Your Daily Cup of Inspiration!

What Do You See?

At my house, writing is a natural part of life. I write for  a living. My husband is also a writer, though his is usually more policy-oriented, legal mumbo jumbo, and business-focused.  As a result, our children have picked up our passion for writing, so it's no strange thing on any given evening, for all of us to be engrossed in writing projects. 

The kids love making their own books and they always seem to get a special kick out of seeing me read aloud the fictional stories they write &  illustrate for the family's enjoyment.  Well, I think 3 year old Kaleb has finally gotten bit with the "writing bug." Over the past week, he's been bringing me sheets of paper, folded crookedly, with colorful circles all over them, requesting that I read the "book" he made for me. 

The challenge? Uh, making a complete story out of oddly constructed shapes and no words.

Today, he handed me his "story," and said: "I make a book for you mommy. I make the boy and his muyur (mother) and the tookies (cookies) in the stove. Read it." 

As I looked down at those pages without even a remote resemblance to a boy, mother, a stove, or some cookies, I thought to myself, "Wow, now that's being imaginative." For Kaleb, those people and objects were very real and very clear.

He could see it, even though I couldn't.

I wonder; what do you see that others can't? Do you have a vision in your heart that's clear to you, but seemingly unclear to most everyone  else? Do naysayers and critics ever make you feel like your vision is much too ambiguous, ambitious, or unrealistic? Do you allow the lack of understanding of, support for, and enthusiasm about your vision to stop you from doing what you feel passionate about, and what you believe you're called to do and be?

If so, I've written this post especially for you today. There comes a time when you simply have to accept the fact that, everyone won't always rally around your vision. There will be occasions when you'll have to be your own cheerleader and encourage yourself in the Lord.

But that's alright. As I always say, if God called you, He's already equipped you to complete the task. Believe in the word of the Lord first... then believe in yourself.

Listen. I want to challenge you to be like my youngest son, Kaleb, and believe in your vision. If you see a boy, a mother, cookies, and a stove when all others see are circles, so what. Be matter of fact about what you see and don't waver. Don't be double-minded which will lead you to constantly second-guess yourself.  James 1:8 says, "A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways."

So what if no one "gets" it. What did God place in your heart to do? What do you see? Because at the end of the day, if God revealed it and you can see it, that's enough.

All that's left to do now is begin moving full speed ahead and trusting God every step of the way.   As the old saying goes, "If you'll take one step, He'll take two."

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

Dianna Hobbs

www.eewmagazine.com

The Originator

I'm in the process of planning a major event scheduled to take place in November of this year, and it's been one of the most challenging and exciting things I've undertaken in a while. Even though God gave me the idea, that doesn't mean it doesn't take work, planning, and coordination. But the comforting thing is knowing that whenever something originates with God, He always sees it through to completion.

But the key is, it must first originate with Him... and when it does, things flow together more smoothly and easily. I'm seeing it everyday in my own life, as the Lord gives favor in unexpected places and puts the pieces of the puzzle together perfectly.  The more I move in His timing and in accordance with His will, the more I understand how little His plan has to do with my own ability, and how much it has to do with God's own sovereignty.

In the grand scheme of things, God's plan is much bigger than me and you, although He uses us as vessels and instruments to implement it.  You see, everything done on the earth to establish God's Kingdom, is merely done through us. We are simply the executors of His ultimate plan and not the originators of it. Always remember that, otherwise, you'll be feeling hard-pressed to come up with new ideas and innovations, when, in reality, that's God's job.

I don't know about you, but I'm glad I don't have to come up with things on my own. That would be exhausting, and I wouldn't even know where to begin. Now, does that mean I sit back and do nothing and just idly wait for God to rescue me?

No, not at all.

Anyone that knows me knows that, I believe God has given us intellectual capabilities, as well as, the ability to come up with witty inventions. Still, none of these things originate with us. The Bible says, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."

Again, God is the creator, the initiator, and originator. We can only hope to manage well what He has entrusted to us. We offer Him our hands, our voices, our gifts, and our entire being, as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1) and say, "God, here I am. Do  with me as you will."

Then, we allow Him to reveal His ultimate plan to us and show us how to go about bringing it into fruition. The onus is on God to give revelation and direction.

