Valley Community Church
Welcome to Valley Community Church! Our vision is to Love God, Equip People, and Reach the World!
Latitude
Grateful Living
By Lead Pastor David M. Schmaltz
Gratitude helps our attitude which produces latitude.
Part 1: Simplicity and Contentment: The doorway to joy!
1. Contentment protects us from ruin:
1 Timothy 6:2-10 NIV
- I am not saying that we should not ask for our daily bread or even more to be successful and a good steward of the riches he gives us.
- I am saying that God blesses the righteous with wealth and He adds not trouble to it. Prov. 10:22
Proverbs 10:22 NIV
2. Contentment is focused on God - THANKSGIVING
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV
- We are not just talking about stuff, are we? We are talking about life, events, circumstances, situations, seemingly unchangeable conditions that I grew up in and feel helpless to change.
- There is light, we just don’t always see it. In fact, sometimes we are blind to it.
3. Contentment leads us to joy! Ps. 118:5-7
When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; (Where do we turn when faced with ruin?)
he brought me into a spacious place. (Lattitude- room to live!)
6 The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. (God is waiting there.)
What can mere mortals do to me? (Nothing can separate me from God. I am safe!)
7 The Lord is with me; he is my helper. (God is HERE to help.)
I look in triumph on my enemies. (The day of victory is assured.)
- Latitude is freedom on the inside! Joy only germinates in the soul that is fertile with truth, and unchoked by the weeds of anxiety and confusion.
4. What do we have to be thankful for?
God’s love.
God’s care.
God’s promises.
God’s provisions.
Eternal life.
Do you want freedom? Latitude is just another word for freedom, freedom to live and enjoy the life God has given you.
It is often when we become content, God blesses us with more.
Now that is latitude!