Your Daily Cup of Inspiration!

The Right Prescription

It's Monday again! I hope you had an enjoyable and relaxing week-end. As always, I'm excited to kick off another week of blogging with you, my Daily Cup family. If you've been reading the blog for at least a couple of months, then you've likely read about my skin woes and the changes I've been through with my Eczema. If you're not familiar, you can get a crash course right here.

Well, I'm currently nursing my skin back to health, after making a poor choice... again.

Let me give you the back story first and then I'll bring you up to date. When I was in my early twenties, my Dermatologist told me my Eczema was really severe and I needed strong medication to regulate it. So, he prescribed steroid cream for me to stop the flare-ups and get rid of the itching, and the discomfort associated with this chronic skin disorder.  I used it faithfully and it worked like a charm for me, up until about five years ago when my husband and I relocated. We found an excellent Dermatologist in our new community and he, unlike my first specialist, thought it best for me not to be on such strong, man-made skin medications and wanted to ween me off the drugs.

He wouldn't prescribe them.

In his book, the right prescription was no prescription at all. I literally went through a skin detoxification process and as I'm sure you can imagine, that was not fun. I would break out in rashes, itch and burn terribly. No matter what I did, my skin was craving and crying out for those steroids I had been using for years. Still, my Dermatologist wouldn't relent. He told me I'd be fine and would be better off without the steroids.

No matter what moisturizers and treatments I used to replace the steroids, going cold turkey wreaked havoc on my skin... for a while. But, after about ten to twelve months of sheer misery, my skin got the message and the negative reactions stopped. I didn't need or crave that skin drug anymore.

He turned out to be right after all.

Fast forward to the present. After a severe allergic reaction to the "all natural" baking soda skin treatment I tried back in December (with disastrous results!), my skin started acting up again. So last week, I went back to my steroid treatment to regulate the issues.

Why did I ever do that?

I abandoned the "right prescription" and went back to the "old prescription." Consequently, instead of getting better, my face broke out in the most painful, bright red bumps. It's funny to see how my skin is now rejecting the very treatment it once needed to be normal. Going back to the thing that I have learned to live without for several years now, actually made my skin situation worse and not better. 

There's a powerful lesson to be learned here. There are things and people God weens you away from for your own good. He knows that, the right prescription for you, sometimes, is simply "cold turkey." Initially, when the separation occurs, everything in you cries out and longs for what you lost. But over time, the pain, craving and desperation subsides and you learn to live, laugh, love, grow and thrive independently of the very thing or person you were once so tied and connected to.

But here's the real test.

Once you move on, the opportunity to go back will  inevitably re-present itself. When that happens, don't do what I did with my steroid cream and compromise all the progress you've made.Although my skin reacted before I got "addicted" again, many of life's more serious scenarios don't work out that way.

There are certain situations that you'll go back to and get caught up in all over again the first time out. Those old habits, patterns, tendencies and behaviors will grip you and won't let you go. So, it's best not to dibble and dabble in what God set you free from. When you feel weak, take some time to think back on how long it took you to break loose; all the nights you had to cry; how hard you had to pray; and the high price of being entangled in the thing God released you from.

Don't play with fire! The Bible says, "Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?" (Proverbs 6:27 KJV)  We all know the answer to that... which is why you and I must be determined to follow God's prescription for us and walk away when He instructs us to do so, at all costs. If we ever decide to move backward instead of forward, those old snares and traps are right there waiting for us, to snuff out our destiny and halt our productivity.

Listen.

God knows what you need, as well as, what you don't. If He has given you the supernatural strength to move past that thing that used to have a hold on you, don't voluntarily get yoked and tangled up in it all over again.

Stay free.

I don't care how compelling, or tempting it might seem to go back, tell yourself, I'm staying free. Remember what the word of God says: "So if the Son liberates you... then you are really and unquestionably free" (John 8:36 Amplified Bible).

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

Dianna Hobbs

www.eewmagazine.com

Change the 'Effect'

On Saturday afternoon, I walked into the kitchen and immediately noticed a heaping pile of confectioners sugar on the floor. When I looked up from the spot covered in the white powdery mess, my eyes were immediately met with the guilty gaze of my six year old son, Kedar.

