Laura Diehl, Author at GPS Hope Page

July 3, 2015 by Laura Diehl Leave a Comment

Is Independence Always a Good Thing?

Do you like to celebrate birthdays? I sure do. The fourth of July is when we get to celebrate the birthday of our country, the United States of America. On that day many towns have carnivals, and it ends with fireworks. It is a day we celebrate becoming independent as a nation.

What does “independent” mean? It means we don’t depend on or need anyone for anything. And that spirit of independence can easily creep its way into how we live. But is that how God wants us to live? No, it isn’t. God wants us to depend on Him for everything we need. I am not talking about things like how as kids you need to depend on your parents for food, or clothes, or getting you to school, or those kinds of things.

I’m talking about the attitude we can get which pushes people away and says, “I can do this by myself. Go away!” God created us to need each other, and He created us to need Him. Second Peter 1:3 tells us, “For as you know him better, he will give you, through his great power, everything you need for living a truly good life.” The more you get to know Jesus, the more of His power He gives you to be able to live an awesome life.

So make sure as you grow up and learn to become independent, you do it God’s way and not man’s way. Ask the Holy Spirit inside of you to warn you, any time you start thinking you are too independent to need others or God, so you can have all the power you need to live the life God put you here on earth to live.

July 1, 2015 by Laura Diehl Leave a Comment

The Hidden Beauty of Fractals

Fractals? The first time I heard of this word was in the book The Shack, by William P. Young. I had no idea what it meant. Since then, I have come to not only know the meaning in my head, but to understand its deep implications in my heart.

So what exactly is a fractal? I really can’t tell you. I am a very simple minded person, and it seems unless you are a scientist or a mathematician (and I am neither one of those) the definition is hard to grasp.

We all know if we need information in today’s world, we Google it. So here is some of what I found for definitions of the word fractal.

$fractal6$ “Any of various extremely irregular curves or shapes for which any suitably chosen part is similar in shape to a given larger or smaller part when magnified or reduced to the same size.” (Merriam-Webster)

“An object whose parts, at infinitely many levels of magnification, appear geometrically similar to the whole. Fractals are useful in modeling structures (such as eroded coastlines or snowflakes) in which similar patterns recur at progressively smaller scales, and in describing partly random or chaotic phenomena such as crystal growth, fluid turbulence, and galaxy formation.” (Yahoo Dictionary)

So are you like me, and have to read the definitions slowly, and think about what you are reading? (If you want to pursue the definition further, you can find a whole slew of similar definitions by going here. thefreedictionary.com/fractal)

But I did find one definition that seemed to use more simple terms I could understand.

“A fractal is a natural phenomenon or a mathematical set that $fractal8$ exhibits a repeating pattern that displays at every scale.” (Thank you, Wikipedia.)

So, putting all of this together, my understanding is that a fractal is a pattern which looks similar as a whole, but when examined at a deeper level, each piece is actually unique.

That brings me to something I have always enjoyed.

$fractal3$ From the time I was a little girl, I am easily mesmerized by kaleidoscopes. I just love them, and have continued to buy them, even as an adult. Imagine my thrill when I discovered there are actually videos of these images set to music! (The Splendor of Color Kaleidoscope)

One day while watching one of these videos, I asked God why I love kaleidoscopes so much. He so graciously shared these seven things with me.

All the broken pieces are made into something exquisitely beautiful
Constant change doesn’t have to be something bad to dread, but something wonderful if I have the eyes to see it
The patterns created are limitless, just like He is limitless in my life
The external movement of force creates the internal movement of beauty
It causes me to pause from whatever I am in the middle of, and just rest in the beauty of what is in front of me
The changing swirling colors are a way on earth to have a representation of the beauty of the colors in heaven
If I do my part, I am rewarded with the beauty of the kaleidoscope doing what it was made to do

Sounds kind of like a fractal to me; irregular pieces coming together to make a beautiful pattern for others to enjoy.

It also sounds a lot like my life. No wonder I love kaleidoscopes and fractals.

How about you? Do you see yourself as a bunch of broken pieces God is using to turn into a beautiful fractal?

And by the way, those who know me well, know that I am very naive and childlike when it comes to the “ways of the world”. Some people (including Christians) believe that is a bad thing in today’s world. I am thankful to be pure and innocent in so many areas most people are not. I say this, because I was quite surprised to read below the kaleidoscope video that it is used mostly to enhance the experience of those on drugs. I have no problem taking what was meant for the kingdom of darkness and bringing it into the Kingdom of Light!

June 24, 2015 by Laura Diehl 2 Comments

Has This Valuable Part of You Been Stolen?

With the death of a child comes a numbing and a fog that can go on for a long time. I am talking years. I have experienced this personally with the death of our oldest daughter, Becca, who left this earth in October 2011. The further away from that date I get, the more often the fog lifts for longer periods of time, and there is more clarity and feeling like I can truly breathe and live again. It’s almost like living as though the world is in black and white, and gradually the color is returning, sometimes stronger than other times.

