Congratulations to the senior leaders of Valley Fellowship Church — Pastors Greg & Patti Simon! We believe that marriage is a holy sacrament defined in the Bible as a covenant, a sacred bond between one man and one woman, instituted by and publicly entered into before God (Matthew 19:4-6). We celebrate the Simons’ 38th Anniversary!
Everything in love! That is the challenge of God’s Word in 1 Corinthians 16:14. With God’s help, we can do just that. With God’s grace and assistance, we can live in peace and walk in love. As we love based upon choice (not based upon feelings), we can learn to love even the people difficult to love.
”Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and His love is brought to full expression in us” (1 John 4:11-12 NLT).
Jesus Christ commands His followers to love. “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other” (John 13:34 NLT). But, our Lord calls us to love on purpose, even who we may not have ‘feelings’ of love. “Love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!” (Matthew 5:44 NLT). “But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you” (Luke 6:27 NLT).
God wants to help you love others as He loves you. But, how can you love the people in your life who are hard to love? Discover Scriptural advice and encouragement through this Wednesday evening series. Whatever your situation may be, God wants to help you love others.
Join Pastor Greg and Patti Simon in the Sanctuary at 6:30-7:30PM for the Wednesday Evening Adult Series. Gain insight and encouragement. Love people, live in peace, and be thankful.
God’s will is perfect FOR you even if it isn’t doesn’t seem perfect TO you.
God’s will for you is perfect for you, even if you don’t think it’s perfect from your own perspective. Some people mistakenly assume that troubles or difficulties in life are some kind of sign that they are missing out on God’s perfect will for their lives.
The reality is – you can be right in the middle of God’s will for your life and experience tremendous hardship. No one can escape all trouble. Ultimately, God’s perfect will is accomplished when the circumstances of our lives allow HIS GLORY to shine through our lives.
God’s Word has many examples of men and women right in the middle of God’s perfect will who still faced misfortunes, hassles, and trials. Joseph certainly faced disruption – trapped in a pit, sold into slavery, falsely accused and thrown into prison – but God used all of those difficulties to save Joseph’s family and God’s chosen people. David was the God-chosen next king of Israel, yet he suffered through years of jealousy, betrayal, and rejection before he was humanly-recognized as king. Paul was unjustly beaten with rods, stoned to death, shipwrecked, mocked, and ridiculed, but God’s message was still be clearly delivered through Paul. Jesus endured the cruelest inconvenience of beatings, crucifixion, and even death without ever stepping outside of the Father’s perfect will for His life on earth.
Sometimes we need to remind ourselves that God isn’t finished yet. Paul stresses, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect” (Romans 12:2 NLT). I have heard people misrepresent this verse into somehow justifying a substandard for God’s will. Some suggest Paul is delineating three paths, but Paul’s word choice mentions only ONE will. In Greek, the verse DOES NOT break up God’s will into three kinds – good will, pleasing will, and perfect will. The word Paul uses for “will” is singular, not plural. Good, pleasing, and perfect all relate to one singular will.
Disturbance in your life is not an automatic signal that you have somehow missed God’s will for your life. That disagreement with your spouse shouldn’t send you into depressed anxiety about God’s will for your marriage. That rebellious child isn’t a sign that you aren’t called to be a parent. That cantankerous coworker giving you fits, doesn’t necessarily mean God doesn’t want you working at that location. Your flat tire on the interstate doesn’t mean you lost your way.
You may be squeezed today, but you can live for God’s glory! “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing” (James 1:2-4 NLT).
We are praying today for God’s strength to live for His glory and to trust His perfect will for my life – even if it upsets my preconceived plans and personal comfort. Live for His glory!
In the message from 10AM Worship on August 13, 2023, Pastor Greg Simon asks, “Who is with you and to what degree?” Who receives with you? Who labors with you? Who goes to war with you? Who is willing to suffer with you? Some partnerships don’t work out. Some relationships fail, but are later restored. Some are called to higher levels of partnership with you. Value and appreciate those who live in a high level of partnership with you.
The students of Valley Fellowship Christian Academy celebrated water baptism during chapel on May 1, 2023. Water baptism is an integral part of our first steps in growing as a believer. When a person is truly born again, water baptism is an outworking of that decision. Water baptism is an outward sign of the inward reality of Christ Jesus as your Lord and Savior.
Jesus Christ thought enough of baptism to visit the dirty Jordan River in order to set the example for His followers. Throughout the centuries, believers have followed Christ’s example and used the sacred act of water baptism as a public proclamation of Jesus as their Lord. Perhaps, the Holy Spirit is moving within you, nudging you make a public declaration of Christ’s Lordship. Are you ready to take that next step? Call the church office today!
This is a portion of the Zoom feed from Sunday 10AM on February 19, 2023. This teaching centered on Jesus Christ’s invitation in John chapter seven: “On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, ‘If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.’ 39 By this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believe in Him would receive. For the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” [John 7:37-39 MEV]
A mighty reservoir of the Holy Spirit dwells within each believer. Do you want to experience an awakening in the rituals of your life? Hunger and thirst for more of Jesus Christ. Exercise your faith. Ground all experience with the Holy Spirit in Scripture. Pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit within each person. Live a life fully surrendered to the Lordship of Christ Jesus. God receives the glory for what He does through you as a vessel.
This is a portion of the Zoom feed from Sunday 10AM on February 5, 2023. In the boat with the disciples, was a leftover-testimony of what the Lord is able to do. What has the Lord done in your life and you still have the leftovers?
Before proclaiming a corporate fast, Ezra prepared his heart to seek the Lord. When Ezra’s public announcement a focus was made “to seek of Him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance” (Ezra 8:21 KJV). The Lord has a right way for us! May we have a greater knowledge and greater experience of what God wants for us.
A part of “a right way for us” is that we be a church that: is expanding; prays and intercedes; is Spirit-driven and Spirit-filled; preaches basic truth; builds Biblical community; fulfills Biblical purpose; and impacts the region. We are united in purpose to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ and to advance His Kingdom. In 2023, we will see much, much more of God’s Kingdom!
On Sunday, we kick-off twenty-one days of prayer and fasting at Valley Fellowship Church. From January 8th to the 28th, we will focus our prayers for the breakthroughs that God has for us. To help focus us and in order for us to pray by name for everyone attending Valley Fellowship, Pastor Carol Simon will have weekly directions. Watch for foyer-handouts and extra-emails during the corporate time of fasting from January 8 to 28.
The Lord is leading us and He delights in what we are doing. “The Lord directs the steps of the Godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand” (Psalms 37:23-24 NLT).
This video clip is from the Valley Fellowship Church Zoom recording from January 1, 2023. During the musical worship of the 10AM gathering, the Gift of Tongues was released. The clip begins with the Interpretation of Tongues by Pastor Patti Simon followed by a prophetic message from Pastor Carol Simon.
SCHEDULE CHANGE – We’ll gather at the 3205 Holmes Avenue Campus at 6:30PM on November 16, 2022 and enjoy a special time of community. No separate groups for November 16. Please, join us at the school building at 3205 Holmes.