I sure am looking forward to this Sunday night. How often do we get to bid on yummy desserts and eat them? And this year, Pastor Damon has added some new twists and turns or rather should I say “pie throws” and “spoon-less feedings”?☺ This will be a wonderful and fun night!
But hey, before you get to enjoy the dessert fun at 7PM in the MPC, I want you to be in the know about what is happening during the summer. I know that you are ready for that thing called a VACATION, as I am too! But before you head off on your vacation, I want you to be fired up about what’s coming during the summer…
In one hour (6PM – 7PM) in the MPC we will share information that I hope and pray will translate into inspiration in your life! We’ll share about VBS, The Big Reveal, the Administrative Team, the November Mission Trip, and the Worship Center Renovation. You’ll also hear updates about Bethlehem and our church-wide vision. Whew, I’m already out of breath☺.
Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no revelation (vision / direction), the people cast off restraint (run wild / don’t know where they are going)…” I want us to grasp and then run with the vision for the summer.
Psalm 133 says, “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down upon the collar of his robes. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.” When we live in unity together, the Lord will pour out His blessings on us! I want us to be unified so that we can receive the Lord’s blessings!
I hope to see you Sunday night at 6PM for vision and unity and then at 7PM for….well….giving and eating (because I’m sure it won’t be gluttony☺)!
Loving and Leading,
Jeff Powell
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Hear AND Obey...
I just returned from the country of El Salvador. Joel Feagin and I spent four nights and three days with Pastor Lance Grush. I preached in Pastor Lance’s church and we spent time making preparations for Fellowship Church’s mission trip to El Salvador November 23-29.
Even though much was accomplished, my main purpose in going was in response to the prompting of the Lord in prayer. In February I was praying for all of the mission points we are connected with (The Philippines, India, Pakistan, Africa, and all of Central America). As I prayed for Central America I sensed a strong urging from the Lord to go to El Salvador just to minister to Pastor Lance.
This past week was the fulfillment of that urging from the Lord. And I am so glad that I obeyed. It is the same with you. God desires to speak to you and have you obey. Is it always easy? No way! It is always best? Absolutely!
Every time you read the Bible, you can hear God’s voice. Every time I preach, by the grace of God, you can hear His voice. Every time you pray you can hear His voice. And every time you share with someone else what God has told you to share, you allow them to hear His voice.
What has God said to you recently? Have you fully obeyed? Who is it that God wants you to encourage today? Is His voice silent to you because you have not obeyed His last instruction?
May we all hear AND obey His voice, for in that lies true blessings! By the way, could God be leading you to join me on the mission trip to El Salvador November 23-29? If so, let me know!
Glad to be your pastor,
Jeff Powell
Even though much was accomplished, my main purpose in going was in response to the prompting of the Lord in prayer. In February I was praying for all of the mission points we are connected with (The Philippines, India, Pakistan, Africa, and all of Central America). As I prayed for Central America I sensed a strong urging from the Lord to go to El Salvador just to minister to Pastor Lance.
This past week was the fulfillment of that urging from the Lord. And I am so glad that I obeyed. It is the same with you. God desires to speak to you and have you obey. Is it always easy? No way! It is always best? Absolutely!
Every time you read the Bible, you can hear God’s voice. Every time I preach, by the grace of God, you can hear His voice. Every time you pray you can hear His voice. And every time you share with someone else what God has told you to share, you allow them to hear His voice.
What has God said to you recently? Have you fully obeyed? Who is it that God wants you to encourage today? Is His voice silent to you because you have not obeyed His last instruction?
May we all hear AND obey His voice, for in that lies true blessings! By the way, could God be leading you to join me on the mission trip to El Salvador November 23-29? If so, let me know!
Glad to be your pastor,
Jeff Powell
Thursday, April 16, 2009
WOW!
