Your Daily Cup of Inspiration!

Purpose

I'm a very passionate person by nature. When I feel things, I feel them deeply. And when I give myself away to something I believe in, I tend to give my whole self. So, one day, several months ago, my husband Kenya and I talked at length about something specific I believed God was leading me to do. I was trying to tell him how it was eating away at my insides because I wasn't doing it. I felt like I should be completely giving over to this new assignment and yet, I was hanging back, procrastinating. This failure to take action ended up creating a void and emptiness in my soul which could only be filled with purpose. I tried to express my sentiments to Kenya during our heart-to-heart discussion. He listened intently; yet the words never formed.Then, the... Read more →

Purpose

Living out your purpose is what gives life meaning! Read the rest at www.diannahobbs.com Read more →

Blog Maintenance

Hi guys! My blog's undergoing some maintenance today to fix a glitch, but I'll be back with a full post tomorrow! In the meantime, please remember to pray for someone else today. Dianna Read more →

Blog Maintenance

Hi guys! My blog's undergoing some maintenance today to fix a glitch, but I'll be back with a full post tomorrow! In the meantime, please remember to pray for someone else today. Dianna Read more →

Write It Down

Lately I've been sharing some of the things that are going on in my life since introducing music into the picture. It's only been a week since the release of the first single, Do What He Said, and already, life has changed so much. There are more demands on my time and a greater quantity of things to juggle. So, last night, my husband Kenya, who also heads up my management team, sat me down for a "meeting" with just the two of us. He asked lots of questions and wrote down my answers. By the time our discussion was over, I couldn't believe how much he had jotted down in his yellow notepad. No matter what you believe God has called you to do in your life, you need to put abstract ideas into a fixed format. It doesn't... Read more →

Write It Down

If there's something God has placed on your heart to do for Him, but you haven't written it down and just can't seem to get your thoughts together, read this post at www.diannahobbs.com Read more →

It Can Wait

I kissed the kids, got them settled, and fell into my bed last night feeling just delirious. It had been a really long day. My eyes felt like someone had poured sand in them and set them ablaze. So, with burning eyes and a tired body, I stretched out, determined to let all the unfinished work competing for my attention wait until the next day. There have been so many things going on lately, particularly with the addition of the music obligations that come along with completing a CD. A lot of days and nights have been running together with little to no time to decompress in between. That's why I made an "executive decision" last night and said, "Everything else has gotta wait. It'll be there tomorrow!" It's so easy to try to do everything before lying down to... Read more →

It Can Wait

As I fell into bed last night exhausted, I had plenty of work left undone. But my body had taken all it could take, so I made a decision... "It can wait..." If you're feeling a bit frenzied about getting everything done RIGHT NOW, this blog post is for you. Read it at www.diannahobbs.com Read more →

You Just Need to be Held

Yesterday, my four-year-old, Kaleb came running to me with his best "cry face" on and no tears anywhere in sight. All moms know about that fake cry face. My husband Kenya immediately gave me that look like he wanted to burst out into laughter. He can always detect those "attention-getting" tactics. With my head hung in shame I must admit, typically, I fall for little Kaleb's antics "hook, line, and sink her." It's so pathetic. This time around, however, I'm proud to say, I knew my youngest son was trying to play me. He just wanted attention. Even still, I hugged him up (Despite seeing Kenya's fingers in the shape of an 'L' on his forehead teasing me). I said, "Awww, what's wrong with my baby?" "I don't know," Kaleb replied in his best whimpering voice. He's so cute when... Read more →

You Just Need to be Held

When we're feeling weary from the struggles in our fight, the Lord knows we just need to be held and reassured that He sees, knows, and cares. Read more at www.diannahobbs.com Read more →

As Long as God Gives Me Strength

I stood in the mirror marveling over the long gray hair peeking out of the middle of my crown. "Honey look!" I summoned Kenya. "It's a gray hair." Unlike me, my husband Kenya's been going gray for a while. It runs in his family; before she passed away, my mother-in-law had the most beautiful perfectly silver hair. "You're getting up there," Kenya teased while examining the glimmering gray. "Ha ha ha, very funny," I laughed sarcastically. Then, about an hour later, Kedar, my inquisitive six-year-old son came into my room. "Mommy when you get really old will you stop working on that laptop?" In his young mind he sees aging as a speed race to retirement. But I don't. "Oh I don't know if I'll stop baby," I said slowly, really thinking about it. "We'll just have to wait and... Read more →

As Long as God Gives Me Strength

Roadblocks and hindrances will come, but that doesn't mean you should give up! Adopt a mindset that says, "As long as God gives me strength" I'll give my life away for God to use me as He sees fit... Read the full post at www.diannahobbs.com Read more →

