I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples.
For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
Psalm 57:9-11
For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
Psalm 57:9-11
With all the attention focused on a global pandemic, world-side unrest and a provincial election, it is not suprising that the anniversary of the church has quietly come upon us, catching us somewhat off guard. For those of you who have shared in the 30-year history of the church, I can only imagine the memories you must hold in your hearts as you reflect on the early years, all the changes through the years and yet are mindful of the one constant, God's faithfulness.
For those of us who have been part of the more-recent history of the church, we too recognize God's hand of blessing, past and present and because the essential nature of God does not change, we can confidently predict His faithfulness will continue to guide us in the days ahead. How blessed we are to be able to rest in HIs faithful love and to know whatever tomorrow may bring, we are secure in Him; that we can claim His promise to us. You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you (Isaiah 26:3).
As I reflect back on the 13+ years we have been at Valley and the blessings that have been mine as the pastor here, it's not so much any particular event we have experienced together that stands out in my mind (there have been many such events/ gatherings), but rather the people that we have shared the journey with us. Even as I type these words the names and faces are flashing across my mind and it brings to me a smile. What makes the church such a wonderful is experience is not the building we have, although we are incredibly blessed to have the structure on Black Sage road as a place to call 'home'. It is not the gatherings in and of themselves that make the church so special; although we have had some wonderful times of worship and fellowship. It's not even the blessings we have shared as God has surprised us with His grace and kindness and has allowed us to bless others through the ministries of the church. What is most heart-warming is to have shared the presence of God among us, to see Him at work and experience more of His faithful love over the years.
For those of us who have been part of the more-recent history of the church, we too recognize God's hand of blessing, past and present and because the essential nature of God does not change, we can confidently predict His faithfulness will continue to guide us in the days ahead. How blessed we are to be able to rest in HIs faithful love and to know whatever tomorrow may bring, we are secure in Him; that we can claim His promise to us. You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you (Isaiah 26:3).
As I reflect back on the 13+ years we have been at Valley and the blessings that have been mine as the pastor here, it's not so much any particular event we have experienced together that stands out in my mind (there have been many such events/ gatherings), but rather the people that we have shared the journey with us. Even as I type these words the names and faces are flashing across my mind and it brings to me a smile. What makes the church such a wonderful is experience is not the building we have, although we are incredibly blessed to have the structure on Black Sage road as a place to call 'home'. It is not the gatherings in and of themselves that make the church so special; although we have had some wonderful times of worship and fellowship. It's not even the blessings we have shared as God has surprised us with His grace and kindness and has allowed us to bless others through the ministries of the church. What is most heart-warming is to have shared the presence of God among us, to see Him at work and experience more of His faithful love over the years.
As we celebrate this coming Lord's Day and move toward the season of Thanksgiving, I want to encourage you to pause and reflect on all of God's goodness to us as a church and to you and as you do, I ask you again, 'what do you say'?
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.
Psalm 36:1
Psalm 36:1
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