Diane Virginia (Cunio) is an award-winning writer, and the Founder/Administrator/Lead Editor of VineWords: Devotions and More.
She is the author of The Kiss of Peace: A Contemporary Exploration into Song of Solomon (awaiting publication). Diane is working on the sequel, Behind the Veil: Becoming the Ascended Bride of Song of Solomon.
Diane is passionate about sharing Beloved Jesus’ divine love for you, His Bride, as allegorically portrayed in Song of Solomon. She has developed the model for motion-activated musical prayer centers for use in the home or church garden retreat, themed to the mountain locations the Bride travels to in Song of Solomon.
She has partnered with VineWords Contributors to create a devotional entitled, Love-Knots: Stories of Faith, Family, and Friendships(VineWords Publishing). The goal of this devotional is to impart biblical truths that will encourage the reader in her faith, and to strengthen her relationships. Diane Virginia and Karen Jurgens are the Co-Editors.
Diane is creating a series of children’s books, and her Mini-Aussies, Cowboy and Cowgirl are providing the inspiration. The series will be called, The Cowdoggie Adventure Series. Follow Diane’s Facebook page to view the cowdoggies’ real-life antics. Diane is working on other children’s books as well.
Shop Diane’s handcrafted jewelry line, VineWords Scripture-Inspired Jewelry, at this blog site, when pieces are available. Each creation centers around a Scripture verse. The aim is to help believers celebrate and share their faith by wearing jewelry that has a biblical message. Quality materials are used in these creations, such as precious and/or semi-precious gemstone beads, Swarovski crystals, Swarovski pearls, and sterling silver.
FIND DIANE’S DEVOTIONS/ARTICLES AT:
- Answers2Prayer (The Sermon Illustrator/The Nugget)
- Christian Broadcasting Network
- Christian Devotions Ministries
- Faith Beyond Fear
- Pentecostal Publishing House
- PresbyCan Daily Devotional
- The Secret Place
- VineWords
- Other Ministries and Blogs
BOOK PROJECTS
THE KISS OF PEACE: AN EXPLORATION INTO SONG OF SOLOMON
Genre: Christian Living
Status: Complete (seeking a royalty publisher)
Word Count: 80,000 words
Study Guide: A companion Study Guide/Leader’s Guide makes this book perfect for home group or Sunday school Bible studies. The suggested run time is two-six week courses. The book and guides are sufficient to cover each course so they only need to be purchased once.
Sequel: Behind the Veil: Becoming the Ascended Bride of Song of Solomon
Overview:
The purpose of this book is to restore the biblical view of Song of Solomon as an allegory of the Groom Jesus Christ’s divine love for His Bride, the church. Four interactive sections in each chapter engage the reader; these are 1) Modern-day Example, 2) Vignette Sections, 3) Exposition, and 4) Prayer Starter.
In the vignette sections, which is unique to The Kiss of Peace, the reader is an actor in the play, Song of Solomon. She steps into the vignette, and her Groom addresses her as “Love,” the Bride/Wife to whom He delights. She calls her Groom, “Beloved Solomon,” in Hebrew, “Dowd Shelomah,” which translates as “Beloved Peacemaker.”
As Love participates in vignette dialogue, she not only receives Beloved’s divine love, she realizes His allegorical identity is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. The reader notices prophetic metaphors, such as her Groom’s pierced, beryl-set hands; His banqueting table where she delights on Communion bread/ wine; His anointing oils of myrrh and frankincense which reveal Him as Suffering Servant and Priest, and so much more.
Why Study Song of Solomon?
Song of Solomon is holy and should be treated as such. When we study this book, we are immersed in this holiness, and we discover how our Groom completes us as His Bride.
Rabbi Akiba recognized Song of Solomon is about the holiness of Messiah. He fought for its inclusion in the Tanka (Jewish Old Testament). This book goes one step further, acknowledging Beloved Solomon as a typology of Jesus Christ, and Love as a typology of the Bride of Christ.
The Sequel to The Kiss of Peace is Behind the Veil…
The Kiss of Peace journals the bride’s preparation for marriage and what it means to be a bride. The reader enters a personal journey with her Beloved, and she makes the most important discovery—the power of divine love and peace that is hers as she finds her identity as the Bride of Beloved Solomon, who is allegorically Jesus Christ. Her Groom’s love for her is described as a boiling-pot in its intensity which is life-giving, vibrant, and it indescribable in human terms. As she is wooed into the arms of the Savior through this allegorical romance, He completes her.
Behind the Veil continues this quest, detailing the Bride’s ascent. As she travels through the mountains of Lebanon, with her Groom, she matures. Each mountain she visits has spiritual significance, and this moves her progressively through more intimate stages of holiness. These places represent aspects of her Beloved; for example, The Hill of Frankincense represents Beloved’s willingness to die on Calvary and raise to life. The Bride also must die to self-will, and raise to life through her Savior. Another example is Mount Amana, best translated as “Mount Amen.” This represents the unity that happens when the Bride learns to pray Beloved’s Word.
Why Read Both Books?
