Peace, Quietness, and Assurance for Ever

purple flower

“… peace… quietness and assurance for ever.”

Isaiah 32.17

 

That sounds good, “peace… quiet”... in fact - that sounds great!

 

We often think, “Peace and quiet… ahh!”

 

Hang on, there’s more, there is the other word, “assurance” – that’s great too.  We can have the assurance that everything will be peace and quiet and that everything will work out for the best!

 

That’s just a fairy tale… isn’t it?

 

Nobody can have all of that… can they? 

 

When Your Faith Is Increased

Lighted candle

“...when your faith is increased... we shall be enlarged by you...

To preach the gospel in the regions beyond...”

2 Corinthians 10.15-16

 

We enjoy our practice of faith purpose/faith promise missions giving here at Valley Baptist Church.

 

We focus on the thought of “purpose” because of the wording used in 2 Corinthians 9.7, “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” 

 

And Let Us Not Be Weary In Well Doing

people holding boxes

“And let us not be weary in well doing:

for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

Galatians 6.9

 

As a New Testament Baptist Church we have been given a commission to share the Gospel with the world and we plan to do just that!

 

It is a sobering responsibility.  It does take boldness.  It does take patience.  It is NOT easy.  The devil fights this work with everything he has, but the Lord said, “I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”  Matthew 16.18

And Lead Us Not Into Temptation

Round grey and black compass

“And lead us not into temptation,”

Matthew 6.13

 

Think about it!

 

The above phrase is what we commonly call the “Lord’s Prayer.”  It was to be an example of things we should pray about.

 

How true, and how needful! “…lead us not into temptation,”

 

Sure, we all face testing and difficulty.  And yes, the Lord does test us and try us, to see how we will react -  but we can still pray, “…lead us not into temptation,”.

 

The Name of the LORD is . . .

Brick Castle on Body of Water

“The name of the LORD is a strong tower:”

Proverbs 18:10

 

When I read this verse a while ago it struck me as a picture…

 

So I tried to draw the picture… The name of the LORD is a strong tower.

 

He Heareth The Prayer of The Righteous

Person hands on holy bible

“he heareth the prayer of the righteous”

Proverbs 15.29b

 

Do we ever pray, and it feels like our prayers just bounce off of the ceiling?  Are there times we pray and it doesn’t feel like we are praying?  Do sometimes we pray and forget that we have prayed?

 

As normal people we often go around and around with something as abstract as prayer but - for those who are saved, and living “right” God always hears their prayers and is ready to answer according to His will.

 

Speaking to Yourselves...

Gray bridge and trees

“Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,

singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;”

Ephesians 5:19

 

THIS IS SO IMPORTANT!!!

 

We need good, godly music around us!  Many of us are not musicians, and whether we can “hold a tune”, whether we can sing well or not might be debated, but the fact is we need good, godly music – the Bible say so!

 

Who Shall Separate Us...?

Four people standing on cliff in front of sun

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?”

Romans 8.35

 

Wow, what a question!  “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?”  Is it a trick question?  I mean:  There could be some “one” or some “thing” that could separate us from the love of Christ, right?

 

Maybe the Devil.  Maybe ungodly leaders or bad people.  Maybe trouble or hard times.  Maybe there is something we don’t know about yet that could separate us from the love of Christ!

 

“Maybe...?”  Yeah?  Well, “maybe” NOTHING!

 

He Did It With All His Heart, and Prospered

Woman using her laptop

“And in every work that he began

in the service of the house of God, and in the law,

and in the commandments, to seek his God,

he did it with all his heart, and prospered.”

2 Chronicles 31:21

 

Your Adversary

man's hand in shallow focus and grayscale photography

“...your adversary the devil...”

1 Peter 5.8

 

I’m not your enemy... the devil is.

 

Do you ever feel like you are trying to help someone, but they are resisting everything you are trying to do?

 

You feel you’re giving good advice, and you’re setting a good example, but it’s not appreciated - instead you’re being treated like you are “the enemy”?

 

Then you feel like saying, “Hey! I’m not your enemy... the devil is!”

 

Pages