"The sugar fell," he said, quickly offering up an unsolicited explanation, which is a sure sign of guilt, by the way. Of course, I knew there was more to the story. After all, I had only stepped out of the kitchen for a brief moment to give Kaleb his two slices of  cinnamon toast I'd just made, which happens to be one of his favorite treats. I used to love it when my mom made it for me as a kid too. I just toast the bread, add a little margarine, cinnamon and powdered sugar for a totally kid-friendly, palate-pleasing snack.

Anyway, it was clear that the sugar didn't just jump off the counter top. "What happened?" I gently pryed. I knew whatever happened was likely an accident. I figured, after I got to the bottom of what really took place, it would be most appropriate to take the opportunity to teach a lesson, rather than scold him. "So, tell mommy what happened," I said leading him along. "Did you try to taste the sugar or did it fall on its own?"

It didn't take much before the truth came pouring out. Just as I suspected, once I stepped foot out of the kitchen, Kedar made a beeline over to the sugar and  accidentally tipped it over. So, once he finished nervously confessing, I calmly told him how important it is to be honest and take responsibility when things happen, whether good or bad. I think he got the message.

You know, I believe that lesson applies to all of us, but quite often, when there's a "mess" of some sort in our lives, we do what Kedar did initially and focus on the effect, rather than owning up to our part in causing it. However, if we're willing to take ownership, (something that indeed takes great courage), we can usually trace the negative effect back to a particular action we carried out, or a poor decision we made. 

It's easier said than done though, because it's human nature to shift blame and absolve oneself of any guilt. But, if we want to maximize our God-given potential, we have to be real about what personal decisions contributed to our present state of being. It's so crucial to be honest with ourselves, because if we always see the mess and never take personal responsibility for the part we played in it, we're doomed to repeat the same errors over and over again.

And God doesn't want that for us.

Now, I must acknowledge that there are situations that have happened to each of us, that we had no power to control. In those instances, we must be careful not to carry guilt, bitterness, or even shame. On the other hand, if we find ourselves in an undesirable place due to a slip-up on our part, we must own it, face it, deal with it and then, move beyond it with a fresh commitment to change.

Listen; no one is perfect. We have all made poor choices at some point in our lives and they're not all necessarily pertaining to sin against God. Some of us have not managed our money well, or our health, relationships, business, career, or even our spiritual walk with God.

But, we can change the effect, if we can trace it back  to the cause.

There's a saying I really like that applies here. "If you understand the root, you'll understand the fruit." In other words, the why behind the what is the key to breaking unhealthy cycles and moving forward to greater things.

That's what God absolutely wants for us...

The time is now to to trace the cause,  so you can start fresh and change the effect!

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

Dianna Hobbs

www.eewmagazine.com

 

Seek His heart, Not His Hand

I often talk about how I didn't have much growing up, so I wasn't one of the popular kids at school. I learned early on that many people, unfortunately, are superficial and cling only to those they consider "suitable" or worthy to be a part of their club. I didn't wear the right clothes or run in the right crowd to be accepted, so I was overlooked and often, harshly ridiculed.

Those who seemed to have it all, however, always had a big crowd around them. They were a part of the social elite and could do no wrong.

For some, being excluded and marginalized would rouse a desire in them to be a part of those groups that shut them out. But, I felt just the opposite. Instead of longing for the companionship of those who judged me on the basis of what I had or lacked, I wanted to be in relationship with only genuine people that loved me just for being me.

So, how do you think it makes God feel when we cozy up to Him only because of what He can do for us? Where are all the people who love Him genuinely and truly? Sadly, these days, more and more believers treat God like a good "networking" opportunity. They talk to Him, because He can make stuff happen for them. And maybe if they stick around long enough, God will put them in touch with some of His influential contacts, and make all their dreams come true.

It's a shame, but that's how many of us behave.

But, now is the time to get it right, by putting things back in perspective. Instead of being preoccupied with working toward the attainment of things, we have to return to seeking the heart of God and not the hand of God.

Expounding upon what I said yesterday, I believe in 2010, God is calling us back to a place of authentic communion and fellowship with Him out of pure love and devotion. Instead of having our hands out, we need to have our hands up in total surrender to Him.

That doesn't mean we can't seek God concerning those areas of need in our lives, because He promises to take care of us. "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19). Notwithstanding, when our relationship is built on the basis of having our needs met, rather than genuine love, that's how we mess up.

