As a young man I remember sleeping well at night.  Even when I worked nights, I slept well during the daylight hours.  But for most of my adult life I have not slept well; I have a difficult time shutting my mind off and often lay awake late into the night. I know God's word tells me he grants sleep to those he loves (Psalm 127:2), but I have struggled to claim this promise.

Yet even so, I know that I am in a covenant relationship with the God, never is there a time when I am not under HIs care, He is the God who sits up with me.  By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me. (Palm 42:8) 

I think too of the promises found in Psalm 91: 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.” You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. (Psalm 91:1-2,4-5)

Often my thoughts dwell on my kids, on what his happening in their lives, sometimes my heart aches for them.  Sometimes my thoughts are focused on you, the people of Valley, when you hurt, I hurt.  And there are times when my thoughts turn toward what awaits me in the morning; sometimes if feels a bit overwhelming.  But there are also times when I find myself draw to God, to His grace and love for me.

On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night.  Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. I cling to you; your right hand upholds me. (Psalm 63:6-8)

It is God who gives me peace.  In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety. (Psalm 4:8) 

In speaking to Job, Zophar says, You will be secure, because there is hope; you will look about you and take your rest in safety. You will lie down, with no one to make you afraid. (Job 11:18-19)

​He is always with me, night and day.  He guided (His pepole) with the cloud by day and with light from the fire all night. (Psalm 78:14)

Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.”

Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I keep my eyes always on the Lord.   

With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence,  with eternal pleasures at your right hand. (Psalm 16:1-2, 5-8,11) 

The Bible clearly exhorts us as God's people to Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever ( Chronicles 16:34).  Similiarily, the songwriter encourages us to Count your blessings, name them one by one; count your blessings, see what God has done. 

As we come to Thanksgiving 2020, perhaps more so than any other year in recent history, in the year of Covid-19, we need to pause and reflect on the goodness and grace we have experienced from God and to offer to Him our sacrifice of thanksgiving (Psalm 116:17).

As I think about the blessings God has poured out in my life, I am grateful for the covenant relationship I with my Father.  I know that I am loved by Him and that He desires to break into my life and lead me according to His good purposes; that daily He invites me to walk with Him, to fellowship with Him.  Here I think of the words of  God to the prophet Jeremiah: Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth (Jeremiah 9:23-24).

I am also grateful that God watches over me; He is the God who sees and the God who cares, who provides and protects those who belong to Him.  The Psalmist writes:  He will watch over your life;  the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore (Psalm 121:7-8).  As I comtemplate all that has happened in these past months, I am particularly grateful for God's intervening grace in the life of our son Scott.  On the night he was hospitialized with the coronavirus, God revealed Himself once again as the God who sits up with us.  We are grateful for the safe and healthy arrival of our grandson, Riley and for the grace extended to him when he too was diagnosed with Covid-19.  In the early days of the pandemic, that was a scary time but looking back, God has been good to our family.

So, not surprisingly, I am thankful for family and friends; for a church family that is sharing this journey with us.  The Bible says we have been knit together in love (Colossians 2:2 - NKJV); that we should love one another deeply, from the heart (1 Peter 1:22).  Over the past 13 years we have shared some mountain top experiences  and at times we have walked through the valley together and in all things, our God has remained faithful and God.  As I give thanks, I'm so glad I'm a part of the family of God.

My friends at Valley, God has been so very good to you, what do you say?

As you pause and reflect this Thanksgiving, I want to invite you to respond to this posting by sharing three things for which you are thankful.  

I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving (Psalm 69:30).

My summer break provides for a time to slow down, to pause and reflect.  Often it is also a time for reading and preparing for the fall, but this year, I literally took a break from almost everything associated with 'my work.  I had a lot of quiet time; time to be still and know that He is God (Psalm 46:10); to know that God is still on His throne in spite of all that is happening in our world today.  It was for a time to allow Him to lead me to green pastures and still waters, to refresh / restore my soul.  (Psalm 23:2-3)

Over these past three weeks, one verse has occupied my heart and mind.  It is one of my favorite verses in all of Scriptoure, Psalm 34:8:  Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.

As I look at all that is happening in nation, in the United States and around the world, the words of this verse rise above all the chaos we have seen in recent months -- the bomb blast in Beirut, the devestation of hurricanes and floods, the senseless loss of lives, the violence and protests and the staggering losses from a global pandemic.  I hear the fear and cries of desparation in the voices of those who have lost their jobs, who are facing financial hardship, from the homeless, the addicted and some many that are grieving.  Where do we turn to find a measure of peace and rest for our bodies, our minds and our souls?

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. (Psalm 34:8)

For those who are feeling overwhelmed, uncertain and afraid, taste and see, and you will discover their is One who is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1).  To those who are grieiving, He is the the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3).  To weary He is our our source of rest. Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28). 

For those who feel trapped, He is our way out, our way forward.  This is what the Lord says...Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God...you are precious and honored in my sight...love you.  (Isaiah 43:1-4)

To hurting world, God says, taste and see, and you will discover that I am good. To those who wonder if there is a way out of this mess, God says, taste and see, and you will discover a better way than the way of despair.  Put your trust in Me and you will find peace and rest and hope.

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. (Psalm 34:8)

As I finish up a few more administrative tasks before starting my summer break; one of which is this blog posting, I am looking forward to a time to rest and replenish.  These past few months have indeed been unprecidented for the church and while it has been good to for the church to be able to regather, we are still a long way from a 'normal' church experience.  This whole journey from the declaration in mid-March of a global pandemic, the shutting down of many aspects of our ministry, the season of adapting on the fly and then preparing to regather has been, quite honestly, draining.  But, as is often the case, it is during such times as this that we gain a fresh perspective about our God and this journey of faith we are share with our God.

