• Home
    • Gathering Guidelines
    • Ways to Give
  • Prayer Corner
    • Share a Request
    • Memorial Tribute >
      • Hetty Postma
      • 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 >
      • 2022 Annual Report
      • 2021 Annual Report
      • 2020 Annual Report
      • 2019 Annual Report
      • 2018 Annual Report
    • Membership Information
    • 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 >
      • 2022 Budget
      • Current Quarterly Report
    • Missions >
      • Missions Guidelines
    • Caring and Connecting
    • Christian Education >
      • Library
    • Worship >
      • Heritage House
  • What's Happening
    • Bulletin
    • Links
  • Photos
    • Annual Celebration >
      • 2022
      • 2021
      • 2020
      • 2019
      • 2018
      • 2017
      • 2016
      • 2015
      • 2014
      • 2013
      • 2012
      • 2011
      • 2010
    • 30th Anniversary
    • 25th Anniversary
    • Follow the Duck 2014
    • Mexico 2013
    • Follow the Crown 2013
    • "The Bridge"
    • 20th Anniversary
  • Messages
    • Archived Messages 2023
    • Archived Messages 2022
    • Archived Messages 2021
    • Archived Messages 2020
    • Archived Messages 2019
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
    • Directions
    • Directory
VALLEY CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

The Voice of Truth

9/23/2022

0 Comments

 
When we have been brought very low and helped,
sorely wounded and healed, cast down and raised again,
have given up all hope--and been suddenly snatched from danger, and placed in safety;
and when these things have been repeated to us and in us a thousand times over,
we begin to learn to trust simply to the word and power of G
od,
​beyond and against appearances
.
                                                                                                                                                         John Newton
Things are not always as they appear.  When the circumstances of life seem less than favorable, when our hearts and troubled and understanding does not come easily, when hope fades and there seems to be no light in the darkness, when the voices I hear all around me seek to lead me to a place of doubt and fear, I have to remind myself, God is still at work, unfolding His purposes, for His glory.  I have to cycle back to the rock-solid truth that I am in a covenant relationship with Him and, as Newton states, to learn to trust simply to the word and power of God beyond and against appearances. I must learn to shut out the voices that would lead me to despair and hear the voice of truth.

The Apostle Paul reminds us...that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).  And to the believers in Philippi, he would write...it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose (Philippians 2:13).

Jeremiah writes, Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you. Great and mighty God, whose name is the Lord Almighty, great are your purposes and mighty are your deeds.

Sometimes, we have to recognize that God's purposes may not always mean favorable circumstances in our lives, we have to remind ourselves that the hard things we may be facing are for His glory, and that He is with us and will see us through those challenges.  He is the God who says to us: 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 (Isaiah 43:1-2).  David would confidently declare: Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me (Psalm 23:4).  

The hymn-writer reminds us:  God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform.
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, but trust him for his grace;
behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face.
His purposes will ripen fast, unfolding every hour.
  (William Cowper)

So, I will trust, the hands that made the starry heavens
And I will trust, the wounds of Calvary
And I will trust, and I will not be afraid
For all His ways are love
(Graham Kendrick)

Even when my heart and mind struggle to understand, when the voices around me seek to lead me to a place of doubt and fear, the voice of truth says, "Do not be afraid!"  And the voice of truth says, "This is for My glory!" Out of all the voices calling out to me, I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth (Casting Crowns - The Voice of Truth).  

​I will proclaim the name of the Lord. I will praise the greatness of our God!  He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just (Deuteronomy 32:3-4). 
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, Charlie), Andrea & Jason (Noah, Luke).

    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 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    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