During our current summer series, we said that spiritual songs (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3;16) reveal the intent of our heart.  They are rooted in the Scriptures and link our belief and our will together, as an expression of a longing to follow God’s Word and His ways.  In my previous post, I shared with you some of the great hymns of our faith that reasonate deeply with me.  Below is a list spiritual songs that also connect powerfully with my heart.

Sole Desire - Walt Harrah

You’re the sole desire of my heart
Lord, speak to me I’m standing still
I come to hear, reveal Your will
I’ll listen to Your voice and then obey

With these simple words, I am reminded that God does speak, that His Word to me is precious and that I need to listen and obey.  I listen carefully to what God the Lord is saying.  (85:8 - NLT)

I Give You My Heart - Reuben Morgan

This is my desire to honour You
Lord with all my heart I worship You

I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. (Psalm 146:2)
 
In the words of A.W. Tozer…I cannot speak for you, but I want to be among those who worship...I would rather worship God than do any other thing I know of in this whole world.

O Lord, You're Beautiful - Keith Green

Oh Lord You're beautiful, Your face is all I seek
And when Your eyes are on this child, Your grace abounds to me

Words cannot fully express my desire to embrace the beauty and grace of the Lord Jesus. In the words of the psalmist:  One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. (Psalm 27:4)

Emmanuel - Bob McGee

Emmanuel, Emmanuel, His name is called Emmanuel
God with us revealed in us, His name is called Emmanuel

Can there be a more precious truth than to know, God is with us?  And, If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)

His Name is Wonderful - Audrey Mieir

His name is Wonderful, Jesus my Lord

Like many of these worships songs that focus on the name of our Lord, this song speaks of our Lord as the Mighty King, Master of everything, the great Shepherd, the Rock of all ages, Almighty God.  Our hearts and minds are drawn to the great Shepherd of the sheep (Hebrews 13:20).

Majesty - Jack Hayford

Majesty, worship His majesty, unto Jesus be all glory, honor, and praise

Both the words of Hayford's song and the tune lift us to see the slendor and glory of our Lord.

We see Jesus...now crowned with glory and honor. (Hebrews 2:9)

No Higher Calling - Greg Gulley and Lenny LeBlanc

Down at Your feet, Oh Lord, ss the most high place
In Your presence Lord, I seek Your face

As I shared with you in week one of this series, worship is my heart beat.  I can't read music, or play an instrument, but worship is my heart beat.  This song expresses perfectly the my desire to worship our Lord.

There is no higher calling, no greater honor, than to bow and kneel before Your throne
I'm amazed at Your glory, embraced by Your mercy, Oh Lord, I live to worship You

Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. (Psalm 103:1 - NLT)

Make Me a Servant - Kelly Willard

Make me a servant, humble and meek
Lord, let me lift up, those who are weak
And may the prayer of my heart always be
Make me a servant, make me a servant, make me a servant, today

The challenges of ministry, of seeking to serve others, is something I am constantly aware of as I seek to live out the words of Galatians 5:13 to serve one another humbly in love.  This simple song, serves a daily prayer for me.

Awesome in This Place - Dave Billington

You are awesome in this place Mighty God
You are awesome in this place Abba Father
You are worthy of all our praise, to You our lives we raise
You are awesome in this place Mighty God

This captures for me the incredible privilege that is ours to be in the in presence of our God as we gather each week to worship Him.  How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God (Genesis 28:17).

In Christ Alone - Don Kock, Shawn Craig 

In Christ alone I place my trust
And find my glory in the power of the cross
In ev'ry victory let it be said of me
My source of strength my source of hope is Christ alone

'Christ alone' what more needs to be said!  Christ lives in me (Galatians 2:20 - The Message).

As you read Paul's letters to the young believers in Thessalonica, it is very personal in nature, there is a tenderness in his words and he celebrates their faith and seeks to build then up in that faith.  Much like us, they were not perfect but there was an undeniable bond of love they shared.  I imagine they celebrated the  joy of just being together, as we do at Valley; I wonder if they sang a first-century version of the Family of God as they worshipped in community with one another! 