For me, I am thankful for:

God' Presence and Protection

There were moments for us as a family when this pandemic hit very close to home; when our son was hospitalized with the virus and our newborn grandson tested positive.  Scott declined so quickly on the day he was taken by ambulance to hospital that through those late night hours, we feared the worst.  But, we have a God who sits up with us, who, in those moments reminded us that our son was in His hands, who assured us and brought a measure of peace.  Scott has recovered and is now working in the Covid unit at Trafalgar Memorial Hospital in Oakville.  Riley had mild symptoms but is today healthy and growing!

God has watched over our church family as we have a called out to Him for protection.  We need to continue to pray for our health care and essential workers and for continued wisdom for decision makers both at a provincial and national level.  This thing is not over and we must not let down our guard regarding safety measures but as Christians we must not let down our guard of prayer.

I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer. (Psalm 17:6)

God's Provision

As I look back on all that has happened regarding the way we do ministry during a crisis, I see the hand of God at work preparing and sustaining His church.  I think back to a few years ago when Sandra raised the idea of a church website -- our site was already established and operational when we most need to develop a greater online presence.  I think also of Karen's iniative to record our worship gatherings.  By the time we had to close the doors of the church we had the means in place to continue to record and post a modified worship experience that was well received by our church family and by many outside Valley.  I'm also grateful for the learning that was 'forced' on me as we figured out the programming and software needed to ramp up our online presence.

Aspah began Psalm 73 with the words, 'Surely God is good to Israel'.  We too must declare, surely God is good to Valley, to His people.  He has provided what we need for such a time as this and through the continued generosity of His people, he has provided for all of our expenses, so that we could continue our ministry and faithfully support our Mission Partners.

God's Encouragement

Here, I think of the words of the hymnwriter, 'Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide' (Great Is Thy Faithfulness).  God has given to us His divine encouragement on this journey through uncharted territory. And much of that encouragement has come through you, the people of Valley.  Thank you for staying in touch with one another, for supporting and building up one another 'from a distance' and for cheering me on in my role as your pastor.  Your support has greatly encouraged me and provided an extra measure of engery to keep going and get done what needed to be done, during a particularly demanding stretch.

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  (Romans 15:5-6)

God's Direction, Inspiration and Assurance

Over these past five months, as we interacted as a Leadership Team and church family, as we worked out way through so many unknowns, God was quietly guiding our steps and affirming His leading through a wonderful spirit of unity and a determination and resolve among our people.  I have seen just how precious and meaningful the community faith is during this season.  For me, much of God's inspiration has come through the quiet support of you, the people fo Valley and from many outside sources that have been blessed by our ministry to them during this time.  And, I have been blessed by God during private moments of prayer and contemplation and often when sitting at my desk, stuck in sermon prepartion and the Spirit would provide the right verse, the right word or phrase to keep going. I would whisper a 'thanks, Lord' and then push on.

All along God had directed, inspired and given to me, to us, His assurance.  We still face an unknown future, as I take a break now, I'm not sure what tomorrow may bring, but we can rest assurred because we can trust an unknown future to a known God!

They will be my people, and I will be their God. I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me and that all will then go well for them and for their children after them. I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me.  I will rejoice in doing them good and will assuredly plant them in this land with all my heart and soul. (Jeremiah 32:38-41)

 As we are launching this summers series on hymns of our faith, it started me thinking about those songs that most speak to my heart.  The following is a list of my top ten favorite hymns.

And Can It Be - by Charles Wesley

In a very real sense, this song is my testimony.  I think of the words of Titus 3:4-5...when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. When I ponder the reality that Jesus suffered and died on the cross, to provide for my salvation, like Wesley, I marvel...Died He for me, who caused his pain.  I remember the night, my chains fell off, my heart was free -- amazing love, how can it be that Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

My Savior's Love - Charles H. Gabriel

In the same vein as Wesley's great hymn -- Gabriel begins with words that resonate deeply with me:  I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene, and wonder how you could love me, a sinner condemned, unclean.  With the Apostle Paul, I am humbled to know that Jesus loved me and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20).

Be Thou My Vision - Mary E. Bryne

Each time we sing this song, there is a deep sense of gratitude within as I reflect on the realization that there is a High King of Heaven who is the Ruler of all, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth (Genesis 14:22).

A Mighty Fortress Is Our God - Martin Luther

I appreciate the history and depth of theology in Luther's great hymn, that speaks of the triumph of the Truth.
Rooted in the words of Psalm 46:1, God is our refuge and strength, the picture of God as a fortress brings courage to my heart.

Great Is Thy Faithfulness - Thomas O Chisholm

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 2:22-23)  Whenever I sing this song, I think of the time when Janice's dad passed away.  The words of the last verse sustained me then and continue to speak to me when the hard times come...strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, blessings all mine with ten thousand beside!

Amazing Grace - John Newton
Unbounded Grace - John Walvrood

What list of favourites hymns would not include Newton's Amazing Grace.  The words of second verse take me back to the night I surrender my heart to the Lord Jesus.  'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved; how precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed.  It is by grace you have been saved, through faith (Ephesians 2:8).  In the words of Walvrood, Grace was for me the only way my guilt could find relief; my destiny was changed that day I reached out in belief.  40+ years later, I'm still amazed by His grace!

Holy, Holy, Holy - Reginald Heber

The pure majesty of this hymn draws me into the very presence of our God, who is high and lifted up.  Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory (Isaiah 6:3).

I Sing the Mighty Power of God - Issac Watts

This hymn from the pen of one our the greatest hymn writers in history -- remind me that, The Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them. (Exodus 20:11)  He is the Creator and Sustainer of all life, including mine.  The words of the last line of this hymn are both humbling and awe-inspiring:  While all that borrows life from Thee is ever in Thy care, and everywhere that man can be, Thou God, are present there.

The Longer I Serve Him - William J. Gaither

As one who has been called and privileged to serve in pastoral ministry, I echo the word of the Apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 1:12:  I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service.  This song strengthens my resolve to be a life-long worshipper and servant of God, my Savior.  

