• Home
  • Prayer Corner
    • Share a Request
    • Memorial Tribute >
      • Dennis Brommeland
      • Norris Thompson
      • Irv Wood
      • Ann Vander Kooi
      • Jack Demorest
      • Yde Vander Kooi
      • J. Fraser McAllister
      • Ainsley Rose Wollf
      • Dick Mayer
      • David Rusnell
      • Bob McKay
      • Guy Deschatelets
      • Chloe Kroeger
      • Ida Barisoff
      • Gerard Zandee
      • Nick Dikur
  • About Valley
    • Annual Reports >
      • 2019 Annual Report
      • 2018 Annual Report
      • 2017 Annual Report
      • 2016 Annual Report
      • 2015 Annual Report
    • Who We Are
    • What We Believe
    • How We Are Governed >
      • Constitution & Bylaws
    • Where We Are Going
  • Ministries
    • Leadership Team >
      • Nomination Committee
      • Benevolent Ministry
    • Finance and Property >
      • 2019 Budget
      • Quarterly Report - Current
      • Guidelines for Use of Building
    • Missions >
      • Valley Missions Newsletter
      • Missions Guidelines
    • Caring and Connecting
    • Christian Education >
      • Library
    • Worship >
      • Heritage House
  • What's Happening
    • Bulletin
    • Links
  • Photos
    • Annual Celebration >
      • 2019
      • 2018
      • 2017
      • 2016
      • 2015
      • 2014
      • 2013
      • 2012
      • 2011
      • 2010
    • 25th Anniversary
    • Follow the Duck 2014
    • Follow the Crown 2013
    • Mexico 2013
    • "The Bridge"
    • 20th Anniversary
  • Messages
    • Archived Messages 2019
    • Archived Messages 2018
    • Archived Messages 2017
    • Archived Messages 2016
    • Archived Messages 2015
  • Blog
    • Christmas Letter
  • Contact Us
    • Directions
    • Directory >
      • Membership List
      • How To Become A Member
      • Guidelines for Responsible Members
VALLEY CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

The Power of Togetherness

1/23/2014

0 Comments

 
In the Gospel of John, chapter 17, shortly before the Lord Jesus experienced the agony of Gethsemane, His arrest and night-long ordeal that would lead to His death on a cross, our Lord prayed for His followers:  Holy Father, protect them…so they may be one as we are one. (17:11)

In a passage that beautifully lays out the redeeming work of Christ; the saving, sanctification and glorification of those who put their trust in Him, Jesus had one central prayer for His followers—that they would be united.  His prayer extended beyond those with him on that night to all who would come to faith—for you and for me; for the church throughout the ages:  that all of them may be one…so that the world may believe that you have sent me. (17:21)

This prayer, this hope Jesus has for the church was reiterated through the teaching of the Apostle Paul who exhorted the church in Ephesus:  Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit. (4:3)  He said the same thing to the Christians in Rome: Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.  (Romans 14:19) 

Live in harmony with one another. (Romans 12:19)

If unity, if togetherness plays such a critical role in the life of the followers of Christ, if it is the one way those outside of Christ would come to believe the truth of Gospel, what do you think the strategy of the evil one is going to be as he seeks to oppose the ways of God and the people of God, the church?

Disunity and disharmony are not the ways of God.  In a world filled with conflict and division, the prayer of our Lord was that His follower would live life differently; that they would model to an unbelieving world a better way; that they would be a community of people who love one another deeply from the heart. (1 Peter 1:21)  His desire is that we would live out and model forgiveness and grace; that we would build up and encourage one another so that others might look at the church and see something different; that they might be drawn to One who makes us different.

We are not perfect at Valley, but we have been blessed with a spirit of unity and love for one another that is real and powerful.  So my friends at Valley, I write these words to encourage you to cherish and protect what we have, that Christ may continue to be honored among us and that others may see that living a life of faith in Jesus Christ really is the best possible way to live.

