The Masterpiece Coach - Diane's Blog

Time

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 20:02:20 GMT

Your body is fearfully and wonderfully made, crafted by the Master Creator to carry you through this journey on earth.

As a Whole Woman of God, I believe it's important to take an inventory of ourselves and discover where we can grow and be more who God intended us to be.

As I write this email, it’s almost Mid-March and I find myself asking, “how did we get to March so fast?”

I remember seeing posts on Facebook with people complaining about the cold and wishing for spring, and here it is almost here.

You know, time moves on. You can't save it; you can't invest in it; you can't have more of it.

It’s something that isn’t easy to explain, and if we’re honest, it’s not easy to measure.

Yet, every day we find ourselves setting alarms for reminders.

I’ll set a 10-minute reminder for my tea.

I’ll set a timer to check the washer to put the clothes in the dryer and then one to get the clothes out (we haven’t figured out how to get it buzz – it just stops and has a soft beep ☺)

And even though we know we don’t get more of it; many people are living their lives as though they have all the time in the world and will never die.

This reality check brings me to something I've been contemplating lately: the importance of caring for our bodies.

Not just for vanity's sake, but as an act of stewardship for the precious temple God has entrusted to each of us.

What would happen if you decided to take time to care for your physical body?

Doing so can allow you to live a longer, healthier life with a vibrant mind and a body that is capable of fulfilling your purpose.

When you neglect your health, you can often find yourself unable to serve in the ways you were called to, limited by preventable conditions or early fatigue.

As a health and wellness coach, I’ve learned that there is more to caring for your body than just picking a diet and hoping you have the willpower to stick to it.

I’ve been working with another coach and together we are digging more into the mindset surrounding food and habits and thoughts about eating.

To help you now, here are five ways you can honor God by caring for your amazing body He created in His image:

Practice intentional movement : Find ways to move your body that bring you joy, not punishment. Walking in nature, dancing around the house, or playing with your children all celebrate the gift of mobility while strengthening the body God designed.
Nourish wisely : Consider food as fuel for kingdom work. Choose options that provide lasting energy rather than quick fixes that leave you depleted. Remember that caring about what you eat isn't vanity—it's good stewardship.
Embrace true rest : Quality sleep and moments of stillness aren't luxuries—they're required for renewal. Jesus himself withdrew to rest; shouldn't we follow His example?
Manage stress through prayer : When anxiety rises, take it to the Lord before it manifests into physical symptoms. A peaceful heart contributes to a healthy body, and casting your cares on Him is both spiritually and physically restorative.
Cultivate joy and gratitude : A merry heart does good like medicine! Find reasons to laugh, give thanks, and celebrate the gift of life. Gratitude transforms our perspective on health from burden to blessing.

Your body is fearfully and wonderfully made, crafted by the Master Creator to carry you through this journey on earth.

By treating your Masterpiece with reverence and care, you honor the One who knit you together and you show your gratitude for His handiwork.

I invite you to use your time wisely by investing in habits that strengthen your vessel, allowing you to serve with vigor and joy for as many days as you are given.

Spinning Backwards

Mon, 30 Dec 2024 20:50:39 GMT

Progress isn't always a straight line

As we step into the new year, I invite you to reflect on an unexpected truth: sometimes, progress comes from what feels like moving backward.

This morning during spin class, it felt like that - my instructor challenged us to spin backwards—something I would prefer not to do, because the bike doesn’t calculate distance, which made it feel stagnant. However, I knew the hidden benefits this unconventional exercise offered. And, I knew I could add a mile or so to my total at the end, spinning backwards, though it might seem counterproductive, actually targets muscles that are often left unused. The work on the legs and glutes, areas we often overlook, highlighted the subtle yet essential progress we’re making, even when it feels like we’re going nowhere. It’s a reminder that forward motion isn’t the only measure of growth.

As I thought about this while spinning backwards, it took me to a deeper level of understanding. In life, as in spin class, sometimes it’s crucial to embrace the unusual paths. The invaluable lessons lie not only in the destination but in the journey, however unconventional and directionless it may appear. I encourage you to embrace the process and appreciate the subtle changes and growth that occur when you feel you’re spinning backwards.

Trust, and remember that every step, even if perceived as a step back, contributes to your personal strength and development. In the end, progress isn’t always a straight line. Sometimes the most rewarding milestones are achieved on the path less traveled. Harness the unexpected, and let it guide you to new strengths and perspectives.

I Can See Clearly Now

Thu, 19 Aug 2021 14:33:54 GMT

I can see clearly now...

When you read the title of this post, did you begin to sing the song?

For some reason, I used to have an aversion to cleaning windows . Maybe it goes back to being a kid and having to clean windows as one of my chores. I honestly don’t know.

I do know that Ken & I invested in the nice flip down windows that are supposed to make window cleaning easy and energy efficient. However, one of the first times I tried to flip one of the windows down, I messed it up and had a hard time getting it back in place.

Because of that, I’d put off cleaning windows. Until I could no longer stand looking out the window in my office.

My desk sits in the back 1/3 of my office and the window is in front of me across the room. As I coach, as I write – as I do anything at my desk, I can look out the window at any time. And each time I looked, I thought, I really need to clean that window.

It meant moving a table and a few things off the windowsill. Maybe that was stopping me. I know I would tell myself; I’ll get to that when I’m not so busy – my work is more important than a dirty window.

So, I decided to treat the dirty window as one of my daily tasks. I wrote in my planner on a specific day and time when I would clean that window! I’m grinning as I write this thinking, I scheduled a time to clean the window; yet that’s how I knew I would get it done.

What about you? Do you have things you have been putting off – procrastination has set in?

Or maybe there’s something from your past that stops you. I have an aversion to pulling weeds, too; but that’s another story.

So, the task is scheduled. Guess what, phone calls came in, new (more important) appointments were scheduled. Things I thought were more important got in the way and the window didn’t get cleaned at the appointed time.

Does this happen to you? You tell yourself you are going to do something; you even schedule a time for it and then you let the more important things get in the way.

For me, it was the thought, I’ll get to it - it’s not that important.

However, it was that important. The most important thing was that I had not kept the date with myself to clean the window. You might think, “Really Diane, not keeping the appointed time to clean the window wasn’t that big of a deal.”

Yet it was. Keeping commitments to myself is that important. As I write this, I think about how Steven Covey taught the 4 quadrants: Important/Urgent; Important/Not Urgent; Not Important/Urgent; Not Important/Not Urgent. Which category did cleaning my window go in?

That depends on the importance I put on it. Perhaps you would put it in the not important/not urgent category. It’s obvious that’s where I’ve had it. However, because it was bugging me, it became important/not urgent. And I proved that when I allowed the scheduled time to pass, and I didn’t clean the window.

Think about this with me. Isn’t it amazing how our brains work? This dirty window became something that was cluttering my thoughts. It became a distraction because every time I looked up from my desk, I saw the dirty window and I would say to myself, “you really need to clean that window.” And yet, I would tell myself I didn’t have time and I would get to it soon. And even when I had scheduled it, I let other things get in the way.

I could have closed the blinds – that’s like closing the door to a room you know needs to be cleaned. Your eyes might not see it; however, it’s still there and your mind knows every time you walk by the room that it needs to be cleaned! And closing the blinds meant I would miss the sunshine coming in through the windows (even if they were dirty.

Again, isn’t it amazing how our brains work!!

I’ll ask you again, what thing do you know you want done, yet you allow other things to get in the way and now the thing that you want done is still waiting to be done? Procrastination (which I’ve heard is a sign of perfection!!)

There’s good news about the window. I cleaned it the day after I had scheduled to clean it. I was determined I was going to get it done. And I cleaned the window in the French door in my office, the windows in the living room, the French doors to the deck, the window in the front door and the window in the kitchen. My husband even started helping me.

On a side note, a couple of days later, I noticed because of the way the sun was shining, that there was a big spot I’d missed – it wasn’t as clean as I thought it was. Instead of thinking it didn’t matter and I’ll get to it, I grabbed the cloth and in just a few seconds, it was clean.

It felt so good to have clean windows, to get this job done and to know my flip down windows are easy to do.

I can see clearly now – out my windows and more clearly at how I look at things.

Isn’t it amazing how our brain works?

Isn’t it amazing that a simple task like cleaning windows turned into a distraction in my work, caused me to think more clearly and now I get to share these thoughts with you?

What do you need to see more clearly?

If you have things you have allowed to clutter your mind or procrastination happening in your life, contact me and let’s talk and see how coaching can serve you and help you see more clearly.

I believe in you and I believe in your dreams and desires,

Diane Burton

Coach, Author, Speaker

Climbing the Rock Wall

Thu, 12 Aug 2021 13:00:06 GMT

I wanted to get to the top and ring the bell!

November 3-6, 2007, Ken, and I got to go on our first cruise with others from a Direct Sales company I’m associated with.

When I first shared the opportunity to go, he was not excited. However, within an hour of being on the cruise ship, he decided he liked cruising and wanted to be sure we did it again.

One afternoon we got to go to Coco Cay Island and walk on the beach, lay in a hammock, eat lunch – truly relax and enjoy the beauty of God’s world.

After we got back to the ship, I wanted to go to Deck #12, the top deck, to watch as we left Coco Cay and headed back to Port Canaveral.

When we got to the top deck, I was reminded that the rock-climbing wall was there. I watched as some of my friends climbed and I knew I wanted to climb (I had told Ken the night before I wanted to do it.)

I wanted to get to the top and ring the bell!

I decided to go check it out and find out what it would take. I found out you had to wear socks – I had on sandals!

I went back to sit down, disappointed. I didn’t know if I wanted to take the time to go from deck #12 to deck #2 to get socks.

Along came Donna, one of my unit members, who also wanted to climb, but had on sandals.

However, another friend was close by and loaned Donna his socks, who then loaned them to me.

Donna climbed first. As I watched, I knew I could climb that wall, after all, I’d been exercising, lifting weights, and participating in spin class.

As I waited my turn, I wasn’t scared, however, I did question my sanity. Who did I think I was about to climb a rock wall at the age of 54, on the top deck of a cruise ship that was taking off at the very time I was climbing?

The doubts and fears that sabotaged me for so many years were creeping back in.

Fortunately, I knew if I didn’t do it, I would be filled with regret. This might be the only chance I’d get to prove to myself I could do this. I believed it was now or never. I wanted to ring that bell at the top!

The young lady that signed me up was so encouraging and even helped me with the ropes for the climb, getting the harness around my waist and legs and a helmet on my head.

As I think about this young lady, I realize how important it is to have encouragers in our life – people cheering us on. And sometimes we even need those who will help us with the ropes, getting us harnessed in and a helmet on to make those life hits we will have a bit easier to handle.

This young lady became my instructor. She suggested I focus on the yellow rocks (there were more of them) and to use my legs to push up, not my arms.

As I approached the wall, I again questioned my sanity. “Could I do it?”

I wasn’t about to back out – too many people watching and encouraging me. Plus, I knew I had to do this for me! I wanted to ring that bell at the top!

I realized I needed a win – something others might think I couldn’t do.

I needed a challenge to prove to myself I could do what most people will never try to do, never want to try to do, or what others might want to do but wouldn’t try!

Before I went up, I wondered if I would look down. I was standing by the son of one of my friends, who just happened to be a pro at rock climbing. He told me that since I exercised, I wouldn’t have a problem getting to the top of the rock wall.

He said I could look down if I wanted to; however, he said the best thing would be to focus on my goal – the next rock – the next step – where I want to put my hands and feet.

As I started up the wall, I was excited and apprehensive – yet I was going to do this!

I was going to the top to ring that bell!

I got started – that wasn’t bad – although I wasn’t even sure I could pull myself up. “Whew, I did it!”

Ok, another step – push with my legs – don’t pull with my arms – stay focused on what I’m to do next.

I’m making it.

I’m hearing my instructor tell me:

“Put your left foot up.”

“Put your right foot over where your left foot is and move your left foot over.”

As I’m going up the wall, I could feel the rope tighten. My instructor on the other end made sure I was secure.

When I was about halfway up, I looked up. It looked so far to the top – so far to that bell!

I was tired.

“I’m not going to quit. Ok, get focused on the next rock – the next step – ringing that bell.

I’m getting there. I can see the bell within reach, but how do I get my left hand up to that next rock so I can ring the bell???

Stop, focus. Where are my feet?

They’re secure.

Hang on with my right hand.

Move the left hand to the top rock.

Grab hold.

I’m secure.

I can ring the bell!!"

I reach out, grab the rope, and ring that bell!

Oh, what an exhilarating, empowering experience!

I did it!!

As you can see I had a picture of me ringing the bell framed. It hangs in my office as a reminder that I can!

What about you, what’s something you are wanting to achieve?

Have you decided you can’t do it?

Have you questioned yourself and become apprehensive?

Contact me and let’s talk about how you can make your dreams/goals/desires come true.

I believe in you and I believe in your dreams and your desires.

Diane Burton - Coach, Author, Speaker

Trade-offs

Thu, 05 Aug 2021 18:31:30 GMT

Trade-offs

I recently facilitated a mastermind on the Law of Trade-Offs from John Maxwell’s book, The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth.

What a powerful lesson!

As I read and studied, I thought about all the trade-offs I have made in my life, especially over the past 50 years since starting my weight-release journey.

Every single trade-off comes from making a decision - sometimes it’s a good decision, sometimes it isn’t.

Before I started my weight-loss journey, my trade-offs were bad decisions. I was trading my health, for food.

In January 1971, I made a decision to make better choices on my trade-offs.

I decided to trade in the foods that caused me to be overweight so I could lose weight and be healthy.

Was it easy? No!!!

Yet, because I had made the decision, I was ready to commit.

I traded chips for veggies. I traded burgers and sandwiches for tuna… and more tuna… and more tuna. Remember, I said it wasn’t easy!

I traded chips and bread for…hmmm…there was no trade-off. I chose to quit eating them.

