“My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” (Psalm 42:2). Years ago, worn out by the seemingly endless “to do’s” of the Christian life, I wrote in my journal, “I am not interested in the philosophy of Christianity. Instead, my heart beats with the longing to… Read More »

“I will also hold you by the hand and watch over you…” Isaiah 42:6   In a large crowd, a parent takes a small child’s hand. Lost among a jungle of legs and swinging arms the child has no clue where she is going but she knows she is not alone or lost as long… Read More »

One of the greatest “shockers” in history occurred when the risen Jesus Christ, surrounded by unapproachable light and with a voice that some thought was thunder, appeared to the most feared and violent enemy of Christians. Jesus called him by name and he became Christ’s greatest promoter. The apostle Paul was the Pharisee of all… Read More »

What do you do when ugly memories of your past come calling; something you said or did that you wish for all the world you could take back? Sometimes it’s a visit for a fleeting moment. Other times it may be an overnighter, or at least a part-of-the-nighter. It happens to the best of us… Read More »

With “covid” restrictions now lifting, you’re eating out with a friend, catching up on the details of your lives. You begin describing something you did or said or why you reacted a certain way as you take another bite of your meal. Then you give up on sharing all the details and with a wave… Read More »

No matter what we have or what we’ve accomplished, we are never as secure as we would like to be. We know one false step, or one fickle turn of circumstance can create a desperate situation for any of us. The fact of the matter is we are only loosely tethered to the status quo,… Read More »

Dear Valley Brook Family, I am writing to you regarding the streaming of our Sunday service.  Over the past couple weeks, we have had some technical issues that perhaps have been especially frustrating for you as you have attempted to enjoy the service.  I want to, first of all, personally thank you for your patience… Read More »

“For who regards you as superior? And what do you have that you did not receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?” (1 Corinthians 4:7). I listen to the news and some of it just makes me shake my head. What is this world… Read More »

If we do not allow any idea to settle in that suggests we are anything but beloved because of Christ, and if our discipline is a discipline of trusting in Him as our righteousness, the theory of God’s love for us will grow into an impregnable conviction. As a result, we will be delightfully surprised… Read More »

“I will be careful to lead a blameless life… I will walk in my house with blameless heart” (Psalm 101:2). As admirable as this aspiration of David’s was, he simply wasn’t able to achieve it. Try as he would, he could neither produce a blameless life nor a blameless heart. This is our story as… Read More »