THE PERFECT GIFT?                October 11, 2009

Facing a challenge?  It's always easy to wonder, Where is God? Why did he allow this?
If your world appears to be falling apart, it's tempting to decide if God is ignoring you and even to wonder
if He's benevolent as you thought.

James reminded the first-century church that though circumstances changed, God didn't.  When these
early believers faced trials - and even death - they could trust that God was still giving them good and
perfect gifts.  It may not seem that way at the moment.  

You may have lost a job, or may not have enough income to pay your mortgage.  You may have received
news you didn't like to hear.  Life sometimes seems out of control, and stress threatens to overcome you.
 You may not seem to see a good thing about it.  But wait a while.  In a year or two , when you look back
on this, God's plan may seem clearer.  Maybe a new job will prove better than the old, or the challenges
you currently face will allow for strengthen friendships, or a better church, and improved life.

Whatever the situation is, don't judge God's gifts until you have unwrapped the whole package.  Often
His presents are larger than they seem and take  longer to unpack than you thought.  But in the end,
you're likely to learn that whatever pain you put into the situation is much less than His blessings - and
without that pain, you'd never have had all God wanted to give you.
You see, the gift really was perfect all along and God didn't stop being good.  For a while, you just
couldn't see through the wrapping paper.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does
not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

PRAYER:  Dear Lord I pray that You will help me to not grow weary in well doing.  Keep me from giving up
when times of discouragement happen and it seem as if the right thing isn't working.  Help me to refuse
to be discouraged, for I know by faith that there will be reaping of good things in your name.  Amen



Counselor For Our Heart                October 4, 2009

Do you ever think about the best teacher you'd ever had in school? What were those traits or
characteristics of that person that you liked best?  Did you ever strive to be like him or her? Why?
God does not leave us with just His promise to instruct and to teach us. He goes beyond that and
promises to counsel us and to watch over us. We however, must allow Him room in our hearts so that He
can teach us. When we know Christ as Lord and Savior, then we also must learn His Word so that we will
know His character and His ways. As we learn of Him through His Word we are then better equipped to
call upon Him for His promises to us. He is always available to Us and we can call upon Him for His
promises at any time, but we must know those promises first, & that requires time with Him in His Word.

Psalm 32:8   I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.

PRAYER: Father God, Help us to know your Word so that we will know Your promises, which are true
and faithful. Help us to share what we know with others as we learn.  Amen.
Black Canyon Community Church
SonShine Learning Center
Black Canyon City, Arizona

Prayer
with
Diana