Why am I sharing all this? To show you that some trade-offs are a sacrifice. Yet, because I was willing to sacrifice, I released the weight my Sr. year in high school and have kept if off for 50 years!!

But that wasn’t the end of the trade-offs.

Even though I was making good trade-offs surrounding the foods I ate, I was making bad trade-offs emotionally.

You see, I was bullied all those years for being overweight.

I heard bullying words for so many years that I thought that’s who I was – ugly, fat and stupid.

I didn’t know how to let it go until 40 years later when a coach helped me discover what I had done.

I’d been making bad trade-offs every day by believing a lie and living it.

I’d been making trade-offs with the bullying words I continued to say to myself – even though the bullying words from others had stopped when I lost the weight.

Through coaching, I discovered I can make a trade-off from bullying words to kind, loving words. I discovered I did not have to allow what others said to me to define me.

Can you relate to any of this?

Have you been making good or bad trade-offs in your life?

What if you could stop the bad trade-offs?

What if there was a way to make good trade-offs?

There is.

The answer is found in your thoughts and words and you can begin today by reframing how you think and talk.

There are many tools available; however, I discovered I wanted someone to walk beside me to show me where I was tripping myself up with disempowering thoughts and words.

If that’s you, I’d be honored to walk beside you on the journey to good trade-offs.

Contact me and let’s connect.

Let’s talk and see what we can discover together will be the best path for you.

The Could Haves and Should Haves

Wed, 21 Jul 2021 12:08:22 GMT

July 17, 2021 was National Toss Away the "Could Haves" and "Should Haves" Day.

Did you know that when you talk about the "could haves" and "should haves" in your life, you are speaking disempowering words to yourself? And the words you speak matter.

For me, I had so many “could haves” and “should haves” surrounding my weight loss (release) journey.

I could and should have started the weight loss program many years before I did.

I could and should have listened to the people who were showing concern.

I definitely could and should have stopped replaying the bullying words that were said to me when I was young – something that lasted for 40 years!

The list could go on and on! Yet, it’s disempowering and only causes regret and stressful feelings.

And, to make it worse, the vicious cycle would start again with “you shouldn’t haves” when I ate foods that I knew could cause weight gain and I knew were unhealthy.

I’ll be honest, it was awful!

What if instead, you focus on what you did do that was good.

Once I made the decision to lose the weight, there was no reason to focus on the past (although, I didn’t know that at the time, and I let the negatives of my past control my future.)

Fortunately, I had a coach come into my life that was a catalyst for me and helped me realize how I had held on to the “could haves” and “should haves.”

What about you?

What “could haves” and “should haves” are you holding onto that are keeping you from having the life you dream of?

What was or is holding you back from doing what you "could" or "should" have done?

As you think about this, what if you make a commitment to step into your strengths and talents and use them the next time you are given an opportunity instead of having the regret of "could have" or "should have."

Let me know your "could haves" and "should haves" you have learned from and how you have overcome and used it to grow you and your business.

If you are struggling with the “could haves” and “should haves” in your life and would like someone to walk beside you and be a catalyst for you, contact me and let's have a discovery session to see how coaching can serve you.

How Do You Satisfy That Empty Feeling?

Sat, 06 Mar 2021 18:55:46 GMT

Do you ever have an empty feeling? A feeling of not being fulfilled?

How do you satisfy that empty feeling?

For some, they go after more in their career. I will be honest, I did this over and over - if I just reach another level in my career then I'll feel fulfilled.

For others, they reach for food to comfort them, thinking that's all it will take. Be honest, have you done that? Maybe sit and eat something sweet (especially chocolate ) while you try to figure out why you're feeling empty?

Maybe you choose to go shopping - yes, some new clothes will make you feel better (and it can feel good to have new clothes and then you get tired of wearing them.)

As humans, we search for fulfillment with fleshly desires.

What if, the next time you are feeling empty/unfulfilled, you satisfy your cravings with spending time with God?

He's the only one who can satisfy the craving.

He's the only one who can fulfill your hunger and thirst - Matthew 5:6, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled (satisfied)."

The devil will make you think otherwise - he will continue to entice you with fame, fortune, food, clothes, a new house, etc, etc, etc. And, he will make sure you feel fulfilled (a false fulfillment) - that dopamine rush will come and it feels so good. It soon wears off and off you go trying to get that feeling of fulfillment again. It's a vicious cycle!

Stop listening to the lies of satan (John 8:44 - he is a liar and the father of lies.)

Listen instead to the Word of God. Only He can fill you when you are empty.

Here are additional verses for further study:

Ephesians 1:23; 3:19

Philippians 1:11

Isaiah 6:3

Psalm 33:5

Habakkuk 2:14

As always, I am here for you! Whether you struggle with feeling empty, needing a work/home life balance, want to improve your health, or want to be a better leader at work and home - I am here for you. Click Personal Coaching with Diane below to connect.

Grateful in ALL

Mon, 08 Feb 2021 18:41:19 GMT

God wants us to be 100% grateful.

When reading your bible, do you notice how The word "all" is used so much! When I read the word "all", I know that God wants me to give 100% to what it says.

As many of you know, my theme scripture in 2020 was 1 Thessalonians 5:18 where Paul tells us to be grateful in ALL our circumstances for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus.

God wants us to be 100% grateful. He doesn't say we can pick and choose the circumstance we want to be grateful for.

As I was reading my bible this morning, another "all" stood out (actually, several "all's" - I'll focus on one this morning and get the others tomorrow )

Ephesians 6:16 tells us "In ALL circumstances take up the shield of faith.." There's that word "circumstances" again.

Now I understand why we are to ask God to increase our faith.

We're to be grateful in ALL circumstances and we're to have faith in ALL circumstances.

Did you grasp that? Gratitude AND Faith in every single thing going on in our life!!

I know many of you are struggling with some tough stuff in your life right now. How's your gratitude and faith towards the tough stuff?

If it's not an "ALL", then pray and ask God to increase your gratitude and faith. Pray and ask for His help to have gratitude and faith.

Look at what the rest of Ephesian 6:16 says when you take up the shield of faith in all circumstances, "...with which you can extinguish ALL the flaming darts of the evil one (the devil!)"

The devil is going to do everything in his power to discourage you and to cause you to doubt God. He's going to make you think God doesn't care. He's going to do his best to turn you away from gratitude and faith.

If you are having some doubts and discouragement, I plead with you to pray and study and pray more. God knows you are struggling and He wants you to turn to Him so He can give you the peace and comfort that only He can give - 2 Corinthians 1:3,4

Reach out to someone you trust who will encourage you in your faith and will pray with you.

I care and I'm here for you.

Gratitude and faith in ALL circumstances. It is possible to make it happen. God would not ask you to do it if it weren't.

Sin That Trips Us Up

Mon, 08 Feb 2021 18:16:10 GMT

God tells us to let go of the sin that trips us up.

What sin so easily trips you up? Do you know?

As I read Hebrews 12:1 this morning, I asked myself that question and I prayed and asked God to show me.

I journaled this scripture this morning using first person and I invite you to do the same. I have found reading the scripture in first person takes on a whole new meaning. It truly makes it "personal."

"Since I am surrounded by a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, I will strip off every weight that slows me down, especially the sin that so easily trips me up..." Hebrews 12:1 NLT

Huge crowd of witnesses or so great a cloud of witnesses.

Visualize being in a stadium and you are in the middle of the field and all around you are those who have gone before us.

They are encouraging you. They are warning you. They are letting you know that when you put God first and obey, it will be worth it.

They are telling you to let go of every sin that slows you down - the ESV says the sins that cling so closely. (Do you know what sins these are?)

And, they are telling you to especially let go of the sin that besets you - that trips you up. (Do you know what sin that is?)

And, then in the last part of verse 1, they tell you to "run with endurance the race God has set before you."

"...I will run with endurance the race God has set before me."

It is going to take everything you've got to run this race and your cloud of witnesses is telling you to do it. They want you to know it will be worth it!

And, they would tell you that the way to get that endurance is to study - really study God's Word.

They will tell you to pray - a lot - without ceasing. And, talk to God first about everything.

They will tell you to to mount up with wings as eagles - Isaiah 40:31. (you are an eagle, not a chicken.)

And, they will tell you that God has given you a spirit of power, love and self-control (2 Timothy 1:7.) In other words, you can let go of the sin that trips you up. You can endure. You can and you will, because God is your Father and He loves you more than you can ever know and He wants you to spend eternity with you.

If you would like me to coach you through identifying sins that trip you up and letting go of those, please reach out. I am here to help! Have a Blessed Day

How Are You Approaching Your Day?

Mon, 11 Jan 2021 23:40:07 GMT

How are you approaching your day - your life?

"He (Jesus) disarmed the rulers and authorities (demonic) and put them to open shame (shamed them publicly) by triumphing over them in Him (His victory over them on the cross.") Colossians 2:15

How are you approaching your day - your life?

Do you approach it as a victorious day (life)? Or do you approach it feeling defeated?

Yes, some days are tougher than others and Satan does his best to make you think he's the winner.

As I was thinking about how I wanted to approach this scripture, I thought of a ball game.

A game where the losing team was so humiliated by how huge the score was for the winning team. Jesus' victory on the cross would be like a ball team winning 2 million (& even more) to nothing!

And, it would be as though the losing team thinks they are in overtime and they keep playing! And, the fans for the losing team stay in the bleachers watching. They just know their team can still come back and win.

Satan is the coach and so while his team is on the field thinking they can still win, he's out recruiting people to join them. The more people on the team. the better chance they have at coming back to win (remember, he doesn't play fair, so he'll put as many players on the team as he wants!)

And, he's going to do whatever it takes to recruit people from the winning team to come and play with his team!!!! He's going to promise them lots of money and nice homes and nice cars. Oh, and he'll promise they won't get hurt and it will be an easy game to win. He's going to promise an easy life.

And, the fans are in the stands cheering them on.

I know this all sounds so ridiculous; however, do you ever feel like you're on the losing team because life isn't going the way you wanted it to or you're struggling with 'stuff' and maybe it's time to just do things my way (or maybe that's what you've been doing and you're on a hamster wheel going nowhere)?

Remember, Jesus has already won. The truth is, we must remember this and run to Him when the trials and tribulations of this worldly life come.

You must fill your heart and mind with the Word of God daily to remind you that Jesus did win.

You must hand over every trial and tribulation you face to Jesus. He wants and is willing to carry your burden. If we didn't have the trials and tribulations in our life, we would never see the need for God/Jesus. It's possible you would find yourself with the losing team - how scary is that?

Talk to God about what's going on in your life. Ask Him for help. Put on your armor every day so you are protected against the devil.

Rejoice in the trials - James 1:2,3 - it's what will grow your faith and your endurance.

We are in a race on this earth. The wonderful thing, there will be more than one winner. However, to win, you must stay in the race on Jesus' team.

And when you grow tired (and you will), lean on God/Jesus and lean on your Christian family.

And, when you are strong (and you will be), reach out a hand to the one who is tired and weary. Help them before Satan makes them think he has what it takes to be strong.

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5,6

If you enjoyed this, please share it with a friend through the social media links below. Do you need help steering yourself in the right direction, the direction of the winning team? Make an appointment below by clicking the Personal Coaching with Diane link and we'll connect. Have a blessed day!

Whispers of Gossip

Thu, 19 Nov 2020 15:44:31 GMT

The words of a whisper...

"The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they do down into the inner parts of the body." ESV
"Rumors are dainty morsels that sink deep into one's heart." NLT (New Living Translation)
"Listening to gossip is like eating cheap candy; do you really want junk like that in your belly?" The Message

What comes to your mind as you read these 3 versions of this verse?

I felt sad thinking about gossip I've heard over the years. Think about it - those words go deep into your heart.

Those words can cause anxiety/stress which can cause disease. The ESV says it goes into the inner parts of the body. Sinking deep into one's heart means it gets into the mind.

When you hear gossip about someone, how do you then feel about that person? Or, if you gossip about someone, what does that do to your heart, your mind? Do you really want junk like that in your heart and mind? I do not. It's important to stop the person who is talking and tell them you don't want to hear it. And, think about the negative talk that has gone on during the recent presidential election - wow - talk about negative stuff getting in our hearts! It's why I choose not to watch the news. I had not watched news in many years and then watched during the election. It didn't take long until I realized I didn't want to hear what was being said - such negativity!

I invite you to really take this verse to heart and to be very careful what you listen to and what you say. And, even if you don't speak it to someone, if you have the thoughts, that also does damage to the heart/mind. Pray about it. Search your heart as to why you feel the way you do about that person. What is it in you that is causing those feelings? Is there a jealousy, an envy, have they hurt you in some way? It's so important to forgive them and forgive yourself. Release it and hand it over to God. The devil will do what he can to bring it back up - keep talking to God about it. Pray for that person - this has been one of the best ways for me to let go of hurt feelings, etc.

Proverbs 18:21:

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits."
"The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences." NLT
"Words kill, words give life; they're either poison or fruit - you choose." The Message

I invite you to choose wisely.

Cast Your Cares On Him

Thu, 22 Oct 2020 16:43:43 GMT

Cast Your Cares On Him...

The following scripture was written over 2000 years ago by Peter to Christians, who were going through worse persecutions than we have ever seen and I pray we never have to live through.

Yet, if we do, will you lay all your worries and anxieties at the feet of Jesus?

1 Peter 5:7-11

"Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares for you.

Stay alert! Watch out! Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone he can devour.

Stand firm in your faith against him, knowing your brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering as you.

After you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace. who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen and establish you.

To Him be the dominion/power for ever and ever. Amen."

Are you anxious now because of an election or other things in your life? If so, give all that worry to God.

When you worry over "things", it only causes them to grow and become worse in your mind than they are.

Are you standing firm in your faith now against the devil? If not, he is so happy to have hold of you.

Living the life of a Christian will have suffering and persecution - do you stand firm or do you feel like it isn't fair?

Do you whine and complain if things don't go your way?

Remember the persecution of the early Christians.

Remember the persecution and suffering of Jesus - and we have the audacity to whine, complain and worry?