It is His will for us to develop a true thirst, passion and desire for Him. It must cease to be about what we can get and more about what we can give for the advancement and upbuilding of God's Kingdom.

I believe God is raising up a remnant of people who will draw close to Him out of a pure heart. These are the ones He will use to reveal His glory in the earth.

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

Dianna Hobbs

www.eewmagazine.com

Remember the Pain & the Price!

Yesterday, I went to look for my retainers and the bottom half was missing. I searched high and low to no avail. I was not happy! This might not seem like a big deal to anyone who's never had braces and doesn't have to wear retainers each night to keep their teeth from going back to their former state. But, for me, it's a huge deal. Although it's been about five years since I first got my braces taken off to correct an occlusion that made my jaw pop because my teeth were not aligned properly, I still take my treatment very seriously.

You see, correcting the problem was an extremely painful and expensive process, and in order for all that not to be in vain, I needed to find those retainers... ASAP!

I called my Orthodontist to make an appointment to get a new bottom set. I couldn't waste any time, because it only takes days for my teeth to shift. If they shift too much, I'll be right back where I started from. Thankfully, this story has a happy ending. Turns out that, in my haste, I had just overlooked them and my husband found the bottom retainer in the exact area I thought it was missing from. I breathed a huge sigh of relief.

Guess I have an appointment to cancel today, huh?

You know, this got me to thinking about how important it is for us to remember what it cost us and what we had to go through to get things in line in our own lives. When we remember the pain and the price, we take things more seriously.

That's why I always recommend taking some time to think back on where the Lord brought you from. Carve out some space to stop and consider how far you've come. Although God isn't through working on you yet, it's undeniable that a wonderful change has already come over you. It only gets better from here too, because the word says, "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6). As long as you remain in God, He'll finish whatever He started in you.

Today, I encourage you to stay on that mission to keep things in line. Whatever God has brought you through, over, and out of, don't let anything pull you back. Remember the lessons He's taught you about guarding your heart and mind; being a good steward over your finances; taking control of your health; investing time in your relationships; bridling your tongue to avoid conflict; praying before jumping into relationships; spending time in the presence of the Lord and in your Word daily; or saying no to that old habit that keeps you in bondage. Whatever it is that God has allowed to be worked out and corrected in you, keep it in line!

Cherish what He's done and keep those "retainers" in place, so the pain you felt and the price you paid, won't go to waste. More importantly, remember the pain Jesus went through on the cross of Calvary and the price He paid with His own blood to give you and me a right to the tree of life!

I can't speak for you but, "When I think of the goodness of Jesus and all He's done for me... my soul cries out Hallelujah! I thank God for saving me."

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

Dianna Hobbs

www.eewmagazine.com

Own Your Gift

 

Years ago, when I took my first paid editing project, I was scared out of my mind. Somehow, the idea of money being attached to the thing that pretty much came naturally for me, made me suddenly fearful that I didn't know enough about writing to make a good Editor.

Of course, looking retrospectively, I know that fear was totally unfounded. Yet, it was very real for me back then. Oddly, I got no comfort from the fact that I had graduated college with a Degree in English (Though whether or not you have a Degree doesn't matter when you're called); I still figured there had to be some "secret rules" I wasn't privy to when it came to writing. Consequently, I kept imagining that I would do a horrible job and that my client would be angry and demand a refund.

So, what did I do?

I bought up a bunch of over-priced books, invested in editing software and drove myself crazy over the whole thing... none of which I needed to do. At the time, however, I didn't have much confidence or faith in the ability the Lord had given me.

The problem was my lack of confidence, not my lack of capability.

Thankfully, with prayer, perseverance and the passage of time, I got over that mental hurdle that was holding me back from walking in my calling.

I wonder; can you relate to that? Is there some area you know you're called to, but you allow the enemy to play with your mind and make you think you might not be fully capable? If so, we're claiming victory over that today.

You know why? Because, unless you own your gift, you'll never fully maximize or exercise it. And if you don't exercise it, God can never use it to get glory out of your life.