I think this church would have been able to relate to what we are experiencing in our day -- the profound disappointment of not being able to gather.  But much like us, they would have found ways to encourage and build up one another.  One of the great joys coming out of this current reality for is in seeing the strength and resolve of Valley; your faithfulness in supporting one another and continuing the work of the church has been a blessing to me as I continue to hear story after story of our people just being the church.

I want to express my appreciation to our Leadership Team for their faithfulness in giving strong and consistent guidance during this unprecedented 'shut down'; we continue to enjoy a spirit of unity and joy as we work together.  And I want to thank you, our people for staying in touch, for your prayers, support and words of encouragement, particularly during the time when Scott was hospitalized and he and Riley were recovering from the Covid - 19 virus.  (We have received hundreds of emails and messages during the last few weeks.)  We ought not be surprised by such encouragement for we have seen it over and over and over again in our time with you, but still there is an overwhelming sense of gratitude and appreciation for your love and support.  Thank you, Valley!  We miss gathering with you and cannot wait to meet again!!

Until then, we grieve what is lost, we wait, we adjust, we pray and we hope.

The Lord bless you and keep you.  (Numbers 6:24)

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. (1 Thessalonians 5:28)


As we anticipate at least three more weeks before we will gather again, understanding that some may still not be ready to join in a more public way, I want to invite you to share a greeting, a message of appreciation, a word of encouragement or a prayer of blessing with one another.  Use the form below or email me and I will post your comment.

There is within all of us, an increasing desire to be together in the house of the Lord.  Just when that will happen is yet to be determined.  As the Leadership Team meets to begin discussing how we move forward together, we will be looking to you, the people of Valley for guidance.  In the short term we will continue to provide an 'Online Gathering' experience that you can view on Sunday morning.  It is not ideal, we were meant to gather and worship in community, but it is a way to stay connected and to stay under His Word.

I want to thank you for your kind and gracious response to what has been posted each week.  I have been blessed by your comments.  John Kobylnik sends me an encouraging note each week.  (I'm waiting for that week, when John says, 'nice try on this one, Ken, but you need to pick it up for next week'!)  On average our Message page is accessed nearly 60 times on Sunday and 15+ times/ per day, each week.  We have seen a spike in the use of website, with the Message, Blog, Prayer Corner and Photo pages being accessed regularly.

I was recently asked, how this all comes together.  A few have been on site as we have recorded; you've been given a glimpse into how the recorded pieces are created each week.  (Just as an aside, I've sought to let you know when we are recording, so you can stop by if you wish -- physical distancing procedures in place, of course.)  I want to thank those who have helped with these recording sessions -- John Unger, our camera man and those who have helped with piano recordings, prayers and readings.

Pulling this kind of experience together has taken up to 40 hours a week to prepare.  Preparation begins as any week would, with the drafting of an order of service, but now instead of relying our worship team for the music, I'm searching music files and downloading songs for our use.  Each song is being prepared in the format you've seen these last few weeks.  I'm using a software programs that allows me to choose a background, then add the music file and words.  Each song takes 30-45 minutes to prepare -- the editing process is sometimes tedious and time consuming to get the words coming in at just the right time and to cut or fade the music as needed.  When the song is complete, I then save it as video. (As an added 'bonus' this is our 6 month period to report our activity for our copyright licence -- every copyrighted song has to be added to our report each week!)

The same program allows me to insert each individual song into a file that becomes what you see on Sunday morning. I then add the recorded pieces from the church or a video, like the one we showed yesterday for Mother's Day, into the appropriate place.  When all the individual clips are in place, I check the timing and then save that file to a video.  But, that video file is too big for our website, so I convert it to a different format.  The final step is to upload the video to our website, which often takes several minutes to complete as the file is also encoded for use on the site.

This morning, Monday, May 11th, I've spend 4 hours preparing the order of service and creating the first 3 songs for this week...five more to go!  And then there's the usual message prep, which is now completed by Friday morning, so we can record in the afternoon.  My preparation routine has been drastically changed!  I'm lost on Sundays!!  (Perhaps a reminder that this is not the way it should be.)

I am grateful we have this means to stay connected and commend you for doing just that.  As Dr. Henry has said, 'this is not forever, just for now'!  We do not want to become complacent and settle for something less; we need to be together, sitting in front of a computer screen or television just isn't the same, so lets keep praying for that day when we will be together again!


