Valley River Baptist Church

    From

        The Pastor’s Desk

 “If people love me, they will obey my teaching.  My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.”           (John 14:23)

     The beginning of a new year is filled with thoughts of new beginnings and lessons learned. It is exciting to think about what is ahead of us in this new year.  To have enthusiasm and anticipation for what God is going to do. There will be times of joy, as well as times of sorrow.  We will experience success as well as adversity. 

     The same thing can be said about the church.  As we begin a new year we are faced with some difficult questions.  Will we be able to see growth in the church in 2010.  Will there be opportunities to reach out into our community with the message that God is love and he walks with us in this journey of life?  Will we see the fruits of our labors in the coming year?  The answer to these questions is yes!! We will see change in the church.  We will see an advancement of the mission of the church.  We will see more people in worship.  It can happen when we put Christ at the head of our life, priorities and relationships.

     God wants to be our dwelling place. He has no interest in being a weekend getaway or a Sunday bungalow or a summer cottage. He wants you under his roof now and always. He wants to be your mailing address, your point of reference; he wants to be your home.

     For many this is a new thought.  We think of God as a deity to discuss, not a place to dwell.  We think of God as a mysterious miracle worker, not a house to live in.  We think of God as a creator to call on, not a house to reside in.  But our Father wants to be much more.  He wants to be the one in whom “we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28).  Join with me as we welcome the new year!!

Pastor Rob