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The Cure for Isolation

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The Cure for Isolation

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silence & solitude_wide_c_ntWe live in a technologically interconnected world. At the touch of a finger we can transport our ideas around the globe and communicate with people who are miles away. More than at any other time in history, people should have a sense of connectedness, yet it seems that just the opposite is happening. As we have traded deep and meaningful relationships for low-maintenance online “friendships”, many of us have driven ourselves into isolation. Some of you may object to this line of thinking and point to your seven hundred Facebook friends, thousands of Twitter followers, and successful Instagram feed as proof that you are not isolated. However, if you invited all these online friends to your home to help you get over a bad breakup or to help you move, how many of them would show up? A lot of us live in isolation and many don’t even realize it. However, there is a cure. What if I told you that there are places in nearly every community around the world where you can build genuine friendships with your neighbours, where there are people who will find ways to help and support you through difficult times, and where you can receive love and acceptance? If you feel isolated, I encourage you to check out your local church on Sunday. I can’t promise that any church will be perfect, and I must warn you that real relationships can be messy. Nevertheless, the local church exists not only to celebrate the freedom that Jesus gives us, but also to provide a place where you can receive the love of God and find new friends.

Don’t allow yourself to remain isolated. There is a cure and it is closer than you think.

-- Pastor Stephen Valcourt pastorstephen

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Full and Continually Filled

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Full and Continually Filled

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5547035820_62221f3eea_z Sunday we talked about resisting temptation through the Holy Spirit's power. If you haven't heard the message yet, you can listen to it here. A question was brought up that I thought may be good to speak to here. It was brought up that the idea of being "Full" of the Holy Spirit while also being called to "continually be filled" with the Holy Spirit is contradictory. "How," I was asked "can one be full of something, yet need to continue to be filled?" This is a very good question and one that I will try to answer below.

1) We leak

We're not perfect, nor are we always focused on what the Holy Spirit wants to do in us. Until the day that we arrive in heaven we, as Christians, are Holy, but not perfectly Holy; New, but still being made new--we are works in progress.Therefore, we can be full of the Holy Spirit, but begin to ignore him and lose some of his presence in our lives. I don't believe the Spirit ever fully leaves, but that overwhelmingly powerful presence can fade if we're not careful.

As I am continually filled more and more with the Spirit I want his presence to run over and soak those around me.

2) We are growing

As I said previously, we are works in progress--new, but still being made new. As we grow closer to God and are conformed more and more to his image, our capacity for the Holy Spirit grows leaving us less-than-full. This necessitates us to be re-filled with the Holy Spirit.

3) The Spirit is an unending source

Even when a cup is full, you can continue to fill it as long as you have more water to pour into it. The Holy Spirit is an unending source of life and he can continually pour into our lives without ever running out of himself to give. Sure, stuff is going to run over, but isn't that the point? As I am continually filled more and more with the Spirit I want his presence to run over and soak those around me. I want people to feel the Holy Spirit when I meet them and interact with them so their lives can be changed and transformed into followers of Jesus.

As we grow closer to God and are conformed more and more to his image, our capacity for the Holy Spirit grows leaving us less-than-full.

Hopefully this dis-ambiguates the concept of being full and still needing to be filled for you. I pray that you will seek more of the Holy Spirit and unleash the power he has for you in your life.

--Pastor Stephen Valcourtpastorstephen

Image of dove, "Holy Spirit 33", by Waiting for the Word. Used according to Creative Commons Licensing

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Sowing and Reaping

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Sowing and Reaping

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reaping_blogThe concept of giving can be a difficult one to address. Even more difficult is a concept within that one: Sowing and Reaping. This past Sunday we watched a message from Craig Groeschel, Pastor of LifeChurch. I think that he addressed it beautifully. Giving joyfully to God does not immediately guarantee riches beyond imagining or longevity or a lack of sickness. But it does always have some kind of return on our investment. Give joyfully and generously and you never know what God will do for you. I really appreciated Craig's main point: "What you keep is all you have. What you give away God will multiply." How are you going to let God multiply in your life?

If you missed watching the video you can head over here: http://www.lifechurch.tv/watch/multiply-2013/ and click on "Sowing and Reaping...Play" to watch it.

--Pastor Stephen Valcourt

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What Really Does Matter Most?

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What Really Does Matter Most?

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What matters most titleThis past weekend we discussed where our priorities lie in addressing the needs and health of ourselves and others. If you missed last Sunday, head over to iTunes and listen to our podcast here. I want to reinforce some of what was talked about and keep things fresh in your mind. You may remember the phrase "Mankind wants to heal the body, but God wants to heal the soul; because God knows what matters most!" from Sunday--I said it a lot. The reason for that is I want you to remember it! We can work hard to address the physical needs of ourselves and others--sometimes spending years praying for healing or working with those that need our help--but is that what matters most? I believe that Jesus tells us in his Word (the Bible), that the physical is important; however, what matters most is the condition of a person's soul. If you want to do something that matters, continue to address the physical needs of others but, like Jesus with the paralytic man, make sure you're also addressing their spiritual needs.

Mankind wants to heal the body, but God wants to heal the soul; because God knows what matters most!

Keep pressing on and do all you do for God and His Kingdom!

--Pastor Stephen Valcourtpastorstephen

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