Because Behind the Veil focuses on a single chapter of Song of Solomon, much detail about growing in Christ can be covered. The reader can read this book independent of its prequel, but the best understanding is gained by reading both. This book adds an additional course to the church groups available on the subject, and the lessons are application-driven. The reader applies the methods of Bible study, journaling, praying, and tarrying to her understanding by what she learns and practices.
Conclusion
Once the reader discovers her true identity and the depth of her Groom’s divine love for her, as described in The Kiss of Peace and as she matures in her relationship with her Groom, as described in Behind the Veil, she will feel compelled to give Beloved Jesus her full attention. She will know that her Groom’s love is real, and that no matter where she is on her journey of completeness, Jesus Christ loves her, brings peace to her, and abides with her fully. Jesus becomes Emmanuel—God With Us—to the reader.
Motion-Activated Musical Centers for Prayer Gardens
Diane and her husband Phil have founded the concept of motion-activated musical prayer centers for the home or church prayer garden. Theme your music around the hill and the six mountains described in Song of Solomon so that you and your guests can grow in your faith. Imagine the intimacy heightening as you listen to music about Calvary as the first center, representative of “The Hill of Frankincense” in Song of Solomon where Beloved woos His Bride into a relationship. Continue your journey from there, to “Mount Amen,” and other places described in the vignette, Song of Solomon. Become confident you are the Bride whom Jesus Christ loves, as the allegory envisions.
Diane and Phil can give you the knowledge to make your prayer garden retreat successful. Diane has prepared sermons and her husband has compiled installation recommendations for both wired and solar music center options, with suggestions as to where you can purchase the necessary items.
Prayer garden centers can be installed as a single arbor/bench combo or as seven separate arbor/bench centers, each equipped with a motion-activated speaker system.
LOVE-KNOTS: STORIES OF FAITH, FAMILY, AND FRIENDSHIPS (VineWords Publishing)
This 40-day devotional entitled Love-Knots: Stories of Faith, Family, and Friendships is available from VineWords Publishing. Its purpose is to uplift the reader in the areas of faith, family, and friendships and to demonstrate how God’s love and peace is available to every person. Believers and seekers alike will benefit from this devotional, and it makes a great gift book.
Genre: Devotional
Word Count: 30,000
Status: Available soon.
COWDOGGIE ADVENTURE SERIES
Genre: Fiction
Age Category: 5 to 9+ yrs Children’s Read-to-Me Book
Word Count: 1,200 words
Status: Available soon
This is a children’s series of read-to-me books for 5 to 9+ year olds (but even adults will enjoy these). A child helper will be featured in each of these stories.
If your child has a story idea, feel free to email their idea to Cowboy and Cowgirl in the comments section of this website. Please include one Scripture and denote the version your child has chosen. Make sure this is a kid-sized issue. If your child’s story idea is chosen, we will contact you. Cowboy and Cowgirl will do their best to answer your child’s inquiry when they aren’t playing fetch. But, it might take a while. There are lots of butterflies to dance with, roly poley bugs to hunt for, squirrels to tag, and lizards to befriend.
To follow the cowdoggie’s real-life antics, follow Diane’s Facebook page under Diane Virginia Cunio.
THE CHRISTMAS CARDIGAN
The focus of this story is to teach children the importance of having a grateful and generous spirit, as Jesus does. The Bible verse illustrated by Marcie’s transformation is: So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7
The story begins with Stephanie and her brother fighting over Christmas gifts. Stephanie’s parents are exasperated. Grandma “Grace” takes Stephanie to the mission to give socks and gloves, with the hopes Stephanie will learn the value of sharing from a generous heart filled with grace. Grandma is not disappointed; the story concludes with Stephanie giving her brand new cardigan to Marcie, a classmate, whom she discovers has a financial need.
The take-away line is: Gratitude begins when God’s grace from within compels us to give with a cheerful heart.
Genre: Fiction
Age Category: 5 to 9+ yrs Children’s Read-to-Me Book
Word Count: 1,200 words
Status: Available soon
DIANE’S EXPERIENCE
EDUCATION CERTIFICATIONS
- Miami Dade College, Miami, FL; Associate in Art/Art Education: 1979
- The University of the South, Sewanee, TN: Bachelor of Science: Gownsman Graduate: 1982
CERTIFICATIONS
- Harvest Bible Institute of First Assembly of God, Winston-Salem, NC: Two-Year Ministerial Certification: 3.97 GPA: 1999
- The United Community Bible Churches: Ordained Minister: 2005 to present.
MEMBERSHIPS
- Piedmont-Triad Word Weaver’s: 2019 to present.
- Word Weaver’s International: 2019 to present.
- Serious Writer: 2019 to present.
- Write My Book: 2019 to present.
AWARDS
- 2020: Asheville Christian Writer’s Conference: Sparrow Award: Second Runner Up: Book Entry, The Kiss of Peace: A Contemporary Exploration into Song of Solomon
- 2020: Asheville Christian Writer’s Conference: Advance the Kingdom Contest: Fourth Place: Devotion, My Hero
CONNECT WITH DIANE VIRGINIA (Cunio) AT:
Diane Virginia (Cunio) Facebook