I invite you to be an example to others by standing firm, by showing your faith instead of fear.

Verse 10 and 11 tell me I/we have nothing to fear.

Hand it all over to God - He's the only one who can take care of whatever it is you are anxious and concerned about.

Sometimes we need a little help taking action in the right direction regarding our anxieties and fears. I've been there. I can help you take those steps through personal coaching. Click the link below to get started with your first session.

Are you a "Runner"?

Sat, 17 Oct 2020 12:55:13 GMT

Jonah, the runner...

God said, "Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it..., but Jonah ran away from the Lord." Jonah 1:1-3

The people of Nineveh were evil and God wanted Jonah to preach to them with the hopes of them repenting.

Jonah didn't want that to happen. He knew how evil they were and he wanted them to suffer for being evil. He knew how compassionate God can be and that if they repented, He would forgive them, which is what happened - Jonah 4:1-4

Jonah was so filled with anger toward God because He forgave such evil people.

God teaches Jonah a lesson in 4:5-11 and yet, Jonah still said he was angry enough to die (4:9).

The account of Jonah is one that causes me to really dig deep and think. Wouldn't Jonah be happy that the people of Nineveh repented and turned back to God?

I wonder how many Christians are "runners" - running from their responsibility to teach about Christ?

I wonder if there are those who have so much hate towards those who are evil and denounce God that they would be upset if they repented and because of God's compassion, He forgives them?

It's something for us to pay attention to. In our world where people are so free to speak hate against someone, could their hearts become like Jonah's? I believe they can and I believe some are already there.

I invite you to look at your heart to be sure it's not like Jonah.

I invite you to be a different kind of runner. Instead of running from God when He has an assignment for you, that you run as fast as you can to Him and take on that assignment - whatever it is.

We have much work to do for Him - be willing to do it. He will give you the courage to do it - run to Him with a willing heart.

If you have obstacles to overcome - within yourself, emotionally, spiritually and also physically - coaching is a tool that can help you pull yourself up and be your best self so you can take on God's assignments and live your life like He intended.

Click Personal Coaching with Diane below to get started.

Her Cup Runneth Over

Fri, 21 Aug 2020 04:38:54 GMT

God always provides more than enough.

"Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you - pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back." Luke 6:38 NLT

I say amen to this verse. I stand in Awe of how our heavenly Father gives back to me more than I could ever imagine ��

God always provides more than enough.

There were times when our children were little that I didn't know how we would make it to the end of the week - God always provided.

I remember a time when our son had been in the hospital because of his asthma. We had to get a prescription filled. I remember telling Ken there might not be money left to purchase groceries (we had health insurance; however, not the best prescription coverage.)

There was very little left in the bank account after getting the prescription; however, God provided and we were taken care of.

A friend once told me that a family member encouraged her to cut back on her weekly contribution to God when she was going through a divorce, a move and looking for a job. She said no. She would do without something else before she left God out. This person has been blessed - God has pressed down, shaken together and her cup runneth over.

I have a feeling you could share stories of how God took care of you. Feel free to share in the comments. Always, always, He provides.

It's important for us to remember everything we have belongs to Him. He has loaned it to us. How are using it? How are we taking care of His gift?

In the OT the Israelites were commanded to tithe. Today, we are told to give as we have been prospered. If you multiplied what you give each week to God by 10, could you live on it? If not, you are not giving enough! I believe 10% is a starting point. I invite you to give more.

God tells His people in Malachi 3:10 to put Him to the test. Test Him to see if "He will open the windows of heaven for you and pour down a blessing until there is no more need."

It's important to know this giving from God isn't only about money. It's for all areas of our life.

Think of the times you have done a kindness for someone - something that didn't cost money or cost very little. I can assure you the blessings from God for that flowed to you.

When we send love and kindness to others, it will come back to us.

I invite you to pay close attention to how God is blessing you and the kindnesses coming your way.

And, give because you want to - not because God says He will bless you - it must be done with a cheerful, giving heart.

I pray your day is filled with blessings pouring into your lap.

Photo by Vladimer Shioshvili via flickr

To The Class of 2020

Tue, 12 May 2020 05:00:00 GMT

Wow, I am so proud of you!

To the Class of 2020,

It is absolutely possible to make your senior year the best year of your life.

The problem is, someone began telling you a story, a lie; that because you don't get to walk your graduation and you are missing other activities, that it was going to be the worst year of your life.

What I know to be true is you have a choice.

You can choose to make this the best year of your life.

You can choose to focus on what you don't have or what you do have.

You can choose to waste the pain of the things you're missing out on, or you can choose to find the lessons, blessings and gifts in this situation.

One of the gifts I'm seeing for so many seniors are people reaching out. There are fun songs and videos recorded. Many of you have your pictures lining the road to your high school or put in your yard. So many are sending you extra love, care and encouragement. So many have gone the extra mile just for you.

Emotions

Thu, 02 Apr 2020 05:00:00 GMT

How someone feels - it is real and no one can ever know exactly how you feel or how I feel.

Emotions - they are real.

How someone feels - it is real and no one can ever know exactly how you feel or how I feel.

As a Certified Grief Coach, I see/hear so many different emotions. Many times people feel guilty if they aren't having an emotion they thought they "should" have. I ask questions and guide them to realizing the emotions they are having are the emotions they're supposed to have at that time.

When my mother was dying of cancer, I had people tell me I would have certain emotions - one of which was anger. I thought, I don't have anger now, and I don't want anger afterwards. I shared that with my sister and she said, "you better not be angry about this." �� I assured her I wouldn't be.

As I thought about people telling me the kind of emotions I would have, I realized how dangerous it is to tell people they will go through certain emotions during any kind of trial and tribulation.

Instead, what if you ask someone how they are feeling? Ask them what they are thinking. Ask them for the emotions they are having.

Personally, I don't want someone telling me I will be angry, depressed, have guilt, or any other emotion. Allow me to have the emotions I want to have.

What if I want to have an emotion of relief because my mother was no longer suffering? What if I want to have an emotion of joy because she lived many years and she was looking forward to going to heaven? Was I sad? Absolutely! Do I miss her? There are days I so wish I could to talk to her, have lunch with her, shop with her.

Do you realize that when you tell someone they will have certain emotions, it gets planted in the mind and then if they don't have that emotion, that's when the guilt can come because they think they are grieving incorrectly.

After the tornado hit Cookeville, TN, I was numb for a couple of days (we lived there 15 years and so this really touched my heart.) I paid attention to my feelings and prayed and journaled about. I know there are, and will continue to be so many emotions for the people of TN; yet, it's important we don't tell them what they will go through, it's important to allow them to have their own emotions, giving them guidance and support.

As we are now on the journey with COVID-19, it's important to pay attention to your own emotions. How are you feeling? Do you have someone to talk to?

Please don't tell someone they will feel a certain way! God made every one of us differently and so how I deal with my emotions during this is going to be different than anyone else and how you deal with it will be different than anyone else.

If you want to cry, then cry.

If you want to share funny stories and laugh, then laugh.

If you feel depression, , etc, please notice it, journal about it, pray about it and talk to someone.

Emotions are real - they are God-given. If they are emotions such as anger, depression, guilt, etc, please talk to someone and release instead of stuffing down inside. That's like trying to hold down a beach ball under water - eventually it will be released and explode out.

Even in times that seem so difficult, God tells us to be thankful in all circumstances, for this is His will in Christ Jesus for you (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

He has given us a spirit of power, love and self-control (2 Timothy 1:7)

He has given us love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22,23).

What if we choose to focus on those emotions by finding the lessons, blessings and gifts in everything? This is the desire of my heart and I pray it is for you, too.

Yes, emotions are real. You get to choose how you feel - now that is a blessing and a gift ❤️

A Burden I Willingly Carry

Thu, 08 Aug 2019 05:00:00 GMT

Because I care about you, I’m going to be very honest and vulnerable.

Recently, I was studying from the book of Habakkuk. As I read about the book from my study bible, it said that “oracle” in Habakkuk 1:1 translates a common word for “burden.” The writer shared that once God gave a message to His prophets, it became a “burden”, until the prophet was allowed to share the message. He would be burdened with waiting for God’s time.

And, the prophets were also burdened, because, as you read and study God’s Word, the majority of the people refused to listen to the message. This caused a heavy heart for them, knowing it was a simple thing for them to do to save them. All they had to do was turn from their sinful ways and obey God.

As I read and studied, a thought came about different messages I have shared over the years – sometimes people are very receptive and sometimes they refuse to listen.

One of those messages is taking care of yourself physically to be your best spiritually. It’s a message of fueling your body with the real food God put on this earth. It’s a message of hope for those who are suffering from illness – both physical and emotional.

It’s a message that because it’s so simple, maybe people won’t or don’t believe it.

It’s a message that means taking responsibility for yourselves.

It’s a message the majority of people don’t hear from their doctor. And, if their doctor says the pill will take care of the illness, then why change the food going into the body?

Because I care about you, I’m going to be very honest and vulnerable. I choose to feel the burden of a heavy heart on a daily basis as I read about people begging for prayer for God to heal them. I feel the burden of a heavy heart as I hear prayer requests in our worship services.

I want to stand up and shout the good news that there’s hope when changes are made to what is put into the body. I know this to be true because I’ve seen it happen. Research proves it.

I also feel a burden because I know there are so many, because they are sick and/or dying, who aren’t going to get to do for God what they want to do. So many pray for healing because they want to keep working for the Lord, yet, now they can’t due to illness. Yes, we are all terminal; however, could we do more for the Lord if we took better care of ourselves? And, would we be better examples for the Lord when we show self-control in how we fuel our bodies?

Even though I am “burdened” with this message, I wait patiently for the right time to share with anyone who will listen. It’s not a burden I dislike, it’s a beautiful burden to carry. I pray about it, giving the burden to the Lord and asking Him for wisdom in how to share with others about taking care of their beautiful Masterpiece. I know He will put the right people in my path. I hope you are one of them.

What are you “burdened” with? Do you have a message you want to share with the world? I encourage you to keep sharing – the right people will hear.

If this post touched your heart, or you know of someone who would benefit from it, please reach out to me via www.coachdianeburton.com and share it with your friends.

You can also email me at coachdiane@themastersmasterpiece.com

How To Go From Bullied To Bold - TEDxHarding

Sat, 30 Mar 2019 05:00:00 GMT

Bullied – a word that is spoken a lot in our society. And, for good reason. It is very real!

Were you ever bullied as a child? I was. I used to call it being “made fun of”; however, it was bullying, because it was degrading and hurtful.

I was bullied because I was the fat girl. And, even though I lost the weight in 1971, my Senior year in high school, I didn’t release those degrading, bullying words others had said.

After several years of keeping the weight off, I began to dream of sharing my story of hope for others who haven’t been able to keep the weight off. Or, so I thought.

In 2011, after discovering how I had held on to my past of being bullied, I began to realize that the real part of my story to share was how I had released something very toxic.

Recently, November 2013, I had the honor and privilege to be one of the presenters of a TEDx at Harding University, Searcy, AR.

In this video, “How to Go from Bullied to Bold”, you will find out what the toxic “something” was that I released. Because of this release, I am now able to fulfill my dream of giving hope for others.

Watch now so you can find out what this “something” was.

Diane Burton

The Masterpiece Coach

PS – I have a goal to have 1,000,000 or more views in the next 2 years or sooner. I have a ways to go – as of the writing of this e-mail, I’m getting close to 1,000 - and your viewing gets me closer to the goal of 1,000,000. Please share the link on your social media to help me get the word out about being bullied.

Welcome To Your New Path

Tue, 29 Jan 2019 06:00:00 GMT

Happy New Year!

In thinking about a quote a coach shared with me, "There is nothing familiar in a new path," I thought about how a brand new year is an unfamiliar path.

The quote also caused me to think about how God knows what is on the path and it's up to us to put total trust in Him as we walk our new path each day. ��

A friend gave me a Jesus Calling 2019 calendar as a gift.

The quote on January: "I will not show you what is on the road ahead, but I will thoroughly equip you for the journey. My living presence is your companion each step of the way." Trust for the unfamiliar path. ��

The quote for March: "The one who goes ahead of you, opening up the way, is the same one who stays close and never lets go of your hand." Peace for the unfamiliar path.��

As you step into 2019, have the courage to step into the unfamiliar path (many call it stepping out of their comfort zone - I like unfamiliar path better) ��

I'm so excited about the unfamiliar paths God has in store for me and you in 2019.

I also know that for 2019 and as long as I live, He will go before me and you to help when there are thorns and brush and spider webs and pot holes in the way.

I know He will hold my hand and yours the whole way as we clear those thorns, etc., and as we celebrate the victories. Isaiah 43:2

2 When you pass through the waters,

I will be with you;

and when you pass through the rivers,

they will not sweep over you.

When you walk through the fire,

you will not be burned;

the flames will not set you ablaze.

And, I know He will be behind me and you to catch us when we stumble or fall and will be there to pick us back up.

Yes, unfamiliar paths can be scary; however, I know God is teaching us to trust and that's what I'm choosing to do - will you also choose to trust? His mercy and grace are abundant. Philippians 4:19

19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

️I pray you have the courage to step into your why and your passion and mission. You are the only one who can step into what God has planned for your life.

I pray you take God as your partner in everything you do and daily ask Him for wisdom. ��

I love and appreciate you ��❤

Satan, Hiding In Plain Sight

Tue, 29 Jan 2019 06:00:00 GMT

We might believe he will never jump out and surprise us. But, he does!!

Do you pray and ask God to open your eyes to Satan's hiding places? I can't say that I've ever prayed that prayer; however, I will now.

As Christians, I believe we see Satan more than others. We might think we know his hiding places.

We might believe he will never jump out and surprise us. But, he does!!

We must remember he is a snake. He is slithering along and just waiting to bite and spread his venom. When bitten by a normal snake, we feel it. When bitten by the snake Satan, we most times don't even realize the venom is going through our bodies. It might be a day, a week or years before we realize what has happened.