As I began the journey of fully launching Crown of Glory Ministries, for quite some time it was something I had to make myself do. I knew without a doubt I was called to do this, and it was actually bringing fulfillment in the sense that I knew I was walking on a brand-new path God had placed me on for my life.

However, part of this new path is very bittersweet because it was forged through the death of my daughter.

One morning in my personal rendezvous time with the King, I realized there was an inner excitement stirring in me I had not felt for a very long time. I realized it was because of the content I was creating, and the photographs I was taking to go along with the content.

For as long as I can remember, I love to share what is in my heart and the things God has spoken to me and shown me. I love to write about it, I love to talk about it, and I love to find ways that are visual to show it.

Putting all of these elements together in this ministry was stirring something in me. I realized the reason I was feeling alive and vibrant again was because I was doing something that had been stolen from me; my creativity. And now I was getting it back. I was creating again.

This gave me the revelation that I am a creator. It is something I love to do, that I have a passion for. Here are just a few examples:

I learned how to sew in 4-H and have made some pretty amazing clothes over the years
I also learned how to knit; one year I knit Easter outfits for my 4 children at the time
I got into the stamping craze and loved creating pages that would match the pictures
I love to write songs and wrote my first one at 3 years old
I still like to color and have been known to buy myself coloring books and crayons as an adult

God is the ultimate and original Creator. And if He lives inside of you and me, then we all have the ability to create.

I believe it goes beyond just the ability, but we have both a longing and a calling to create. But too often, the people around us discourage us in so many different ways. We are told things like we need to “grow up”, and we have to “be more practical”, until we are convinced we could never do what is in our heart; what we were longing to create.

What is something you used to want to create?

Oil paintings?
Build engines?
Write a book of poems?
Put together awesome train tracks and sets?
Make difficult kites?
Build forts with Legos?
Take photos of nature?
Balloon animals?

God brings life from death. If your dreams have died, He can resurrect them. He can put you on a path that will lead you back to that place of creativity. He can take what you loved creating many years ago, and plug it into something with that same creative base to it, allowing His creative Spirit to flow through you as a creator.

I am called to help people find their kingdom identity while living here on earth, and yet I am still discovering so many things about myself. As I have said many times, this Kingdom walk is a process.

Yes, I am a creator. That is part of my kingdom identity. And it has taken me over 50 years to realize that.

How about you? What did God put inside of you that makes you a creator? (Either something you already do, or something that has been quenched, which you are now going to begin to pursue?)

June 17, 2015 by Laura Diehl Leave a Comment

God’s Faithfulness on Display in Your Life

Most of us are very familiar with the story of Moses leading the Israelites to cross the Red Sea. But how often have we stopped to actually read it, including the part where God led them to this place on purpose? He led them to a place where they would be trapped, and then He Himself stirred up their enemies to come after them! Say what?

Gods Faithfulness on Display

Then the Lord gave these instructions to Moses: ‘”Order the Israelites to turn back and camp by Pi-hahiroth between Migdol and the sea. Camp there along the shore, across from Baal-zephon.Then Pharaoh will think, ‘The Israelites are confused. They are trapped in the wilderness!’ And once again I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will chase after you. Exodus 14:1-3 (NLT)

What kind of a good God would do that? The kind who wanted to put His faithfulness and glory on display by obliterating the enemy right before their eyes.

I have planned this in order to display my glory through Pharaoh and his whole army. After this the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord!” So the Israelites camped there as they were told. Exodus 14:4 (NLT) (Emphasis mine.)

This was exactly God’s plan. To bring them to a place where he could prove how trustworthy He is, while at the same time totally destroying the enemy of their past, so their past would not continue to pursue them.

Did you catch that? God had delivered them from Egypt. God had delivered them from their bondage of the past 400 years. And he wanted them to know their past bondage was destroyed and could never take hold of them again.

Let’s look at verse 13. Moses spoke to the people: Don’t be afraid. Stand firm and watch God do his work of salvation for you today. Take a good look at the Egyptians today for you’re never going to see them again. (MSG)

God purposely led them to a place where he could bring a feet in shackles full and complete deliverance to them through something miraculous. They could not deliver themselves. The only way forward was to have God step in and destroy the enemy pursuing them, in order to keep them from going back into the bondage of their past – a place God had just miraculously delivered them from.

God gave the deliverance, but he told Moses what to do to bring that about. Moses was told to stretch out his hands over the sea, and God would cause the waters to open for them. This is exactly what happened. And when they crossed over, God lifted the barrier, allowing the Egyptians to follow them in hot pursuit, Moses was told again to stretch out his hand over the sea, and this time the waters closed, right on the Egyptian army. (By the way, while the Egyptians were in pursuit, God also made it very difficult for them by doing things like causing their chariot wheels to fall off. God was looking out for his people as they were escaping from their enemies. He is so awesome like that!)

Have you ever thought about what it was like to be one of the Israelites at that time? Just take a minute and put you and your family in that situation. You are in a group of well over 1 million people. You have just gone through being released as a slave, the only life you have ever known. You witnessed miracle after miracle which caused your release to freedom.

