Gratitude in the Lord                  April 25, 2010

Though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be
joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength.
Habakkuk 3:17–19

Habakkuk 3 describes an economic nightmare: the vines are not bearing fruit, the fields are not producing
food, livestock is not thriving. When the right (or wrong) conditions conspire, we find ourselves
scrambling to get by, and dreading the future.

Yet even in the midst of crisis, Habakkuk exulted in God. Why? Because God gives us strength to keep
going. When we ask for his strength and encouragement in times of trouble - He is ALWAYS there by our
sides.

Unhappy with today and fearful about tomorrow? Stop for a minute, take a deep breath, and consciously
express praise and thanks to God. He is at work even if you can’t see it. And with eyes of gratitude, you’ll
probably begin to see more blessings than you did before.

"Gratitude as a discipline involves a conscious choice. I can choose to be grateful even when my emotions
and feelings are still steeped in hurt and resentment. It is amazing how many occasions present
themselves in which I can choose gratitude instead of a complaint."
Henri Nouwen (a Dutch Christian writer 1932 - 1996)

PRAYER:  Father God, in my troubled time let me be reminded of your strength and love. Your guidance
is my salvation and blessing. Amen




Eagerly Waiting                April 18, 2010



Romans 8:25 (NIV) 25But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

Psalm 25:5 Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the
day.

For most of us, waiting is difficult- Maybe the toughest in the making is when we pray to God for
direction on an important life decision.  

Waiting is not always easy, but God tells us to wait patiently for Him: Because in life we have learned it is
His choices, His answers, His news, His guidance, His perfect Sheppard that will come to our church, His
desire for our profession, His perfect mate for us to enrich our lives, His Love, and yes, even His coming
again. Waiting patiently means trusting that God knows what is best for us because we are His children.
God desires us to wait for Him because when we rely on Him in all our decisions, we truly begin to walk
in good judgment.

Author and Poet Annie Dillard writes: "How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives."

How well do you wait?  

PRAYER:  Dear God, help me to overcome doubts and the temptation of impatience. Help me to trust You
with the choices and decisions of my life because You know what is best for me, allow me to wait for
Your answers. Amen



Grace vs Law                April 11, 2010

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder
than all of them - yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.   1 Corinthians 15:10
Yes, God’s grace is always enough, and His arms are always open to give it. But, the question is -- will
our arms be open to receive it?

"I reminded him of the difference, the absolute contrast between law and grace. Law demands; grace
bestows. Law commands, but gives no strength to obey. Grace promises and performs, doing everything
for us. Law burdens, casts down, and condemns. Grace comforts makes strong and glad. Law appeals to
self to do its utmost; grace points to Christ to do all. Law requires effort and strain, urging us toward a
goal we can never reach. Grace works all of God’s blessed will in us."

"I pointed out to him how his first step should be to completely accept his failure and his inability, as God
had been trying to show him, instead of striving against it. With this acceptance and confession, he could
sink down before God in utter helplessness. There he would learn that, unless grace gave him deliverance
and strength, he could never do better than he had done, and that grace would, indeed, work all for him.
He must come out from under law, self, and effort, taking his place under grace and allowing God to do
all."
A Devotional from Andrew Murray

PRAYER: Father God, it is by your grace that I am blessed.  Thank you for your many blessings each and
every day and the grace that you bestow on me.  Amen
Black Canyon Community Church
SonShine Learning Center
Black Canyon City, Arizona

Prayer
with
Diana