I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. (Psalm 146:2)

All of us know what it is to feel anxious, to feel afraid.  We know what is to experience uncertainty and restlessness.  We have all experienced sleepless nights, we are well-acquainted with sorrow and sadness.  We know what it is to call out to God from the depth of a troubled heart.  David writes in Psalm 69:3...I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God.  Like a small child, there is something within us that longs be held close, to know we are safe and secure.

Janice and I are grateful that we were able to meet our grandson shortly after he was born, before all the chaos of this pandemic was unleashed.  At one point he was a little fussy and I took him and wrapped him tightly in his blanket and held him close and rocked him to sleep.  It brought back memories of when Scott was a little guy.  To get him to settle we would often do the same thing, wrap him tightly and hold him close, rocking him until he fell asleep.  As a toddler, I used to pick him up and hold him close.  He would squirm and say 'ti...ght' and try to escape.  But eventually he would simply settle into my arms.

Friends, we are all like that, we long to be held close and to know that everything is going to be okay.  We long for the comforting embrace of God.  In Psalm 131, David acknowledges there are some things he does not understand; things that are beyond his ability to comprehend or that may trouble him.  I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. (131:1)  But, he says...I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content. (131:2)

It's David who wrote the familiar words of Psalm 23, in which he says of God: He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. (23:2-3)  Such rest, while it may seem elusive at times, is available for all who trust in the Lord.  Maybe some of us just need to run to our Shepherd!  

David ends Psalm 23 this way:  Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (23:6)  It is a wonderful picture of being wrapped in the goodness and love of God and speaks of the eternal security we have in Him. 

My friends at Valley, I pray that you would hold on to that image of being held close by God, wrapped in His goodness and love, forever secure in Him.

As a church family at Valley, we join with many across our nation, in the United States and around the world to pray for God’s mercy and grace into the lives of so many who are broken and deeply wounded; who are experiencing grief and sorrow.  We lament the brutal and senseless death of Mr. George Floyd and many others who have died unjustly. We know that such injustice and division grieve the heart of God and stand in contrast to His love and His Word.
 
We pray for comfort for those mourning.  We pray for forgiveness, healing and reconciliation--those things that reflect the truth we find in the Holy Scriptures; that reflect God’s heart to all mankind.  We affirm the truth of Colossians 1:20 that reminds us that God, through the Lord Jesus was pleased to reconcile to himself all things…by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. 
 
We, as the people of God reject inequality as being contrary to God’s will and ways.  We recognize this as a problem not only beyond the borders of our nation but within our borders as well.  As we listen to the voices of minority groups in our land, we cannot dismiss the truth that racial prejudice affects many Canadians.  We affirm God’s desire to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.  (Ephesians 1:10)
 
We confess and declare the truth of the Bible that all human beings are created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27) and as such, everyone has value and dignity.  Further, we confess and declare that there is no place for the kind of hostility and division that is so prevalent today.  While we condemn any abuse of power, we also recognize that there are those in authority over us (Romans 13:1-7).  They deserve our respect and cooperation.  We give thanks for police officers, firefighters and first responders who serve with honor and routinely put their lives on the line to protect and serve our communities.
 
Our commitment at Valley is to be a people and place where all are treated with Christ-like love, and where we honor and serve one another as we are exhorted to do in the Bible (Romans 12:10; Galatians 5:13). To this end, we will listen and learn that we may be part of the solution and agents of blessing in a hurting world.  Where we have fallen short, we ask for forgiveness.  We accept our responsibility to embrace and proclaim the truth of the Gospel and its implications regarding racial diversity, for we are all one in Christ (Galatians 3:28).
 
We humble ourselves and seek God’s wisdom and guidance, for He has said, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.     (2 Chronicles 7:14)

As Christians we hold as sacred and precious the Bible, the Word of God, given to us to show us how to live; how to be rightly related to our Creator and His creation, including one another.  The Bible is for us, our source of authoritative truth, it guides our lives day-by-day.  In the pages of the Bible, God is revealed to us, His faithfulness, compassion and love, as well as His holiness, justice and righteous anger -- in it, we see the heart of God.

Early in the storyline of the Bible we read:  Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. (Genesis 6:5-6 - NKJV)  The turning away from God, from the ways of God and from the truth of His Word, the evil and injustices in our world today must grieve the heart of God, as in the days of Noah.

The Bible tells of a time when Jesus approached the city of Jerusalem...as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it. (Luke 19:41 - NKJV)  He wept because things were not the way they were supposed to be.  Once again the people had turned away from God, they were not in a place where they could receive His message of peace and grace.  I think Jesus would weep today as He sees what is going on in our nation, in the nation to the south of us and in countries around the world.  Today Jesus weeps for a world divided by hatred, racism and injustice; where instead of celebrating and embracing diversity, we treat one another with contempt.  The manifestation of what can only be labelled as pure evil grieves the heart of our Lord.

As a boy, growing up about 80km from Detroit, I remember the images of the riots of 1967, as the city burned.  I remember the unrest a year later when Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy  were assassinated.  50 years later, the streets still burn, has anything really changed?  People are still gripped by fear and a deep-seeded anger, fueled by a longing for change.   We are long way from Dr. King's dream.

In 1996 I had the privilege of attending the Promise Keepers Clergy Conference in Atlanta where nearly 40,000 pastors gathered to worship and hear from God.  At one point, the racial discord in the nation and in the Church was addressed, and in a powerful moment of healing and reconciliation men of different color and race joined hands as we sang with Steve Green, 'Let the Walls Come Down'.  (See the link on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTISgin4_Ww)  Today, we need to pray again, 'let the walls come down'.

A few years ago, Janice and I were part of a Leadership Summit in Chicago.  In the closing session we shared communion with church leaders from around the world. It still remains in my mind one of the most powerful images of what heaven will be like, when...a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues (Revelation 7:9) will declare with one voice the praises of our God.
Today, we need to pray for more of heaven here on earth.

As Christians we are called to carry a message of healing and grace and mercy, a message of reconciliation and peace to a hurting world. The Bible says....if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14).  There is no government program that can heal the hatred and violence and racial divide we are seeing today. Only God can change a hate-filled heart; the heart of God is reconciliation and peace.