Listen. In order to be a leader in God's Kingdom, you must have confidence in your God-given ability to fill the shoes He has commissioned you to walk in. If you fail to believe that you are both equipped and capable of carrying out the unique role God has hand-picked you for, there's no way you can be effective. That's why the enemy works so hard to keep you second-guessing yourself and doubting your abilities. He knows that, if you ever get a true revelation of who you really are and begin walking in that, you'll be a powerful tool in the kingdom of God and a terror to the Kingdom of darkness.

Right now, as you prepare to enter into 2010, I want you to make sure you own your gift... each and every one God has planted inside of you. Know that, you're anointed to thrive in your unique area of operation... whatever that may be. You may be: A writer, lawyer, accountant, teacher, designer, engineer, singer, some type ministry leader, business executive, a combination of these, or something altogether different and special. No matter what field you're in, there's something you have to remember:

"You can excel in any profession, as long as the profession of your faith is authentic and unwavering."

Once again, own your gift. Tell yourself, I can do all things through Christ. Remind yourself that God Almighty has planted a seed of greatness in you and you're fully equipped to do and be all He has destined for you to do and be, even before the foundation of the world!

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

Dianna Hobbs

www.eewmagazine.com

Move Forward

Happy Monday Daily Cup Readers! I hope you had a wonderfully blessed and enjoyable Christmas. Now, we're looking ahead toward 2010. It's so amazing to see how rapidly time moves forward. We've got to be prepared to move forward too.

There's something that happened over the week-end that serves as the inspiration for this post. You might be able to guess that my 3 year old, Kaleb, was at the center of this whole thing. 

Well, Kaleb has this little "Jingle Bell Dog" that wears a Santa Claus hat, has bells on its ears and tail, and sings Jingle Bells... all year round. He loves that dog so much, which he named Chip by the way; his late Grandma Rosie gave it to him last Christmas before she recently passed away. He drags Chip through the house all the time, even though the poor dog is broken. Most of the stuffing came out. Even with new batteries, Chip no longer sings Jingle Bells. His tail and ears don't move up and down anymore either.

So, for Christmas, Kaleb requested a new Jingle Bell Dog. Of course, my husband and I obliged. But, I didn't know where Grandma had gotten the dog from. I scoured every store I could think of and then, it hit me. She loved to shop at K-mart. In a last ditch effort, before giving up completely, I made a stop by K-mart and sure enough, Grandma was a creature of habit. The very same dog was sitting on the shelf.

I decided to really surprise Kaleb and upgrade to the bigger deluxe model (Pictured above).  I was so excited to unveil the new and improved Chip when Christmas day finally rolled around. Kaleb, though hesitant at first, embraced the new dog and began playing with him.

"So, what are you gonna name him Kaleb?" I asked. "I'm dunna name him Chip," he said resolutely. I laughed and thought to myself, "Oh, OK...very original." Well, on the very next day, Kaleb was stumbling around the house in his plaid pajamas, looking perplexed. "I tant find Chip," he said sadly to which I cheerfully replied, "Oh, here he is," lifting the plush dog off my bed.

Kaleb frowned and shook his head no."I'm yooking for duh old one mommy," he said, walking out.

I just sat there, shaking my head and grinning, while thinking, Even with a brand new functioning dog, that he asked for, Kaleb wants the old torn up one!

We can be just like that too. We ask God for change, but we don't really want or like to change and move forward. As a result, we grow attached to "broken" things and choose comfort over progress.  Sadly, we often don't realize that we're our own worst enemy when it comes to accepting increase in our lives. We tend to gravitate to what we're accustomed to and acquainted with, while shying away from what's new... even if it is better.

Today, I want you to change your mind about change. Just because something is familiar and comfortable, doesn't mean you should dig your heels in and refuse to open yourself up to new ideas, options and opportunities. While every new thing isn't necessarily from God, there are some that are indeed ordained by Him.

You have to be sensitive to His leading to recognize the difference.

It's time to get yourself ready, because there is a season coming in your life (It may already be here) when the Lord will challenge you to branch out and move forward. If you're not careful, you can miss God, as well as your season of increase.

This is why we all have to be careful to obey God's leading and embrace the new things He wants to do in our lives.  When you feel Him urging you to move ahead, don't ignore His leading, because blessings are on the other side of that move!

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

Dianna Hobbs

www.eewmagazine.com

Do What Works for You!