Let us be concerned for one another, to help one another to show love and to do good.  (Hebrews 10:24)



0 Comments

The Power of Gentleness

1/15/2014

0 Comments

 
One time in the Old Testament, one of God's chosen prophets fell into despair. ; Elijah was a man of great faith who had won many spiritual battles but on the heels of a great spiritual victory at Mount Carmel; after the incredible triumph over the prophets of Baal, Elijah is overtaken by fear and discouragement.  The story tells us, Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day's journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. "I have had enough, LORD," he said. "Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors."  (1 Kings 19:3-4) 

God learns about Elijah’s condition and sends an angel to care for him and then he sends word to Elijah that he is to go to Mount Horeb because God is going meet him there. Elijah is about to meet God and maybe he wishes the situation were a little different because he wasn't meeting God when he is at his best.  He's meeting God at a low point; he's in a weakened condition, broken and discouraged.  Elijah must have been wondering:  what is this meeting going to be like? How would God manifest His presence?   

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord. (19:11) 

Think about the power of the wind coming in hurricane force; rocks are flying, the mountainside is shaking and Elijah thinks, ‘if this is God showing up, I’m not sure I can handle it. But the Bible says, God was not in the wind.  (19:11) 

The story goes to say, After the wind there was an earthquake.  Once again Elijah thinks to himself, ‘if this is God, I’m not sure I handle this.  But, the Lord was not in the earthquake. (19:11) 

And after the earthquake came a fire. (19:12)  Whatever has not been reduced by the wind or the earthquake is now consumed by a raging fire and Elijah wonders, is God going to manifest himself as a consuming fire?  But, the Lord was not in the fire. (19:12) 

And after the wind and the earthquake and the fire, the Bible says there was a gentle whisper. (19:12)  Then a voice said to him, "what are you doing here, Elijah"?  (19:13)    Translation:  what's going on? Why the discouragement?  Why the despair? Let's talk about it, Elijah.   In that moment I think Elijah was stunned by God's gentleness! 

This story says something to me about our God; about His character and His inclination towards His people. It also says something about the power of gentleness. Gentleness has the power to shock us and leave us undone.  And when we’re undone, we become curiously open to what God might want to say to us, to what God may be doing in and through our lives.  The older I get, the more I’m seeing that gentleness is a better way! 

Be kind and gentle to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.        (Ephesians 4:32)

 

0 Comments

The Lord Bless You and Keep You

1/1/2014

0 Comments

 
If you are familiar with the Old Testament, the faith of the Jewish people, or if you hang round Valley long enough you will also be familiar with the words, ‘the Lord bless you and keep you’.

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.   (Numbers 6:24-26)

Each time God’s people gathered in the temple, the priest would conclude the gathering by speaking these words; words first given from God through Moses to Aaron; words of blessing for the people of God; words of deep significance.

To bless in the Old Testament is to ‘direct upon’ / ‘to endue with’…power for success, prosperity, divine favor.  Central to the nature of God and a bedrock truth of our faith is the understanding, the belief that God desires to direct upon His people His divine favor. Genesis 1 tells us that God created and God blessed; His blessing is woven into His creation.  When God blesses, He gives Himself to His people; He assures them of his presence and protection.

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  (Psalm 46:1)

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.    I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”  (Psalm 91:1-2)

My friends at Valley, as we begin a New Year, may the Lord bless you and keep you.  May God reveal Himself to you, the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.  In revealing Himself to you, my you be reminded that you are in a covenant relationship with God, who desires to bless you.  As He directs His favor upon you, may you experience over and over again the wonder of His grace.

May the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.  May His smile accompany you on your journey that you might know His affection toward you, for you are the beloved of the Father!  How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called that children of God!  And that is what we are!  (1 John 1:3)  Live accordingly! Live as Abba’s child!  And rest is Him, for He is the source of life and joy and peace.

Happy New Year!

0 Comments

    Author

    Ken Clarke has been the Pastor at Valley since 2007. He lives in the Oliver area 
    with his wife Janice ; they have three adult children, Lisa, Scott (Tiffany) and Andrea (Jason).

    Categories

    All
    Christian Living
    Christmas
    Church
    Creation
    Easter
    Finishing Well
    Leadership
    Mexico
    Most Viewed
    Nature Of God
    Our Stories
    Parenting
    Prayer
    Relationships
    Worship

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012

4312 Black Sage Road Box 1235 Oliver, BC V0H 1T0 250-498-4829 valleyccc@hotmail.com