I believe that, if we approached our purpose and destiny from this perspective more often, we wouldn't be so worried about how things will take shape. Rather, we would lean more on God, with full confidence that He will carry out His master plan through our position of obedient surrender. Every connection that needs to be made will be made. Every door that must be opened will be open. Every detail that needs to be handled will be taken care of with precision, because God meticulously crafts His plan and chooses just the right vessel to execute it as He says.

Just as Noah built the ark according to God's specifications; Moses parted the red sea in alignment with God's directives; and Solomon built the temple, with the help of God's highly detailed architectural plan, God has chosen you to build and head up something too. But don't worry about how it's going to get done. He already has the blueprint. All you need to do is be willing.

That's it.

And if you're willing...then God is able.

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

Dianna Hobbs

www.eewmagazine.com

Who Named You?

Last night, before he went to sleep, I carried on a conversation with my 3-year-old son, Kaleb. For me, it's a great way to develop a stronger connection and simultaneously develop his speech. I love looking into those big brown eyes and listening to him communicate in his funny little way. Plus, I always get a kick out of hearing the things he says. Kaleb is my little buddy.

 "So, what's your name?" I asked, laying next to him on his pillow.

"Tay-lub," he responded with a sheepish grin.

"Wow, that's a nice name," I told him. "Who gave you that name?"

"Tuh-dar," he said, meaning, "Kedar," his older brother.

"Oh, Kedar gave you that name?" I asked.

"Ummm... K-k," he stammered. "Kaiah (his older sister) dave me dat name," he grinned proudly, without any inkling that he was misguided.

Needless to say, Kaleb knows his name, but when it comes to recognizing who gave it to him, well, we're gonna need to work on that.

You know, that quick exchange made me think about how many of us don't  realize the value of knowing who gave us our name.  We often take for granted the power of confidently understanding our identity and who it originates with. But it's crucially important to be aware of this; otherwise, we'll allow others to attach labels to us and define our existence, rather than looking to God to tell us who we are.

It's time for you to boldly declare, "I am who God says I am. Only HE has the power to truly name me."  Even in the Bible, we find that God took an active role in the naming process; there were certain individuals like Abraham (Abram), Sarah (Sarai), Israel (Jacob), Paul (Saul), who had their names changed in order to reflect God's purpose and plan for their lives.

Today, I want you to know who named you.  Make a decision not to ever allow anyone else to come into your life and override what God says about you. No matter who has rejected you, what your circumstances say, or what you're going through right now... you are still God's elect. 1 Peter 2:9-10 in The Message Bible says, "But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God's instruments to do his work and speak out for him..."

You are chosen. Your name has been changed ever since you were adopted into the family of God. Now, by the blood of Jesus Christ the Lamb--the One with the name that is above every name (Philippians 2:9)--has endued you with power to live in accordance with the call of God that's on your life. Always know who you are and whose you are.

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

Dianna Hobbs

www.eewmagazine.com

Thoughtful Thursdays

Hey everyone,

Just wanted to give you a few updates today.

1. Simply Wisdom author and EEW Blogger, Kennisha Hill's blood pressure has finally regulated; she and baby Kerissa are doing wonderful, so thanks to all of you for your prayers.

2. I need your prayers as I finish editing final articles and information for the next issue of EEW Magazine scheduled to go live on Monday, July 6, 2009. The workload gets pretty grueling, so call out "Dianna Hobbs" in prayer, and remember to mention something about strength and perseverance :-)

3. New author, Christine Pembleton, has been working hard on the promotion of her new book, "Lord, I'm Ready to Be a Wife." Please support her endeavors and pray that God would favor her. You can also visit Christine online at www.readytobeawife.com.

4. A great friend of mine and one of my Assistants, Geneva Billups, was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. She's doing great, but she also has her tough days. Please call her name out in prayer and ask God to give her supernatural strength and deliverance.

5. If you have something you want other readers of The Daily Cup of Inspiration to be aware of and pray about, please be sure to email me at: dailycup@eewmagazine.com.  Also, don't forget to read today's other post below this one...guess God put quite a bit on my heart to say.

This has been Dianna Hobbs saying, let's be more thoughtful and mindful of the needs of one another!

God Bless.

What You Have Is Enough

God dropped this post in my spirit early yesterday afternoon and I want to share it with you. I believe it will inspire anyone who's losing hope in a particular area and feeling like they'll never reach their full potential. Here's the thought I want you to take with you today:

"All you have is all you need to be all God has called you to be."

