Psalm 23 is undoubtedly one of the most treasured of the Psalter. It's a Psalm that is also close to my heart. One truth that is established in this Psalm is the reality and certainty of the Valley! Psalm 23: 4 reads, "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Phillip Keller, a prolific writer and shepherd, described Valleys as places of danger for the sheep. This was a place where wild animals would often lurk in the broken canyon walls. Valleys were also places where sudden storms would sweep along the Valleys floors, often causing floods. Since the sun didn't shine too well in the valley it was a place where shadows really became to the sheep "shadows of death". Why would a Shepherd lead his sheep through dark valleys? For two main reasons: firstly, to reach higher pastures for the sheep to graze and to find hidden nourishment for the sheep that's located within the valley. The valley was the place where sheep learned to depend on their Shepherd. With that said, we can draw a few valuable truths. The Lord will often use the valley seasons of our lives, times of great hardship and even suffering, to strip us of our self-centeredness, teaching us to become more reliable on Him. It's in those difficult seasons that God does His deepest work in us! It's those hard times that He works in us and through us for His glory! It's in the valley that we learn to stay close to our Shepherd, trust His voice and never to wander! The Gospel does not remove the Valley but it gives us a Shepherd who never forsakes us! Through every seasons of suffering and hardship, we have a Shepherd who had already walked the path!

In a few weeks from now, as a local church, we resume our series on the Book of Proverbs. Many of the problems we face personally is not merely a money issue or relational challenge. It's a wisdom issue. What do I mean? The solutions you’re looking for lie in gaining the appropriate wisdom to address the issue effectively. If the hard truth be told, a lot of the problems we face are not circumstantial but arise from a lack of knowledge, discipline and insight. Some of the health challenges we face are not circumstantial but stem from a lack of discipline and wisdom in the way we eat; high sugar intake, lack of exercise, absence of nutrition etc. Some of the spiritual attacks and temptations we face or stumble into are a result of us not setting up boundaries or us allowing unbridled desires to roam free. BUT THERE IS GOOD NEWS: Every problem is an opportunity for wisdom to work. Every problem we face is not simply an obstacle but an opportunity to apply practical wisdom. The book of James puts it very simply in Chapter 1 Verse 5: "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." We can have wisdom if we ask for it from the Lord! First step to acquiring wisdom is to ask it from the Lord. Now the next practical question to ask ourselves is: How does the Lord give wisdom? I'm looking forward to your responses in the comments!

Just want to say a heartfelt thank you for such an incredible three weeks diving into the Debate between Rome and Geneva These teachings has truly been so enriching and eye-opening. Each session stretched my understanding, deepened my love for God’s Word, and helped me see the beauty of these theological truths more clearly. I’m so grateful for the time, effort, and teaching that went into this, it really made a lasting impact. Thank you for pouring into us so faithfully. Looking forward to what’s next!!!

This morning, a precious memory came to mind of a hymn by Horatio Spafford called, "It is Well with my Soul." In the 1990's when I was a little kid, my grandmother used to play the organ in a Congregational Church. The choir would every so often sing this classic, it was a favorite. The hymn was triggered by one of the verses in Psalm 23 that I preached from on Sunday; Verse 2: "He leads me beside still waters." One of the lines in the hymn reads as follows: "When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll; whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul." PEACE is what the LORD gives us! He gives us two kinds of PEACE, an objective and subjective peace: OBJECTIVE PEACE: This is a peace that ends our war against God. When we were sinners were ignorantly, in our fallen nature, were enemies of God. Romans 5:10 teaches: "For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life." Earlier in Chapter 5 Paul made clear mention of how this peace is brought about, verse 1 "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." We receive this Peace with God, only through what Christ accomplished for us on His glorious Cross and Resurrection, and we respond in repentance. Scriptures also teaches us about a SUBJECTIVE PEACE. This is the peace of God. Philippians 4:6-7 states: "Do not be anxious about anything... And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." The peace of God that He puts in our hearts gives us confidence and calm in the face of our trials and adversity. This peace you discover when your mind is fixed on the Lord and His promises. Isaiah 26:3: "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you." It's a peace that the Holy Spirit produces in our hearts according to Galatians 5:22.