So my friends at Valley, pray for peace, pray for reconciliation, pray for healing, for good to triumph over evil.  Pray for calm and wise leadership.  Pray for the Church, that we might be His instrument to bring grace and hope to our world.  Pray the words of Jesus in John 17:  I pray...that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.  I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. (John 17:20-23)

Like many of you, we first began to hear about Covid -19, early in the New Year.  By the end of January we were hearing reports of presumptive cases in Canada and in our own province, but it wasn't until mid-March when a global pandemic was declared that we began to hear the term 'social distancing' and talk of 'staying at home'; about flights being cancelled and schools and businesses closing -- within a few days, things had radically changed.

It was during this time that Janice and I were preparing to travel to Ontario to visit with Scott and Tiffany and see our grandson.  Just hours before we were scheduled to leave I received notice that our flights had been changed, but the changes only took as far as Edmonton! I spend two hours just trying to get through to Air Canada and another two hours on hold before we could get this matter resolved; to say it was a bit stressful would be an understatement! But, we are so grateful to have had a few days with them, to hold Riley and celebrate his birth.

But even during that week, there was concern about getting back home; in the end Janice cut her visit short and we were able to return together. I was also in discussion with our Leadership Team Chair, Don Hargrave about the possibility of having to cancel our Worship Gatherings, which we did, to comply with the directives from our government leaders and health officials. 

When we arrived home on the 21st of March, it was indeed a different world for all of us.  We scrambled to take our Worship Gathering online, to record a modified worship experience for our people.  I am grateful that this has been a means to connect and stay 'in the Word' over the past eight weeks -- thank you for all the positive comments received.  It's not a perfect solution and we are limited in what we can do, but we've been able to make it work for our purposes.  It has been for me a steep learning curve to prepare and quickly get up to speed with some new software / technology; I am grateful for your patience and kindness!

As many of you know it was shortly after arriving home from Ontario that we learned our son had been infected, he spiralled quickly and within hours was in hospital in Hamilton; that was a very difficult night. Scott spend four days in hospital and has been off work since the end of March.  He has now received a second negative report and is able to go back to work this week. Riley was also infected but thankfully had mild symptoms and has recovered -- they are all doing well no.  Thank you for sharing that journey with us and for all your prayers and words of support and encouragement.

In some ways we have 'settled' into a new and much different routine, as we all have had to do.  It has been a time of reflection and a time to re-affirm what it is we have as a people of faith.  We have been able to continue to experience the hand of God leading and blessing our lives.  We have what we need and the have been able to stay safe and stay connected. 

For me, the overwhelming sense I have right now is that of gratitude.  I think of the words of the worship song we have used in our Online Gathering the past two Sundays...I come before You today and there is just one thing I want to say, thank You, Lord.  For all You've given to me, for all the blessings I cannot see, thank You, Lord.  To you, my friends at Valley, 'thank you' for sharing this journey together.  Give thanks to Lord, for He is good.  (1 Chronicles 16:34)

We live by faith, not by sight.
                                                                                      2 Corinthians 5:7

With the world in the midst of an unprecedented crisis, writes Eric Russo, Brandon Carlo doesn't have to look far for inspiration. A small twist of his wrist is all he needs.

Several years ago, the Bruins blue liner had the phrase "live by faith, not by sight" tattooed on the outside of his right forearm. In these uncertain times, it has become a verse that Carlo follows more than ever.

"It's been interesting to have the time to take a step back and recognize things with faith. To a point, I think God may be telling us to slow down a little bit in life," Carlo said. "My tattoo has come into real life at this time… I've got it tattooed on my body for a reason, it's something I truly believe, something that I've been trying to focus on living by each and every day."

Even for those of us who walk by faith, we need, in these unprecedented times, to be reminded of that which we hold as a core conviction; we need to be reminded to focus on hearts and minds in the right place; that our God watches over us.  His promises to us remain certain:  The Lord watches over you...he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. (Psalm 121:5,7 -8)

Friends, if there is one message I would want to share with you today, it is to rest in the presence of our God who has promised, 'I am with you'.  To Moses He declared, My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest. (Exodus 33:14)  God said to Jacob, I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go. (Genesis 28:15)  To Joshua, He promised, I am with you as I was with Moses. (Joshua 3:7)

On six different occasions He gave the same promise to Jeremiah, I am with you. (Jeremiah 1:8,19, 15:20; 30:11, 42:11, 46:28)  To Isaiah He declares:  Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)  

Jesus said, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.  (Matthew 28:10)  And in Matthew 11, He promises, Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)

May you be encouraged in heart and spirit as you lift your eyes off of the uncertainty of this world and look to the one who is our Shepherd and Guide.  

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)

April 29th 

From the TLC Group

You are so many things Father, You are our creator, our shepherd, our saviour, our redeemer, our healer, our calm in the storm, our solid rock, our “go to man” and our best friend. It is You we turn to, You we trust, and we are so thankful that we know You are always watching over us and will never forsake us. Thank you that You will make a way for us and meet our every need in our personal wilderness and love us no matter what we do. Thank you for Your direction. Your thoughts are higher than ours and Your ways are greater so we surrender to Your will and give You our glory and praise. Amen.

Hi Valley.  We miss all of you.  You are welcome to come see us on Wednesdays at 2:00 on messenger.  

April 27th

Because I am sure that neither a virus or any other disease, neither boredom or loneliness, nor social distance or partial unemployment, nor threat of insolvency, no loss of school at home, nor lack of toilet paper nor fake news, nor great crisis, nor fear, nor doubt or even death can not separate me from the love of God. (Romans 8:38-39 by Andi Weiss) 

From Edna Barisoff:

Thank you Lord and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for choosing me and adopting me as your child. I am so grateful to have in my life Lord. I praise you and thank you for being my strength, the one that I turn to throughout the day and night.  Amen

From Janet Armstrong:

The church is not a collection of bodies gathered under one roof; the Church is a collection of hearts
unified under one Name - Jesus.

