Diane Markins wrote and spoke in a "high def, life-transforming style" about issues that impact daily living. She hosted Bold Living radio show, was a speaker and writer. She enjoyed travel and had been from Mexico to Zimbabwe but always loved coming home to roost in Arizona near her family. Diane went home to be with Jesus on July 31st, 2019.
CBN.com Coyotes frequently show up on my street. No, I don’t live in the middle of Montana, I live smack in the middle of Phoenix—a major metropolis. But my neighborhood is bordered by a desert mountain preserve, and since there is no giant wall with a Keep Out sign posted, wildlife and city dwellers often cross paths. My sweet, aging tabby (Bagheera—we called him Baggie) was snatched from our front yard a couple years ago by one of these hungry hunters, never to be seen again.
This can present a problem in that many of us city folk have beloved pets stashed away in our homes and yards. We have the illusion that they are safe but the truth is that a coyote can, and will, jump a six foot fence without breaking stride to get a tasty morsel you affectionately know as Mitzy. Red Tail hawks and Great Horned Owls are also out scouting for sustenance and can swoop down from the sky right into a fenced back yard to grab an eight pound kitty or even a ten pound dog. This was recently demonstrated by the fact that Lucy, an 11 1/2 –pound terrier mutt survived an owl attack because she was just a bit too heavy to be carried away like Toto.
The common thread is that these predators hunt stealthily for food and don’t care about your love affair with it. They also don’t know that it is supposed to be protected.
Just as we are lulled into a false sense of security about our pets’ safety, we often forget that there are hazards all around us that threaten our existence too. They come in the form of busyness that can snatch our attention from our family; fear that can keep us from trying something new; materialism that can cause us to lose perspective; lust which can damage our marriage; pride which can cause us to put ourselves ahead of others and hopelessness which can diminish our faith and rob our joy. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) says, “The thief comes only to kill, steal and destroy.”
These marauders are just as treacherous as any wily coyote or cunning hawk. They are also insidious. They sneak up on us and we never see them enter our life but they are a serious threat all the same. Prevention is clear; “Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.” OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt)
Just as pet lovers in my ‘hood have to take extra precautions, there are things we can all do to prevent the destructive powers of skewed thinking. Create a checklist and ask yourself these questions periodically:
Those questions (and others that come to mind) are the hardware you need to build a protective wall around your heart and mind. Preventing attacks is much wiser (and less painful) than treating a wounded life.
Any personal encounters with one of the natural enemies listed above? I’ve had plenty!
Can God change your life?
God has made it possible for you to know Him and experience an amazing change in your own life. Discover how you can find peace with God.You can also send us your prayer requests or chat online with the CBN Prayer Team
Diane Markins writes and speaks in a "high def, life-transforming style" about issues that impact daily living.She is the host of Women in High Def radio show, but is also a speaker and writer. She enjoys travel and has been from Mexico to Zimbabwe but always loves coming home to roost in Arizona near her family. See more of her writing at DianeMarkins.com.
Beginning a new year is a great time to look at life as it is and consider some possibilities of how it could be. It’s easy to put this off and wait until later…but sometimes it seems that much of our life is spent waiting. In a small sense we wait in line for a vanilla latte, we wait for our car to fill up with gas, we wait for the cable guy to show up (between 8 and 12…ha! usually it’s 12:10).
In a bigger sense we wait to meet the man of our dreams, we wait nine months for our baby to be born, we wait for a job promotion or a pay increase. Waiting is fact of life on earth, and sometimes that’s best. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) says, “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles.”
But are you looking at your own life and weighing how much time you’ve spent waiting? Have you waited (maybe too long?) to make a change, chart a new course or accept an unchangeable situation.
The opposite is true as well. Sometimes we jump in and take action without spending much time or thought on the process or likely results. Maybe it’s just me, but I’m hoping some of you will relate to trying to “fix” a situation instead of allowing God or others to take care of it. Acting too quickly can lead to comedic and sometimes tragic results.
In either case there is an antidote and a way to prevent a repeat. Check in with the Lord. A LOT! Talk to Him, read His word and get confirming wisdom from a spiritually mature friend. It would look something like this:
“Father, I really hate my job but am grateful to have it. Thank you for provision. Please bring me clarity about when/if I should take any action to change my circumstance.”
When we wait on God’s timing, then take deliberate action, the outcome is likely to be refreshment and contentment. “The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me; your love O Lord, endures forever” says OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) . Hopefully your life is filled with intentional waiting while God strengthens you, then fruit-bearing action when the time is right. Your life story is legendary to the author of our faith.
Seems like yesterday it was Spring and now it’s Summer-with-a-vengeance. That’s how it happens in Phoenix. I was raised right here in this blazing city but still struggle with the sweltering heat every year. Our vehicles sizzle as we enter them, the sun fries our skin if we aren’t fully covered in SPF 50 and clothing options are limited. Comfort wins over style as we don shorts and sleeveless tops.