In other words, what you have is enough. What you're working with is sufficient to work the vision God has placed in your heart. But until you begin internalizing and believing this, your self-doubt will always hold you back from being all you can be for God. You see, I think that, too often, we allow the enemy to attack our minds and make us feel inadequate. We see others moving forward and progressing, and in our minds, they have tapped into a secret formula that gives them a special advantage.

But you know what?

That's not true.

There are no secret passageways, shortcuts, and magic formulas. There is only supernatural empowerment by the Holy Spirit--something that every believer possesses. If you're a child of God and His power is dwelling on the inside of you, you've got everything it takes right now. 

That's why I always say, as long as you've been called, chosen and appointed by God, what you have is enough. As the very apt saying goes, "Whomever God calls, He equips for the task at hand." You see, when God in all His Sovereignty, handpicks you to carry out a mission, you must realize that He has already empowered you to do it successfully. He knows that you and I are able. The problem is, we don't know what we're capable of. We don't see ourselves the way God sees us. We get too busy looking over our shoulders and comparing ourselves to others.

Wherever you are and whatever God has called you to do, I want you to be encouraged; know that God has preordained that you walk along this path. No matter what area He's thrusting you into, you can handle it. You can overcome.

I'm speaking to all my writers, entrepreneurs, career women, moms, wives, ministry leaders, and every one of you struggling to believe in the abilities God has given you. I want you to know that you're more than able. You've been endowed with power from on high to live out your destiny and tap into every promise the Lord has spoken over your life.

WHAT you have is enough, because WHO you have on the inside is more than enough... "Now to him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us" (Ephesians 3:20).

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

Dianna Hobbs

www.eewmagazine.com

I Feel Like Going On...

I remember an old Edwin Hawkins song we used to sing in church a long time ago. It said, "I feel like going on. Though trials come, on every hand, I feel like going on." Over and over again, we would sing those words... and if you didn't feel like going on, you most certainly would by the time you finished singing the same chorus 100 times in a row!

I wonder; have you ever gone through a season in your life where you were up against some tough opposition and deep down you felt like waving the white flag of surrender, but instead of giving up, you decided to bless God through it? If so, didn't you feel the Holy Spirit lift that heaviness and replace it with His joy and peace? I know from personal experience that, some of my best moments in God's presence came when I praised and worshiped Him out of the depths of my brokenness.

You see, sometimes, your flesh won't necessarily feel like going on, but when you begin to praise and thank God, you engage your spirit. All of a sudden, something on the inside will get stirred up. Your outlook and your attitude will begin changing, not because your circumstances change right away, but because you change the atmosphere with your praise.

Who am I blogging for today?

Despite how hard it gets, you have to refuse to stay in that slump. You've got to say what David said: "I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth" (Psalm 34:1). Put on the garment of praise to combat that spirit of heaviness. (Isaiah 61:3).

When it gets sho' nuff rough, do what another favorite song of mine by Donald Lawrence says and just, "Speak over yourself; encourage yourself in the Lord." You might not feel encouraged in the beginning, but that's alright. Once you begin acknowledging what the word of God says about you, rather than how you feel about you and your situation, then God can infuse you with  new life, peace, joy and a strengthened resolve to continue moving forward.

So even when you don't feel like it, dig way down deep and pull out a praise. Say to yourself, "Though trials come on every hand, I feel like going on..."

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

Dianna Hobbs

www.eewmagazine.com

It's Working

I can remember when I was first trying to teach my oldest daughter to read and write. We would do all kinds of exercises together. We would go over phonics, handwriting, sight words... you name it, we did it.

Still, there were days when it seemed like all that hard work meant nothing, particularly when I would revisit a concept I thought we had down pat, only to see Kyla glare back at me with that dazed, "deer in headlights" look.

But I didn't give up. I had to learn to be patient.

Well, yesterday, Kyla came into my room with sparkling eyes and  a slightly nervous look. "Mommy, I made a new book," she said softly in her high-pitched voice. "Will you read it?"

"Of course I'll read it," I said perking up and smiling, eager to see what she had chosen to write about this time. So, Kyla handed me the book which consisted of neatly folded green construction paper that served as the front and back cover,  and about 8 or 9 white pages inside. So cute.

