Your Daily Cup of Inspiration!

Acknowledge It

The other day, my husband Kenya came home sniffling and sneezing. "Uh oh," I said, "are you catching cold?" Before he answered, I already knew he was getting sick. Of course he didn't see it that way. "Oh no honey, I'm fine," he replied, sounding as if someone had stuffed cotton up his nose.

Over the next couple of days, his symptoms worsened. I have no earthly idea why, but Kenya was still convinced that his cold-like symptoms were totally random and unconnected to any greater cause. It was kind of funny and intriguing to see that he seriously didn't make that connection... seriously.

Fast forward to today and now, our two sons, Kaleb and Kedar, have the same "non-cold" their dad "never had." Just in case you're wondering, yes, Kenya still denies being the carrier of the plague.

This made me think about something very important.

The denial of the existence of a thing doesn't mean it isn't there. Whether or not we acknowledge and address negative symptoms or issues in our lives, they will still affect us and our environment in one way or another. Oftentimes, it seems easier to ignore problems, particularly when we don't know exactly what to do about them.

But this doesn't help.

Most problems start out small and then become greater struggles when we fail to face them head on. One of my favorite sayings is, "You cannot conquer what you will not confront."

Whether it's debt, poor health habits, strained relationships, emotional baggage, or even spiritual deficits, we must first own up to the problems, before there can ever be any hope of a resolution.

You see, having a problem is not the problem. We all have them. Denying that a problem exists, however, is where the real problem lies. 

Today, I encourage you to do some real soul-searching. If you know there are issues that have been bottled up, buried, denied, ignored and glossed over, it's time to deal with them in 2010. What you're coping with may not necessarily be "wrong" or "sinful" so-to-speak, but if it's holding you back from developing your full potential and maximizing your purpose, it must be addressed.

We're only weeks into the new year and we cannot afford to let another year go by, without us doing and becoming everything God desires for us to do and become.

Amen?

So, no matter what it is, this is the moment to acknowledge it, own it and trust God to help you eradicate what has been acting as a hindrance in your life all this time. Otherwise, it will begin eating away at your productivity, robbing you of your destiny and confining you to a place of mediocrity.

And that's not God's will for our lives. We don't have to accept that.

His will and desire is for you and me to maximize this very moment, walk in our purpose, and pursue everything He has for us, all for His glory.

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

 

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

Drawn to the Light

"Oooh, the lights are so pretty," my daughter Kaiah said, with her eyes all aglow--partially from the white lights on our Christmas tree and partly from the excitement of the holiday season. Every year, my husband and I, and the kids work together to put the tree up and decorate it. It's one of our many fun traditions. Usually, it's a psychedelic mess! (Put together with love, of course) But, this year, we decided to stick with a red and gold theme and it turned out well... for the first time ever I think.

Typically, my sisters come over my house and double over in laughter looking at our tree. You see, Kenya and I tend to let the kids have fun with it and do what looks beautiful to them. This Christmas, however, we made our tree look a bit more "respectable" I guess you could say. So, after the "new and improved" tree was finished,  all the kids just stood around, gazing at the soft white lights.

I must admit, I love them too.

There's something about the gentle glare that adds a nice touch of warmth and serenity to our home's atmosphere.

Well, as I sat down last night, relaxing and staring at the tiny bulbs illuminating the darkness, I thought about how we, as believers, ought have our "lights" shining at all times, so others can see our good works and glorify our Father which is heaven. (Matthew 5:16) The character of Christ ought be clearly visible to others, adding the same warmth and serenity to every place we inhabit.

Non-believers may not be able to quite "put a finger on it," but they should notice something unique and special about us. They should be drawn to the light on the inside of us, that shows up on the outside. 1 Peter 2:9 says, "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light." (KJV)

I wonder; if others were asked about your behavior at home, work, church, school, or whatever places you frequent with any regularity... what would they say? Would they see the light and love of Christ shining through you? Or would they say things like: Her attitude is terrible. She's always gossiping and talking about other people. She'll smile in your face and stab you in the back. She uses foul language when she gets upset. What?!? I didn't know SHE was saved!

Or, would they say: There's something different about that woman. She's always so humble, nice and sweet. She's one of the most generous and down to earth people I know. She's always smiling. I've never heard her say a bad word about anyone. I figured she was a Christian...

