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Celebrating Successes

Brain science teaches that our brains are neuroplastic.[1]  This means the brain can be changed.  The brain is not set is stone.  This is great news for everyone!  For individuals who struggle with addiction, this is really great news.  In fact, it renders the oft repeated line “once an addict, always an addict” as a complete and total lie.  It is completely contrary to brain science.

Most importantly, God’s Word says that it is so…  “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”[2]   Further, the Bible instructs “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”[3]

One organization that helps individuals overcome unwanted sexual addictions, anxiety and depression, and also substance abuse indicates that one of the best ways of helping change the brain is by celebrating the small successes that one experiences along the way.[4]  Change is a process, it does not happen overnight.  The journey of positive change is really a journey of many smaller steps or successes that lead to new behavior.

I am sure that you can start to see some of the benefits and implications this has on your individual life as well as your spiritual journey.  There are also applications to organizations and churches.  Churches can change.  By celebrating the small successes and learning to focus on those along the way, we can experience wonderful change.

So today, I have decided to start a “Celebrating Success” page where successes are shared.  They can be small successes, they can be medium successes, or they can be large successes.   Whatever they are, they need to be shared.  They need to be communicated.  This will help to remind us of the journey we are on and to see how far we’ve come.

Post by: Pastor Eric Ollila.



[1] The Dynamic Brain: Neuroplasticity and Mental Health

Jill L. Kays, Psy.D.; Robin A. Hurley, M.D.; Katherine H. Taber, Ph.D.

The Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences 2012;24:118-124. doi:10.1176/appi.neuropsych.12050109

[2] 2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV

[3] Romans 12:2 NLT

Watoto Children’s Choir

 

WHEN: Wednesday, June 5 @ 7pm WHERE: St. John's Seventh-day Adventist Church, 30 Aldershot Street, St. John's, NL
WHEN: Wednesday, June 5 @ 7pm
WHERE: St. John’s Seventh-day Adventist Church, 30 Aldershot Street, St. John’s, NL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Watoto is a holistic care program that was initiated as a response to the
overwhelming number of orphaned and vulnerable children and women
in Uganda. It is positioned to rescue an individual, raise each one as
a leader in their chosen sphere of life so that they in turn will rebuild
their nation. The Watoto model provides for physical care; medical
intervention (including HIV/AIDS treatment); education (formal and
vocational); counseling and emotional well-being, moral and spiritual
discipleship.
LOVE OFFERING
An opportunity is made available during the choir presentation where
you will be able to contribute financially.

PARTNERSHIP
Many individuals, churches and organizations globally partner with
Watoto financially on an ongoing monthly basis. Either sponsor a child,
mother, teacher, vulnerable woman or Baby Watoto in the sponsorship
program; or partner with Watoto on a monthly basis.

VISIT WATOTO
Teams and individuals regularly come to Watoto to help build a structure
or other infrastructural requirements in the children’s villages. They raise
funds to cover the cost of the structure (ie. houses, clinics, classrooms,
etc according to priority) and participate in the building themselves.

Contact us
Watoto Canada
PO Box 98, Victoria, BC V8W 2M1
Phone: 1-888-9WATOTO
Email: canada@watoto.ca
WWW.WATOTO.COM