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3 Rhythms of Marriage

3 Rhythms of Marriage

Invest in your marriage through these three marriage rhythms: Daily Connect TimeConnecting with your spouse for 20-30 minutes each day through meaningful conversation will strengthen the bond of connection you share together. While connecting, make sure to avoid distractions like cell phones and TV. Praying together for 2-3 minutes each day will have a powerful […]

Welcoming Internationals

Welcoming Internationals

Why should you care about internationals? Foreigner. International. Someone different than me. Someone raised in a different culture or a different country. Immigrant. When you hear those words, what is your initial reaction? For many, the initial instinct is to feel threatened, or to a lesser degree awkward, or maybe, and possibly the worst, indifferent. […]

Forgiveness Breaks Chains

Forgiveness Breaks Chains

In Luke Chapter 17, Jesus says the following to His disciples: “If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.” Luke 17:3-4 NIV […]

What is Your Part in the Great Commission?

What is Your Part in the Great Commission?

Revelation 7:9-10 says that every tribe and nation will gather around the throne of Jesus, giving Him all of the praise and worship. This Scripture shows us that missions is simply the goal of God’s glory and the Gospel advancement among all nations and people on earth. If God’s heart is for the world and the […]

So That All May Hear

So That All May Hear

It probably comes as no surprise that ancient societies had a different set of values than what we have grown accustomed to here in 21st century America. That’s an important thing to consider when we read the Bible. The Bible was written at a much different time in our world. That in no way means […]

What Do I Do After Easter?

What Do I Do After Easter?

Oh, the difference that one year can make! Last year in America the lockdowns were just commencing and in my home state of Minnesota, we had a blizzard to top it all off. Snow on a locked-down Easter did not feel great for a year that was challenging enough. This year, restrictions had been lifted […]

Why is it a “Good Friday?”

Why is it a “Good Friday?”

As Easter draws near I can’t help but hear the obvious question arise in the minds of Christians and non-Christians alike: “Why is it a good Friday?” The History Many historians suggest that the observance of the Good Friday happened on the Friday before Easter, which follows the Jewish Passover lunisolar calendar, and was first observed […]

Good Friday at Home Kitchen Communion Recipe

Good Friday at Home Kitchen Communion Recipe

At River Valley, we’re excited to be celebrating Good Friday at home! We want to share a recipe with you so that you can make bread for our special Good Friday Communion service in your own kitchen. Ingredients 1 cup warm water 1/4 cup granulated sugar 2 TBSP yeast 1/3 cup canola oil 1 egg […]

Let’s Pray for the Nations!

Let’s Pray for the Nations!

After this I looked, and behold, right in front of me I saw a vast multitude of people—an enormous multitude so huge that no one could count—made up of victorious ones from every nation, tribe, people group, and language. They were all in glistening white robes, standing before the throne and before the Lamb with palm […]

Missionary Monday: Molly’s Story of Her Call to the Mission Field

Missionary Monday: Molly’s Story of Her Call to the Mission Field

Before I knew Jesus, I spent my life chasing purpose through a selfishly nomadic lifestyle. I traveled and lived all over the world and developed a burden for the marginalized and unseen.  When I gave my life to the Lord in 2016, I was worried that I’d have to give up much of this lifestyle […]

What Could God Be Up To Right Now?

What Could God Be Up To Right Now?

We are certainly living in uncertain times.  Some would even say “we are living in unprecedented times.”  How many times have we heard that in the past few months? Little did we know in February that our state and much of the world would “shut down” for almost and that COVID-19 and Coronavirus would become […]

Celebrating Holy Week in Quarantine

Celebrating Holy Week in Quarantine

With everything going on around us, and with the shift to church online, I have to admit that Easter kind of snuck up on me this year. Everything seems just a little out of rhythm. I lose track of the days! Maybe life feels out of sync for you too. I think this is a […]

Creating Joy In Your Marriage During Quarantine

Creating Joy In Your Marriage During Quarantine

During this unexpected, certainly unchartered territory, one can feel thrown off balance like a person experiencing sea legs. Times like this can feel scary and frustrating because you don’t know what’s going to happen next, and are uncertain of how to respond. Thankfully, we don’t have to look far to find our Anchor –  “We […]