Thoughtful Thursdays: Week #50

Here on Thoughtful Thursdays, I typically list 5 different prayer requests and ask you to join your faith with mine for God to meet every need. But today, I feel led to go in a slightly different direction. I received an email from a young woman who made a poor choice and landed herself is some legal hot water. It's easy to point fingers when someone stumbles, but if we're honest, we've all been at a place where we didn't do the right thing. It's only by God's grace that we were not consumed. So, she is requesting prayer from the Daily Cup family and has given clearance for me to post both her name and request on the blog today. I'm going to let her "tell it" in her own words. It's lengthy, but she needs an outlet and... Read more →

Thoughtful Thursdays: Week #50

I received an email from a young woman who made a poor choice and landed herself is some legal hot water... Read the rest at www.diannahobbs.com Read more →

Let God Show You the Way

Yesterday I was reading over some old articles I had written several years back. Although my views and life philosophy are fundamentally the same even today, the manner in which I express my ideas nowadays, has greatly changed. Looking retrospectively, I see many things I wrote that could have been communicated much better or differently. Hindsight is 20/20, right? Especially when you're viewing things through more mature and experienced lenses. While I was in the moment, however, I didn't see any other way, nor did I even stop to think that, perhaps I could have used a little refinement. I'm sure you can relate to this, because we all make choices according to the level of understanding we're operating in at that time. We are sometimes guilty of not trusting God enough and trusting in ourselves too much. But the... Read more →

Let God Show You the Way

If you and I can learn to totally depend on God to be our guide and show us the way, instead of trying to piece things together on our own, we'll be much better off in the long run. Read the rest at www.diannahobbs.com Read more →

It's an Exciting Day!

Today is a very exciting day for me because I have done what God said do and released my first single from my upcoming album. It's entitled Do What He Said and I pray that it will be a great blessing and inspiration to you the way it has been in my life. Please take a moment to download the single from Amazon.com. I sincerely hope it will uplift you as you listen. Before I conclude today's brief post (Lots to do!), please pray my strength as I enter into this next chapter and phase. As I always say, prayer is so important! If you join your faith with mine, I ought be just fine. In the meantime, let me know you're listening to the music by connecting with me on Facebook and sharing your thoughts about it. I appreciate... Read more →

It's an Exciting Day!

Today is a very exciting day for me...! Read the rest at www.diannahobbs.com Read more →

Resistance Builds Strength

My husband Kenya came home from Walmart smiling the other night. "Look what I got for us babe," he said grinning widely while pulling two boxes out of the white and blue plastic bag. Resistance bands. For working out. Yay. :-/ *Birds chirping* Can you sense my excitement? I hate resistance bands. Those little flat strips of rubber that provide increased resistance to build strength, hurt. Badly. Initially, I tried to feign excitement, until I could no longer hide my intimidation. "Those are so hard to use honey," I told him, hoping not to sound too ungrateful for my, uh, "gift" he had excitedly purchased. Kenya was still cheesing while testing out the rubbery torture tubes. "You can do it. It'll be fun," he said lifting them up and down like 3 pound dumbbells. Yay. :-/ Ever felt like that... Read more →

Resistance Builds Strength

Resistance, opposition and challenges, though difficult, build strength and character within us. So today, if you're going through some tough "character building," this blog post is for you. Read the rest at www.diannahobbs.com Read more →

Hands Off

Yesterday, a situation arose with someone close to me and it wasn't good at all. When I heard about it, I grew deeply concerned and everything in me wanted to handle it on their behalf. I prayed and talked to my husband Kenya about how upset I was over the whole thing. I even spoke to that individual and expressed my perspective on the situation. But my advice pretty much fell on deaf ears. *Shrugging* Nothing was changing. Then, the Holy Spirit spoke to me ever so calmly. "Leave it alone. You can't change it." But everything in me was crying out, "I have to do or say something!" But God had a different idea about the whole thing. You see, He wanted me to understand that every battle is not mine to fight. Even though things may bother me... Read more →

Hands Off

You and I are not called to fix every problem that arises. Sometimes, we simply have to take our hands off and give it over to God. Read the rest at www.diannahobbs.com. Read more →

Thoughtful Thursdays: Week #49

There's a happy bride out there today rejoicing over how God answered her prayer! I received a praise report from a woman whose name will remain anonymous (Because she originally asked that her request be posted to the blog anonymously). Well, a little while ago, I posted a prayer request from a woman who was getting married, but could not find a job in the same city her husband lived in. She was worried about the prospect of having to remain separated from her new spouse for an indefinite amount of time if a new job opportunity did not come through. But God has intervened and I'm very excited that He has answered her prayer and worked the situation out! "I would like to say thank you to you and the daily cup family...I have finally come down from the... Read more →

