Diane Williams: Angels in Action: Stories to Inspire

For Lossie Daniels

my anchor, my mother

I owe many people thanks for completing this project. To begin with, I would like to thank Jane Gately for her patience with reading and retyping all of my revisions, her organization skills, and for her quick and efficient dictation talents. Thank you for creating my article and book tracking spreadsheet. And most of all, thank you for your candid heart-to-heart comments regarding my writing.

Gladys Olson, thank you for proofreading my manuscripts, for your many suggestions that expanded my writing scope, and for being a much-needed audience with a different voice.

Over the past decade, I was blessed to work with many talented and dedicated Azusa Pacific University students. Thank you for sharing your creative ideas, suggestions, time, patience, honesty, and fresh feedback every time we met. Also, thank you for braving inclement weather. Lastly, thank you for your companionship and for giving me the opportunity to reveal to you the life of a freelance writer.

Members of the San Dimas Writer’s Workshop, thank you for your scrutiny of my writing, all the bold critiques, command of the English language, and the contribution of your life experiences to improve my accuracy and details. Also, thank you for insight to help me appeal to senior citizens.

Thank you to my daughters, Nikkia and Tiffany, for giving me my space and letting me work in peace, for supporting and escorting me to my writing groups, and, most importantly, keeping my writing true to life, because they know my story so well. And Tiffany, thank you for picking up my research materials from the library.

A warm thank you to all of my generous care providers for their consistent hard work, making sure my environment and my workers were comfortable.

Susan Trudeau, thank you for all your wonderful lettering and assistance with education on the printing world and obtaining my business licenses.

A special thank you to University of La Verne marketing professor, Dr. Janis Dietz, and her students on the BEAM (Balancing Every Aspects Motives) Team for working on my marketing plan.

God, thank you for giving me the experience, courage, and wisdom to share with others.

“I’ve fallen and I can’t get up…I can’t…I just don’t have it in me…I can’t.”

Angels in Action demonstrates how I, the author, have turned away from these self-defeating thoughts and turned to Luke 17:21, which reads, “The Kingdom of God is within you.” I urge you to act on these words for they are true. I know these words personally, because when defeatism struck me, I etched them into my heart until I learned to trust, believe, and act on them.

Now whenever life presents me with an obstacle that I must face, I pray and get out of God’s way. I believe I can overcome any obstacle through prayer, and this book details some of my most exciting victories. These seventeen stories are about battles won through prayer, powerful miracles, astonishing healings, authoritative revelations, and my own personal physical and spiritual transformation.

As a volunteer prayer counselor for many years, I have witnessed the power in people around the world who phoned in to the Guideposts prayer ministry. I have seen amazing results for so many souls seeking help. We are all unique and have our own obstacles, problems, and challenges to face, and even those of us who are apparently without problems will inevitably face one someday. Whenever life presents us with an obstacle that we must face, the question to ask shouldn’t be “Why me?” but instead, “How do I call into action the angel within me to address this roadblock?”

Angels in Action demonstrates how I called on the power of my Creator to bring about positive changes in my life. These stories show a woman living without the knowledge and strength of a spiritual relationship, finding a power greater than herself, and then, through grace and the power of the Holy Spirit, was transformed into a healthy and whole individual.

Through these stories, I trust the reader will gain a renewal of perspective and learn how to view obstacles in life as God showing His face in order for us, His children, to build strong, unshakable foundations. This book was born to serve ordinary people seeking to do extraordinary things.

I personally invite you to experience seventeen highly reflective lessons in seven key areas of my life: financial, spiritual, emotional, relational, physical, and familial. I trust that my writing will provide you with hope and enable your spirits to soar to unexpected heights. Angels in Action is the fruit of my life. Each story illustrates a Bible verse and concludes with a spiritual reflection. Scripture is from the NIV unless otherwise stated.

I would appreciate your thoughts and comments, but I would also like to hear about your challenges and how you overcame them. Please visit my blog mindofagoddess.wordpress.com or email me at writerworks@gmail.com and share your stories!

—Diane

Immediately after graduating with a BA in social work, I had my sights set on helping troubled youth. I was armed with a clear vision, high energy, and a strong ambition that helped me land my first position as a social worker in a foster care and adoption agency. My mind was full of new ideas on how to save children, and I believed this position was the place for my journey to begin.

One morning, a social worker invited me to join her for a drink to celebrate her twenty-fifth birthday. Although I do not drink, I did not hesitate for a moment; I gladly accepted the invitation. I had been at the agency for about a month, and it was important for me not only to bond, but I also craved the acceptance of the administration and my co-workers.

There I was, at ten o’clock in the morning, sitting amongst a large group of social workers having a glass of sweet wine. We had been mingling for only a few minutes when someone suggested continuing the celebration at lunchtime. Immediately after the break, I dashed out the door to complete my two home visits in the area. I hurried through the visits and raced back to the office. About ten of us headed down to the local restaurant for the gala birthday luncheon.

The server arrived at the table to take our drink orders. I planned to order a soft drink, but instead I ordered a mixed drink along with the ladies. The server brought me my first piña colada in a beautiful glass filled with a cream-colored liquid, an umbrella, and a slice of pineapple on the side. It was so delicious I had another. At the luncheon, I learned that my co-workers celebrated everyone and everything—there was always a party; and whenever there was a party, they partied all day. At three o’clock the office staff and administration presented a gift to the birthday girl. There was more wine, and I drank some of it. Neither my office mates nor I did any more work that afternoon; instead, we talked, learning about each other.

After work that day one of my colleagues and I walked to the lounge for happy hour. We spotted the group ordering drinks at the round table. I sat and listened to everyone’s order. I kept telling myself I wasn’t a drinker, but I wanted to fit in. I loved this job; in fact, this was the job that was going to lead me along the road to where I could make my mark on the world. They ordered cognac and so did I. Sipping my drink and chatting with my co-workers, it seemed they approved of me. Then, another social worker ordered a round of drinks for everyone for a toast to the birthday girl. I drank another glass of cognac. This cognac tastes so good! Now I understand the reason Jared, my husband, loved to drink , I thought to myself.