OUR DAILY RACE                September 27, 2009

Life has often been compared to a race, and it often is a test of our will, our endurance, and our
resilience in the same way a physical race is. We need to remember that we cannot run the Christian race
apart from the equipment God has provided.

What’s the secret of making it to the finish line? Is it determination? Is it trying harder? Is mustering
every ounce of courage we can find? Is it asking great people to help us? Those things all sound great,
but we’ll never make it to the finish line on our own efforts—even if others help us. In this way the
Christian race is different than a marathon or mad sprint.

The Spiritual life has always been and will always be about trusting on God and relying on His power and
help, not just to bring us salvation, but to help us take each step of our life journey. That victorious finish
will comes not by trying harder—but by trusting Him more!

Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established. Proverbs 16:3

PRAYER: Dear Lord, I know I can’t win the race of life on my own. I need Your help and guidance every
step of the way. Thank You for being there for me every day of my life!  Amen.




Waiting: A difficult Task                September 20, 2009

Waiting is difficult ~ crawling behind a car that is going well below the speed limit in a no-passing zone,
tapping your foot in line at the coffee shop as someone scrounges up exact change, anxiously waiting for
the mailman so you can get your hands on that check that was promised weeks ago, and, of course,
trying to keep a great attitude in church on the very Sunday that you planned to meet your best friends
for lunch at 12:30 and the pastor's  message information runs slightly over - an uncommon event. Maybe
the toughest waiting is when we ask God for direction on an important life decision. That can be a most
difficult task.  And if you are like me, many of us don't wait well.

No, waiting is not easy, but God tells us to wait patiently for Him: His choices, His answers, His news, His
guidance, His perfect spouse for us, His desire for our vocation, His Love, and yes, even His coming
again. Waiting patiently means trusting God knows what is best for us because we are His children. God
desires us to wait for Him because when we acknowledge Him in all our decisions, we truly begin to walk
in wisdom.   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.

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. Amen.             


Dancing With God                        September 13, 2009

When I meditated on the word Guidance, I kept seeing 'dance' at the end of the word. I remember reading
that doing God's will is a lot like dancing. When two people try to lead, nothing feels right. The
movement doesn't flow with the music, and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky. When one
person realizes that, and lets the other lead, both bodies begin to flow with the music. One gives gentle
cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back or by pressing Lightly in one direction or another. It's as if two
become one body, moving beautifully.. The dance takes surrender, willingness, and attentiveness from
one person and gentle guidance and skill from the other. My eyes drew back to the word Guidance. When
I saw 'G': I thought of God, followed by 'u' and 'i'. 'God, 'u' and 'i' dance. God, you, and I dance.
As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust that I would get guidance about my life. Once again, I
became willing to let God lead. My prayer for you today is that God's blessings and mercies are upon you
on this day and every day. May you abide in God, as God abides in you. Dance together with God,
trusting God to lead and to guide you through each season of your life. If God has done anything for you
in your life, please share this message with someone else. There is no cost but a lot of rewards; so let's
continue to pray for one another~ And I Hope You Dance !

2 Corinthians 1:3-4
3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all
comfort, 4who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the
comfort we ourselves have received from God.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, I want to thank You for all the help and guidance You have given to me in my life.  
Help  me to be able to comfort others who are having troubles and need the same guidance as you have
helped me.  These favors we pray in your name. Amen


In God We Trust                 September 6, 2009    

Several years ago, a friend of mine and her husband were invited to spend the weekend at the home of
her husband's employer.  The boss was very wealthy, with a fine home on the waterway, and cars costing
more than her house. Her husband's employer was quite generous as a host, and took them to the finest
restaurants.

As the three of them were about to enter an exclusive restaurant one evening, the boss was walking
slightly ahead of Carole and her husband.
He stopped suddenly, looking down on the pavement for a long, silent moment.

Carole wondered if she was supposed to pass him.  There was nothing on the ground except a single
darkened penny that someone had dropped, and a few bits of trash.   Still silent, the man reached down
and picked up the penny.  He held it up and smiled, then put it in his pocket as if he had found a great
treasure.

How absurd!  What need did this man have for a single penny?  Why would he even take the time to stop
and pick it up – he was extremely wealthy?

Throughout dinner, the entire scene nagged at her.  Finally, she could stand it no longer.  She casually
mentioned that her daughter once had a coin collection, and asked if the penny he had found had been of
some value.

A smile crept across the man's face as he reached into his pocket for the penny and held it out for her to
see. She had seen many pennies before! What was the point of this?

"Look at it," he said.  "Read what it says."  
She read the words, “United States of America  ..."  
"No, not that.  Read further."
"One cent?"  "No, keep reading."
"In God we Trust?"    "Yes!"  "And?. . .."
"And if I trust in God, the name of God is holy, even on a coin.  Whenever I find a coin, I see that
inscription.  It is written on every single United States coin, but we never seem to notice it! God drops a
message right in front of me reminding me to trust Him.  Who am I to pass it by?  When I see a coin, I
pray.  I stop to see if my trust IS in God at that moment.  I pick the coin up as a response to God; that I
do trust in Him.  For a short time, at least, I cherish it as if it were gold.  I think it is God's way of starting
a conversation with me.  Lucky for me, God is patient and pennies are plentiful!"

So as a reminder, when you are out and find a penny on the sidewalk, stop and picked it up. If you are
worrying and fretting about things you cannot change, read the words, "In God We Trust," and ask
yourself if you have your trust in God – and turn it over to Him.   

As for me, it seems that I have been finding an inordinate number of pennies in the last few months, but
then, pennies are plentiful!  And, God is patient.

PRAYER:  Dear Heavenly Father, listen to our prayers and help us to trust your will.  Allow us to
understand the power that our prayers have as we continue to turn our issues and our lives over to your
care on a daily basis for strength and health and prosperity.   Amen!
Black Canyon Community Church
SonShine Learning Center
Black Canyon City, Arizona

Prayer
with
Diana