Happy Monday Daily Cup Readers! Hope you all had an enjoyable and productive week-end. Today, I want to kick off this week of blog posts, by sharing something that happened to me last night and deriving a principle from it, that I think can be very helpful to us all. Well, ever since I was a young girl, I've had a condition called Eczema, which is basically a chronic skin disorder that causes the skin to become irritated and inflamed, resulting in dry, scaly rashes, dark skin patches, and even clusters of fine bumps.

To look at me, you wouldn't know it, because, thankfully,  I've learned how to manage it over time to minimize flare-ups. When I was a teenager, however, the Eczema got so bad that certain parts of my hands, legs and neck would crust over, crack and bleed. My skin was dark and discolored and felt, pretty much, like sandpaper.

It was awful.

Now that I have a regimen that works for me, I don't veer from that... not typically, at least. But, last night, after reading about a natural method that cleanses, exfoliates and supposedly boosts your skin's health, I thought I'd give it a try. After all, the remedy was simple. I just had to do a gentle facial scrub with nothing more than 3 parts baking soda and 1 part water. According to this method, all I needed to do was make a paste out of those two ingredients, rub it into my skin and rinse.

"Hey, that sounds pretty easy," I thought. "And you can't go wrong with baking soda, right?"

Wrong.

Immediately when I put it on my face, it started burning. I thought that was a bit unusual, but I wasn't sure, so I kept going. Let's just say, about two minutes later when I rinsed my face, I turned "beet red" and hives started popping up all over my face!

I looked like I had the Chicken Pox... literally.

Then, all down my arms and back began to itch. The hives rapidly multiplied on my eyelids, chin and around my nose. My husband Kenya took one look at me and his face said it all. His expression was "3 parts" terror and "1 part" sympathy.

It was NOT pretty.

Needless to say, that tried and true, proven, natural remedy, was a nightmare for me. It may have worked for millions of other folks, but it just wasn't for me.

I learned a very valuable lesson from that, which is, if you've discovered what works for you, then do that. Whether it's related to the health of your physical body, relationships, spiritual life, emotions, or some other personal area; don't veer away from what's right for you, simply because there are other options out there.

Now, does that mean we can't be open to new things?

No, not at all.

We're constantly learning, growing and evolving. Also, it's an inescapable truth that, trial and error is a natural part of life. Still, with that said, we must be careful about what we "try," because it can lead to unnecessary "error" and heartache.

I wonder. Have you ever had something "down to a science" in your life, but then, under the influence of others' opinions and ideas, you changed course only to end up in a mess? More than likely, the answer is yes.

We have to be careful about embracing every new idea and concept that comes across our table. Be sure to weigh matters carefully and by all means, do what works for you! Of course, always, always, always be led by God. Acknowledge Him in all your ways and He'll direct your path. (Proverbs 3:6)

Be careful about the advice you take. When considering a new course of action, pray first, be patient and then take appropriate action once you feel sure. That way, you won't run into trouble as often.

As for me and my skin dilemma, the side effects of the allergic reaction cleared up after I took my allergy medicine and waited a few hours for the symptoms to completely go away. Now, I'm all better and it was a lesson learned.

But, in life, when we make more serious choices on a whim, the negative side effects of those impulsive decisions don't always go away so easily. It can take years to put our lives back together again as a result of one bad choice.

All it takes is one.

So, today, if you're considering a different path, this post is to help you weigh things out before you make a move. If, on the other hand, you've already made a move that turned out to be a bad one and has ultimately left you dealing with residual side effects, don't fret. God is faithful to help you through it. Just let it be a lesson learned... and then, go back to doing what works for you and eliminate what isn't.

When you stick to what's tried and true for you, you won't try everything and you'll stay true to yourself. This is the key to living a hive-less life of peace, purpose and productivity.

Oh yeah and from now on, I think I'll reserve the baking soda for baking! :-)

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

Dianna Hobbs

www.eewmagazine.com

Rejection is a Good Thing

Last night I got so sick out of the blue. Ever since Thanksgiving, I must admit, I have drastically changed up my diet, allowing myself to eat things I don't ordinarily eat. Well, I guess last night was the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back. I had no idea that, shortly after I indulged in pizza and Pepsi(My most guilty pleasure), I was about to go through a horrible ordeal that let me know my body finally had taken all it could take.