Some of us haven't seen each other for several week, so in the next few days, I will be creating a blog posting in which we can share an encouraging word with one another.  I want to invite you to add your note or greeting and include a photo if you are able to do so.  You can use the form on our website or send me an email and I will post it for you.  I hope we hear from many of you in the coming days!!  Your words to each other will serve to bless one another, the way so many of you have done for me with your words of appreciation and encouragement!

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)

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)

With all the concern related to Covid - 19, and because some of you have asked, I'm posting a few pics of our grandson!  (Let me assure you this will not be on-going but given the gravity of the current situation around the globe, maybe some pictures will bring you a smile.)

I might be biased but he's a pretty sweet little guy.

It was the news we had been waiting to hear; four words that brought to me a measure of great joy...'you have a grandson'.  There was a sense of relief in knowing the baby was healthy and that his mom was recovering well after a caesarian birth -- and that dad was okay!  We were thrilled for Scott and Tiffany, excited to see pictures and to Skype with them and across the miles to share in their joy.  We have been blessed by so many that have shared in this joy with us, including our church family at Valley.
​

It doesn't seem that long ago that we welcomed our son into the world.  To watch him grow into the man he has become has been one of my greatest joys as a dad. Seeing him now holding his son is indescribable -- truly this is has to be one of our proudest moments as parents.  

Janice and I have been so blessed to be the mom and dad of three incredible children; we have watched them grow, launch out on their own and pursue their dreams.  We have shared in all the significant moments of their lives, we have walked with them through the hard times and celebrate their accomplishments -- I think that's what God had in mind when He gave them to us!

That we would be entrusted to help shape their lives is truly a sacred responsibility.  The greatest investment of our time and resources has been given to our kids; it's a choice for which have absolutely no regrets.  For me as a dad, I have always needed to know 'my kids are okay'; that God is watching over them, particularly as we have faced the challenges of having great distances between us.  God has been so good, so faithful to us as a mom and dad; as we often sing, 'what a good God You've been, what a faithful God You've been, what a loving God You've been to me'.

I think back to a number of times when I said from the pulpit, 'we only have them for a season and that season passes so quickly'.  I often wonder, 'where has the time gone'?  It seems only yesterday they were carefree, playing in the yard, enjoying their childhood.  We have some wonderful memories of their growing up years!  When they were young, some friends, who were ahead of us as parents, gave us some of the best advice we have ever received...'enjoy every season with them'.  Every season has brought us great joy!

And now we are into a new season and I can't wait to see what God has in store for them and for us!  That which gives me great confidence as we continue this journey is the assurance that our good God will continue to guide and direct their lives; that the One who has been so faithful will continue to pour out His grace and favor upon them and now upon the next generation.  In this, I claim the promise of God to His people...The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs...you will find your joy in the Lord.  (Isaiah 58:11,14)

To Lisa, Scott & Tiffany and Riley, Andrea and Jason, these are the words I pray into your lives...may you always know His guidance, may You be satisfied in Him and may your lives be marked with same joy your mom and I have found in living a life of faith.

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)

Over the last few days, I have been reading Jimmy Draper's book, Don't Quit Before You Finish.  Draper has been pastoring/ serving in a ministry setting for over 60 years.  As someone who has been serving in the church for 40 years now, his words have given to me both a measure of encouragement and challenge as I seek to honor the One who has called me and continues to lead my life and ministry. 

I started serving in the church as a new Christian in my late teens and through that experience I began to sense a nudging from God to attend Bible College. After a year and half of wrestling with God, I launched out on a journey that would see Him confirm His calling in my life; a calling to pastoral ministry.  Over the years it is this calling that has sustained me, when I might otherwise have bailed out.  As Draper observes:  The sacrificial life of ministry is simply too demanding and too stressful to endure with the certainty of a calling directly from the Lord.  You simply cannot maintain your commitment to serve without this assurance.

