Pray For One Another                 May 23, 2010

"If we truly love people, we will desire for them far more than it is within our power to give them, and this will lead
us to prayer: Intercession is a way of loving others."   Richard J. Foster

The people who are so greatly needed in this age of the church are those who have learned the business of
praying—learned it on their knees, learned it in the need and agony of their own hearts. Praying people are the one
commanding need of this day, as of all other days, if God is to intervene in the world.

In doing God’s work there is no substitute for praying. People of prayer cannot be replaced with other kinds of
people. People of financial skill, people of education, people of worldly influence—none of these can possibly
substitute for people of prayer.

The people to whom Jesus Christ committed the fortunes and destiny of His church were people of prayer. To no
other kind of people has God ever committed Himself. People must pray, and people must be prayed for. The
Christian must pray for all things, of course, but prayers for people are infinitely more important, just as people are
infinitely more important than things. Also, prayers for people are far more important than prayers for things
because people more deeply involve God’s will and the work of Jesus Christ. People are to be cared for,
sympathized with, and prayed for, because sympathy, pity, compassion, and care accompany and precede prayer
for people.

Our praying concerns not only ourselves, but all people and their greatest interests, and even the salvation of their
immortal souls. Praying is a business that takes hold of eternity and the things beyond the grave. It is a business
that involves earth and heaven. All worlds are touched by prayer, and all worlds are influenced by prayer.  


Prayer:  Heavenly Father, please be with me as I learn to pray for all people.  Show me how to open my heart for
everyone.  Amen




Finding Our Faith                May 16, 2010

“Our claim is that God has revealed Himself by speaking; that this divine (or God-breathed) speech has
been written down and preserved in Scripture; and that Scripture is, in fact, God’s Word written, which
therefore is true and reliable and has divine authority over men.” John Stott
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to
dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12
One of the prevailing temptations of our pluralistic, highly educated culture is to see truth as relative.
Right and wrong, the attributes of God, the need and nature of salvation; essential beliefs and practices
are not considered absolute, but merely suggestive.

Throughout Scripture, we are told that some issues are a matter of personal conscience, so there is plenty
of room for debate and personal conviction.

But that doesn’t mean all matters—or even most matters—of faith have an element of personal decision.
For example, Paul declares that if there is no resurrection of Christ, there is no salvation or promise of
heaven available. (See 1 Corinthians 15:12–19.) How do we know what is absolute and what involves
choice? There is only one sure source of revelation: God’s Word. Listen to good preachers and teachers,
but never let them take the place of getting to know God’s Word for yourself.
PRAYER:  Dear Lord, Let me hear Your Words as I listen for myself and know which are true.  Amen


A Loving Mother...        May 9, 2010

She spent many of her elementary school years in hospitals with TB of the bone.  Her father left so that
her mother would remarry someone who could care for them both.  She was raised by a kind step-father.
She never got anything "common" other than a cold once in a while.  
She never attended college but worked in a factory and after getting married and having three kids, she
went back to work to help support her family - but she was a loving mother to her children; distant,
preoccupied with household chores, but loving.
She was married only once.   She and Dad kept the fights to the bedroom and the kids rarely saw when
there was a problem - but we knew.  Financial mostly, and dad's drinking.
She worked hard all her life and  went to the Lord's house early - at only age 65.  It was a very rare form
of cancer - studied by many doctors with biopsies sent all over the country because she never got
anything "common".  But she was a loving Mother.  She never complained; even with all the suffered
pain.  She was my hero; a very loving Mother.
Her story may be different than your own mother's story - or it may be similar.  God gives us a mother in
many different forms - some loving, some not.  Some we were born to, others we were "gifted to" in other
ways.  Women in our lives that made a special, lasting  impression on us.
In any case, today is their special day. And in dedication to all the Mom's out there (both past and
present) Happy Mother's Day with Love!

PRAYER:  Gracious Heavenly Father, thank you for my Mother and for the many years I had with her.  For
the many things she taught me. She was a blessing to me and a gift.  Amen


Charity and Faith        May 2, 2010

Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you
well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?  In the same
way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.  James 2:15–17

Is it possible to do good things for the wrong reasons? Absolutely. Does that mean these good deeds are
worthless and achieve no good ends? Not necessarily. Your good deeds, done for the wrong reasons, may
very well bless others tremendously. However, the benefit to you and your soul is negated.

Faith without actions is a dead faith, but conversely, actions without love are rarely as effective in making
a lasting difference in the world—and are spiritually dead for the one who is doing them.

Without charity external work is of no value, but anything done in charity, be it ever so small and trivial,
is entirely fruitful inasmuch as God weighs the love with which a man acts rather than the deed itself.

We experience peace and joy when there is agreement between our internal beliefs and external actions
that we do in our lives.   Are you contributing in charitable acts and deeds in your life?

PRAYER:  Dear Heavenly Father, as I walk in my faith, let me do the good deeds for the right reasons.  
Let me experience peace and joy in my life from doing good for others.  Amen
Black Canyon Community Church
SonShine Learning Center
Black Canyon City, Arizona

Prayer
with
Diana