I'll spare you the grotesque details of what happened next, but let's just say, today, I'm turning over a new leaf! It's back to the fruits, veggies, chicken, fish and no fried foods for me. Pray for me that I can put the "bottle" down and stay clean and sober from my favorite soda. We all have a vice; it's fair to say, a cold tall glass of Pepsi is mine.

Well, after my symptoms subsided at about 11:30PM last evening, although my stomach is still a bit unsettled, my husband Kenya remarked half jokingly, "Girl, you know you're getting older now and your system can't take all that."

"Ha, ha, ha. Very funny," I responded, grinning a  bit sarcastically, although there is a modicum of truth to what He said. When I was a teenager, I loved to eat large quantities of fried food, an abundance of pork, chips, candy, soda and anything that should've had a warning label slapped on it that said, "This runs the risk of killing you if you keep eating it." Yep, those were the things that made it onto my preferred eating list and didn't bother me at all. Ever.

But, these days, those old habits wreak havoc on me if I revert back to them. I've found that certain foods don't agree with my system any longer and when I override my regular healthy eating habits for an extended period of time, like last night, boy do I pay for it... dearly.

Similarly, in our walk with God, there are old patterns of behavior, ways of thinking and acting, that we once tolerated. But now, in our more mature state, they don't agree with us. Whenever we try to go back to the way things used to be, it just doesn't work.

I'll give you an example. Have you ever re-connected with an old friend, love interest, associate or acquaintance after years of not seeing them, only to discover that, what once once drew you to that person, now repels you? Your old running mate still frequents the same places, runs in the same circle and exhibits the same traits from "back in the day," that you've since walked away from and turned over a new leaf. 

If you can relate to this, you know that something recoils in you and rejects those old ideas, philosophies and behaviors. It's not that you don't still love the person, they just no longer "agree with your system."

And that's OK. It's actually a good thing, because it shows signs of growth and maturity.

As you're reading this post, I encourage you not to be afraid to embrace change. If God has grown you up and moved you past certain vices, don't look back. Keep moving forward, because if you go against what you know you ought be doing, you only end up hurting yourself. Your old vice might be over-spending, jumping into new relationships too quickly, acting as an enabler for someone you know needs to get their act together, saying yes too often and not standing up for yourself, slacking off in prayer and studying the word, or even being a hot head or too quick to say what's on your mind.

Whatever it is, if God set you free from it, stay free. "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage" (Galatians 5:1).

The next time something is presented to you that you know upsets the balance of your life and goes against your divinely inspired vision and mission, reject it. You might be misunderstood. You might have to walk away from some old relationships and break some ties. Still, it's better to walk alone than to go along to get along, and ultimately end up suffering immensely behind the decision.

What happened to me last night, is a good example of why you should never betray your convictions. When you do, at some point, you'll end up paying for it. I admonish you to be vigilant and steadfast along the course God has set for you. When you do, you'll reap the rewards and harvest, while avoiding otherwise unpleasant consequences.

Remember, rejection is a good thing.

When you, with consistency, reject the wrong path, your decision leads you on the right path toward your divine destiny... which is what we're all striving for.

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

Dianna Hobbs

www.diannahobbs.com

Time for a Self-Evaluation

I was busy doing some writing and editing last night, while eating leftover birthday cake, when all of a sudden, it hit me. "We're already into November!" I thought to myself. "Before we know it, we'll be entering into 2010."

For a moment, I sat there just really pondering how quickly time has gone by. Then, I took a bit of time to do a real self-evaluation. I asked myself, "Have I done or am I doing what God instructed me to do in this season?"

You know, I think you should join me in asking yourself the same thing, because time is out for just living life. It's about living a life that's built around our divine purpose, which is ultimately rooted in God's perfect will.

Now,  when you do your "self-evaluation," it's not designed to get you frustrated with where you are, or to make you begin brooding over all you had "hoped" would have happened by now. No, no, not at all. Rather, the self-evaluative look, is designed to help you get really honest about whether you're doing what you know God said do. Keep in mind that we're focusing on areas where we have clarity and understanding. That's the key.

I made that distinction because, I believe there are some things God plants in our spirits that we don't have complete revelation about. Our understanding has not been enlightened and although we know He's leading us down a path, the details are still sketchy and ambiguous at best. In these cases, we need to simply pray, trust God and be still, while continuing to remain open to whatever He's saying or doing.