While it's never a good idea to place too much stock in what people say, you want to at least make sure that, if they do say something negative, it isn't true. We all must strive to live lives that are consistent with the principles of the gospel we claim to live by. We have to be a light and an example to others in this dying world, because, for some people, you're the only "Bible" they'll ever read. They'll look at your life and either one of two things will happen:

1. They'll be attracted and drawn to the light inside of you. 

2. They'll be turned off and repelled by the darkness within you.

Today, my prayer is that we would all be mindful of what we're emitting and giving off. People are watching our lives... on good days and bad ones. We've got to let our light shine everyday.

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

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

Citizens of the Kingdom

My uncle passed away. His funeral is Thursday and I have to sing a song. I can't really get my head clear about what to sing... or say for that matter, so please be praying for me. The death of a loved one always disorients me and causes me to ponder so many things more deeply. Aside from the obvious sadness that naturally comes along with loss,  death has a way of bringing to mind my own mortality and the fact that, this earth isn't my final destination or yours.

As the "old saints" used to say, "We're just passing through here" and it's true. We are. This is not our home, no matter how attached and connected we feel to it. We're citizens of the Kingdom of God. You and I have been chosen  to walk this earth for an appointed time to make an impact and then, we go to be with the Lord to get our reward.

This blog post isn't about death, however. Instead, it's about life and recognizing our purpose in the context of our own mortality. In other words, we should show how much we value the limited amount of time we have to be on this earth, by aggressively seeking, pursuing, and doing everything we can to fulfill our purpose and divine call.

 Sometimes, though, I think we get so caught up in our day-to-day lives that we forget we've been placed in this world for a certain period of time to do a work. Again, we're citizens of the Kingdom. We're here to be a light and an example to non-believers and to win over as many of them as we can. Jesus said, "Ye are the salt of the earth..." (See Matthew 5:13a KJV) He also said, "Ye are the light of the world..." (Matthew 5:14a KJV)

Are we being salt and light? Has our "saltiness" been diluted or our light dimmed by conformity to secular ideals, beliefs, and values? If so, God wants us to re-align our thinking  and priorities to line up with His. Jesus said, "I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work" (Matthew 5:13-14).

Even yesterday's blog, "In Your Shoes," dealt with this same issue, which is, being mindful of who you are and what you've been chosen for.  There's a mission you must accomplish; a soul you have to win; a community you have to restore; or even a fellow believer you need to empower.

It all begins with a simple "Yes Lord I give my life to you." 

That's all God wants. "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service" (Romans 12:1 NKJV).

Remember, by not allowing our living to be in vain, then His dying is not in vain either.

Let us all pursue purpose, for tomorrow is not promised...

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

Dianna Hobbs

www.eewmagazine.com

In Your Shoes

Whenever I'm not going to a special event or business meeting, I always prefer comfort over fashion. For me, it feels so great to  slip into a pair of flats or flip-flop sandals, run errands and take care of business comfortably. Anyone who knows me will tell you, I can hardly take it when my feet hurt. I can barely see straight, let alone think straight.  

But, last night, when I went to church to hear Tye Tribbett minister the word of God (He was awesome and anointed by the way),  I decided to dress up for the occasion. So, I wore a pair of black stilettos, which worked out fine until I decided to run across the street after the event was over. While I was running, I felt a weird sensation in my right knee, but shrugged it off as nothing.

By the time I got home and slipped out of my shoes, my knee was pretty swollen and I couldn't put pressure on my right leg without limping. Apparently, I mistook my stilettos for running shoes and now, I'm paying the price... which leads me to my point.

You have to know what you can do in your shoes.

In this blog post, "shoes" represent the calling or vocation you've been chosen to fill and how you must conduct yourself in relation to that election by God. You see, every one of us has been assigned and appointed to carry out some type Kingdom business. We all have shoes to fill. Of course, my shoes are not yours and yours are not mine, but the Lord has selected each of us to do something. That's why you and I have to learn how to walk in our purpose and represent the Kingdom with integrity.