Similarly from biblehub.com:

The Church has many members in one body...it is a co-operative body, each aiding in his own way and with his own talent. The Church is not a collection of loose stones and timbers; its members are in vital union with Christ, and ought to be in living and loving and considerate fellowship with each other.

April 19th

​From Janet Armstrong:

Greetings Church Family,

So much time has passed since we have been able to gather in Worship of Christ Jesus our Lord. Thankfully Pastor Ken videos Sunday services and we continue to hear the Word of God spoken to us in the same devoted and timely way as when we are present at Valley.

I miss you all and I'm inspired by the care and love shared through phone calls, texts, cards, emails, the making of caps and face masks. And thank you for all the prayers for one another. 

God loves you with a love that is increasing and overflowing.  (1 Thessalonians 3:12-13)."

From June Brommeland:

I give loving thanks to all of you who have been praying for me for Dennis' homecoming one year ago on April 28th. It has been a blessing to me to have you all in my life. We are given assurance in our hearts that we are one with the Lord. My prayer is to continue praying for my step children and grandchildren to come to know the Lord in the same way as we all do.

From Karen Macor:​

Today’s worship service was so meaningful and touching I just have to share my blessings with the rest of you.  Missing all the hugs and handshakes and the comments about the excellent service but am so proud to be a part of Valley when I hear of all the things individuals are doing to help out in the community and at home.  Thank you.

Some comments received about our online presence:

I want to thank you for your Good Friday and Easter Sunday messages. I so miss being at church and these were a real blessing!!!

Thank you for the wonderful  sermon this morning. I  am  so grateful  my kids convinced  me to "get into the modern age" a few years back. Now I  receive  so much pleasure, relief  and can connect  with  family  and friends  virtually  during  these difficult  times.

Thank You for Easter celebration message this morning.

Thank you Pastor Ken for the  heartwarming Easter message.

Thank you for the service, I feel truly blessed.

Happy Easter and thank you for the excellent message today.

Thank you for the service this morning it was very uplifting.

That was a great Good Friday message and loved the reversible narrative.

Thank you Ken, excellent! A great way of presenting the message!

Thank you for this mornings message, we have so very much to be thankful for.
​

​Happy Easter! Tiffany, Riley, and I just wanted to send a quick thank you to everyone at Valley for the thoughts, prayers, and messages of encouragement while we battled COVID-19 in our house. We are happy to report that Tiffany remains symptom free, and that my case and Riley's case are fully resolved! We are now off quarantine. Thank you everyone for blessing us during the past few weeks. Stay safe!

Link to Scott's Facebook post:  https://www.facebook.com/bruinsfan02/posts/10217238693187947
​​

How incredibly strange to be sitting at my desk on Easter Sunday morning.  Since God intercepted my life 43 years ago, on Good Friday, 1977, I have always been in the House of the Lord on Easter morning. Instead I find myself, listening to worship music and reflecting quietly (I've already heard the Easter message from our pastor!); the text before me is Psalm 16.

The Psalm begins with words that could not be more appropriate for out day:  Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge. (Psalm 16:1)  This verse alone is enough to carry us through these uncertain days.

This morning I received a message from a friend and ministry colleague. She writes:  Our world is living with great anxiety and uncertainty. That, however, does not need to rob us of a solid path beneath our feet. Jesus made a way for each of us to confidently enter into a forever relationship with the One who promised “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)

Our real security lies in trusting the One who loves us enough to die for us. The light of His presence guides and comforts us throughout every step of our uncharted journey. 

David goes on in Psalm 16 to say:  I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord. (Psalm 16:2)  I am reminded again that I am in a covenant relationship with God, that He loves me and is watching over my life.  Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. (Psalm 16:5)  Though our current reality may feel anything but secure, we who walk by faith can feel safe...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)

Looking back over my years of journeying with God, there have been hard times, even those dark nights of the soul, but like David, I must confess:  The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. (Psalm 16:6)  Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (Psalm 23:6)

The Covid - 19 pandemic threatens our health and safety, we do well to heed the wise advice of our government leaders and health officials to stay home, to pracitice physical distancing but our confidence in such troubling times comes not from the wisdom of man.  David writes in verse, 9 of Psalm 16:  I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

It is not only possible to remain calm and rest assured in these troubling days, the psalmist goes on to say: 
Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure. (Psalm 16:9)  We who know our Risen Lord can be glad, we have reason to rejoice and in him we can indeed rest secure; how blessed are we to be children of God!  It's no wonder David concludes this Psalm this way:  You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. (Psalm 16:11)

As I finish writing these words, it's about the time we would normally be heading home from Valley; it's all still very surreal.  I want you to know you are all in my thought and prayers.  Thank you for staying connected; we will get through this togehter and as we wait and pray, hold on to that vision of gathering again and pray that it might be soon!  I can't wait to be with you all again!

Happy Easter -- HE IS RISEN INDEED!​

Click here to access a pre-release video of the song Christ Our Hope in Life and Death (Getty Music)
​

Click here to access the Ted Talk by Mason Vander Ploeg and Aniela Guzikowski 
​

Desert Valley Hospice Society has initiated a Wellness Call Check-In for those who could use support
​during this pandemic:

Click here for more information
​

A message from Sandra Shaw, including a piano medley:

​From Roberta:  For dog lovers!

April 6th 

A message from James Perreaux:

Thanks Valley for your prayers and support! 

We are doing well. Both Andrea and I have been working from home these past three weeks, and have had our two boys at home as well (10 and 8 years old). The boys have been doing really well actually, making a schedule every morning, of activities and outdoor time, crafting, reading, and some video gaming time. I know they miss their friends though. And Solly’s birthday is this week, on April 9th, so that’s going to be tough. Asher had his on March 23, and we did an online video gaming time with some of his friends. So we’re going to do something similar with an Netflix movie watching party online for Solly. 

For Andrea’s work life, not much has changed, as she has always worked online for the government, doing phone call mediation. But this week changes for both us as we begin the responsibility of helping our kids do home-schooling. Teachers are just figuring out this massive change, and so will we as parents, having to balance working and helping our kids. 