This is why we must be on guard - we can't afford to get comfortable

We must protect ourselves and the only way, is to put on the whole armor of God.

Ephesians 6:10-20

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.

11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.

16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;

17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,

18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel,

20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

This is our only defense. Paul is writing this to Christians. People who believe Jesus is the Christ and have had their sins washed away through baptism. The blood of Christ saves us.

The devil is going to be doing everything he can to find our weak spot. He's going to know if we aren't covered in the armor of God. He appears to be getting sneakier and sneakier.

However, he is just as evil now as he was in the Garden of Eden when Eve chose sin over God. He knows what he is doing - he chips away a little at a time and then with one last tap, he can make things come crumbling down.

Visualize a foundation with a crack. It's OK, it's only a crack. And, over time the crack gets bigger; yet, we don't see it until it's too late and the house falls down because we didn't think the crack mattered.I can hear myself asking, "when did the crack get so big? The last time I looked, it was just a small crack." This is how Satan works! He is subtle!

I am making a commitment to pay attention to the cracks in my life. Will you join me? And, I'm praying for God to open my eyes to those cracks.

Even though we know the devil lost his battle the day Jesus died on the cross, he is still fighting.

He wants all humanity to lose with him and that's why he does the evil he does, using humans to do the dirty work.

He can't stand it that he's already lost, so, he's going to take as many with him on the losing side as he possibly can.

I'm on the winning side and I'm committed to bringing others to Christ so they can be on the winning side.

Please pray for me as I stand against the devil, as I will pray for you. The devil is seeking those he can devour. He hates anyone who loves God & Jesus.

Satan is subtle and he is powerful; however, he is weak compared to our AWESOME God.

If you don't have your armor on, please, get it on now. It's your only defense against the evil one.

Mirror Stories

Fri, 07 Dec 2018 06:00:00 GMT

What Could Your Mirror Tell My Mirror?

On November 13, 2018, I was blessed with the opportunity to be a TEDx presenter at Harding University. The title is, “How to Go from Bullied to Bold” , and it’s available on YouTube .

One of the things I shared in my TEDx presentation, was how I used to bully myself when I looked in the mirror. I’ve had others tell me they bullied themselves in the mirror, too; and I realized it could be quite interesting what my mirror could tell your mirror or vice-versa.

In my last blog post, I shared how the words we say to ourselves will destroy our health. If you haven’t read it, I encourage you to click here for that post.

After you read what my mirror could tell you, I’d like for you to share in the comments what your mirror could tell me or what stood out as you read.

As the fat girl who was made fun of, laughed at and bullied, I didn’t like the person I saw in the mirror. Oh, the stories my mirror could tell your mirror!

I didn’t like my size.

I didn’t like my hair.

I didn’t like my homemade, instead of store-bought, clothes. I was too fat for store bought.

I didn’t like my grades – why would I, I wasn’t smart

I didn’t like, didn’t like, didn’t like.

I didn’t like me!

I didn’t like my life.

The list could go on and on.

Oh, I also didn’t sing pretty enough to be in the chorus.

I didn’t have the body to be cheerleader.

I was too fat to be asked out on a date.

I was told I was pretty, and just imagine what I would look like if I lost the weight!

I was an embarrassment to my family.

WOW – the things I used to say/think to myself as I looked in the mirror.

Oh, the stories my mirror could tell your mirror. It would be embarrassing!

And, of course they didn’t stop once I left the mirror. I bullied myself so well, I then believed it all day long. And, the things I told myself in the mirror that were false, became true. Proverbs 23:7 “as a man thinketh so is he.”

What stories could your mirror tell my mirror? Would you be embarrassed?

Were you always kind or were you a bully to yourself when you looked in the mirror?

What is it about looking for the bad instead of the good when we look in the mirror?

I remember someone asking me if I saw something on her face. I told her no. She told me she saw it that morning when she looked in the magnifying mirror. What!!?

Have I/we become so vain that we even pull out the magnifying mirror to find our flaws?

Do we really believe the world is using a magnifying glass looking for our inadequacies?

I know I was so focused on the approval of others, I pretended at times to be someone I wasn’t. I so wanted the approval of others, that I forgot the most important thing was the approval of God.

I lost the weight my Senior year in High School. However, the negative talk to my mirror didn’t quit. I still saw the fat girl. I still thought I wasn’t smart enough or good enough.

Fortunately, through coaching, I realized what I was doing, and the mirror talk began to change. I began to choose gratitude over criticism. I began to look for the beauty in the mirror instead of flaws.

Now, my mirror would tell your mirror a love story.

If she begins to see a flaw, she views it as part of who she is and is grateful and smiles.

My mirror would now tell you:

I am smart.

I am pretty.

I am a beautiful, wonderful child of God.

I am made in His image.

I am good enough.

I make good choices.

I love my gray, spikey hair.

I love who I get to be.

I love the lessons, blessings and gifts I have learned and continue to learn.

I am a success.

I am achieving my dreams.

I am God’s Masterpiece.

And, that is enough.

What stories would your mirror tell my mirror? Please share in the comments.

How The Words You Say To Your Mirror Are Destroying Your Health! - 3 Ways To Stop the Destruction

Tue, 27 Nov 2018 06:00:00 GMT

How can the words I say to the mirror be destroying my health?

How can the words I say to the mirror be destroying my health? They are only words and I’m not really speaking them out loud. I’m just thinking them when I look in the mirror.

Mirror thoughts. Can they really be destructive?

There’s nothing wrong with mirror thoughts. I’m just thinking to myself that I have straight, thin hair; my teeth aren’t white enough; those clothes aren’t becoming to me; that others are smarter than me; that I really don’t believe I can achieve my dreams and goals, etc., etc.

How could that destroy my health? That’s ridiculous.

Proverbs 23:7 says, “As a man thinketh in his heart (mind), so is he.” Ok, so I’m thinking/saying I’m not the prettiest, smartest or best. What does that have to do with my heart (mind) or my health?

Have you ever paid attention to your posture when you have those thoughts? Did you walk away from the mirror feeling good or bad about yourself? Did you walk away with the thought, I will just keep trying, although I know it won’t do any good?

When you have those thoughts and that attitude, it plays havoc on your immune system! Does it bring peace or stress to your life? If you said stress, you have hurt your immune system.

I once heard a doctor say a negative word (thought) is more dangerous than a germ.

When you have those thoughts, do you smile as much as you normally would? Do you have the pep in your step you normally would? Or, have you been critical for so long, you don’t remember what your normal smile and pep in your step would be like?

Here are 3 ways to Stop the Destruction:

1) Stop Looking! But wait, I have to look in the mirror to see how to do my hair, to put make-up on, to be sure my clothes look ok, etc. Yes, all this is true. However, you can stop looking for all the flaws! You can stop looking for things to criticize.

I was queen of looking for flaws! I was so critical of my body, my brain and my abilities. Then, one day I realized what I was doing to myself. I had to stop looking.

2) Start Looking! What? You just told me to stop looking! Yes, stop looking for things to criticize and start looking for the things to compliment. Start showing gratitude. Do you have eyes to see with? Do you have teeth to chew your food with? What do you have that someone else doesn’t have or wishes they had? Are you breathing? Then you have life!

When I started looking, I began to realize how blessed I was. I began to really look at the person I saw in the mirror. I looked past the physical and began to focus on the emotional and spiritual. I began to see God’s masterpiece and to realize my flaws are what made me unique and special. They make me who I am.

3) Speak Only Kindness. Literally speak out loud and say, “I love you” and speak your name. Then say thank you for all you have – even that amazing brain that gets to think and make choices. What if you say thank you to God for creating your amazing body? Have you thought about how amazing your breath is? How amazing your lungs are? How amazing the blood flowing through your body is? You truly are “a masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus for good works” Ephesians 2:10.

When I began to speak love to myself, I felt energized and bold. I had that pep in my step. I began to dwell on what Philippians 4:8 tells us to dwell on: things that are true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy.

I also began to focus my mind on the things above as we are told in Colossians 3:2.

2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

Would you be willing to Stop Looking and Start Looking and Speak Only Kindness?

By doing so, you will be choosing better health.

Mirror Thoughts. They really do make a difference.

Do you see yourself in this article? If so, I’d be honored to have a 30-minute Discovery Call with you. You can schedule below.

Time Management?

Sat, 22 Sep 2018 05:00:00 GMT

No one can put more time in the day or take any time out of it.

I was recently asked to share about Time Management. As I began to think about this topic, I realized I would be approaching it in a different way than probably expected. And, those of you who know me are saying, "so what's new, Diane".

When I look at the phrase "Time Management" my first thought is that time can't be managed. We can schedule, we can set timers, set boundaries, etc.; however, I believe we can't manage time.

No one can put more time in the day or take any time out of it.

So, that being said, when I hear the phrase Time Management, I know it means to use it wisely. As I've heard in the direct sales world, "work smarter, not harder."

In Ecclesiastes 9:10, we are told that whatever our hands find to do, to do it with all our might! That tells me that whatever I'm doing, do it to the very best of my ability.

Nothing is said about how long it will take - just do it to our very best. I've found there are times when I think I can get something done in a certain time frame and schedule it that way, and yet, many times it takes longer. Did I mismanage my time? I don't believe I did.

What if it took less time to do what I had scheduled? Is that mismanaging my time? You are probably saying, "Diane, what a silly question."

Is it possible that when we "mismanage" our time, that the thing we didn't do was either not a priority or we just really never planned to do it even though it was on our list?

I have things on my task list that when I put them there I had good intentions of doing them. When it came time to do it, I chose something else to do. Have any of you been there? I remember a lady telling me she would go clean her garage rather than balance her checkbook.

How many of you have put things off until you can no longer put them off and you have to do it? Did you see my hand go up? Yes, guilty.

It has to do with using our time wisely. It has to do with working smarter and not harder. It has to do with what's most important to us and is it a priority?

One thing that helps me is to make my list in my planner and then when I do the task, I mark through it with a green highlighter. Ken came in my office one day and saw all the green for the week. He said, "wow, look at what you've done."

I have to admit I really like looking at the green highlight in my planner. And, there are some things I don't want to be left undone and even now I have some things on my list that I'm wondering why I put them there.

What's interesting, is that so many times the very thing I'm not doing would have only taken a few minutes!! So, go after it, do it with all your might, and then just imagine how great you will feel once you have it accomplished. This step is a part of Feast2Live Emotionally.

So, how do we handle "time management"? I invite you to do whatever you're doing with all your might, use your time wisely, and work smarter, not harder.

And, if you choose to not do something on your list, then be kind to yourself knowing you made that choice. If there are consequences because you chose not to do it, then make a note of that to remember what can happen when you don't do what you said you will do.

Let's all go out and Feast2Live ��

Have a blessed day!

-Diane Burton, The Masterpiece Coach

My Eyes Waste Away With Grief

Mon, 30 Jul 2018 05:00:00 GMT

Have you ever sobbed so hard, your head hurt? I have.

Psalm 31:9 "Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eye is wasted from grief; my soul and my body also."

Have you ever felt this way? I know I have. Have you ever sobbed so hard, your head hurt? I have. When a former college roommate died in May 2011, I sat and sobbed at her funeral to the point the pressure in my head was painful. I don't know why I was so overcome with grief (my eyes are tearing up as I write this); because she was a faithful Christian and I know I'll see her again in heaven.

A month after my friend died, we found out my mom was dying of colon cancer. Once again, my eyes wasted from grief; however, right after the doctor told her she was dying, she sat straight up in bed, wiped the tears from her eyes and said, "I don't know why I'm crying, I have a mansion waiting for me." I didn't shed a lot of tears over the next 5 1/2 weeks, until the hospice nurse told me it would be 24 hours or less. I sobbed again for a few minutes, wiped my eyes and knew my mom had a mansion waiting for her. (OK, so, I'm tearing up again as I write this.)

Psalm 34 is a lament for a faithful person seeking help from God who is worn out with trouble and beset by enemies who want to do him harm. Even though David said his eyes, body and soul were wasted away with grief, let's look at what he says in Psalm 34:1-7.

Psalm 34:1–5

English Standard Version

1 I will bless the Lord pat all times;

his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord;

let the humble hear and be glad.

3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me,

and let us exalt his name together!

4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me

and delivered me from all my fears.

5 Those who look to him are radiant,

and their faces shall never be ashamed.

6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him

and saved him out of all his troubles.

7 The angel of the Lord encamps

around those who fear him, and delivers them.

Notice how David first gives God the praise for being his rock and fortress. He says he takes refuge in God - what a great example for us. Anytime we are overcome with grief, trials, tribulations, what a great scripture for us to remember.

God gave us tears for a reason. I've been told they are cleansing for the soul. It's so important for us to grieve the best way we know to grieve. I shed a lot of tears after my mom died (especially during worship service - the songs brought them on.) They were tears of both grief and joy. Grief that I wouldn't get to call her, stay with her, shop with her, have Thanksgiving with her - the things that were special to me. And, yet, they were tears of joy. Joy of the promise in Revelation 14:13, "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Blessed indeed," says the spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them". For me, that brings tears of joy for her and for all faithful Christians. My mother was a true servant of the Lord. Here's what I wrote about her in the dedication for my book.

As you ponder these thoughts, I pray that when you are overcome with grief in your life, that you will remember this Psalm of David. Even though he felt wasted from grief, he knew God was his refuge, his rock and his fortress. What a beautiful blessing!

P.S. When I started writing this post, I honestly didn't know the direction it would go. What's interesting, is that as I wrote about my mom, it dawned on me that the 7th anniversary of her death will be August 3.

Thank you for reading and allowing me to share my heart.

Do You Have Two Faces?

Sun, 29 Jul 2018 05:00:00 GMT

Do you have two faces? One for the world and one hidden deep inside telling you lies?

In a recent post I asked if lying to ourselves was a sin. After making that post, I heard a peer coach, Michelle, talk about how she finally got out of her 41 year abusive relationship. What's interesting, is this wasn't someone abusing her. She was abusing herself.

