• Home
    • Easter Reading Schedule
    • Protocols
    • Ways to Give
  • Prayer Corner
    • Share a Request
    • Memorial Tribute >
      • Edna Kirby
      • Norman Hunter
      • Ina Rottier
      • Dennis Brommeland
      • Norris Thompson
      • Irv Wood
      • Ann Vander Kooi
      • Jack Demorest
      • Yde Vander Kooi
      • Ainsley Rose Wollf
      • Dick Mayer
      • David Rusnell
      • Bob McKay
      • Guy Deschatelets
      • Chloe Kroeger
      • Ida Barisoff
      • Gerard Zandee
      • Nick Dikur
  • About Valley
    • Annual Reports >
      • 2020 Annual Report
      • 2019 Annual Report
      • 2018 Annual Report
      • 2017 Annual Report
      • 2016 Annual Report
      • 2015 Annual Report
    • Who We Are
    • What We Believe
    • How We Are Governed >
      • Constitution & Bylaws
    • Where We Are Going
  • Ministries
    • Leadership Team >
      • Nomination Committee
      • Benevolent Ministry
    • Finance and Property >
      • 2020 Budget
      • Current Quarterly Report
      • Guidelines for Use of Building
    • Missions >
      • Missions Guidelines
      • Valley Missions Newsletter
    • Caring and Connecting
    • Christian Education >
      • Library
    • Worship >
      • Heritage House
  • What's Happening
    • Bulletin
    • Links
  • Photos
    • 30th Anniversary
    • Annual Celebration >
      • 2020
      • 2019
      • 2018
      • 2017
      • 2016
      • 2015
      • 2014
      • 2013
      • 2012
      • 2011
      • 2010
    • 25th Anniversary
    • Follow the Duck 2014
    • Follow the Crown 2013
    • Mexico 2013
    • "The Bridge"
    • 20th Anniversary
  • Messages
    • Archived Messages 2021
    • Archived Messages 2020
    • Archived Messages 2019
    • Archived Messages 2018
    • Archived Messages 2017
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
    • Directions
    • Directory >
      • Membership List
      • How To Become A Member
      • Guidelines for Responsible Members
VALLEY CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

My Strength Comes from the Lord

6/30/2017

0 Comments

 
Recently, while standing with family at the graveside, one of the family members came alongside me and said, “Thank you for your calming presence and assuring words, I don’t how you do it, I find these moments to be very hard”.  I simply responded, “so do I”.  I can testify with the Apostle Paul:  The Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed.  (2 Timothy 4:17)
 
Such strength, is for me a gift from God.  If you could hit rewind button, you would have heard me quietly whisper to God as I straightened my tie and prepared for that memorial gathering, “God I hate this.”  Play it back a little further you’d find in a basement room at Emmanuel Baptist Church, in Chatham, Ontario, praying as the tears fell from my face for the strength to speak words of hope and encouragement at the memorial service for my sister-in-law.  You would see me sitting in my office moments before the funeral service for a four-year old boy, listening over and over again to the words of a worship song we sometimes sing:  He is able, more than able, to accomplish what concerns you today.  You would find me on the side of the highway, tears streaming down my face, my heart in anguish because my Janice’s dad left us so suddenly.  You’d see me choking back tears as I spoke at my grandfather’s funeral.
 
To be used of God to speak truth and hope into the lives of others is an awesome privilege, but nobody sees the quiet moments when my own heart is anguish.  I understand, I understand why God says death is an enemy; I understand something of sorrow and grief. Yet in the midst of all that, I have known the presence and strength, the comfort and grace of my God.
 
The Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed.  (2 Timothy 4:17)
 
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 27:8)
 
You are my strength, I watch for you; you, God, are my fortress, my God on whom I can rely.      (Psalm 59:9-10)
 
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.        (Psalm 73:26)
 
Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.  (Isaiah 12:2)
 
I have always been fairly confident; too often being over-confident in my own strength.  But the older I get, the more I realize, in those times when I feel weak and vulnerable and afraid, my strength comes from the Lord. 
 
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)

0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Author

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

    Categories

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

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012

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