I have known God's blessing, I have experienced His grace and been strengthened by His Spirit all along my journey.  He has gifted me to serve and has given more of His grace when my gifting and abilities and my own strength has not been enough.  'God doesn't call the equipped; He equips the called.'  In this I often go back to a verse of Scripture that has been a foundation for my life and ministry:  I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5)  That others would say they have been blessed by my ministry is simply a testimony to the grace of God and His faithfulness to those He calls.

I have not made this journey alone; Janice has been by my side now for almost 38 years; we began ministry together -- no one celebrated my graduation from Bible College more than she did (maybe because I would now be able to get a job!) -- and she continues to be my ministry partner; a source of encouragement and blessing.  God knew that I could not do this without her.

And He has allowed me to serve and to lead in His church -- a privilege and responsibility I take very seriously.  I still believe to the core of my being that the church is the hope of the world and the only hope for the church is to remain faithful to His Word and for her people to be life-long worshippers of God.  This is my deep desire for Valley; which is why I continue to call you to stay faithful, to give and serve -- don't quit, don't bail out, don't give up, until you are finished -- until we cross the finish line and enter into the presence of our Lord and hear Him say, 'well done, good and faithful servant'.

As Janice and I prepare too move from the 'empty-nest' season to that of being grandparents, our journey has caused me to reflect on the changing seasons of our lives.  I think of friends who have made the transition into assisted living or a care facility; those who have moved to be closer to family or those who have made the journey through loss and grief and now are continuing on without their husband or wife by their side.  I think as well of those who have graciously accepted limitations because of changing health, those who have given up their license / car or have made significant changes to adapt along the way.

I celebrate those who have created a new identity in their retirement years; who have oriented their lives around a different role than that which defined them in an earlier season of life; taking on the role of a church leader, volunteer or grandparent.  Retirement can be an incredible opportunity to re-invest our lives into our churches and communities and the people we love – in the work of God’s kingdom.  If you look up the work retire in the dictionary – it means ‘to take out of use’; that was never God’s plan for our lives..  Our retirement years can bring a whole new purpose to our lives.  As Ken Blanchard has noted: Now that you’re at a point in your life where you can do something truly important, you need to get under God’s agenda and out from under your own.  Parenthetically, you can’t finish well if believe your best days are behind you!

Nothing is static; resist and try to hold on if you can; some times our 'stubbornness' can serves us well as we fight for our independence, but sometimes we simply need to accept the fact that things have changed and learn to let go and move on graciously -- it's part of living well and finishing well.  No of us is getting any younger! and sometimes we need to be able to laugh at ourselves -- it helps keep perspective!  Solomon recognized this when he wrote about his journey in the Book of Ecclesiastes.

Ecclesiastes 12 (1-8) offers an insightful and somewhat humorous commentary on aging.

Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach (live long enough and old age will come!) when you will say, “I find no pleasure in them”
(loss of zeal)

2 before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars grow dark, (the world looks darker as our eyes weaken) and the clouds return after the rain; (hope is short lived)

3 when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men stoop, (body is weaker)
when the grinders cease because they are few, (loss of teeth)
and those looking through the windows grow dim; (loss of vision)
​
4 when the doors to the street are closed (loss of mobility)
and the sound of grinding fades; (loss of hearing)                                                                          
when men rise up at the sound of birds, but all their songs grow faint; (fatigue)

5 when men are afraid of heights and of dangers in the streets; (fears / phobias)
when the almond tree blossoms (white hair)
and the grasshopper drags himself along (physical limitations)
and desire no longer is stirred. (self- explanatory!  See me if you need a further explanation!)
Then man goes to his eternal home and mourners go about the streets. (death)

6 Remember him—before the silver cord is severed, or the golden bowl is broken;
before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, or the wheel broken at the well,  (loss of possessions)

7 and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.  8 “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Everything is meaningless!” (the meaninglessness of aging and death)
​
As Solomon writes about his own journey, gives us the key to finishing well:  Remember your Creator... (Ecclesiastes 12:1).  How simple and yet profound.  God, who is unchaning (Malachi 3:6), knows each of us intimately; His grace will carry us through the changing seasons of life and allow us to live well, through each of those seasons and to finish well for His glory.

It was an unusual Christmas greeting; the words at the end of a message from a friend caught my attention:  May the blessings of the season abide with you.