Thoughtful Thursdays: Week #49

God is still answering prayer! Please read the exciting praise report I received from a "Daily Cup" reader, and also, join me in praying for everyone mentioned on our "Thoughtful Thursdays" prayer list at www.diannahobbs.com. Thanks in advance for your prayers! Read more →

You Need a Fresh Wind

It has been so hot and humid lately with relief nowhere in sight. So yesterday, I sat down by the window as a cool breeze gently blew in. I threw my head back, closed my eyes, and breathed in the smell of fresh air. Ahhh... nothing like it. The gentle wind tickling my face felt so nice and refreshing, although it didn't change the fact that it was scorching hot. That fresh wind, however, did at least make the conditions more bearable. In life, when we experience a "fresh wind" of God's presence, that doesn't mean our troubles automatically disappear. Moments spent basking in a spirit-renewing encounter with the Lord certainly will empower and strengthen us. But that doesn't preclude us from walking through the fiery furnace of affliction. The "heat" and intensity of the battle we're fighting doesn't necessarily... Read more →

You Need a Fresh Wind

In life, when we experience a "fresh wind" of God's presence, it doesn't preclude us from walking through the fiery furnace of affliction, but the anointing gives us the power and strength we need to stand through the test. Read the rest at www.diannahobbs.com Read more →

Wednesday, July 14, 2010 at 12:13 AM

It has been so hot and humid lately with relief nowhere in sight. So yesterday, I sat down by the window as a cool breeze gently blew in. I threw my head back, closed my eyes, and breathed in the smell of fresh air. Ahhh... nothing like it. The gentle wind tickling my face felt so nice and refreshing, although it didn't change the fact that it was scorching hot. That fresh wind, however, did at least make the conditions more bearable. Similarly, in life, when we experience a "fresh wind" of God's presence, that doesn't mean our troubles automatically disappear. Moments spent basking in a spirit-renewing encounter with the Lord, certainly will empower and strengthen us. But that doesn't preclude us from walking through the fiery furnace of affliction. But the good news is that, by God's spirit, Read more →

Your Foundation Determines your Elevation

I was in the kitchen yesterday preparing dinner and I needed an ingredient which was stored on the third shelf. Since I'm only 5'1" tall, there was no way I could reach that top shelf without standing on top of a stepping stool. Earlier in the day, however, I had taken the stool upstairs for something and forgot to bring it back down. So, instead of traipsing back up the stairs to get it (What I should have done), I decided to use something a bit less reliable to help hold me up. Before I even mounted the flimsy wooden stump, I knew there was a good chance it wasn't strong enough. But hey, I was hoping. Well, hope didn't stop it from collapsing under me. And hope certainly didn't prevent me from banging my knee as I came tumbling... Read more →

Your Foundation Determines your Elevation

"The strength of the foundation upon which we stand determines the heights we'll attain in life."-Dianna Hobbs (Read the full post at www.diannahobbs.com) Read more →

It Will Come Around Again

On Saturday, the kids came running upstairs. "Mommy! Mommy! Do you hear it?" I had no idea what they were talking about, because whatever they heard was imperceptible to my ears at the moment. "It's the ice cream truck!" they all shouted in unison with wide eyes. Suddenly, my ears perked up and I could faintly hear the music. I remember how much that very same melody used to excite me when I was a kid. So I rushed to get some money and slip on my shoes. By the time I made it outside, however, the truck was turning the corner and leaving our street. The kids were so disappointed and I felt sorry for them, especially when my six year old son, Kedar, asked me, "Mom, can't you call the ice cream man and ask him to come... Read more →

It Will Come Around Again

All of us have have missed an opportunity in our lives at least once, but the good news is, God is merciful enough to give us a second chance to begin again! Read the full post at www.diannahobbs.com Read more →

Dry Seasons don't Last Always

The other day I had a taste for a juicy orange. When I opened the refrigerator and realized I had discovered the only one left in the fridge, I smiled and said, "Nice!" I quickly and happily grabbed a knife to slice up the orange. It was like I could already taste it. After slicing the plump piece of fruit right down the middle, I noticed that something was a bit off. Not one single drop of juice squirted from the orange. I sliced it again and still, nothing. It was as dry as the Sahara desert inside. My heart sank, particularly because all the other oranges in the same batch had been particularly sweet and juicy, and mouth-watering good. I expected no less from this one; I was so disappointed. Similarly, in life, we get that sinking feeling when... Read more →

Dry Seasons don't Last Always

Dry seasons don't last always and times of drought do indeed pass over. If you continue to trust God, persevere, and refuse to give up, your season will change. Read the full post at www.diannahobbs.com. Read more →