WOW - her statement really got me thinking about the years and years I was in a self-abusive relationship; however, that's not what I called it. I really don't know what I called it, because, I didn't realize talking down to myself was abusive. I thought it was my way of chastising myself for messing up. Or, maybe it was my way of shaming myself for saying the wrong thing, eating the wrong foods, being late or yelling at my children or my spouse. And, I thought by talking that way, I was being a good parent to myself and hopefully wouldn't do it again. Sadly, it didn't work. It only made me feel worse and wonder if I could ever be good enough, smart enough or loving enough.

Do you know what was really going on? Satan was having a fun time discouraging me and making me feel "less than." And, I bought into it. After 11 years of being bullied as the fat girl and another 40 years of abusing myself with negative head talk, it was time to take control and let God, instead of satan, speak to me!

A song comes to mind by Lou Christie, "Two Faces Have I" . It has to do with a former girlfriend not going to see his sad face. How many of us can say we have two faces? We have one face for others and another face we keep to ourselves. We have the happy face and the sad face (which is hidden in our heart and mind.)

Oh, I was putting on the right face at worship service, around my friends, out in public, etc. However, in my head, I had another face and it was not pretty. It was telling me there was no way God could love someone like me. It was telling me there is no way I could be God's Masterpiece - Ephesians 2:10. I asked how could I possibly have anything to offer the world when I was stupid; after all, my teachers told me that and I had a lousy score on my ACT, so they must be right. WOW - so many years of believing those lies!

And, even though I know God loved me enough to send His Son to die for me, John 3:16; I was still believing the lies I was telling myself, causing me to doubt God's love. It took someone asking me questions to snap my brain into realizing what I was doing to myself - what I now call a self-abusive relationship!

What about you? Are you in a self-abusive relationship? Do you have two faces? One for the world and one hidden deep inside telling you lies? I'd be honored for you to share your thoughts.

And, if you would like to connect with me, I offer a complimentary coaching session.

Is Lying To Myself A Sin?

Fri, 27 Jul 2018 05:00:00 GMT

How many lies do I tell myself everyday?

On a recent connection call with peer coaches, our trainer shared a poem he wrote. In the poem he talked about lying to himself and the sin of this. He shared about how we treat our inner self (which I call our Emotional Immune System.)

I found myself writing a question: "How many lies do I tell myself everyday?" I shared this question with the group and then shared how lying is horrendous to God. Proverbs 12:22 says, "Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord." Proverbs 6:16 says, "There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to Him" and a lying tongue is on the list.

After asking myself the question of how many times a day do I lie to myself, I then asked if lying to myself was a sin? All my life I've been taught not to lie....to someone else. I don't remember anyone teaching me that lying to myself was wrong; because, telling myself I wasn't good enough, or pretty enough, or smart enough, or talented enough, etc. wasn't a lie anyway. Or was/is it? Does telling myself I'm not good enough, etc, just mean I have a low self-image and I just need to change? Or, am I'm deceiving myself with lies, therefore, justifying why I'm not being all God intended me to be?

As I think about this, I'm reminded of 2 Timothy 1:7 that says, "God did not give us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power (boldness) and love and self-control. So, if God didn't give us that spirit of fear and timidity, who did? Satan! And, since Satan is the one who gives us a spirit of fear and timidity, is he convincing us to lie to ourselves everyday! Lies that we're not good enough, or smart enough or talented enough, etc., and therefore, our Emotional Immune System is unhealthy!!! And, if we're lying to ourselves, are we also lying to God, telling Him we can't do what He has put us on this earth to do?

And, since God has given us a spirit of power, love & self-control, then why would we ever want to lie to ourselves about not being capable of doing what He put us on this earth to do? WOW - this is really making me take a closer look at my Emotional Immune System and what lies I've been telling myself! What about you? Has this made you think differently about what you say to yourself? Is it lying to ourselves when we choose to tell ourselves we can't - are we being deceptive, protective or lying? It's something to pray and think about.

My Mother Taught Us How To Die

Fri, 11 May 2018 05:00:00 GMT

This is the dedication I wrote in my book to my mother.

This is the dedication I wrote in my book to my mother. As I was reading posts on Facebook around Mother's Day my friends had written about their precious moms, I wanted to share this dedication. She taught me so much. I am so grateful. I pray her story inspires you and shows the importance of living your life for Christ.

Dedication to my mom from The Master's Masterpiece:

"When I was thinking about whom to dedicate my book to, the first person who came to mind was my mother, Claudia Petty. When I told my mom about training to become a Grief Coach, she was so thrilled. I actually debated about telling her for a while, because she already thought I had too many irons in the fire; however, she seemed so proud.

My mom has always encouraged me, although as a child and young teenager, I didn’t always see it as encouragement. However, as I matured as an adult, I realized she was doing what she felt was best for me. When I wanted to begin a direct sales business she and my dad loaned me the money to get started. She then was a great customer and at the age of 62 she joined my team. At the age of 65, she became a widow. Instead of feeling like her life was over, she moved to the town where my sister lived and became very involved with her new church just as she always had been: jail ministry, helping with the babies in the nursery, having the college girls over for meals, taking food to those in need, sending cards and notes to the sick and those needing encouragement, speaking at ladies events, helping teach Bible classes, taking sick people to the doctor and being a mom and grandmother. I called her the Energizer Bunny® because she was so active. At the age of 87, she was still driving and would go to another town about fifty miles away to visit and help with her older sister. She also would pick up other elderly ladies who couldn’t drive anymore and take them to church.

In June 2011, my mom wasn’t feeling well. When she shared this with me, a red flag went up. My mom never complained about being sick, so when she told me what was going on, it sounded serious. Because of her being so independent, I kept begging her to let me come make sure she was okay. (I lived 2 1/2 hours away.) She kept telling me she was okay and was supposed to go back to the doctor the next week. Three days later, on a Sunday night, she called and asked me to come so I could go with her to the doctor. I grabbed some clothes, packed quickly, and started on what was going to be a journey like I had never had before.

I arrived at her home about 11:30 p.m. and knew when I saw her something was seriously wrong. We were finally able to get her to her doctor on Monday afternoon. She was put in the hospital that evening, tests were run and the next day we were told she had cancer and the doctor helped us understand how serious it was. She and I both started to cry. Then she suddenly wiped the tears and said, “I don’t know why I’m crying, I have a mansion in heaven waiting for me.” It turned out to be colon cancer and she died 5 1/2 weeks later. She was in the hospital three weeks and at home with hospice care for 2 1/2 weeks.

My mother taught us how to die. During those 5 1/2 weeks, she never complained, even though she couldn’t have any food or water in the beginning because she couldn’t keep anything down; and only an occasional sip the last two weeks of her life. She also had surgery so the doctors could find the cancer and see if there was anything they could do. She was so brave through it all. She asked me the second day she was in the hospital to have her visitors sign her journal; she wanted to remember who came to visit her. I thought it was an odd request; however, I am so glad we did. We counted the signatures and she’d had over 600 visits. Many came several times to visit; some even came every day.

The words “she taught us how to die” were used describing her. One young man whom my mother had mentored even asked how she could be so peaceful knowing she was going to die. The nurses would come to her room to feel her peacefulness. When friends from church would come get a hug from her, she would ask different ones to take on one of her “jobs” –sending cards, picking people up, taking care of the babies, the jail ministry, etc. She was also known for helping with missionaries when they came to town, being sure they had a car to drive. She sent them e-mails and handwritten cards. While in the hospital, she received a card signed by the women she taught in her jail ministry. Her whole focus during this time was being sure others were taken care of.

After we got her home for hospice care, I asked her if it made her sad to know she was leaving us. She said at first it did; however, she was now ready to go. I can’t say it was easy to let her go; however, I know she is with God. I miss picking up the phone and talking to her while I’m getting ready for the day or while I’m traveling. She always wanted to know what her children and grandchildren were doing and their travels. She would write this information on her desk calendar and we knew she was praying for our safety and for us to make wise decisions.

"Thank you, God, for allowing Claudia to be my mother and thank you mom, for being such an amazing Christian example and for leaving a legacy. I love you!"

The following is a poem we received and fits her so well - although she wasn't anxious - she always handed it over to God.

THE WATCHER

She always learned to watch for us,

Anxious if we were late,

In winter by the window,

In summer by the gate.

And though we mocked her tenderly,

Who had such foolish care,

The long way home would seem more safe

Because she waited there.

Her thoughts were all so full of us-

She never could forget!

And so I think that where she is

She must be watching yet,

Waiting till we come home to her,

Anxious if we are late-

Watching from heaven's window,

Leaning from heaven's gate.

~Margaret Widdemer

Interview: Paula Beat Cancer With Her Fork!

Tue, 17 Apr 2018 05:00:00 GMT

I'm so excited for you to meet Paula Dirkers, a woman who beat cancer with her fork.

In this interview, Paula shares why she chose to go against the grain and move forward with alternative methods.

Whether you have cancer, another disease or want to prevent cancer, I pray Paula's story will inspire you to take the action necessary to be healthy.

Are you wondering what your next step is? Connect with Diane for a complimentary session for your personal plan.

The Devil Is Doing A Happy Dance!

Sat, 31 Mar 2018 05:00:00 GMT

Why is the devil doing a happy dance?

As I watch videos, read blogs and social media posts, my soul stirs and my heart is pierced. There is so much noise in our society telling us what we should and should not do, that I wonder if anyone is being heard?

Recently, many young people gathered in our nation's capital to speak their thoughts about gun control. After that, I saw a post on facebook saying more children die from texting and driving than from guns and so we should ban cell phones and cars, too. Really? Are we in a game to see who can one-up the other so they look wrong? No!

Can you understand these young people want to be heard? Isn't that what we all want - to be heard? Have we become so caught up in our own agenda we don't listen to others? This is one of the reasons the devil is doing a happy dance!

He loves how our country is torn and fighting. You know why? Because the focus is taken away from what's really important, which is loving the way Jesus loved. Oh, people talk about God and Jesus and pray when the tragedies happen; however, it's not long until the fighting and finger pointing begin again. It's not long until we get so caught up in our own agenda, what's right and wrong for each person, and once again we forget what's important.

In his book, The Fred Factor, Mark Sanborn shares the story of Fred, the mail carrier. Fred is like most of us - he has a job, works hard, and wants to take care of his family. Yet, Fred goes beyond the call of duty as a mail carrier. Do you know what makes Fred different from most people? He chooses to go the extra mile by saying something nice to everyone. He will also take the extra time and energy to pick up the trash can that blew in the street; encourage the mom who was having a tough time with her teenager; and, to put packages, delivered by another company, out of sight so they won't be stolen or get wet in the rain. Fred chooses to like everyone, to do what he can to make their day better and, to treat them with dignity.

In Luke 10:25-37, we read the parable of the Good Samaritan. What made him good? What is so special about him? The Good Samaritan chose to treat his neighbor, the one who fell among robbers, with dignity. He chose to go out of his way, take him to a safe place and spend his own money to be sure the injured man was taken care of. There were others who chose to ignore the injured man and walk on the other side of the road.

The Good Samaritan and Fred chose to listen with their heart. People are crying out in so many ways and want to be heard. Are you listening? Are you going the extra mile and choosing to do some very simple things for others so they feel heard?

Can you hear the man in the parable crying out in pain and asking for help, yet, some chose to walk on the other side of the road? Can you hear the people on Fred's route crying out for someone to hear their silent wish that their packages wouldn't be left in the rain, or that someone would hear their child's cry for help and give them some added guidance and support? Who are you hearing cry out, yet, you aren't listening and therefore people aren't being heard?

What if you are the only person who hears? Are you going to choose to listen and go the extra mile or choose to walk on the other side?

The devil doesn't do a happy dance when the Good Samaritan's and Fred's of this world listen and allow people to be heard. Would you be willing to treat everyone with dignity? What if all of us chose to take ourselves out of the picture and focused on loving each person for who they are and really let them be heard?

Everyone on this earth was created in the image of God. Genesis 1:26,27 "Let us make mankind in our image, after our likeness....So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them."

We are all a masterpiece of God. When we choose to not listen, to argue and fight amongst ourselves, and point the finger of wrong at each other, then we are saying God made a mistake in creating that masterpiece and the devil is doing his happy dance. Let's instead be the Good Samaritan's and Fred's of this world and choose to serve and listen so people are heard.

Are you struggling with feeling heard? Do you feel unloved by others? I invite you to schedule a complimentary session with me, The Masterpiece Coach.

I would love to speak to your ladies group? Check out my story and contact me to speak for you and your group.

You Are A Masterpiece In God's Eyes

Thu, 11 Jan 2018 06:00:00 GMT

This breakthrough brought me to my knees...

As a coach, my clients will tell me they are concerned about what others think about them. For some, it's because they believe they are overweight and don't look good in their clothes and feel judged by people when they look at them. For others, it's a fear of trying something new and being afraid others will think they look like a fool or it's a ridiculous idea. Isn't it interesting what we conjure up in our heads with stories of what others "might" be thinking about us?

I once had a coach tell me that others are so concerned about what people are thinking of them, they don't have time to be thinking about me! Now that was an eye opener! And, so true.

However, I do know I have a God who thinks about all of us all the time. And, one of the most beautiful thoughts He has is that you are His masterpiece. He created you in His image. He created you for good works in Christ Jesus - Ephesians 2:10.

The day I really, really grasped this thought, it dawned on me that I had not taken care of His masterpiece. I realized I had actually been abusive to it throughout the years. I realized how critical I had been of my body; which then brought a really big "aha" moment. Every time I was critical of my body, God's creation, His masterpiece; I was being critical of Him!

This breakthrough brought me to my knees and to digging more and more into His Word. It brought me to some of my favorite scriptures:

Psalm 139:14 "I praise you, for I are fearfully and wonderfully made." When was the last time you praised God for creating you?

Ephesians 2:10 "For we are God's masterpiece (workmanship, poem) created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." What thoughts come to mind when you realize you are His masterpiece? His poem? No one else could have created you the way God did. What a beautiful, peaceful thought.