With UCM, each week Reena and I have made a new plan. Being adaptable and learning is key right now as we move everything online. We’ve been doing a lot of video calls (on Zoom) and checking-in with students. Students are heading into final exams this month now. So we decided, for the month of April, to provide different types of daily online groups and check-ins, as a way to connect and be encouraged in their faith. In May we’ll resume our weekly Thursday night worship gathering online and see how that goes for the summer months. 

Thanks for keeping us in prayer as we navigate these strange days, and figure out how to do campus ministry under the physical/gathering restrictions.  

Hope you are all doing well and being safe!  

April 2nd

The Power of Prayer -- The Power of Encouraging Words

Over the past 60 hours, my inbox has been flooded with messages and my phone has been blowing up as people have reached to us to let us know they are praying for our son, sharing in our concern and to offer words of blessing and encouragement -- truly this is one of the greatest gifts we can give to one another.

Besides the many messages from our church family at Valley, we have received messages from long-time friends and even strangers who have heard and prayed.  Below are just a few examples; messages of grace and hope and courage:

Father, we lift Scott to you and ask that you would protect him, strengthen him and heal him. We pray for this young man, for this young father. Even though his parents can't be there, Lord, we know that you are and we ask that you would make yourself very evident to him. We commit him into your care. In Jesus name.
( Asher Motola)

Certainly will be praying for Scott to get the best medical care possible and for God’s healing and gracious hand to be upon him. May God give Tiffany the strength and comfort she needs right now to care for their new little one, also to have protected them from the virus. God is our great God and is in control of their lives and yours. I know you wish you could be with them - that is natural. They are secure in God’s hands and we look to and lean on Him through this. Ken and Janice, please know we love you, and the family, and will be praying for you all during this difficult time of trusting. (Lelia Stairs -- wife of our former pastor in Chatham)

We will continue to pray for Scott, Tiffany, and Riley.  And also for you and Janice. We are not alone my brother.  (Don Richmond)

I am focusing my prayers throughout today for those who are currently sick including your son. Praying for your son, his family, their caregivers for peace, comfort, hope, and healing.   We are with you brother at this difficult time. (Guret)

Sandra and I are on it.  Thank you Lord God. We trust YOU. (Matt Duffy)

I  am so saddened to hear about Scott. I’ll be praying for him, Tiffany and the baby. You and Janice will be in our prayers as well. (David Schrader - CCCC National Pastor)

Up at 5:00 a.m. Atlantic Time and read your note. I am praying and will continue to pray. (Bruce Smith - HMI)

We are trusting that the Presence, protection and provision of our Great Shepherd would be very real for Scott, Tiffany and both of you. (Darlene McLean - Christian Embassy of Canada)

Praying for Scott and the medical team caring for him. Also for Tiffany, baby and you guys...such scary times.  (Friends from our church family in Markham)

We are praying for you and your family. (Graham and Myrtle Gore)

And just a few from our church family at Valley:

We are going to keep praying and keep praying until we hear good news. God is our strength. Keep strong in Him. 

We certainly understand and feel the concern for Scott especially with his respiratory history. We will certainly keep him in prayer and wait to hear how this goes. Thanks for sharing this with us.

May you know God’s  peace at this time with the assurance that He’s Sovereign! 

I  am, and will continue, to pray for all of you. May you feel the love of your church as you are going through  this  difficult  time; we all feel  for you.

We will continue to pray.  We are in this with you both.

THANK YOU!

Wow...what a night!  I don't know that I have ever experienced a greater fear than last night.  Scott had texted me 'I couldn't breath, I can't catch my breath'.  At one point I put my head on my desk and cried...things had spiralled so quickly, I thought we might lose our son. 

The kids usually text with their mom (I have a three text rule...after the third text message my reply is...call me), so when Scott kept texting me through the night, I was deeply concerned for him.  At the same time a stream of messages continued to come in...'we're praying'.  At 3:30 when he said, 'I'm okay, dad', the Spirit seemed to whisper, he'll be okay.  A couple of hours later, he messaged to say  he was being admitted and is now in isolation waiting test results.  

We spoke to him this morning and he is doing much better.

To you, Lord, I called; to the Lord I cried for mercy...You turned my wailing into dancing...and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise you forever.  (Psalm 30:8,11-12)

For the past three hours I have been responding to nearly 150 messages we have received through the night and into the  morning.  We are so blessed to have so many joining in prayer.  I remember a similar time when Scott was in Sick Children's Hospital in Toronto waiting for lung surgery -- we asked friends to pray and God responded with grace and kindness.  Friends, our God answers prayers -- maybe not always as we might wish, but He is always working out His good purposes in response to our prayers; He answers when we call!

Thank you for journeying with us these past 12-14 hours.  We will update you when we have more news.

March 30th

Like many of you I have been watching with more than a passing interest the daily news concerning the Covid - 19 pandemic.  And no matter what our political persuasion might be we as Christians must respond with respectful adherence to the directives we are receiving from our leaders and health officials.  There are good people in positions of influence that are trying to do their best under trying circumstances; they deserve our prayers and our support.  Indeed to this we are called as Christians.  Paul writes to Timothy:  I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority.  (1 Timothy 2:1-2)

I applaud our Prime Minister for daily speaking to the people of our nation; our provincial Health Minister and Dr. Bonnie Henry our provincial Health Officer for the good communication they have provided and for seeking to be a calming influence in a time when many are afraid.  And while I do find a measure of encouragement from these leaders ultimately my peace of heart and mind, my assurance and strength, my hope is from the Lord.  Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. (Psalm 20:6)

I would encourage you to mediate on the familiar word of the Psalmist in Psalm 121, and be reminded there is never a time when we are not under the care of our God.