Thoughtful Thursdays: Week #48

How many times do we think of ourselves during the course of the day? Likely, too many to count. But it's not healthy to constantly dwell on what our needs are without ever taking into consideration what someone else might be struggling with. We need to hold others up and strengthen them through prayer. As I mentioned in yesterday's post, my mom had to have surgery. It all seemed so out of the blue too. One day she was fine and the next day she was extremely ill. The emergency operation took our entire family by surprise. That's how quickly things can happen. That's why I always encourage others to intercede on behalf of someone else. You don't know what an individual might be going through. Furthermore, you have no idea when one of life's vicious winds of adversity might... Read more →

Thoughtful Thursdays: Week #48

Please join me in praying for all those listed in our "Thoughtful Thursdays" blog post at www.diannahobbs.com. Thanks in advance for your prayers! Read more →

Let God take His Time

The day before yesterday, my mom suddenly got really ill. My dad took her to the hospital and they diagnosed her with gall stones. We discovered that she needed surgery to have her diseased gall bladder removed--the same procedure I went through about 10 years ago. Well, the surgery typically takes anywhere from a half hour to a full hour and a half, depending upon how things go. I remembered my surgery had taken just under an hour, so I figured my mom's process would go the same way mine did. Boy, how wrong I was. In my mom's case, things dragged on for nearly four hours, what felt like an eternity to our concerned family! During the process, once the "deadline" for the time it "should" have taken, passed, we all grew a bit anxious. "Is everything OK?" we... Read more →

Let God take His Time

In life, we have to learn to allow God to take His time when operating on our behalf. I know it can be tough to be patient when you want things to happen in a certain time frame, but if it isn't happening faster, that means it doesn't need to... Read the full post at www.diannahobbs.com Read more →

The Answer is Already There

I have a real "love-hate" relationship with my Blackberry. On the one hand, it's really convenient. On the other hand, when it malfunctions, it's a huge inconvenience because I've grown so dependent on it. I expect it to work 100% of the time and notify me when I have important messages. If my Blackberry doesn't buzz, I assume I have no business messages. Well, a couple days ago, I was telling my husband how unusually quiet my Blackberry was. I was also sharing how I had expected responses from some of my clients that I had not yet received. I was puzzled and a bit put off by the delay in communication, since everything appeared to have gone smoothly leading up to that point. The very next day, I was sitting down on my laptop going through my business email,... Read more →

The Answer is Already There

Sometimes we feel that our prayers have gone unanswered and unnoticed, so we get discouraged. But, just because you and I don't see the answer, doesn't mean that God hasn't already given one. Read the rest at www.diannahobbs.com Read more →

Long Holiday Week-end...

Hi Daily Cup fam! Hope you had a great Independence Day. Thanks for stopping by today. I'm taking the opportunity to get some much-needed rest and enjoy the long holiday week-end. I'll resume my regular blogging schedule tomorrow. Dianna Read more →

Long Holiday Week-end...

Hi Daily Cup fam! Hope you had a great Independence Day. Thanks for stopping by today. I'm taking the opportunity to get some much-needed rest and enjoy the long holiday week-end. I'll resume my regular blogging schedule tomorrow. Dianna Read more →

Release the Hindrances

Yesterday, late in the afternoon, I went power walking while listening to some of my favorite inspirational songs. I noticed that the slower songs slowed my pace and the more upbeat tunes, pushed me to go faster. So, I began skipping the slow melodies in my playlist and allowing only those tracks that got my juices flowing to play in my ears. I had a goal in mind and I only wanted to hear things that pushed me to reach it. Well, before I realized it, I had walked a much longer distance than I intended to. And I managed to do it without increasing the amount of time spent exercising. I couldn't believe how much ground I actually covered without feeling tired. That music had me going. When I had the right songs playing, they really got my adrenaline... Read more →

Release the Hindrances

In life, we have to be careful about the people and things we embrace, because they impact us... for better or worse. Embracing the healthy motivators and releasing toxic hindrances, is critical to the fulfillment of our destiny. Read the rest at www.diannahobbs.com Read more →

"Hallelujah Anyhow" (Thoughtful Thursdays: #47)

There's an old song that dropped on me out of the blue yesterday called "Hallelujah Anyhow" by Thomas A. Whitfield and The Thomas Whitfield Company. I haven't heard that melody in years, but when it began playing inside my head in surround sound, I thought about how the winds of change and storms of life blow through each of our lives every now and then. But as long as we remain anchored in Jesus, our faith won't be swept away. In fact, we'll be able to say hallelujah anyhow, no matter how dark things get. I'm reminded of the scripture found in Psalm 42:5 that says, "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance" (KJV). In other... Read more →

"Hallelujah Anyhow" (Thoughtful Thursdays: #47)

I'm reminded of the scripture found in Psalm 42:5 that says, "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance" (KJV). Read the rest at www.diannahobbs.com Read more →