His words prompted me to pause and reflect, for truly Christmas gives to us cause to rejoice, for in the Babe of Bethlehem we find great blessing, both temporal and eternal, physical and spiritual.  

Paul writes:  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.  (Ephesians 1:3)  In the opening chapter of his letter to the believers in Ephesus he reminds them that they have been chosen, adopted, accepted, redeemed and forgiven according to the riches of His grace.  In Him we a promised inheritance, the sure hope of heaven, sealed by the Holy Spirit who guarantees our inheritance. It's no wonder Paul offers words of thanks and prays that these believers would know Him better.

We are richly blessed in Christ Jesus!

Beyond the rich spiritual blessings we have in our Lord, we have also received many physical blessings; a measure of health and strength; a warm place to live, clothes to wear and food on the table.  We have been given so much!  

I was thinking about this as Janice and I did some grocery shopping in preparation for a Christmas dinner we will share with our family.  Our pantry is full, our fridge is full, we have more that enough and it's all a blessing from our good and gracious God.  

The Bible reminds us that everything we enjoy in life is a gift from God; life itself and all the earthly blessings we enjoy -- that we enjoy in abundance in the land in which we life.  May we not take these blessings for granted; may we find within us a desire to gives thanks to the One who is the source of all blessing and may we be a people who give generously to bless others.  You've heard me say this often before but it is still true, especially at this time of year...we have so much opportunity to do good.  

As you enjoy the company of family and friends, as we gather as His church in the coming days, may your heart be encouraged as we celebrate the coming of our Lord and the joy that is our to be 'in Christ'. 

For those who will experience feelings of both joy and sorrow because there is an empty chair around the table, may the memories of those who have gone before us bring to you a measure of joy as you give thanks for the time shared with them and for the hope that is our in Christ. (One day, we will meet again; and as we say so often around Valley, 'what day that will be'! 

May you be used of God to bring a smile to someone else who needs a word of blessing and encouragement, be it a family member, friend or neighbor or the a stranger who crosses your path.

May we all have those quiet moments when we pause and reflect on the blessings of the season.

​Merry Christmas, everyone!

Recently I found myself making an unplanned trip back to Grande Prairie.  The Elders graciously allowed me to make last minute plans to go to help our oldest daughter prepare to make a move to the Okanagan.  After spending the last 8 years in northern Alberta, Lisa has accepted a new position in the library at the University of British Columbia Okanagan campus in Kelowna.  While she had done a good job of packing and getting her things ready to be loaded on the truck, I think she appreciated the last minute assist from dad.

This experience reminded me again that you never stop being a parent.  Even though the last move left Janice and I saying, 'never again', when the call came, I was compelled to respond; it's what a dad does. 

At some point in our journey there will come a role reversal, when our children take on more of the caregiver role and we as parents are called to graciously allow them to help provide such care.  I wonder, does that mean I get to behave like a child again!

At Valley we have been blessed to share our journey with friends who are ahead of us on the pathway.  We have been able to interact and learn from those have walked through this life for a longer period of time, who are more seasoned as parents and grandparents -- this has been for us a tremendous encouragement.  As I thought about all the ways you have built into our lives I realized again this another blessing of being in community together.  

The Bible tells us to 'instruct one another' (Romans 15:14), to 'teach and admonish one another' (Colossians 3:16) and to 'encourage one another' (2 Corinthians 13:1).  The church is more than just a place where we gather for worship and service to our Lord; it is a place where we do life together -- where we support and build up and encourage one another.  In the church we are 'devoted to one another' (Romans 12:10); it is a place where we 'honor one another' (Romans 12;10).

We understand, we don't always do this perfectly for we are fallen, fallible human beings, but the friendship we share at Valley really is a gift to one another.  So, in this season of our lives I want to encourage you to nurture the friendships God has given us, to continue to build into each others lives and support one another.
One of the most Christ-honoring things we can do for one another is simply to walk with each other through this season of our lives -- may we be faithful in doing just that!