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord watches over you—the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

In these days of great uncertainty; not just for our health and well-being physically but with many concerned about their ability to pay their bills and put food on the table, let's be grateful for the support we receive from our government and communities but may we never loose site of the ultimate Provider, the One who gives to us our daily bread; who is the only source of for authentic and lasting hope and joy and peace.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  (Romans 15:13)

March 26th

Over the past few days I've been able to connect with most of our friends at Valley via email, text messages or a phone call.  It's been such a blessing to hear from many of you and know you're doing well during this time of concern over the spread of the coronavirus, and in knowing that you are doing your part to stay at home and adhere to good physical / social distancing practices. Our people are looking out for one another and for family, friends and neighbors, which speaks to the heart of Valley. 

We are all deeply concerned and if honest, many are afraid; particularly anxious are those serving the health care industry, those on the front lines in our hospitals and long term care facilities.  Pray for our nurses and doctors and care aids and support staff and for those who are ensuring we have access to the supplies we need.

Today I received an email from the wife of 'my' pastor, Phil Stairs, who passed away a few months ago.  Lelia shared this verse:  But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress (place of security), my refuge (place of safety) in times of trouble. O my Strength, I sing praise to you; you, O God, are my fortress, my loving God.  (Psalm 59:16:17)

For me, my 'go to' verse when I am anxious or afraid is Psalm 56:3-4... When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.  In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust and am not afraid.

Many of you have a passage of Scripture that encourages you and builds you up in times of uncertainty. 
​I want to invite you share those verses with one another.  Use the form below or email me and I will post them for others to see and be blessed!

From Janet Armstrong:

Control what you can; trust God with what you can't.

What can you control?
Your focus, your praise, your response.

From Ruth Moran:

Peace is not the absence of stress but the Presence of our Saviour. -  Dr. David Jeremiah

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4:4-8)

Celebrate , rejoice
Ask God for help
Leave your burdens
Meditate on His Word -  Max Lucado

As we have been constantly reminded, these are unprecedented times; although many of us have been through various kinds of crisis before, this is a time when our nation, our world has been shaken.  But for we who walk by faith, we are reminded that what we hold on to as the core convictions of our faith cannot be shaken.  We believe that our God is still on the throne, still orchestrating the affairs of this world.  And while we are not immune to the consequences of living in a fallen world, we have One to who we can go, who has promised to be our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.  (Psalm 46:1)

The Psalmist says, I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. (Psalm 16:8)

Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.
(Psalm 55:22)

I am concerned; concerned for my family, for my church family and for those who have been impacted by this virus. But, I am not fearful.  We have entrusted ourselves to God's care; God who jealously watches over and protects His people, who delivers and protects.

Janice and I have put in our front window, a cross -- a reminder to us that we are asking God to protect us, our home and family, our community and nation.  It's also a message to our neighbors, for all who walk by or drive by that we have put ourselves under the cross.  It's not an 'in your face' gesture but a simple expression of our faith in these trying times.

Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. (Psalm 62:2)

The Word of God exhorts us to trust in Him at all times and not rely solely on our own instincts and judgements.  We are however to use God-given wisdom and common sense as we navigate our way through life, particularly during times when we face challenges and concerns, as we are now.  The COVID – 19 pandemic threatens on a world-wide scale; it is a concern we must take seriously – we are well advised to listen to/ heed the advice of our health officials.
 
As Elders at Valley we are aware of the current threat and are in discussion as to any possible response we might need to make as a local church.  Should our region be exposed to community spread of the virus we are prepared to respond appropriately.
 
At this point, we would encourage you to:
 
PRAY for wisdom as we all make choices to protect ourselves and the people we care about; pray especially for those who are ‘high risk’. Pray for those who are ill and for those who have lost a loved one to this disease. Pray for our government leaders and health care officials and those on the front lines, our doctors and nurses and support staff.  While we cannot escape the consequences of living in a fallen world, we can call out to God for mercy and grace and we can be a calm voice amidst the growing sense of panic we are seeing around us, for we trust the One who is the Sovereign Ruler of this world.
 
Exercise good judgment in what information you take in and how you respond; verify facts (not everything you hear or read on the internet may be accurate).  Use caution and sound judgment, but don’t panic!
 
WASH YOUR HANDS!  Practice good preventative measures to help protect yourself and others.  Remember we are still in flu season; it is important to continue good hygiene practices.
 
If you’re not feeling well, stay home and follow up appropriately, particularly if you have reason to believe you may have been exposed to the virus – call your health care provider or 8-1-1.
 
As we seek to limit contact/ social interaction, recognize some may not be comfortable with a hand shake or embrace; those choices must be respected – no one is going to be offended if you ‘put up a stop sign’ or choose to create a little extra space between you and the person beside you or choose to wear a face mask for protection.
 
Watch out for one another; regularly check in with friends and neighbors, particularly those who may be alone/ vulnerable.
 
Should we need to consider suspending our Coffee Time or lunches or Small Groups or even our Worship Gathering, we will take the appropriate measures at the appropriate time, seeking to exercise an abundance of caution.  If any such decisions are made, we will do our best to communicate with everyone.  We would encourage you to continue to faithfully support the church, even if there is a disruption in our gatherings. 
 
Each of us will make our own choices regarding social distancing.  While we need interaction with others, we must act wisely given the severity of the current threat.
 
If you become ill and need support contact a friend at Valley or any of our Elders.
​
Friends, these are scary times, but…we have One who is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  (Psalm 46:1)
 
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you…in God I trust and am not afraid.  (Psalm 56:3-4)
 
Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense.  (Isaiah 12:2)
 
 
Information that may be helpful to you:
 
HealthLinkBC:  www.healthlinkbc.ca/
 
Government of Canada:  www.canada.ca/coronavirus
 
World Health Organization: www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:  www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

The promise of God to His people is simple in its essence and profound in its beauty; it is a core belief of our faith: The Lord watches over all who love him.  (Psalm 145:20)  It is a promised reiterated over and over again in the pages of the Bible.  