I Samuel 16:7 "...For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." I will be honest, I want to look good physically - God gave us eyes to see. And, I truly believe that when we take care of ourselves physically, we can be our best spiritually? Yet, the first step in being our best spiritually, is to be sure our hearts are centered on God and His Son, Jesus the Christ.

I truly believe when my heart is focused on God & Jesus, I will want to take care of His gift, my body, my masterpiece, for Him. What about you? Are you taking care of your masterpiece for the right reasons? Is it only to look good, or is it because it's a gift from God?

So, every time you begin to be concerned about what other's are thinking, I invite you instead to think about how God sees you as His masterpiece and are you taking care of it for Him? When you do, what others might be thinking won't even matter.

If you haven't purchased The Master's Masterpiece Book & Journal , I encourage you to get your copy ordered today.

If you don't know my story , please take a moment to read it, so you will know why I'm so passionate about sharing with you about taking care of your beautiful masterpiece.

Am I Really God's Masterpiece?

Fri, 05 Jan 2018 06:00:00 GMT

My heart's desire is to share with you from my book...

As the new year begins, many of you reading this will have made resolutions to lose weight, exercise, eat clean, get healthy, etc. And, these are all great, wonderful resolutions. However, what is your reason for making these resolutions?

I recently heard Les Brown talk about having compelling reasons for your commitments. He recommends having 5 compelling reasons for going after your dreams, your commitments, for being a change agent and a conqueror. As I listened to him, I began to think of the compelling reasons I do the things I do and one is to get the message of being God's Masterpiece out to you and to the world.

My heart's desire is to share with you from my book, The Master's Masterpiece . The book has 10 chapters and each chapter is a question with four answers. Each week, in my Masterpiece Mindset Moments on Facebook , I will share something from one of the answers so you have something encouraging about being God's Masterpiece for 40 weeks. Since there are 52 weeks in the year, I'll incorporate some other thoughts or recipes to go along with being God's Masterpiece so you are encouraged all year long.

So, if you made New Year's resolutions, what are your compelling reasons for them? I have discovered that the compelling reasons that keep me going are the ones centered around the heart/emotions. For example, it brings joy to my heart to think the message of The Master's Masterpiece allows me to share about God's amazing creation, to serve you and to hear about your "aha's" and breakthroughs. I get so excited knowing you are releasing limiting beliefs and breaking through the things that have held you back in the past.

The title of this post is "Am I Really God's Masterpiece?" and the answer is a resounding YES! Ephesians 2:10 tells us that we are God's masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus for good works. God created you, made you unique, made you like no one else on this earth.

What do you see when you look in the mirror? Do you see flaws or a beautiful creation from God? Do you see someone you love or are you critical of the person you see?

As you begin this new year with your plans, goals and hearts desires, I pray you will include making time to read these posts so you can focus on taking care of your beautiful creation from God, your masterpiece. I also pray you will find your compelling reasons for taking care of your masterpiece.

If you would like to learn more about taking care of your masterpiece, you can schedule your personal 30 minute complimentary session with Diane here. This time will be just for you to talk with Diane, the Masterpiece Coach, and to begin to discover a strategy to guide and support you on your journey to being your best for you and for God.

What Is Emotional Clutter?

Wed, 18 Oct 2017 05:00:00 GMT

So, what is emotional clutter?

I wanted to share with you what emotional clutter is.

Some of this material I had the privilege of learning during a 40 day Joy Challenge with Tommy Newberry, author of “The 4:8 Principle.” If you haven’t read his book, I highly recommend it.

So, what is emotional clutter? It’s what Tommy Newberry calls, “RATS” – Really Awful Thoughts!

Emotional clutter are negative thoughts, and negative thoughts can be more dangerous than a germ. Here are some words that come to mind when thinking about emotional clutter:

Unforgiving

Negative Feelings

Fatigue

Fear

Frustration

Worry (trusting your fears more than God)

Resentment

Jealousy

Anger

Ungrateful

Discouragement

Disappointment

Always Sick……….The list can go on and on.

How do those words make you feel?

Did you know they are ALL the thinking of the devil!? The thoughts you have and the words you use shape the world you see.

Do you see the world as evil or God filled? If you have emotional clutter and RATS, then you are having a hard time finding God in your world. Henry David Thoreau said, “You find the world you look for.”

What kind of world are you looking for? Do you begin your day with joyous, God centered thoughts or do you dread the alarm going off and getting out of bed?

When you focus on emotional clutter, it breeds discontent, smothers your joy, keeps you from focusing on God & others, and it transforms your mind into a junk yard!!

Emotional Clutter puts more focus on your challenges and difficulties instead of your blessings. What if those challenges and difficulties were lessons from God disguised as blessings and gifts?

When I was helping take care of my 101 year-old mother-in-law, I began to have negative feelings about the time it took (about 30 hours a week) and even feeling some resentment. One day, as I was in my quiet time reading my bible, a question came to mind. It was, “God, what are the lessons you are wanting me to learn during this time?” After asking that question, I began to have peace about taking care of her and began to look for the lessons, blessings and gifts in each day with her. I won’t say it was easy taking care of her – there were some challenging moments; however, I had a better attitude and it was fun looking for those lessons, blessings and gifts.

You might say, “Diane, how can I have joy-filled thoughts when the devil is attacking me and I’m going through some really hard times? You don’t understand!”

No, I don’t understand everything you are going through. However, I know who does. Psalm 34:18 says, “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”

2 Corinthians 1:3,4 is one of the most calming, comforting, peaceful scriptures. It says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

I encourage you to look for the lessons, blessings and gifts in every situation in your life. And, keep the scripture from Psalm 34:18 and 2 Corinthians 1:3,4 on your heart so you will allow God to comfort you in all your affliction.

May your day be filled with The Maser’s Peace,

Diane Burton

The Masterpiece Coach

Basics of Nutrition: From the JP Company

Wed, 18 Oct 2017 05:00:00 GMT

This post is all about the basics, the facts, and the ingredients...

This post is all about the basics, the facts, and the ingredients your body needs to live healthily. Being a Certified Health Coach with the Dr. Sears Wellness Institute and a Juice Plus+ Franchise Partner, I have learned from amazing and knowledgeable professionals in the health industry. I'd like to share with you an article from a speech by Dr. Richard Dubois about The Basics on Nutrition. Read it with the intent of doing the best for your body, at the most basic cellular level.

If, after reading, you want to know more about the whole food lifestyle and using food to make your body work properly and even heal you, I can guide you to a healthier you! Contact me through my website, phone, Facebook or email for more information.

Healthy Recipes For The Holidays

Wed, 18 Oct 2017 05:00:00 GMT

Check out these easy, fun recipes that are good for you!

Check out these easy, fun recipes that are good for you and will also support you as you continue to eat healthy during the holidays.

Share them with family and friends. They won't believe it's healthy!

The Cauliflower Stuffing recipe will be great with your turkey instead of high-carb dressing/stuffing.

Forget Not All His Benefits

Mon, 28 Aug 2017 05:00:00 GMT

Bless the Lord, O my Soul, &forget not all His benefits.

Psalm 103, a psalm of David, has the title "Bless The LORD, O My Soul". There is a beautiful song we sing in our worship service with this title.

Psalm 103 was a part of my devotional reading recently and as I began to read, verse 2 really popped out - "Bless the Lord, O my Soul, AND forget not ALL His benefits." All His benefits? I don't remember reading this before. As I continued to read, I began to underline this list.

As I really let it sink in about all the benefits we, as God's children have, so much peace, comfort and gratitude poured over me. What a wonderful reminder this was of how Amazing our God is and how He cares so much for His children.

I pray as you read this list, that you, too, will find peace and comfort in the words of the psalmist. I also pray you will be filled with gratitude and realize why he said "forget not all His benefits."

Psalm 103:3-14

1) He forgives all your iniquities

2) He heals all your diseases

3) He redeems your life from the pit

4) He crowns you with steadfast love and mercy

5) He satisfies you with good so your youth is renewed like the eagle's

6) The Lord works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed

7) He is merciful & gracious

8) He is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love

9) He will not always chide, nor will He keep His anger forever

10) He does not deal with us according to our sins (aren't we thankful for this?)

11) He does not repay us according to our iniquities (again, so thankful for this!)

12) As high as the heavens are above the earth, so greatly is His steadfast love toward those who fear Him

13) As far as the east is from the west, so far does He remove our transgressions from us (grateful for the blood of Christ)

14) The Lord shows compassion to those who fear Him

15) He knows our frame - how we are formed (Psalm 139:13,14); from the dust (Genesis 2:7)

The psalmist then shares how our days are numbered - they are like grass; however, in verses 17-19, he shares how God's steadfast love is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him; to those who keep and remember His commandments. For He has established His throne in heaven.

And, then again, in verses 20-22, the psalmist says four times, "Bless the Lord."

Yes, Psalm 103 can be such a comforting scripture when we realize all the benefits God has for us.

I pray you forget not - that you remember all the many benefits you have as a child of God.

Bless the Lord, O My Soul.

Do You Treat Your Body as a Gift From God?

Sat, 08 Jul 2017 05:00:00 GMT

When you give a gift to someone how do you want them to accept it?

How do you want them to use it? How do you want them to treat it?

I know when I give someone a gift, I really hope they like it. I hope it puts a smile on their face and they find it useful for their life. And, when they open the gift, I want them to know I put thought into their gift, that it wasn't something thrown together because I had to give them a gift.

What about your gift from God, your body? Do you really know for a fact that it is a gift from God? If so, what does your gift do for you?

Before you answer the question, what does your gift do for you, I want you to think about gifts you have received from others and what they do or have done for you.

I've received gifts of flowers, gift cards to my favorite clothing store, pedicures, massages, cookware (I wanted), cars, bonuses in my career, time with family, restaurant gift cards, wedding gifts (41+ years ago), baby gifts (39 years ago), etc. The list of gifts over the years is endless and to be honest, I've forgotten what many of those gifts were; however, at the time, it put a smile on my face and made me feel special to think someone took their time and money to purchase something for me.

Now, I want you to think about your gift from God, your masterpiece, your body. What has it done for you in the past? What does it continue to do for you now? I want you to really dig deep to answer this question. Instead of just saying, "my body provides the 5 senses - touch, taste, smell, see & hear"; I encourage you to be very specific.

When I first started thinking about answers to this question, one of my first thoughts was how it produced another life, twice - what a gift. How do you put into words this amazing process a woman's body goes through to produce another life!

I also think about the times I hurt myself - stitches on my knee, the back of my leg, in my head, two of my fingers - none of this was at the same time - all different accidents and many others. I no longer tell myself I'm a klutz - I now say, "I used to have accidents." But, back to the thought. The beautiful gift from God is that He designed my body to heal. Whether it's a big wound or a small wound - it's designed to heal. And, I've discovered that when I take better care of my gift, it heals better and faster.

I think about the gift of emotions - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, self-control, faith - the fruit of the Spirit, another gift from God. There are also emotions of sadness, grief and many others. Are they also gifts? Yes, because it allows us to receive comfort from God, learn lessons and then be able to serve others. Wow, what a gift!

Have you heard the saying, "the gift that keeps on giving?" That's what your body is - a gift that keeps on giving. And, as long as we have breath within us, our body gives these gifts on a daily basis.

I encourage you to pay attention to what your gift does for you every second of every day - whether you are awake or asleep - it is doing something for you.

In the next blog, I want to focus on how we treat this amazing gift, your masterpiece, your body.

Take Charge of You & Your Family's Health In The New Year

Tue, 27 Dec 2016 06:00:00 GMT

A new year is just around the corner and it's time for you to take charge of your health!

Did you know most people believe food doesn't play an important part in their health? Many parents believe food doesn't make a difference in their child's performance. But it does!

Would you like to take control of your own health? Would you like this year to be your healthiest year yet?

Check out my Healthy Living page to learn more!

Free Guides - Recipes - Links - Information - Guidance

Click HERE !

Success - Is It Really What You Think It Is?

Wed, 21 Dec 2016 06:00:00 GMT

Do you feel successful? What does that mean to you?

Do you feel successful? What does that mean to you? Or do you feel because you haven't achieved your dreams and goals that you are a failure? I know I have felt like a failure many times because I didn't achieve what I wanted to achieve. However, because of a conversation with a coaching client, I totally changed how I view success. It was a breath of fresh air for my client when she grasped this concept. It also gave me such peace thinking about this thought surrounding success. Please read to find out what I believe is real success.

On a recent coaching call a client and I were going over an exercise about the pain surrounding not doing the activities she knew would catapult her forward in her business.

The immediate pain she was wanting to avoid was rejection! She said she tended to only attempt those things she knows will be successful! I asked her how she knew they would be successful. She said she made sure she did "safe" things - activities guaranteed to get the outcome she wanted.

As I continued to coach her and ask questions, it became very clear she was avoiding the feeling of failure. I shared with her how failure, in the words of Coach Sean Smith, are judgments we put on the outcome a person wants.

For example, in the direct sales/network marketing world, phone calls are a big part of the business. Yet, it's one of the most avoided and fearful activities. Why? As a coach, I have discovered the emphasis for success is put on the outcome instead of the activity! Again, why? It's because we have been told success is money, cars, position, homes, etc. It's not!!!

Success is the activity. It's the phone call. It's the business card given out. It's the kind word. It's the time spent sharing the product or the opportunity. It's the activity, not the outcome.

None of us have control over the outcome. So why are we told we are a success depending on the outcome? Would you be willing to see yourself as a success because you are doing the activities? Would you be willing to say, "I am successful" because I do what I say I will do?

Success does come from doing the activity. Success does come from doing what you say you will do! Success IS doing the activity. Success IS doing what you say you will do!

Are you struggling with what you believe success is? Do you feel like a failure? Would you like to have a coach who will listen and guide and support you on your journey? If so, contact me for a free strategy session to see if coaching is for you.

Success - it's yours when you do what you say you will do!