Let me encourage you again to consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.  (Hebrews 10:24)

​Has it really been 12 years?  It seems not that long ago that Scott and Andrea and I set out from Orangeville, Ontario, travelling 4000 km to begin a new chapter of our lives in the South Okanagan.  Janice would join us a few days later, staying behind until the last of our belongs were on the moving truck.  Lisa, our oldest was getting settled into her new place in Waterloo as she continued her studies at Wilfrid Laurier University.  For the first time we would not call the same place ‘home’.
 
Looking back, two thoughts immediately come to mind; how quickly the time has passed and how much things have changed.  Lisa is now in Grand Prairie, Alberta where she has been working for the past 8 years.  Scott, who returned to Ontario in the fall of 2008, is now one semester away from completing a third post-secondary degree; he will be pursing a career in health care.  He and Tiffany were married 5 years ago; they continue to make their home in Hamilton Ontario.  Andrea stayed in the South Okanagan and is now working as a nurse and Kelowna General Hospital.  She and Jason were married last June; they live an hour north of us in West Kelowna.  Janice has now been with Interior Health for almost 10 years and this September marks the beginning of my 13th year as the pastor here at Valley.
 
Our church has seen a lot of changes over these past 12 years; so many of our friends have moved out of the area or have gone to their home in heaven.  The names and faces readily come to mind and there is both a sense of joy in having shared part of the journey together and a realization that such change is inevitable within any church. Through the years, others have joined us and we have together experienced the incredible faithfulness of God.  We’ve had some ups and down along the way, but for the most part we have experienced a wonderful spirit as we have served together in the church.
 
For the past 12 years I have stood before you, faithfully teaching / proclaiming the truth of God’s Word; His Word given to us to show us how to live; His Word which we believe is our rule of life and faith, in which we find a faithful record of all that He has revealed to be true and right and good. We have looked at what the Bible says about being the church, about worship and prayer and Christian service, about what it means to live by faith and to know His amazing grace in our lives.
 
You have often heard me talk about living as a child of God, reminding us of the truth of 1 John 3:1:  See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!  I am, you are, the beloved of the Father!  Henri Nouwen writes, ‘Being the Beloved constitutes the core truth of our existence.’ 
 
I continue to remind myself each day that there is a God, that He loves me and we are in a covenant relationship; that He desires to break into and lead my life in ways that are consistent with His best plans for my life.  I know that He is still at work, still writing my story and your story. And because of that, I can find, we can find rest and strength and joy in our journey with Him.
 
Over the years, I have sought to cheer you on in your walk of faith, to spur you on to love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24) and to build you up in the faith; to bring to you the Word of God and call you to respond to God and His Word and to be a voice calling out to you, this is the way; walk in it (Isaiah 30:21).  Because friends, I believe to the core of my being that a life of faith in Jesus Christ is the best possible way for us to journey through our days on earth and it is the only way we’ll ever get to heaven.
 
I want to continue to encourage you stay faithful, to continue to participate fully in the life of the church, to serve and give and care for one another; to continue to live out the truth of my life verse, 1 Corinthians 15:58:   Stand firm.  Let nothing move you.  Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
 
I have been recently reading and reflecting again on the words of Henri Nouwen, who writes: I still believe deeply that our few years on this earth are part of a much larger event that stretches out far beyond the boundaries of our birth and death.  I think of it as a mission into time, a mission that is very exhilarating and even exciting, mostly because the One who sent me on the mission is waiting for me to come home and tell the story of what I have learned.
 
One day, I want to hear “well done, good and faithful servant” from the One who has called me on this journey, so for me I need to quietly resolve to continue to walk with Him, to stay faithful to His calling in my life, seeking to be a blessing to those in my sphere of influence. 
 
As we begin a new ministry year together, I want to invite you to join we as we continue to do life together at Valley.

The familiar words from the hymn 'Standing on the Promises' provide for us a measure of confidence in an otherwise very uncertain world:
Standing on the promises that cannot fail
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail
By the living Word of God, I shall prevail
Standing on the promises of God

Imagine seeking to live by faith without the promises of God; His words to us that give us assurance and hope and comfort and strength.  The Psalmist declares, Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does.  (Psalm 145:13)  How reassuring it if or us to know, to have experienced the trustworthiness of God's promises, His faithfulness in all He does.

