Valley Life Church

On Sunday, January 2, 2022, Pastor Stuart Nice shared a message in person and online via YouTube Live and Zoom. Pastor Stuart leads us in an exercise to evaluate what has come before, create a focus toward what we would like to accomplish, and then step out into the Lord’s promises for what lies ahead.

Philippians 3:12-14, J.B. Phillips New Testament

Yet, my brothers, I do not consider myself to have “arrived”, spiritually, nor do I consider myself already perfect. But I keep going on, grasping ever more firmly that purpose for which Christ grasped me. My brothers, I do not consider myself to have fully grasped it even now. But I do concentrate on this: I leave the past behind and with hands outstretched to whatever lies ahead I go straight for the goal—my reward the honour of being called by God in Christ.

https://bit.ly/Philippians3_12-14PHILLIPS

On Sunday, December 19, 2021, Gio Serrato shared a message in person and online via YouTube Live and Zoom. Gio encourages us to examine what we are seeking when we come to the Lord. Jesus uses our seeking to create an invitation for others to seek the Lord and get to know Jesus for themselves. When we spend time with Jesus, he will faithfully reveal himself, his love for us, and how we can best express our love for him.

35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God!" 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, "What are you seeking?" And they said to him, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?" 39 He said to them, "Come and you will see." So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour… 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." 46 Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!" 48 Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." 49 Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" 50 Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe? You will see greater things than these." 51 And he said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
John 1:35-39, 45-51

https://bit.ly/John1_35-39_45-51NIV

On Sunday, December 12, 2021, Pastor Stuart shared a message in person and online via YouTube Live and Zoom. Pastor Stuart encourages us through the story of Mary and Elizabeth to trust in the possibilities of God, be with people so in order to build one another up in faith, and speak forth the encouragements given by the Holy Spirit toward those closest to you.

And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Now at this time Mary arose and went in a hurry to the hill country, to a city of Judah, and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. And she cried out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.”

And Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her home.

Luke 1:36-45, 56 (NASB)

http://bit.ly/Luke1_36-45_56NASB1995

On Sunday, December 5, 2021, Pastor Stuart shared a message in person and online via YouTube Live and Zoom. Pastor Stuart shared an encouragement that we will at times receive difficult assignments from the Lord, much like Mary did. We can gather strength from the fact that we are highly favored by the Lord and that our strength comes from the Holy Spirit when we fully give ourselves to the Lord.

“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. …For nothing will be impossible with God.”

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

Luke 1:34-35, 37-38 (NIV)

https://bit.ly/Luke1_34-35_37-38NIV

On Sunday, November 28, 2021, Pastor Stuart shared a message in person and online via YouTube Live and Zoom. Pastor Stuart shared an encouragement that even though times can seem dark, Jesus is our light. With that in mind, we must have open hearts to recognize Jesus and receive the gift of his grace, becoming God’s children.

John 1:9-12 (NIV)

The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God

http://bit.ly/John1_9-12NIV

On Sunday, November 21, 2021, Pastor Stuart shared a message in person and online via YouTube Live and Zoom. Pastor Stuart led us in a reflective practice of gratitude by reminding us that gratitude is a practice that starts in our hearts and is expressed toward those closest to us and as well to the Lord.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV)

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

https://bit.ly/1Thessalonians5_18NIV

On Sunday, November 14, 2021, Pastor Stuart shared a message in person and online via YouTube Live and Zoom. Pastor Stuart shared an encouragement to realign our perspective by worshiping the Lord, choosing to meditate on the Lord’s goodness toward us, and partnering with the Lord’s people to see the Lord’s plans come to fruition.

Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NIV)

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

http://bit.ly/Jeremiah29_11-13NIV

On Sunday, November 7, 2021, Pastor Stuart shared a message in person and online via YouTube Live and Zoom. Pastor Stuart shared an encouragement to walk in accountability as a key component of growth by granting permission for others to speak into our lives so that we can step into new opportunities afforded us by the new areas of growth. Lastly, we are reminded that we need each other. Our personal, spiritual, and community growth depends on our relationships with one another.

Ephesians 4:14-16 (NLT) 
Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

http://bit.ly/Ephesians4_14-16NLT

On Sunday, October 31, 2021, Pastor Stuart shared a message in person and online via YouTube Live and Zoom. Pastor Stuart shares a message about taking next steps to ensure we have a firm spiritual foundation. We are encouraged from 2 Peter 1:5-8 to make supporting our faith a priority, revisiting the process listed here, and committing ourselves to possess the qualities so that we will be productive in our faith.

2 Peter 1:5-8 (NIV)

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

http://bit.ly/2Peter1_5-8NIV

On Sunday, October 24, 2021, Pastor Stuart shared a message in person and online via YouTube Live and Zoom. Pastor Stuart shares a message about taking next steps by evaluating what we have been entrusted with on a personal and corporate level. From there we ask, “Am I fully invested in these things?” By prayerfully asking these questions, we can receive discernment from the Lord as to what our next steps should be.

Matthew 25:14-19 (NIV)

“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

“After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.

http://bit.ly/Matthew25_14-19NIV