Jesus Is The Reason Everyday

Mon, 19 Dec 2016 06:00:00 GMT

When you read the name Jesus Christ, who is He to you?

When you read the name Jesus Christ, who is He to you? As the world celebrates Christmas, the emphasis is on His birth. There are special worship services and plays being conducted in churches. Christmas songs are being sung about His birth. At the same time, many people are offended by even the mention of the words "Merry Christmas." We are told in Matthew 10:22 we would be hated for His name's sake.

I love this time of year. However, as I watch the busyness of the holiday season - food preparation, gifts bought and wrapped, cards sent, messages put on Facebook about the fighting over merchandise in stores, road rage trying to get to the next destination to get everything accomplished on our list; I wonder where Christ is in all this?

When I read the name Jesus Christ, I read of God "come to life" in the form of a baby to grow up to be our Savior. I read how He was willing to come to earth to be persecuted and to die for our sins (Matthew 1:21.) I sometimes wonder if so much emphasis is put on His birth during this time of year, we forget about Him the rest of the year. The saying, "Jesus is the reason for the season" sounds really great; however, have you ever thought about how "Jesus is the reason everyday."

Many will attend a Christmas Eve or Christmas Day worship service to focus on His birth, yet will they also attend a worship service every Sunday to focus on His death, burial and resurrection? This is the real reason. Yes, His birth is important, but it's not the main emphasis in the Bible. The Old Testament has so many scriptures referring to the coming of Christ (Isaiah 19:20 is one of them); however; the main emphasis was on His ministry and death, burial & resurrection (Isaiah 53.)

As you celebrate this season where the emphasis is on the birth of Christ, I want to also encourage you to think about who He really His and what He did for you. I pray you will make Him your reason everyday of the year. I pray you will attend a worship service where every Sunday during the service there is emphasis on His death, burial & resurrection and you partake of The Lord's Supper. I pray you will take the time to read your Bible everyday and fall in love with who Jesus is - your Savior - the only Savior we have.

I also pray that if you would like to know who Jesus Christ really is and you don't know where to look, you will contact me and I'll be happy to share.

May you have a blessed and joy filled Christmas and make Jesus your reason everyday!

What to Expect When You Improve Your Diet

Sat, 03 Dec 2016 06:00:00 GMT

This is a blog post from www.beatcancer.org sharing what to expect when you improve your diet.

Please take a couple of minutes to read so you will understand how God designed your body to heal when you improve your diet. Please pay close attention to what the writer of the blog says about the symptoms you could experience as your body gets rid of toxins and waste.

Click here to read the blog post by Dr. Bass, a trained naturopathic, chiropractic and natural hygiene doctor and author of eight books on health. Now in his 90's, he has over 70 years of experience helping 30,000 patients detoxify and reverse disease through drug-free approaches.

After reading this article, if you would like more information on how you can eat healthy and/or learn about how to flood your body with the right nutrients each day, please contact me through my website at www.themastersmasterpiece.com or coachdiane@themastersmasterpiece.com.

Much Knowledge Brings Much Grief & Increased Knowledge Increases Sorrow!

Fri, 01 Jul 2016 05:00:00 GMT

I invite you to make the changes necessary today to become the healthy person God intended you to be.

The more I'm learning about nutrition as a Holistic Cancer Educator, the more I understand what King Solomon, the wisest man in the world, meant when he wrote in Ecclesiastes 1:18 "For in much wisdom is much vexation (grief), and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow."

As a Holistic Cancer Educator and Juice Plus wellness consultant, I've had the privilege of learning how nutrition is key in being healthy. As I've learned about simple ways to be healthy I want to share them. However, not everyone agrees with me; or, not everyone wants to know; or, not everyone is willing to make the changes necessary to be healthy. What?? I want everyone to be healthy and know there are additional options; however, I've discovered a lot of people say they want to be healthy, yet aren't willing to do what it takes to be healthy.

What am I supposed to do? Many times it's on my mind when I go to sleep or I wake up at 3 or 4 am thinking "how can I get my message out so you and the rest of the world will be heathy?" And then I think, maybe being healthy isn't as important to the rest of the world as it is to me. However, I did read in the June 16, 2016 USA Today, "88% of Americans would rather be healthy than rich. Only 37% expect to be in good health 10 years from now." Really?

Why? Is it because they believe getting older means being unhealthy? Is it because they choose not to take care of themselves and hope they will be lucky and never get sick? Or, is it a case you have your head in the sand and "oh, well, if you get sick there's a pill or some kind of treatment to take care of the disease." Or, do you have the thought, "everyone is going to die sometime of some thing, so, I'll just enjoy food and if it's your time, it's your time." Personally, I believe God expects better of us. And, I believe the devil loves those who have the attitude of not caring. What is your reason?

There is so much information available to teach us how to be healthy, yet, Americans are the unhealthiest in the world! Obesity is at an all time high. More and more people are diagnosed with cancer, diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, etc. everyday. Money is spent on research, yet, it seems more and more are dying. Why?

I believe one answer is that it's quicker and easier to eat convenient foods than to take the time to prepare a meal. I understand. For years I used pre-packaged foods - it took less time, the family liked it - why peel a bunch of potatoes when I could open a package of instant potatoes, pop them in the microwave and in a couple of minutes I had mashed potatoes.

I also believe most people just don't care and it's not anyone's business but there's what they do with their body.

I also believe the devil has convinced you that God doesn't care how you treat your body. As I said earlier, he loves it when Christians have an I don't care attitude about the foods they eat. Has he convinced you that your body is yours instead of belonging to God? Has he convinced you God doesn't care about the foods you eat? Does he want you fat and sick? Maybe so. He knows when you focus on food, it becomes an idol. When you are sick because you didn't take care of your body, he knows you can't serve God to the best of your ability. Your body is a gift from God and for Christians it houses the temple of the Holy Spirit. Doesn't it make sense to take care of it for Him? Doesn't it make sense to take care of yourself physically to be your best spiritually?

As a minister's wife I see so much sickness and death. Every time I hear an announcement at church about someone asking for prayer due to their disease, I wonder if it could have been avoided. Every time I read a post on Facebook about someone asking for prayer due to a disease, I wonder if it could have been avoided. I want to reach out to everyone and offer to share what I've learned. I have reached out and many choose to either not answer back or they say thank you and it doesn't go any further. This is where the scripture King Solomon wrote comes true. I have this knowledge, and many I offer it to don't think it's possible for nutrition to make a difference and so they continue on the same path which got them where they are.

I learned in my direct sales business that doing the same thing expecting a different result is the definition of insanity! What if you choose to do things differently this time? What if you choose to make decisions best for your body? What if you took 100% responsibility for your health?

As a Juice Plus+ wellness consultant, I've had the privilege of learning from medical doctors, registered nurses, and other health care professionals who decided to listen when someone shared with them about Juice Plus. Because they did, their patients are healthier and have less doctor appointments. With 35 research studies behind it, isn't it time you took your health into your own hands and added Juice Plus+ to your daily regimen?

If your doctor told you he had a product he wants you to take each day that had 35 research studies behind it, would give you the nutrition of 32 fruits and veggies in one dose and there were no side effects, would you jump at the chance to take it? That's what you will receive when you take Juice Plus.

"For in much wisdom is much vexation (grief), and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow." I invite you to make the changes necessary today to become the healthy person God intended you to be. Many of you have the knowledge. However, if you feel you don't have enough knowledge or want to know more about how to take care of your body, contact me and I'll guide and support you through getting healthy. Wouldn't it be wonderful to use the wisdom and knowledge to get healthy, instead of later in life having grief and sorrow surrounding you because you chose to ignore the knowledge you had.

10 Reasons Not to Use Your Microwave

Sat, 04 Jun 2016 05:00:00 GMT

As you read these ten reasons, I encourage you to seriously consider, like I have, to never use a microwave again.

In her book, "Hungrier For Health", Susan Silberstein, PhD, founder of The Center for Advancement in Cancer Education, in Richboro, PA shares "Ten Reasons Not to Use Your Microwave." As I read these ten reasons, I began to understand how some of the digestive issues I'd had in the past could have come from using the microwave. I also wondered if it could have contributed to my mother's colon cancer. And, then, I began to wonder if microwave use was part of the cause for people who suffer with Auto-Immune disorders, Alzheimers and many other health issues. As you read these ten reasons, I encourage you to seriously consider, like I have, to never use a microwave again.

Here are Dr Silberstein's reasons to never use a microwave:

1) Micro-waved diets cause digestive system disturbances.

2) The human body cannot metabolize unknown by-products created in micro-waved food.

3) The effects of micro-waved food by-products are permanent within the human body.

4) Male and female hormone production is shut down and/or altered by continually eating micro-waved foods.

5) Minerals, vitamins and nutrients of all micro-waved food are reduced so that the human body gets little or no benefit, or the human body absorbs altered compounds that cannot be broken down for utilization.

6) The nutrients in vegetables cooked in a microwave oven are altered into cancer-causing free radicals.

7) Micro-waved foods cause stomach and intestinal cancers and may be a primary contributor to the rapidly increased rate of colon cancer in the U.S.

8) The prolonged eating of micro-waved foods causes cancerous cells to increase in human blood.

9) Continual ingestion of micro-waved food causes immune system deficiencies through lymph gland and blood serum alterations.

10) Continually eating food processed in a microwave oven can produce virtually irreversible damage to the body's nervous system by "shorting out" electrical impulses in the brain and nerve centers. This can result in loss of memory, lack of concentration, emotional instability and decreased intelligence.

At best, Dr Silberstein shares in her book, microwaving changes the chemical bonding and molecular structure of every food and beverage it touches; and at worst it actually creates immuno-suppressive and carcinogenic compounds.

Dr Lita Lee of Hawaii, wrote in the Dec. 9, 1989 issue of Lancet: "Microwaving baby formulas convert it to the point it becomes neurotoxic (poisonous to the nervous system) and nephrotoxic (poisonous to the kidneys)".

Dr Silberstein also shares that of the hundreds of cancer patients they interview annually at the Center for Advancement in Cancer Education, an extremely high percentage have been heavy micro-wavers.

Even if you have been a heavy micro-wave user, I encourage you to make the decision today to never use one again. I also invite you to make the decision to eat whole foods - flood your body with fresh vegetables and fruits - eat 70% or more raw. Add healthy fats such as avocado and coconut to your diet.

Add Juice Plus+ whole food capsules, the nutrients of 32 fruits and veggies, to your daily diet. After I changed my diet to more raw vegetables & fruits, added those healthy fats and Juice Plus+, my health is better than it's been in years.

Have you been diagnosed with cancer and don't know who to turn to or what to do? Did your doctor sit down with you and ask you questions about your lifestyle and the foods you eat? Did your doctor give you options and choices for treatment or were you told what to do? Did your doctor make you feel like you would die if you didn't get started immediately on the treatment or were you given the option to research and find additional options?

If you feel like you don't know what to do or who to talk with, contact Diane, a Certified Holistic Cancer Educator, through Dr Susan Silberstein, PhD, founder of The Center for Advancement in Cancer Education. Diane will listen to you, ask questions and guide and support you on your journey.

Can You Chase Two Rabbits?

Wed, 25 May 2016 05:00:00 GMT

Hang in here with me to find out why I believe God is working in this "rabbit chasing".

Can you chase two rabbits? According to what I've been told throughout my life in a direct sales company, the answer is NO! However, what do you do when you feel God has put 2, 3 or even more new rabbits in your path? I tried to ignore it and fight it; however, through study and prayer, I decided to trust - a word that has become very important to me through this process.

I found myself in a dilemma. What do I do? I chose to step into accepting the invitation to be a part of another company; yet, I stayed under the radar - I was very careful who I shared it with. I didn't want people from the other direct sales business to know I was chasing another rabbit!! What would they think? What if they thought I was making a mistake? What if they thought I was not successful at my other business or was jumping from one venture to another. But wait, I've been with the other company for over 30 years! And, then I thought, why be concerned about what others thought? This is my life and my heart was tugging at me to take on this new adventure - to chase after this new rabbit.

Hang in here with me to find out why I believe God is working in this "rabbit chasing." Plus, find out about the rabbit I began chasing and how there were more to add to the litter.

Since I've shared before about my journey of reaching out to a business coach and meeting the trainer of The Grief Coach Academy (GCA), I won't go into detail in this post. However, I will share that Aurora, the owner of GCA, planted the seed for me to write a book and so The Master's Masterpiece was born. With this book I could share my story of the trials of my weight issues and with the goal to work with women to guide and support them to take care of themselves physically to be their best spiritually.

Now, here is where the rabbit chasing becomes interesting. In June 2011, six months into my training to become a grief coach, my mother was diagnosed with colon cancer (you can read more about this in the dedication in my book.) The doctors believed there was nothing they could do for her. She lived 5 1/2 weeks. One year later, July 2012, my husband was very sick - he had a fever for 4 weeks, was in the hospital 3 times, had 2 bone marrow tests, and was put on sabbatical leave for 3 months. This was a scary time. To be honest, I was afraid he might die, too, just like my mom. We are so grateful prayers for him to get well were answered. The doctors never found out what was wrong with him and we are so thankful the illness ran it's course, the fever broke and he finally regained some strength.

Fast forward to September 2014. I was to meet with a lady in another town about speaking at a ladies event to share about being God's Masterpiece. As we talked, she shared with me about a product, Juice Plus+, please continue reading I'm not finished with where this rabbit chasing is going - there's more! As she shared, I couldn't help but wonder if this product could help my husband feel better. Even though he had made it through his illness, he still wasn't up to par. He tired easily and seemed more susceptible than usual to allergy issues, etc. We both got started on the product within the week (after I asked him if he would take it.) He had told people he would never drink "that green stuff" Diane drinks; however, he knew he could swallow capsules - which are whole food and loaded with the nutrients of 32 fruits and veggies.