In case we are tempted to minimize the promises of God, the Psalmist reminds us in Psalm 119 that God's promises are our source of comfort.  My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life. (50) May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant. (76)  It is the promises of God that sustains us and gives us hope.  Sustain me, my God, according to your promise, and I will live; do not let my hopes be dashed.  (Psalm 119:116)

The Bible is filled with God's promises to us; some of which are exceedingly precious to us.  There are particular promises that speak deeply into each of our lives.  As I thought about the importance of God's promises in my own walk of faith, three such promises immediately come to mind.

First, I think of the promise of salvation, God has freely given me in Christ.  The promise of Romans 10:13 is this:  Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. I can still recall the moment this promise became real to me; God was indeed faithful to His promise.  Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.  (John 1:12)  See what great love the Father has lavished on us (me), that we (I) should be called children (a child) of God! And that is what we are (I am)! (1 John 3:1)   1 John 2:25 tell us,  this is what he promised us—eternal life.  Whoever has the Son has life.  (1 John 5:12)  This is God's promise to us and it is forever secure, for He is faithful to His word.

A second promise that speaks to me is the promise of God's presence.  I hold to the promise given to Moses: ​“My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” (Exodus 33:14)  I live with a sense of calm assurance because, The Lord is my shepherd...He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.  (Psalm 23:1)  God is my refuge, my hiding place. 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)

A third promises that is meaningful to me is the promise of strength, courage and hope.  The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life--of whom shall I be afraid?  (Psalm 27:1)  When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust and am not afraid. (Psalm 56:3-4)  I live with the same promise given to Asher in Deuteronomy 33:25, your strength will equal your days.

If I were to keep writing I could fill page after page with more of the promises from God; I could post again and again my testimony of God's faithfulness to me; that He is a promise-keeping, covenant-keeping, ever faithful God and He is good!  You too have a testimony to share, promises that are precious to you.  I want to invite you to share a brief testimony; share a verse/ a promise that is meaningful to you. Use the response form below and let's bless one another as we rejoice together in His promises to us!

Recently I was speaking with a more senior saint who was troubled because of an inability to remember things; in particular the inability to readily recall from memory the precious truth of God’s Word that had been hidden in his heart since youth.  As we spoke there were fragments of verses, phrases and words that still had meaning but only one verse that he could still be quote from memory, John 3:16:  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (KJV)  I reassured him that he was holding on to the most precious truth of all and we prayed for him to rest in this truth.  When I prayed for the Lord to lead him to the green pastures and quiet waters, he said, ‘O, that’s another one…The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.  (Psalm 23:1 - KJV)
 
This experience has caused me to think, ‘what if I begin to lose those portions of the word I have held in my heart, what is it that I would hang on to as my source of truth’?  If I had only two texts I could remember, what would I hold close to my heart when all else slips away?
 
There are several Scriptures that come to mind.  The words of John 3:16 would be near the top of my list; almost everyone’s list. Or, I might recall the words of 1 Peter 3:18, which for me concisely captures the heart of the Gospel message:  Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.
 
David’s 23rd psalm, particularly the first and last verses would certainly warrant consideration.  The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. (1)  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.  (6)
 
I might find I hold the words of Titus 3:3-4 close to my heart because this is the text God used to draw me to Himself:  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. 
 
I might find my heart and mind retain the words of one of the first passages I memorized, Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.  Or I might cling to that which has been my life verse,  1 Corinthians 15:58:  Stand firm.  Let nothing move you.  Always give yourself fully to the work of the Lord, because you know your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
 
The words of Psalm 46:1 might make my list: God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Or maybe the words of Psalm 91:1-2:  He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.
 
I might find the words I have often quoted, particularly in funeral settings are those words that say firmly in my heart and on my lips, John 14:1-3:  Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.  In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
 
Should the day come when all I can remember are just some simple truths, maybe for me I would hold to two such truths: Taste and see that the LORD is good (Psalm 34:8) and, Be still and know that I am God.  (Psalm 46:10)  I pray that I never lose the wonder of God’s goodness, nor the ability to find rest in Him alone.
 
I wonder, what text(s) would you hold close to your heart.  I want to invite you to share those texts with one another.  Use the response from on the blog page or email your verse(s) and I will post them so that others can be encouraged as we share with one another the Words of God.