That means, there are some things we have to refrain from, for the sake of our shoes calling. Just as I probably shouldn't have been trying to run in stilettos, you and I can't run everywhere, do everything, or say just anything in our shoes. In essence, what I'm saying is, we must be mindful of how we carry ourselves, to ensure that we never make God's name ashamed. It is critical that we strive daily to live in accordance with God's will and plan.

Amen?

No matter what shoes you're walking in: Homemaker, career woman, entrepreneur, or ministry leader, be sure you're doing as Paul the Apostle says in Ephesians 4:1."I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received." (NIV) You must recognize that, somebody is watching your life and you never want to ruin your witness, or undermine your ministry.

If you're married, your spouse needs to see the God in you. If you're a parent, your children need to witness the character of Christ in your everyday walk; your co-workers ought consistently see the love of Jesus in you;  the folks you go to church with should recognize your sincerity in your walk with the Lord. Your friends, family and acquaintances ought readily see the difference in your walk.

Always remember, your walk, not your words, is the truest testament to your faith. The greatest sermon you'll ever preach isn't done on a platform with a microphone in your hand. Rather, it's the life you lead with consistency.  It's all about honoring God, by walking upright in your shoes. "Be ready with the good news of peace as shoes on your feet" (Ephesians 6:15  Bible in Basic English).

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

Dianna Hobbs

www.eewmagazine.com

When It Hurts

Yesterday, I blogged about a breach of trust that I endured some years ago due to a failed business deal and how painful, and traumatic that was for me. It took me  a while to get over it. Today, the Lord laid it on my heart to revisit this issue of breached trust and betrayal. So, here we go.

For someone reading this post, the hurt you've sustained in your life, may have nothing at all to do with business. It just might be more personal: Infidelity in an intimate relationship; character assassination by a "friend" or family member; a moral failure by a leader you hold in high esteem... the list could go on and on.

When someone you love and trust disappoints you, it hurts. Plain and simple. There's no way around it. Like it or not, it temporarily causes your world to shatter around you. You feel blindsided. You question what's real and true. The pain is keen and you don't know how to suppress it. You go on an emotional roller coaster. You have some good days and some bad ones.

Is there anybody who can relate to that? If so, then you know you can't hide from or deny pain. It has your address and your unlisted phone number. It inevitably will come knocking or calling. 

Seeing that betrayal is unavoidable at some point in your life,  how do you cope? What do you do when it hurts? How can you avoid giving into anger, resentment, and hatred?

Before I attempt to give my answer, I'll begin by saying that there's nothing wrong with feeling pain. Just because you love God and are filled with His spirit, doesn't mean that nothing can penetrate that hard exterior and pierce you straight through the heart. No matter how strong we are, we all have something that can make our knees buckle.

Being saved doesn't suddenly numb you to life. Just because you love Jesus and He loves you, doesn't exclude you from feeling sorrow. No, you're human, just as I am. That's why we all have to grapple with our emotions from time to time.

Notwithstanding, once we've been wounded, we can't dwell on that issue, sulk about it, and waddle in sadness indefinitely. We can't allow that root of bitterness to take hold of us and poison us.

When it hurts, you've got to release that pain to God, forgive the person who breached your trust, and realize that if it wasn't for the grace of God, the shoe could be on the other foot. The Bible says, "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself" (Galatians 6:1-3).

None of us is perfect. We all falter from time to time. We each have offended someone else, intentionally or  unintentionally, but we've all been in need of forgiveness at some point.

Right now, if you've been hurt and you know  your wound isn't healed, God wants to heal it. But the only avenue is through forgiveness. As you release that person of their debt, then you release yourself from the bondage of unforgiveness. Forgiveness=freedom. Always remember that.

When it hurts, remind yourself that you must forgive because, in-so-doing, you liberate yourself to live again without carrying that offense around your neck. I feel like somebody is being helped to day.

If that somebody is you, I want you to know that the Lord saw what happened. He knows it's not easy to process. But He also knows that the enemy will use that thing to destroy you from the inside out if you let him. That's why you had to read this post today, so you'll know that forgiveness is the answer.

Stop mulling ito over in your mind; don't try to figure out the why behind the what; just pour your heart out to God. When you do, He'll give you peace in your mind, comfort in your soul, and rest in your spirit.

Before you know it, it won't hurt so badly anymore.

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

Dianna Hobbs

www.eewmagazine.com