valley vine
Valley Presbyterian Church August 2018 Volume sixty-three, Number seven Dear friends, In our quiet and reflective moments all of us feel a desire for a life that is wiser, deeper, and truer. Jesus shares this desire for us. It is a holy thing and a sign that we belong to him. But the question we must each answer is this: What will we do with this desire? The wiser, deeper, truer life will not appear automatically for us, just because we want it to be so. We must act upon our desire. We must learn to pray. For many of us prayer is frustrating, inconsistent, or shallow. We believe in prayer but we have lost a regular sense of communion with our Creator. The growth God wants to give us, the joy and wisdom he is waiting to share with us, goes unclaimed. Our hearts remain desert-like, with occasional rainbursts of blessing that remind us of his goodness and ignite, everso briefly, our desire for more. Starting August 12, we will begin a new series, How Should I Pray? Wiser, Deeper, Truer. Our lives begin and end with God – but they are also meant to be lived in his presence. Our world does not encourage us to cultivate our spiritual lives, to tend our souls, to live out of the strength of solitude and silence. It takes real intention and genuine determination.
Yet so much depends on this. The shape and depth of our lives, the impact we have in Christ’s Kingdom, and ultimately the ability of our church to be a place where people find healing, truth, and purpose. I invite you to be part of the adventure throughout the fall. Imagine what God could do if all of us become wiser, deeper, and truer disciples! Series: How Should I Pray? Wiser, Deeper, Truer August 12 Request and the Responsive God Luke 18:1-6, Exodus 32:10-14 August 19 Request and Relinquishing Blame Matthew 7:1-7 August 26 Request and Real Community Matthew 7:7-12
Yours faithfully,
6947 E. McDonald Drive, Paradise Valley, AZ 85253-5342 Phone: 480-991-6424 Fax: 480-991-6427 Email: church@vpc.church Website: vpc.church