A Threefold Challenge to Our Church:

In the midst of our church transition right now between pastors, Bro. Mike (our interim pastor) issued a challenge to our church here at Valley View found in Romans 12:12. We are to rejoice in hope (the hope of knowing that God's will is something we can rest in when it comes to the future of our church), be patient in tribulation (no matter how difficult the waiting can sometimes seem), and continue instant in prayer (as the Scripture commands us to "pray without ceasing).

Fire is known to bring ruin and destruction. But, a fiery trial is different. Instead, it is a very trying and difficult situation that you may face. It doesn't have to bring about ruin and destruction unless you let it.

In the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, they faced a literally fiery trial. But even today we can relate to the boy in this story. They were taken up, suddenly, and thrown into the midst of the fire. They were bound, and fell down, shackled and wondering how they would get back up and survive. And yet, in the end, they walked with the Lord in the midst of the fire!

The fiery trial in your life does not have to lead to destruction and ruin! Instead, it can be used to glorify God, purify you, and prepare you for whatever God has planned for your future!

Tonight we continue our series on Prayer 101: Learning to Talk to God by taking a look at Filtering Your Prayer by Requesting God's Will.

But before we can learn to do this, we must examine the request being made. Before we ever take our needs to God, we must first pray that God's Will be done.

Are you praying and praying and praying by failing to see results? Are you making sure that you filter your prayers through God's Will?

We all have a natural reaction to every day events. You slam on your brakes when car in front of you does the same. You quickly withdraw your hand from a hot stove. You instinctively reach for an object thrown at you. Your heart breaks and your tears drop when faced with difficult trials.

But there is also a spiritual response that is often harder to endure and is not as natural. So, what is The Spiritual Response to a Sudden Trial?

Have you ever tried pouring a liquid into a smaller container without a funnel? Maybe you've tried adding oil to an engine without one. More often than not, when we do that, we make a big mess of things. The funnel has a specific purpose. It is used to make sure that everything goes where it's supposed to go.

Our prayers should be funneled too. But what does that mean?

Tonight Bro. Mike continues our series on Prayer 101 by shows us how to Funnel Your Prayer Through God's Kingdom Come.

Easter. Resurrection Sunday. What is it about this day that makes it so different than any other day? What is it about Easter Sunday that separates Christianity from all the other religions of the world?

Buddhists can visit the tomb of Buddha. Mormons can visit the remains of Joseph Smith. Muslims can visit the ashes of Muhammad. But what makes Christianity so different from all these is that we cannot visit the remains of Jesus Christ; THERE ARE NO REMAINS! HE IS RISEN!

But, what if Christ had not risen? How we, and our religion, be different?