Last year I realized I had spent my entire life of summers complaining about the heat. We all do it. Casual conversations with store clerks, waitresses and friends are riddled with short comments about how hot it is. I decided to make a promise to myself that I wasn’t going to utter any more negative comments about the rising mercury. It took discipline and intention, but I had a lot of success. "> OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) says,
“Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.”
When I’d slip and the H word would bounce out of my mouth I’d quickly change the subject.
Guess what happened? I actually didn’t notice the debilitating heat quite so much. My mind was learning a new way of thinking; I was retraining my thoughts to move away from the heat so that my conversation didn’t drift there.
This can be applied to any issue we tend to be bothered by and give undue negative attention.
“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” ( "> OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) )
Do you think people don’t know it’s hot? You’re not enlightening them. Do you think they are encouraged that you hate it too? It probably doesn’t ease the discomfort.
But if you smile and talk about pleasant things you might divert their attention to a more cheerful topic and get a smile in return. Our words wield great power and they are typically generated by our attitudes and thoughts. If we purposely take our thoughts captive (“Put on the mind of Christ”) and don’t spew out the junk that sometimes surfaces, we can be a vessel of kindness and positive influence. Negative attitudes and complaints are contagious but encouragement is even more so.
"> OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) tell us,
“Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely and admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
…and we usually speak about what we’re thinking, so this way of thinking will edify others.
If not the heat, what thought do you sometimes dredge up and share with others? Are you willing to do the work and replace that with a new way of thinking and interacting? The investment will be worth it.
Can God change your life?
God has made it possible for you to know Him and experience an amazing change in your own life. Discover how you can find peace with God.You can also send us your prayer requests or chat online with the CBN Prayer Team
Diane Markins writes and speaks in a "high def, life-transforming style" about issues that impact daily living. She is the host of Women in High Def radio show, but is also a speaker and writer. She enjoys travel and has been from Mexico to Zimbabwe but always loves coming home to roost in Arizona near her family. See more of her writing at DianeMarkins.com.
Does your prayer time seem a little lack-luster on occasion? I know mine does. God wants to hear from us. He expects us to show up and delights in the minutes we give solely to him. But once in a while it starts to feel a bit contrived and obligatory… going through the motions.
When this happens to me, I change things up. I let God speak to me, through me. Yeah, I know… you’re thinking, “What did she just say?”
When I’ve done the usual: praising, examining my life, sharing it all with the Lord and still feel like I’m in the room alone - I try letting Him talk to me. Based on many years of reading the Bible and getting to know God’s ways, I speak out loud to me as though Jesus were uttering the words. If we follow what it says in "> OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) , this becomes second nature:
“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.”
It may sound a little wacky, but there have been times God has revealed a deep truth, brought renewed joy, increased my faith, and healed my wounded spirit through my own voice using His mind. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) says,
“For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.”
I simply give voice to what I believe God is telling me through His word.
But what if you don’t have the time or place to be alone and share a verbal dialog with God? Write a letter from the Lord to you. It seems that just the right measure of encouragement, wisdom, conviction, and peace will begin to appear on the paper as you allow your Father to speak intimately to you.
This is an example:
My precious child,
I am here. You are not alone. I have held you in my hands for all of the days of your life. I will move mightily and you will be amazed. Do not fear, do not doubt, trust in me and know that I am God. Be patient, I am working things you will never understand, and I am.
Dear one, turn your heart to me, and remember that I am not against you. I find you in my favor and because of where you are I will be able to move mountains. Do not question me, but allow me to work in my way in my timing. (Reprinted with permission from Ally Johnson.)
Your words may not be as beautiful or poetic as Ally’s but they will reflect your personality and God’s heart; the message a very private one, for your eyes only.
If you’re new to this journey of Christian faith and maybe don’t know too much about God’s character or what He might say to you, dig in and begin finding out. Maybe a book of Bible promises will help jump-start the process.
While the Lord cherishes hearing our praises and requests, He also longs to speak to us, saying exactly what we need to hear.
Copyright Diane Markins. Used by permission.
Any good mom’s heart longs to cling to her child. Sometimes we have to be prodded to ease up a bit. Only when it becomes obvious that letting go is the best choice do we relax our iron grip… like the mother in OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) . As the story goes, two women brought a baby to Solomon. Each woman claimed the baby was her child. "Cut the baby in half and give half of the baby to each woman," Solomon said. "NO!" screamed the real mother, "Give her the baby. Do not kill him." Then Solomon knew who the real mother was because of the way she loved the baby. He gave the baby to its real mother.
