how much we tell them what is right, there are some  lessons they have to learn on their own. In some cases, their curiosity gets the best of them and they try things that  end up causing them pain.

And there's no better teacher than pain.

Certainly, as a protective mom, I hate to see them hurting. I wish that I could keep them from ever feeling any discomfort.  Yet, I know that my children must experience some hardship of their own so that, on the next time, they'll know better.

Similarly, in life, some lessons come hard don't they? Everything can't be learned in a book or vicariously through the life experiences of another. Some things you've just got to live through in order to extract and apply those invaluable lessons. 

Think about it.

What have you gone through that hurt you more than anything else? Despite the agony of the troublesome situation, didn't it mature you? Didn't you grow as a result of that hardship? Once some time had passed, weren't certain things revealed to you about the encounter that you were unable to recognize before?

Here's my point.

Though God loves and cares for us, He is and always will remain the consummate teacher. He knows there are specific life lessons we can only grasp through adversity. So He'll, at times, step aside and allow us to confront trouble head on in order to teach us pertinent lessons... lessons that will ensure our preparedness the next time.

You see, God knows that pain and growth go together. I know that might not make you want to jump and shout for joy, but it's true.

We all want to be enlarged, but we don't want to be stretched.

Stretching hurts.

Being challenged is uncomfortable. But if we focus on the powerful lessons, rather than trying to run away from the pain, we'll emerge from our tests stronger, wiser, and more prepared than ever to fulfill our Kingdom purpose in the earth.

I believe that there are certain mountains we circle over and over again in our lives, because we have not gained the necessary insight to move forward. So then, God, in His infinite wisdom, will allow us to face situations and circumstances that force us to pay attention to what we have ignored for far too long.

And once He gains our attention, He pours His wisdom into us so that we  can avoid going down the same ineffective and often, destructive path again.

Perhaps you're facing a very trying time in your life today; don't fear and don't be discouraged. God is increasing your wisdom. He's positioning you to do better. I know you might not see it now, but  just keep holding on. You'll soon be able to look back on this and say, "Oh! That's what you were teaching me God. I couldn't see it then, but now I understand!"

And all that anxiety, frustration, and fear you may presently feel will be replaced with a heart full of praise and gratitude for the wisdom God has bestowed upon you.

Next time you'll know what to do and what not do.  You'll be better equipped to confront similar situations with grace, poise, and confidence. In fact, there will be some incidents that will  be avoided altogether because you will see the signs and change course before things even get to this point!

Once you know better, you'll do better. So today, I want you to know; I see some "do better" days in your future! And if you're having a hard time thanking Him for your right now, just praise Him for your next time. As the saying goes, "I see you in your future and you look much better than you do right now."

Just be strong and stay encouraged. It's gonna be all right.

As always, thanks for reading, and until next time... may you be empowered to prosper!

Dianna Hobbs

www.eewmagazine.com

 

Beware of the Joy Killers

Whenever God is working in your life, it is inevitable that the enemy will try to throw things off  course. Your adversary doesn't want you to enjoy the abundant life you're entitled to, so he'll do anything and everything in his power to steal your joy. He'll use anything to cause your faith to waver...financial struggles, relationship issues, health concerns, career upsets, business failures, esteem issues, excessive worry... anything that will rob you of the peace and joy God wants you to have.

But you have to be aware and beware of his tactics. Don't let the enemy sidetrack you, thus keeping you off purpose and off focus. Don't let him trip you up with his subtle schemes to snatch away your faith and optimism. Don't let him get a foothold in your mind. No, fight  back with the word of God. When the enemy begins lying, combat those lies with the promises of God. Rebuke him in the name of Jesus and guess what? He's got to flee!

I wonder...what "joy killers" have you been facing this month... this week... or even this very day? What has the enemy attempted to do to snuff out your contentment and joyfulness? What's been coming against you so forcefully that you can't seem to get past it?

That thing... or those things... are the joy killers of which I speak. Don't  let those situations and circumstances get under your skin and get the best of you. Don't crumble and go to pieces. Not this time.

Oh no, whatever you're facing WILL NOT break you down. You will overcome it by the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling on the inside of you.

No matter how real the issues you're facing may be, you can't allow them to suck the life out of you. You have to keep pushing and pressing forward. God has so much in store for you, but  you can't let the enemy infiltrate and control your mind. Despite the obstacles and grim odds staring you in the face, you still have to tell yourself, "I serve a God who is able to  do exceedingly, abundantly, above..."

Speak victory when your adversary speaks defeat.
Speak peace when your adversary stirs up confusion.
Be  courageous when your adversary tries to make you fearful.
Remain full of faith when your adversary tries to fill your heart with doubt.

Be steadfast in faith.

Let God minister to your needs and give you that unexplainable joy and peace so you can say like the old song..."This joy I have, the world didn't give to me. The world didn't give it and the world can't take it away!"

As always, thanks for reading, and until next time... may  you be empowered to prosper!
Dianna Hobbs
www.eewmagazine.com

Will You Still Believe?

When there are giant obstacles to overcome before you're able  to see the manifestation of God's will for your life, will you be discouraged by the way things appear, or will you believe God even when the odds are stacked against you? This is so important  because there comes a time in every believer's life when unfavorable circumstances directly contradict what God has spoken. As a matter of fact, there will be times when the situation you face seems to threaten the possibility of even carrying out the mission that God Himself has given you.

In times like these, will you still believe? Or  will you doubt God's word?

I wonder if you've ever endured one of those seasons when you felt like, "God, if You're the one who told me to do this, then why isn't it  working out? Why is so much coming against me?"

I know it doesn't make much sense, but there's a purpose for our tests during these seasons. They come to take us to new levels of faith and position us for our elevation.

It's just like when God tested Abraham by asking him to sacrifice His only son Isaac on Mt. Moriah. (See the book of Genesis 22:1-19) , Abraham trusted God to the point of being willing to sacrifice all for Him.

That's when God released his blessing. "The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time  and said, 'I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son,  I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me'" (vv. 15-18)

See that?

God honors faith. He did then and He still does today!

So I'll ask you again...will you believe or will you doubt?

Listen, when God allows you to be challenged greatly by your circumstances, don't quit. Don't fret. Continue believing. Your faith is what releases your blessing and breakthrough.

As the old hymn says,"Trust Him and never doubt. Surely, He'll bring you out!"

As always, thanks for reading, and until next time... may you  be empowered to prosper!

Dianna  Hobbs
www.eewmagazine.com