 Then, she left the room, as is her custom.

I settled in and began reading, but I didn't expect what I got. Though Kyla is an excellent writer, I had never quite seen her write like this. She used beautiful language and metaphors like: "The sun fell behind the clouds of the darkened sky," and "She sat outside gazing off into the distance under the green pines just thinking about nothing in particular..."

I was floored, because the language she chose was so advanced, yet, eloquently written in the appropriate context. After I was done, I called Kyla back into the room and told her how amazing her book was, and how proud I was of her. Then, she proceeded to explain to me why she was so nervous about letting me see the book. "I don't usually use words like that Mommy," she said. "But I wanted to try new and different ways to say things and see how it would work."

Right then it hit me. This is the same child who, years ago, seemed barely interested in learning vocabulary. She preferred doodling. But today, she's emerging as a very impressive writer.

 "It's working," I thought to myself. The lessons, practice sessions, and learning exercises are not all in vain.

It's working.

Sometimes, as we go through our day-to-day routines, however, it's easy to think that we're just going through the motions in life... particularly when things aren't noticeably progressing. But I want to encourage you today and let you know that what you're doing is worth it and it's working. All you have to do is keep it up.

Don't get antsy and frustrated. Just remain steadfast and consistent.

Whether you're focusing on education, career advancement, entrepreneurship, parenting, ministry, writing, fitness goals... whatever it is, it will work if you work it. It won't happen overnight, but as long as you don't abandon what you believe God has called you to do, it'll all work out. 

One thing that many people don't realize is that, there comes a time in all of our lives when we feel like we've reached a plateau and nothing's happening. It seems that  our attempts aren't really working.  As a result, during these "fruitless" seasons, it's easy to write things off as being ineffective and useless, but don't make that mistake.

Just be patient.

Don't get so preoccupied with seeing things happen quickly that, when they don't move forward at your desired pace, you abandon them altogether. After all, consistency is the key. The race is not given to swift, nor the battle to the strong, but to the one that endures to the end, right?

Then tell yourself that, slow growth isn't the same as no growth, although many people behave as though it is. You'll get to where you're going. Don't give into the "need for speed,"  rather, do what I said earlier. Be patient and consistent. You'll be surprised by how much progress you make when you take things one day at a time.

Before you know it, you'll be somewhere  gazing off into the distance under the green pines just thinking about... how far God has brought you.

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

Dianna Hobbs

www.eewmagazine.com

When Things Don't Flow...

Yesterday, I was working on a project that I thought would only take a couple of hours. I had prayed for guidance, mapped out my day and planned my work; I felt confident that things would flow smoothly. But midway through the project, things started breaking down. My internet connection decided it wanted to be temperamental and my usually fast-moving computer crawled along at a snail's pace.

What started out as a two-hour task on an extended to-do list , ended up being the only work-related task I got the opportunity to focus on.

And the project still isn't done. Is it  because I didn't give it my all? Is it because I procrastinated? Is it because I lacked the knowledge, skill, or ability? No, no, and no. It's because factors beyond my control impeded my progress. Despite my desire for things to fall in place, they didn't.

In my field, technology woes aren't uncommon, though no less inconvenient. But what about when you're facing something more serious, life-altering, and pressing? How do you handle it when you do all you know that's right to do and still get the wrong results?

Have you ever had a day like that... a week, a month, or perhaps, even a year?  You know, one of those seasons in your life when, despite your best efforts, things just didn't flow for you? You prayed, sought the Lord and gave it your best to no avail. Trouble seemed to linger and there was nothing you could do about it.

Times like these can be rough. Deep down in your heart, you wish that tumultuous trials were transient and that, they would depart as quickly as they came; but it doesn't always happen that way, does it?

Nevertheless, I don't want you to get stressed or frustrated. None of us enjoys it when things don't flow for us, but we can't allow ourselves to start fretting, panicking and worrying. As I always remind you, things will work out when the timing is right. When God is ready to deliver and set you free, He will.

In the meantime, remember that, if  He's allowing you to go through it, you can handle it... all of it. I know it may not feel good while you're confronting the difficult situation, but you'll be alright. The Lord will bring you through it; I know He will. He's done it for me so many times.

Even when you feel like you're at your wits end, God will step in and give you peace. Just hold on a little while longer. Soon, things will start to flow again and work out in your favor.