My son was only about six-months-old when I first started teaching him to “swim.” It was sort of a trend at that time to train babies to hold their breath, flip on their backs and float in a pool. Theoretically this would save them if they ever fell in unsupervised.
It sounds really dumb now, but I was a young mom and since there was a pool almost everywhere we went in Phoenix, I jumped in (pun fully intended) with both feet. Clutching the dearest thing in the world to me, I became paralyzed when the instructor said it was my turn to let him go in the water. She spoke to me like a small child learning to ride a bike. “You can do this…let go…he’ll be OK!”
With my heart thudding in my ears I finally pried my fingers away from his pudgy little body, blew in his face (so he’d inhale) and released him with a gentle shove toward the instructor. She retrieved him immediately and he emerged with a sputter and a giant grin back at me. Soon, the flip/role/float was mastered with great pride.
At age four, I carefully taught him to ride a horse. When he was thrown in a field, my dad held me back from running to the rescue, instead insisting I help him back in the saddle to complete another lap. “This is a great life lesson,” Dad told me. “He’ll learn courage and not to fear failure if he gets right back up there.” I wanted to grab my little guy and flee, but I lifted him aboard that animal and told him to be brave. He grew to be cautiously bold… neither reckless nor fearful.
In high school my boy went away to work at a youth camp one summer. They were short-staffed so he was required to work long hours of labor with only one day off each week. He didn’t know anyone, was feeling isolated and exhausted and wanted to come home early. It broke my heart to hear him sound so sad and desperate on the phone, but my husband assured me it was best to make him stay. When he returned home, he thanked us and told us it was a wonderful and life-changing experience.
David taught his son, Solomon this lesson as well.
"Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished.” ( NIV)
Especially for mothers, the journey of parenting is an ongoing lesson of letting go. We innately want to protect and direct our kids away from pain, danger, or discomfort. When they’re grown, these instincts don’t subside, but as we see our kids gain strength, wisdom, and courage, it becomes increasingly clear that we must continually release them. It’s a little easier with the assurance that God never lets them go. Perhaps the Lord’s nudging you to relinquish a bit of the grip on your child. He may be saying, “Let go…you can do this…with me, he’ll be OK.”
And for those blessed enough to still have a mother, perhaps you need to extend an extra measure of grace when she holds a little too tightly. Especially on Mother’s Day, try to receive it as the expression of love it’s meant to be.
“Her children rise up and bless her…” ( NASB)
Copyright © Diane Markins. Used by permission.
Have you taken a moment lately to look at life as it is and consider some possibilities of how it could be. It’s easy to put this off and wait until later…but sometimes it seems that much of our life is spent waiting.
In a small sense we wait in line for a vanilla latte, we wait for our car to fill up with gas, we wait for the cable guy to show up (between 8 and 12…ha! usually it’s 2:10). In a bigger sense we wait to meet the man of our dreams, we wait nine months for our baby to be born, we wait for a job promotion or a pay increase. Waiting is a fact of life on earth.
But are you looking at your own life and evaluating how much time you’ve spent waiting? Have you waited (maybe too long?) to make a change, chart a new course or accept an unchangeable situation.
I waited a long time to make a serious commitment to writing and speaking. What held me back? As with each of us, my answers aren’t simple. I was raising children, working at having a good marriage and helping our business grow. Those are valid reasons; but in complete honesty I held back because of fear and lack of mentorship. When I finally broke through the fear and dove in, God was there to meet me and encourage my progress.
“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles,” says OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt)
The opposite is true as well. Sometimes we jump in and take action without spending much time or thought on the process or likely results. Have you ever tried to “fix” a situation instead of allowing God or others to take care of it? Acting too quickly can lead to comedic and sometimes tragic results.
Too many times to mention I’ve confronted people about things I believed were unfair or done poorly, just to find that they had good reasons for their actions or had already remedied the situation. Boy do I hate to go after someone with a full head of steam only to learn that my issue is obsolete or invalid. Alexander Pope said, “Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.” I’m guessing he knew that angels are much wiser than we humans can be.
In either case there is an antidote and a way to prevent a repeat. Check in with the Lord. A LOT! Talk to Him, read His word and get confirming wisdom from a spiritually mature friend. It would look something like this:
“Father, I really hate my job but am grateful to have it. Thank you for provision. Please bring me clarity about when/if I should take any action to change my circumstance.”
says, “The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me; your love O Lord, endures forever.”
His timeline is frequently much different than ours. When we wait on God’s timing, then take deliberate action, the outcome is likely to be refreshment and contentment.
I hope your life is filled with intentional waiting while God strengthens you, then fruit-bearing action when the time is right for you to soar like an eagle.
Copyright © Diane Markins. Used by permission.