But then, there are those other moments when we know exactly what God is saying; when He's given us clear instructions. But yet, something inside of us still wrestles. We find ourselves still resisting the Father's leading for a number of reasons: Fear, insecurity, lack of motivation, or even, unwillingness to get out there and try. In these cases, we need to move on what God has spoken, so we won't miss out on what He wants to do.

Right now, I don't believe you're reading this by accident. There's purpose on your life and it's time to do a self-evaluation. Have you made those changes God placed on your heart to make? If not, it's not too late, so don't dare let this year go out without doing it.

As  I said earlier, if you don't have clarity on something, then don't worry about it. But if you've been sensing that it's time to do something specifically and you can clearly identify what it is, as well as how to get it done, then it's time to move.

Don't let another day go by without taking action. All you need to be is willing and obedient. "If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land" (Isaiah 1:19 KJV).

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

Dianna Hobbs

www.eewmagazine.com

Turn on the Night Light

My two sons, Kedar (6) and Kaleb (3) do pretty much everything together. They share a room, where they can be heard giggling and laughing at night when they should be sleeping. They play matchbox cars, "church" and hand puppets together for hours at a time. They also get quite a kick out of nearly snapping their necks doing headstands, coming up with schemes to replace dinner with candy and snacks, performing life-threatening back flips, and anything that remotely resembles something that might scare their  poor mother half to death. 

What is it with boys? They seem to have no fear when they're together.

Well, last evening, Kedar wasn't feeling so great. He said he had a headache and wanted to lie down. Now, all of this happened well before Kaleb and Kedar's usual bedtime, but, as I said, they tend to do most everything together.  So, little Kaleb decided that he would join his "partner in crime" and turn in early for the evening. But, not even 10 minutes after retiring to their room, Kaleb re-emerged with a distressed look on his face.

"I too scee-owed (scared)," he said with his brows furrowed, as he made his cutest pouty face. That gets me every time.

"What is Mommy's baby scared of?" I asked.

"It too dowk (dark)," he said shooting a sad look at me with those dark brown eyes. Since Kedar wasn't feeling so great, he didn't have anyone to keep him company. "Tan I stay wit you Mommy?"

I felt my heart melting within me, but I knew that if I validated that fear and allowed him to stay with me in that moment, I wouldn't be helping him at all. In fact, I would be nurturing Kaleb's fear and stifling his ability to develop independence. 

Of course, I'm not made of stone, so I made sure to turn his night light on to make him feel more comfortable,  but staying in Mommy's room, was absolutely out of the question. Soon after he returned to his room, I heard silence. Kaleb had fallen asleep.

This is a great lesson that's applicable to both you and me.

God knows that, when we give into fear and allow it to control us, we develop unhealthy dependency upon people and things, which ultimately limits our growth. So, He allows us to go through situations that challenge and stretch us, with just a "night light." He lights our path through the dark seasons, knowing that His word is enough to sustain us. "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path" (Psalm119:105 KJV).

That's why, sometimes, we have to go through a season of pruning and stripping away. We lose some things we perceive as very valuable that we've grown to rely heavily on. Although this can be an extremely painful process, the good news is that, through losing those comforts that keep us dependent on temporal things, we in turn, gain something much more valuable.

We gain the revelation that all we really need already lies within us... not outside of us. This only happens, however, when we go through a separation from all the noise and extraneous things that keep us occupied. Bottom line is, we have to lose what's dispensable, so we can gain what's invaluable. Often, we think those non-essential people and things are essential, so it's not until we lose them, that we realize we never needed them in the first place.

While losing is typically associated with pain, gaining intimacy with God heals any emotional injury we might sustain, through deeper levels of communion with the Holy Spirit, fuller joy and abiding peace.

But I must reiterate this point; we can never benefit from the power of God's word and time spent in His presence, if we always fill our void with everything but Him. All too often, we find ourselves seeking after temporary comforts when what we really need is a word from the Lord. (See Matthew 4:4)

If we would just turn on our night light--that is, open up our word and seek God's face, then our fear, emptiness, uncertainty and anxiety would dissipate and we would indeed find rest for our souls. Jesus said, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).

Isn't it about time you got some rest?

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

Dianna Hobbs

www.eewmagazine.com