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

Dianna Hobbs

www.eewmagazine.com

A Plan for Your Release

I have some really exciting news to report! Do you remember when I told you my Sister-In-Law Patrice had been diagnosed with Breast Cancer last year? Well, I talked to her today and she has officially completed her chemotherapy and radiation treatment and has been given a clean bill of health. By the grace of God, the doctors were able to get rid of the tumor & rid her body of the cancer. Thankfully, Patrice is doing great--still a little tired and drained--but great nonetheless.

We were on the phone just talking about the goodness of the Lord and I got choked up thinking about how devastated I was when I first heard about her diagnosis. At the time, it seemed like Patrice's treatment would take forever and so many things were uncertain. But now that it's all said and done, we see that God had everything in control all along.  He knew this day of triumph and victory would come from the very beginning.

It makes me think about how we go through things in our lives--not necessarily Cancer, but other tests and trials. While we're going through them, we often feel like we'll be stuck in the same predicament forever. But that's not the case. We each have to remember that, God already knows when, how and where our deliverance will take place.

Be steadfast in your faith. No matter how hard, dark, or rocky the road may seem, God already has a plan for your release. You're coming out, because there's nothing too hard for God to solve.

For those who know Patrice's story, you know she discovered her Cancer in stage 1, the earliest stage. Yet, she would later learn that her Cancer was also very aggressive, making intense treatment necessary and critical. All the way through the ordeal, however, she never once complained or wavered in her faith. Even when others were going to pieces around her, Patrice was confident in God's faithfulness to bring her out of whatever situation she was facing.

Today, I'm encouraging you to believe God with unrelenting, unflinching faith as well. Know that, where you are now isn't where you'll always be. Your day of deliverance is already predetermined by God, so you may as well praise Him in advance. Although you might not be able to see your way clearly, all you need to do is keep on moving  forward... before you know it, you'll walk right into a new season!

As always, thanks for reading, and until next time... may you be empowered to prosper! *Patrice wishes to thank everybody for all their prayers and kind gestures. Please continue to hold Patrice and her family up in prayer.

Dianna Hobbs

www.eewmagazine.com

It's Really Him

If you never attempt to do the things you're not sure you're capable of doing, there's something else you'll never do: You'll never fulfill your destiny. No matter who you are and what you're called to do for God, you will reach a place where He will ask you to carry out something you believe to be nearly, if not totally, impossible.

Whether it has to do with forgiving someone that hurt you, stepping out in faith to pursue an opportunity, acquiring a skill that's outside your area of expertise,  launching a major project or initiative independently, or moving beyond your comfort zone to fulfill a new  leadership role; there will come a time when you'll be challenged and stretched by God to do what appears impossible.  

During these seasons of stretching, you need only remember one thing. "...With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26).  

All things.

Yes, "all" absolutely includes that thing you're being confronted with right now. With God, it's possible. No matter how big or bad the situation seems, there's nothing too hard for God.

But sometimes, we forget that just because God commissions us to go and do something, doesn't mean He sends us alone, and although He uses us as instruments to complete a task, doesn't mean we do it in our own strength. 

It's really Him.

 You see, the word of the Lord that was spoken to Zerubbabel, still applies to us today: "Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit”, says the Lord" (Zech. 4:6).

It's God's work in and through you that even makes the fulfillment of His command possible in the first place. Remember, God asks you and me to do it, but really, it is His spirit that gives us the ability to carry out the task. So, in reality, the demand is on the anointing within us and not on us alone. Again, it's really Him and not us.

Without the anointing of the Holy Ghost, we could all just pack it in and hang it up right now, because things wouldn't come together. Let"s face it. Without God, we don't have the intelligence; the know-how; the connections; the courage; the innovation; or the wherewithal to do what's being placed before us to do.

But with Him on our side and moving on the inside, we can do anything.

Today, I want you to stop looking at the enormity of what you're facing and begin focusing on what a great big God we serve. He's more than able to do it... and because He lives inside of you, you're more than able to do it.

So, why fear? Why fret? Why doubt? Why cower? Why retreat? Why panic? Why worry?

All God is asking, is for us to make ourselves available. 

Once we say yes with our mouths, in our hearts, and by our deeds, God will perform the rest... by His spirit.

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

Dianna Hobbs

www.eewmagazine.com