The people who held you as slaves are now giving you gifts of gold and fine jewelry before heading out. Now all of you are leaving Egypt, heading out into a desert. There is a cloud you are following during the day, and at night it turns into a great big pillar of fire. That cloud leads you to a huge sea, and word comes the Egyptians are now chasing after you, but there is nowhere for you or your family to go. You watch that cloud go from in front of your huge group to the back, stationing itself as a wall between you and the enemy. You are in a panic wondering how long will keep them away from you.

parting of the sea Suddenly you feel a huge wind coming, and the sea begins to part right before your eyes. All night the wind blows until there is an actual path going through the sea with a wall of water on each side. You grab your family and head through to the other side with the other million people as quickly as you can. As you get to the other side you hear the rumbling of the Egyptian army coming after you. Panic begins to grip you. At that moment, the wind stops, and those huge walls of water come crashing down on the enemy before any of them can reach you.

What would your rejoicing look like? Would you dance? Would you sing and celebrate? Of course you would! That must have been an incredible celebration to be a part of; over one million people witnessing this miraculous event together, a permanent deliverance from the bondage of their past.

God has a way to set you free from the bondages of your own past. Sometimes it may look like you are in a place where there is no way out. But it just might be God has brought you to this place specifically to put His faithfulness on display, and obliterate the grip the enemy has on you, right before your eyes. I am not talking about any specific person (or people) God would destroy. I am talking about God totally destroying the impact of your past, so it will not continue to pursue you and harass you. Not the natural consequences (although He may in His sovereign grace decide to do that) but to free you from the bondage of destruction in your life that has been there for weeks, months, years, or maybe even your entire lifetime, from your past.

But you have to follow His instructions. We know God told Moses to lift his hands over the waters. Is there something God is asking you to do? Do it, and then you can go on to verse 14 which reads, The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace. (NKJV)

Stretch out your hands to God right now. Speak your deliverance in the name of Jesus. And then listen to his voice inside of you, giving you further instruction. He will tell you what He wants you to do. Do your part, and God will follow through with His, setting you free once and for all from the enemy of your past pursuing you.

Use the comment section below to declare your freedom from the bondages of your past.

June 10, 2015 by Laura Diehl Leave a Comment

Are You Hoping for a Change?

I recently stayed at a hotel with my husband. He had to go away on a business trip, and I decided to tag along to have a nice quiet week to myself to get some book writing done.

The first night when we checked in and got to the door of our room, we heard little kids in the room right next to us. The next morning at breakfast we discovered it was a family of seven in that room. (I know exactly what that is like, having raised five children.)
Are you hoping for a change_
I went to the front desk to let someone know, even though the room next to us has five very well-behaved children, I might be asking to change rooms since I was there specifically for a quiet atmosphere to get some writing done.

As soon as my husband left for his business meetings that first morning, a crane pulled up to my third floor hotel window. True story! It was loud, and the diesel fumes were getting to me. A few minutes later there was some terrible banging and slamming on the roof, directly above my head, sounding like the workers were going to come right through the ceiling! So not only did I have a family with five kids next to me, I now had a noisy crane outside my window and this horrendous banging noise directly above me!

I found myself thinking, “It would be a real hassle and cut into my morning to have to pack myself and Dave up and move us to another room. Do I just hope this isn’t going to last very long? Do I hope the kids next door are gone most of the day, and if they are not gone that they are basically quiet? What do I do?”

I asked the Lord for wisdom, and felt led to go and talk to someone at the front desk. The woman there was very apologetic and said she would find me a different room right away. So I packed us up and moved us to the middle floor on the other side of the building, where it was nice and quiet and I could focus totally on my work. Ahhhhh…..

How often does something like this happen to us? Not just as an external situation, but often as an internal dilemma. We find ourselves in a situation we didn’t plan to be in. Do we make some changes to get back on track? Or do we stay put, hoping the situation changes? Most of the time it is much easier not to be inconvenienced, and hope for things to change.

I could have stayed in that room and continued hoping (for who knows how long) that things would quiet down, so I could do what I specifically went there to do. Even though I was inconvenienced for about an hour by going down to the desk, packing up the room, moving all of our stuff over, and unpacking it all again, from that point on I was back on track. It was worth the inconvenience of making the change.

gear shift How about you? Is there something going on in your life, that if you just made an inconvenient adjustment, things would get back on track? God wants you to push through. James 1:4 says, “Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything”(NIV). God wants you and me to have perseverance, which is a sign of spiritual maturity. Sometimes that perseverance means to stick it out where we are, and sometimes it means we need to inconvenience ourselves to shift our position. And when we pray, asking for His wisdom, He promises to give it to us. (James 1:5)

I was so thankful God gave me the prompting He did when I asked Him what to do, and that I followed through with it. I got a lot done those few days, things that will bear eternal fruit. I pray you will also make the adjustments God reveals to you to make; adjustments that will bear eternal fruit as well.

What area in your life are you seeking wisdom from God that might need a repositioning? Share it with me in the comment section below.