Obeying God in Our Place                June 27,2010

For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully
committed to him.   II Chronicles 16:9 NIV
God has called each of us to obey Him in the place He has us (whether we like it or want to change it). In
His eyes we all have a ministry. Many serve Him in a local church through a variety of ministries, such as
music, teaching, youth work, or by being a part of the church staff. Others serve on the mission field, on
the job, at school, or at home.  Each of us has our own special job to do.
God knows you and He knows your heart desires to serve Him. You are someone that He will use to make
a difference, to share His love, and to touch the hearts of others. What has qualified you for this high
privilege of being used by Him? Is it your talents, your personality, your education, your influence, or
your résumé? It is none of these; rather, it is the response of your heart toward Him. God is always
searching for those whose hearts are yielded to Him so that He can work mightily through them.
Sometimes we can be led to think that God’s work is dependent upon us, upon what we do, and upon
what we know. The truth is that God wants us to be totally dependent upon Him. He is the Treasure, we
are the vessels; He is Vine, we are the branches; He is the Living Water, we are the channels through
which He flows.  By listening and obeying when we hear God's wishes for us, we show our love for Him.
PRAYER:  Dear Father God, let my heart be committed to Your will.  Allow me to hear what You have in
store for me so I may serve You.  Amen



~ Our Special Father ~        June 20, 2010

There's a very Special Father, Whom some may fail to mention;
Who deserves our deepest gratitude and our sincere, utmost, attention.

He gave us His only begotten Son; Who died upon the cross ...
To give us everlasting life  and for the sinners, who were lost.

You know, it must have caused God pain; As He watched His only Son.
With nails through His hands and in His feet, His suffering had begun.

But, Jesus knew the sacrifice, As He hung upon the cross.
He also knew His Father loved Him, too. So, He didn't count the cost.

Now, here I am on bended knee To thank you, Lord, and pray ...
To honor You and Your Son, too; On, "Your Special Father's Day."
© 2001 by Vickie Lambdin

For all things you've lead me through and taught me
And for promising me that you will never leave me
Through and through you've shown me the ropes
Helping me in anything and everything I face
Everyday you're there for me by simply calling your name
Rarely do I get to thank you enough.
So on this special day, I do exactly that.
Thank you for being my father!



Love Field - A Thankful Heart                June 13, 2010

Henry Ward Beecher writes: “The unthankful heart discovers no mercies; but let the thankful heart sweep
through the day and, as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings!”
Colossians 3:6
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as
you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
A timely story has been told of a man who found the barn where Satan stores the seeds he sows in the
human heart: envy, greed, anger, hatred, lust, and so on. The man noticed that Satan had more seeds of
discouragement than any other kind, and he learned that those seeds were hardy and fruitful and could
be made to grow almost anywhere. But when Satan was questioned, he reluctantly admitted that there
was one place in which he could not get them to grow. “Where is that?” asked the man. Satan replied, “In
the heart of a thankful man.” This is a Love field.

When we choose a thankful attitude, our spirits resist the cynicism, discouragement, and pessimism that
weigh life down. We’re better able to thrive and survive no matter what life throws at us. And our love for
God blooms and grows.

PRAYER:  Dear Heavenly Father, I pray today for a thankful heart. Please nurture me in a spirit of
gratitude for the many gifts you bless me with every day. And for these gifts, I offer you humble thanks.
Amen



Reasons to Love the Rain         June 6, 2010       

Today you will encounter God’s creation. When you see the beauty around you, let each detail remind
you to lift your head in praise.    Max Lucado
I have set My rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth.
Genesis 9:13

When you have an outdoor wedding or a big family-reunion picnic planned, a rainy day feels like a
disaster. But most of the time, there are lots of reasons to love rainy days!
•        No yard work, and you don’t have to clean the car.
•        Things like youth soccer games get cancelled, removing them from an already too-busy schedule.
•        They make for a great time to stay inside and read a book.
•        The grass is going to be thick and green before the onset of summer heat.
•        Newly planted flowers need the water.
•        They make us appreciate a bright, sunny day even more.
•        We might get to see a rainbow - God's own sign that He will never destroy the earth by water again.
Rainy days. They may or may not be your favorite. But like all other days, they offer something positive.
And since all days are God's days, a blessing can always be found in a storm cloud!

PRAYER:  Father, thank You for both rain and sunshine in my life. I know that I need both experiences.
And thank You that Your presence and blessings are found no matter what the weather. Amen
Black Canyon Community Church
SonShine Learning Center
Black Canyon City, Arizona

Prayer
with
Diana