Even though I was associated with another direct sales company, I decided to become a representative with Juice Plus+ so we could receive a rebate on our own products. Well, I soon found myself sharing with others about how amazing this product was. And, my husband is feeling great and I believe healthier than he has been in a long time! Stay with me on this story, there's another rabbit coming!!

In January 2015, I decided to attend a training event with Juice Plus+ and had the privilege of hearing about Dr Susan Silberstein of The Center for Advancement in Cancer Education in the Philadelphia, PA area. I started looking at her website and learning about ways to beat cancer. In July 2015, I had the privilege of hearing her speak at an event in St Louis. I was so impressed, learning how she chose, after her husband died at the age of 30, to guide and support cancer patients by teaching them how they had additional options towards their healing. When I found out about the opportunity to be trained by her to be a Holistic Cancer Educator, I felt it was another step in my journey - another rabbit to add to my litter!

As I began to share with others how they can get healthy with Juice Plus+ and how there are additional options for healing when a person has active cancer cells in their body, I became more and more passionate about serving others towards being healthy. How could I not chase this rabbit? How could I walk away from serving people who are wanting to overcome their unhealthy issues and yet don't know where to turn. I felt God had opened a door for me to step through to guide and support those who are wanting answers.

I decided to no longer concern myself with what others thought - to no longer go for the approval of others, but to instead seek only God's approval - Galatians 1:10. I was reminded when my mother was sick that God is in control and He knows where my story is going when I choose to seek His approval.

Almost everyday I hear of someone who has been diagnosed with cancer or their cancer has returned. I receive messages daily for prayer requests for someone's healing. And, it's not always cancer. It's every disease - and it's all ages. So many people are suffering and they want answers. I believe I can be of service to them by either sharing Juice Plus+ or coaching them with additional options towards healing their body.

God designed our bodies to heal when we feed it correctly, exercise and take care of the emotional things going on in our life. I want to guide and support you as your coach. Yes, I'm chasing more than one rabbit - Direct Sales, Coach, Speaker, Author, Holistic Cancer Educator. However, I believe these are really doors, opportunities, God has opened for me to step through so I can serve others and He can be glorified.

If you would like to learn more about being coached, about Juice Plus+, or what options are available to guide and support you through your disease; please contact me via my website or e-mail me at coachdiane@themastersmastperpiece.com.

I pray for God to bless you as you make decisions about your life, your purpose and to seek His approval in all you do. And, I ask for your prayers as I'm on this journey and that God is glorified.

How Are You Taking Care of Your Masterpiece Today?

Mon, 15 Jun 2015 05:00:00 GMT

What are you doing today to take care of your masterpiece?

What are you doing today to take care of your masterpiece? It's recommended a person take 10,000 steps per day. It will take being proactive to make this happen unless you work at a job where you walk all day long.

I have been working out for several years now - sometimes on my own and sometimes with a fitness coach. About 3 weeks ago I decided to join a new fitness program - Core Boot Camps. WOW - it is an amazing workout. The trainer is so good. She knows everyone is at a different place in their workout ability, so she has modifications for all of us!

Today we were at the football field at our local high school. One exercise we did was to run/walk the field - go to the 5 yard line and back to the goal line. Then to the 10 yard line and back to the goal. Then the 15 yard line and so on. Then we did squats up and down the bleacher steps, then a tricep workout (100 of them), then 50 push ups on the bleachers, plus more activity on the field.

I am tired and sweaty, very sweaty! However, I'm energized and so thankful to get to workout and take care of God's amazing creation - my masterpiece.

And, I had a birthday on Friday and my husband got me a fitbit - love it (I asked for one.) It shows I've already walked over 6,000 steps this morning (before 6:30 am.)

What will you do today to take care of your body? Even if you feel you can't participate in a boot camp - what if you went up and down some stairs today? What if you parked you car further from the door of a store you are going in? What if you did some sit-ups or bicycles? Do something and get your heart beating and get sweaty.

My breakfast is my Juice Plus+ Complete Shake with frozen blueberries and spinach in it (I usually do kale - was out.) The Complete Shake is lots of protein and other great vegetable based ingredients.

What about drinking water? 64 oz or more per day. Is it hard for you to drink water? Add lemon, lime, pineapple, cucumber, etc. It's delicious! Your body is 70% water - be sure to hydrate it!!

Let me know how you are taking care of your amazing creation from God - your masterpiece. I want to encourage and support you in your journey of taking care of yourself physically to be your best spiritually.

Do You Have This Very Dangerous, Very Contagious Disease?

Wed, 22 Apr 2015 05:00:00 GMT

What is this very dangerous, very contagious disease? Criticism!

Dangerous diseases - we read about them everyday. But, the dangerous, contagious disease I want to tell you about isn't one you go get a prescription for. You won't hear on TV or read on the internet about all the side effects of the "drug" you take to get rid of this disease. And, I have a feeling many people don't even see this as a disease; however, it's such a dangerous disease that God chose to put another disease on someone to get them away from everyone else.

What is this very dangerous, very contagious disease? Criticism! Yes, criticism (or you might call it complaining.)

In my weekly seminar I have been conducting with some ladies in my town, going through "The Master's Masterpiece" with them, we were discussing the chapter about commitment. One of the ladies, Jewell, shared about teaching the 4 and 5 year olds in the Sunday morning Bible class about the account in Numbers 12:1-16 of Aaron and Miriam.

They, Aaron and Miriam, were being very critical of Moses for marrying a Cushite woman. They were also critical of God for how He was speaking to the Israelites through Moses. Because of this criticism, God said in verse 4, "Come out, you three, to the tent of meeting." I don't know about you, but that would make be afraid. Do you remember as a child being called out by your parents? You knew you were in trouble!

Then in verse 5, Aaron and Miriam were called again and they stepped forward. Can you just imagine what they were thinking? "Uh-oh, we have done it now. We are in trouble." Were those your thoughts as a child when you were "found out" for doing something you weren't supposed to?

In verses 6-8, God shares why He chose Moses - he was faithful in all His house. God didn't speak to Moses in a vision, He spoke mouth to mouth. In verse 9, it tells us God departed from them and in verse 10, when the cloud was lifted, Miriam was white with leprosy. (Some of you may wonder why just Miriam, that's not for us to know - that's not the reason for this post. It's one of those questions we get to ask God when we get to heaven.) And, being a female, I know how I can go on and on and on while my husband patiently listens. What's important is what happened because of Miriam's criticism - she was struck with leprosy and put out of the camp for 7 days.

Are you grasping this very dangerous, contagious disease called criticism? As my friend Jewell was preparing for this lesson, it dawned on her that God saw criticism as so dangerous, that he struck Miriam with another disease, a very contagious disease, to get her away from everyone else. He knew her critical words, her critical spirit, her critical attitude could destroy everyone she came in contact with. God knew He had to stop it immediately. Being struck with leprosy meant she had to be quarantined from everyone else. She had to be put out of the camp! This was how God saw as the best way to help her and everyone else realize how dangerous criticism is.

As I thought about this, I wondered how many times should I have been put outside the camp for being critical? And, before I go any further with this article, I want to ask your forgiveness for the times you have heard me be critical. As I was writing "The Master's Masterpiece" I was brought to my knees when I realized how critical I had been of God's creation, my body, my masterpiece. Thankfully, He didn't strike me with leprosy; and, thankfully, I know He has forgiven me.

What about you? Have you ever been critical of others or yourself?

I also began to wonder how many churches, businesses, families, friendships and relationships have been destroyed due to criticism. How many of us would be put out of the "camp", our worship service, our place of work, etc. for being critical? Thankfully, God doesn't work that way. Instead, He teaches us through His Word about Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control in Galatians 5:22,23. At the end of verse 23, He says, "against such things there is no law."

We are told in 1 Thessalonians 5:11 to "encourage and build one another up."

Hebrews 10:24 tells us to "think of ways to stir up one another to love and good works." Wow, just the opposite of being critical! Imagine, just imagine, what life would be like when we choose to "think of ways" to stir one another up for good works!

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 tells us what love is - read and study. Ask God for wisdom, James 1:5, to guide you to having the loving heart He wants you to have.

Criticism, a very dangerous, very contagious disease. The prescription for overcoming this disease? God and His Word. Now that's a prescription you won't have to be afraid of.

How Can I Stay In Control

Mon, 01 Sep 2014 05:00:00 GMT

What does this have to do with being God's masterpiece?

The title of Chapter 8 in The Master's Masterpiece book is "How Can I Stay In Control?"

Galatians 5:16-17 says, "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do."

This scripture tells us we are to walk and live guided by God's Holy Spirit - it's the only way we can keep from giving into the cravings and desires of the flesh!

This scripture says the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit - they are opposed to each other!

We read in Galatians 5:22-23 that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and SELF-CONTROL!!

When we obey God's commandment in Acts 2:38, we are given the gift of the Holy Spirit and with the gift comes the fruit of the Spirit. God has given the fruit of the Spirit to those who choose to obey Him. We don't have to ask for the fruit, it's a gift from God!! And, what an amazing gift it is!!

The gift is about character - it's about reflecting God's character in our lives. These are traits of what God looks like. It's about displaying what we have been given. It's not about asking for love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control; it's about nurturing these characteristics we were given at baptism.

However, the works of the flesh in Galatians 5:19-21 get in the way!! It's up to us to get self out of the way and nurture the fruit of the Spirit.

What does this have to do with being God's masterpiece? Along with living the characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit towards others, how about being kind to your masterpiece? How about loving it, being good to it, being gentle, patient and staying in control? God will help us when we ask Him for help in nurturing the fruit of the Spirit. Would you agree it would be beneficial to do everything in your power to nurture these segments of the fruit of the Spirit?

To read more about how you can stay in control of your eating or any other addictive behavior you may have, you can purchase "The Master's Masterpiece" at www.themastersmasterpiece.com. Or if you would like to talk to Diane about coaching or speaking to your women's group, you can click on the contact page on the website and send your questions or comments to her.

God's Word - Our Comfort Food

Fri, 04 Oct 2013 05:00:00 GMT

When you turn to the word of God for your "comfort food", it not only feeds you at the time you read and meditate, it will continue to "feed" you your entire life.

In a recent blog, September 17, I shared about "Comfort Food." On September 25, when I read my daily devotional, it really made me think - it shared about God being our comforter! I began to think about the choice of physical comfort food or God's comfort food, the Bible. I had mentioned in the Sept 17 blog about choosing God over food, however; something about the scripture really touched my heart.

In II Corinthians 1:3-4 we read "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."

When I read the words, "so we may be able to comfort those...." I began to cry. I really don't know why those words touched me so much as I read them. What came to my mind was how selfishly I was focused for 40 years on my challenge, when what really needed to be happening was me to allow God to be my healer (Exodus 15:26), allow Him to comfort me so I would be able to comfort others!!!

There are millions in the world who are suffering & needing comfort and they don't know where to turn. As a Christian, when I allow myself to be comforted by God, I will then be able to comfort others.

I then thought again about the blog "Comfort Food" and realized how so many turn to food for the comfort instead of turning to the word of God. And, if we will be honest with ourselves, the food only comforts for a short time - it's like a drug - it's helps for a while, and then you need more - it becomes a vicious cycle.

When you turn to the word of God for your "comfort food", it not only feeds you at the time you read and meditate, it will continue to "feed" you your entire life. When you continue to "feed" on the Word of God, it will comfort you anytime you want. It's like an instant comfort, you can bring to remembrance what you have read. You can:

- write down your favorite scriptures and keep them with you

- download a Bible app on your phone & read anytime you want

- get a friend you can share a favorite scripture with each day

- be a part of a texting group like I am - I receive a scripture every morning

As a Christian Certified Grief Coach, I realize how important it is to have someone listen to you, guide you through your grief and glean from the Word of God and use it for a guide.

What pain or challenge are you facing in your life right now? Are you turning to food for comfort or the Word of God? My prayer is you will turn to God and allow Him to comfort you so you will then be able to comfort others. How beautiful this concept is!

Diane is a certified grief coach and can help you with issues you are struggling with, whether they be weight issues ~ grief ~ self-control ~ self-limiting beliefs.

Comfort Food

Tue, 17 Sep 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Comfort Food ~ it has a nice ring to it doesn't it?

Have you ever turned to food for comfort? It's been a rough day at work, so on your way home you decide to indulge in a "treat" ~ something like a rich, high calorie coffee, or a donut, or french fries, a bag of chips or a candy bar. Besides, "I worked hard all day and I deserve it."

Or, maybe you are going through an extremely sad time in your life - a divorce, a death, a break up, financial problems, etc. During this time, many people turn to food for comfort.

As I was thinking about "comfort food" I realized how nice it sounds. It really is "comforting" at the time. However, if you are like me, once you have indulged, you then feel guilty for eating foods you know aren't good for you. And, then, the negative head talk begins, "why did I allow myself to have that? I'm trying to lose weight and eat healthy. I bet I'll weigh 3 pounds more when I get on the scale in the morning." And, on and on the negative talk goes.

So, is it really comfort food? Maybe it is for a few minutes, but then, it becomes "uncomfortable food", because of the head talk & the clothes feeling tight and then the negative head talk begins again - beating yourself up for losing control - allowing food to control how you feel - it's a vicious cycle!!!

What if the next time you were tempted by "comfort food", you chose to ask God to help you. What if you thought about the scripture, Psalm 121:1-2, which says, "from where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord."

I'm sharing these thoughts, because, I sometimes reach for "comfort food" when I have something on my mind or I'm tired. And, even if my "comfort food" is healthy, am I really hungry or reaching for food as a crutch?

As you read this, you may think I'm going overboard with this thought. That's ok - my prayer for you is, the next time you reach for your favorite "comfort food" you stop and think about why you are reaching for it. Is there something going on in your life you need help with? Are you allowing food to be in control instead of asking God to help you? What if, just what if, you took control at that very moment and asked God to help you?

Allow the word of God to be your "comfort food" the next time. I think you'll be glad you did.

Diane is a certified grief coach and can help you with issues you are struggling with, whether they be weight issues ~ grief ~ self-control ~ self-limiting beliefs.

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