At church, we look around and may think all those people in the seats around us are holy, spiritual, and wise. They never use bad language, over-indulge at a party, get really mad at their spouse, yell at their kids, complain about their jobs, or watch junk on TV.
Take a closer look. Each and every person sitting in those seats is human and has as many temptations, weaknesses, and personality flaws as you.
If you come to church with this illusion, take the blinders off. If you come to church and try to create this illusion about yourself, take the mask off. The only way we can truly know each other as brothers and sisters in Christ is to be who we really are and let it show.
"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.” OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) (NIV)
There is always room for improvement and the pursuit of Godliness should be a key part of everyone’s life, but there is no room for “perfect Christians” in our church. That’s because they don’t exist this side of Heaven.
Following is an excerpt from a post in the blog of Holly Pelz (used with permission):
…I’ve gone almost my whole life feeling like a failure of a Christian. I always understood my spiritual success to be measured by an unspoken set of rules, and if I did ABCD, I’d be considered a good Christian.
I knew everything about how to appear Godly — how to act, how to worship, pray, respond with “God” answers, etc. I wanted to fit in with the Christian community, but somehow never felt good enough. Eventually, this false me took over completely and I lived in it fully, deceiving even myself at times.
In this existence, I always experienced a significant amount of spiritual envy. I looked at the people around me, wondering what the secret was, how they could be experiencing God so intimately. And I lived with fear. Fear that people might see right through me.
And now ... I’m done. The façade of “everything being great, I’ve got it together, I’m a really spiritual person, etc” is exhausting. For the first time in my life, I believe I’m experiencing freedom in Christ, freedom from guilt and freedom in who I am. ... My time with God might be a little unconventional, I might go through phases where I feel like an inconsistent mess, and I WILL make mistakes — but it’s okay. I’m okay.
At church (and with church friends), more than any other place, we need to be real and seek authenticity in others. If people are putting you on a pedestal, you only have one way to go: down. If you are admiring or idolizing some “spiritual giant” you will surely be disappointed.
says, “But godliness with contentment is great gain.” (NIV)
As we open our lives up and let God’s light shine on it for others to see, they will be more inclined to reciprocate. Timothys will ask for guidance and Pauls will freely offer wisdom as Christ-centered friendships emerge.
Mistakes and failings make us "experts” in helping others avoid the same pitfalls. Only then does the Lord see us as genuinely seeking holiness. That is the measure of real faith and the beginning of spiritual freedom.
Copyright © Diane Markins. Used by permission.
Who would imagine that a football game could be a profound reminder of a need for prayer? On September 29th (2008) the New York Jets destroyed my Arizona Cardinals. But that’s not newsworthy. In fact, based on quite a bit of history, a Cardinals loss wasn’t terribly unexpected earlier this season.
The attention-getting play of the game happened with only 27 seconds remaining when Anquan Boldin tried to catch a pass from Kurt Warner in the end zone. He was hit hard from behind. Then, an instant later took a head-on, helmet-to-helmet hit from Jets’ safety Eric Smith. They both went down and while Smith was stunned, Boldin was unconscious.
The wonderful and amazing thing about watching this happen was the transformation of a crowd. They morphed from ardent fans of one team to concerned human beings for a fallen athlete. Everyone was on their feet and watching quietly to see if this man would get up — on the field, or ever again.
Even more astounding was the instant transformation of the players on both teams. Men who had been vigorously competing against each other only moments before were talking in hushed tones and embracing.
Then, as millions watched on TV, an enormous huddle formed and dozens of large, tough football players went down on their knees, an uneven integration of team colors. Warner, the Cardinals’ quarterback, was near the center leading this group of humble stars in a prayer for their injured brother. Team leadership was never more clearly demonstrated than in that instant.
OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) says,
“Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing.” (NIV)
Warner clearly followed this principle and others followed as they put their competitive natures second to being unified in prayer.
Boldin has no long-term injuries. All’s well that end’s well, right?
Sure, but the outcome could have just as easily been much worse. Just another reminder of how tenuous life is ... for all of us, not just football players and fighter pilots.
I hope Boldin is deeply aware of this and lives the rest of his life with outward evidence of an attitude of gratitude. None of us fully knows how near we’ve been to life-altering circumstances and how many times we’ve been spared. Do you think about it? Are you grateful each day and express that to the One who protects, directs and adores you?
I also hope that Boldin (and his teammates) appreciate the strong, servant-leader they have at their helm. If I ever find myself knocked flat on my back, I know there are members of my team of loved ones who will ask everyone to huddle up, take a knee and do the only thing they can: pray. In front of God and everyone else watching.
“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” (NIV)
Are there people in your life praying for you each day? If not, seek them out. Don’t miss this “powerful and effective” blessing God has promised.
Copyright © 2008 Diane Markins. Used with permission.