God promised Jacob:  I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go.  (Genesis 28:15)  To Moses, God would say:  My presence will go with you and I will give you rest.  (Exodus 33: 14)  To Joshua he gave this promise:  As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.  (Joshua 1:5) 

God speaks to David in Psalm 32 and gives him this promise: I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.  (Psalm 32:8) 

In Psalm 121 we have these words that re-enforce this truth: The Lord watches over you--the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm--he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. (Psalm 121:5-8)

The presence of God that abides with us, that leads us and protects us gives us assurance in a world that can be a scary place at times.  When I feel vulnerable and afraid, when the path before me is uncertain, when I cannot find rest for my soul, when my own strength fails me and I have no where else turn, God is there, watching over me -- in this I find a measure peace and joy.  

God has said through the prophet Jeremiah:  I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security.  (Jeremiah 33:6).  In this world, any sense of lasting security is fleeting, but in the Lord we find what our hearts truly long for; a sense of belonging, to feel safe and secure.  Through faith, we have a hope that is for us an anchor for our souls.  (Hebrews 6:19)

In the word of Peter, we confess:  “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.  (John 6:68)  We have One who is to us our refuge and strength, who invites us:  “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  (Matthew 11:28-29)

It's no wonder David could say:  Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. (Psalm 23:4)  

As we continue our journey through this life what greater assurance could we find than to know there is a God who loves us, who cares for us, who walk with us; you tell me, where else can you find such assurance;  where else can you turn to find rest and security? 

Like the Psalmist, we pray:  ​Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge.  (Psalm 16:1)  And we confess:  Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure.  (Psalm 16:5)

This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength".  (Isaiah 30:15)

The words of the familiar hymn, This Is My Father's World remind us:
         This is my Father’s world -- O let me ne’er forget
         That though the wrong seems oft so strong -- God is the Ruler yet
 
Our Father in heaven, we come to You, the Sovereign Ruler of All and declare again Your greatness.  As we begin another New Year together, I pray for our people here at Valley:
 
I pray that we would know the fullness of Your grace, recognizing…Out of the fullness of his grace he has blessed us all, giving us one blessing after another. (John 1:16 – The Good News Translation)
 
I pray that these, my friends, would know Your peace; that they would hear the Lord Jesus say to them…Peace is what I leave with you; it is my own peace that I give you. I do not give it as the world does. Do not be worried and upset; do not be afraid. (John 14:27)
 
Father, some of us are tired; I pray that You would give rest, that we would know Your promise…My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.  (Exodus 33:14)
 
We seek after Your truth, Your wisdom, acknowledging with the psalmist...The way to become wise is to honor the Lord; he gives sound judgment to all who obey his commands. (Psalm 11:10)
 
We confess, Father, there are times when we feel weak and vulnerable and afraid. In those moments, may we like the prophet of old confess…God is my savior; I will trust him and not be afraid. The Lord gives me power and strength; he is my savior.  (Isaiah 12:2 – The Good News Translation)
 
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.  (Psalm 28:7)
 
May the words Moses spoke to Your people in the past, speak to us today...Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid…for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.  (Deuteronomy 31:6)
 
Father, what ever this New Year brings, may we walk with You and find in You our source of strength and joy…for the joy of the Lord is (our) strength. (Nehemiah 8:10)
 
May we hold tightly to the truth we find in Christ, the truth we fin in Your Word. May we know the promise of the Lord Jesus who prayed that we might have the full measure of (His) joy within (us).  (John 17:13)
 
This we pray in His name and for the glory of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, amen.

Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations.
Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world,
    from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
                                                                                                                          ​Psalm 90:1-2

These verses from Psalm 90 remind us that God exits outside the boundaries of time and space, and yet He is sovereign over time.  "I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."  (Revelation 1:8)  God, who was from the beginning, who spoke into existence all of creation, who has ruled and continues to rule this world according to His purposes, holds all of time, past, present and future in His hands -- He created time and He has given it to us as gift.  Each day is truly a gift from God; every breath that we take is an expression of His grace and as such we are called to be good stewards of our time.

We are to value the time we've been given, recognizing that we only have one life; that our days our numbered and we must use each one wisely.  So we pray...teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.  (Psalm 90:12)

Many of the great hymns of our faith speak about this truth. 

Consider for example, Isaac Watts' 'O God, Our Help in Ages Past:

Our God, our Help in ages past, our Hope for years to come,
our Shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal Home.

Before the hills in order stood or earth received its frame,
from everlasting Thou art God, to endless years the same.

A thousand ages in Thy sight are like an ev'ning gone,
Short as the watch that ends the night before the rising sun.

Time, like an ever-rolling stream, bears all its sons away;
They fly forgotten, as a dream dies at the op'ning day.

Our God, our Help in ages past, our Hope for years to come,
be Thou our Guide while life shall last, and our eternal Home!

In 1777 John Ryland wrote 'Sovereign Ruler of the Skies':

Sovereign Ruler of the skies! Ever gracious, ever wise!
All my times are in Thy hand, all events at Thy command.

He that formed me in the womb, He shall guide me to the tomb;
All my times shall ever be ordered by His wise decree.

'Abide with Me' (Henry F. Lyte, 1847)

Abide with me: fast falls the eventide; the darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee, Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

I need Thy presence every passing hour; what but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s power?
Who like Thyself my guide and stay can be? Though cloud and sunshine, O abide with me.

'Christ Be in My Waking' (Steward Townsend and Simon Brading, 2011)

Christ be in my waking as the sun is rising
In my day of working, with me every hour
Christ be in my resting, as the day is ending
Coming and refreshing, watching through the night

     Jesus, this is my devotion
     All my life to know You
     Everyday to walk with You
     Savior, You’re my deepest longing
     You’re the One I live for
     Teach me, Lord, to walk with You

There are many more worship songs that could be added to this list -- great hymns of the past and more contemporary songs of praise.  What songs, what verses from the Holy Word encourage you to be good stewards of your time; to set aside time throughout the day to worship or God and live for Him?

Our God, our Help in ages past, our Hope for years to come,
Be Thou our Guide while life shall last, and our eternal Home!