I have very exciting news to share with you. News that will feed your faith, encourage your heart, and I hope fill you with joy. Please allow me to brag on how good God has been through you…
1. Hundreds of us devoted Good Friday as a time to fast and pray. When I asked for your commitment and you committed, I was overwhelmed. Thank you for praying and fasting!
2. The Holy Spirit planted Bring Your Best in your heart. Our goal was $35,000. I am fired up to share that as of 4-15-09 God gave or pledged $39,172.82 through you! I am praying for you to see increase in your life (see 2 Corinthians 9:10,11). Thank you for giving your best!
3. God touched our hearts to get serious about the harvest of people. And God moved – 497 people attended on Easter and over 30 people gave their lives to Jesus. I have received many reports of lives being changed by Jesus. You invited them. You prayed for them. They came. And Jesus touched them! Thank you for being faithful!
4. You allowed the Holy Spirit to work through you as you served as an usher, a children’s worker, a greeter, a tech person, a singer, a band member, or a smiling face that warmly welcomed a guest. Thank you for serving in the power of the Holy Spirit to create an excellent environment!
This is the just the beginning. There are more people to reach. Let us continue being vessels that God is pleased to work through to accomplish His purpose. Yes, let us not stop, but let us continue!
I am so proud of you,
Jeff Powell
1. Hundreds of us devoted Good Friday as a time to fast and pray. When I asked for your commitment and you committed, I was overwhelmed. Thank you for praying and fasting!
2. The Holy Spirit planted Bring Your Best in your heart. Our goal was $35,000. I am fired up to share that as of 4-15-09 God gave or pledged $39,172.82 through you! I am praying for you to see increase in your life (see 2 Corinthians 9:10,11). Thank you for giving your best!
3. God touched our hearts to get serious about the harvest of people. And God moved – 497 people attended on Easter and over 30 people gave their lives to Jesus. I have received many reports of lives being changed by Jesus. You invited them. You prayed for them. They came. And Jesus touched them! Thank you for being faithful!
4. You allowed the Holy Spirit to work through you as you served as an usher, a children’s worker, a greeter, a tech person, a singer, a band member, or a smiling face that warmly welcomed a guest. Thank you for serving in the power of the Holy Spirit to create an excellent environment!
This is the just the beginning. There are more people to reach. Let us continue being vessels that God is pleased to work through to accomplish His purpose. Yes, let us not stop, but let us continue!
I am so proud of you,
Jeff Powell
Thursday, April 9, 2009
God and Gifts...
HAPPY RESURRECTION! God is so amazing. Is He at times hard to comprehend? YES! Is He at times hard to see? YES! Has He revealed Himself to us? YES! YES! YES! That is precisely what Easter is all about – God making Himself known and available to us! WOW!
I don’t know about you, but I love giving gifts more than receiving them. I love to see the surprise in someone’s face over a gift. I love to see the expression of thankfulness that words can’t utter when a gift is given. I love to see the joy and fulfillment that comes when a really meaningful gift is given.
Do you know that God is the ultimate giver of gifts? Sure He likes to receive our gifts to Him (praise, worship, gratitude, obedience, surrender, faith), but He really loves to give gifts to us. And nothing matches THE GIFT He gave to us in His Son Jesus!
I can only imagine the excitement God gets when a person is surprised by His gift of grace in Jesus. I can only imagine the understanding God has when a human being is speechless over the love they’ve experienced in the gift of Jesus. I can only imagine what satisfaction God gets when an unfulfilled, empty life becomes utterly filled with peace by receiving the connection to God that only comes from the sacrificial gift of Jesus.
Yes, I can only imagine. My best imaginations, fall far short of the true reality of God’s sheer pleasure when we receive the gift of Jesus!
Have you received the gift God has for you in His Son Jesus? If you do, you will make God’s day!
Glad for you,
Jeff Powell
I don’t know about you, but I love giving gifts more than receiving them. I love to see the surprise in someone’s face over a gift. I love to see the expression of thankfulness that words can’t utter when a gift is given. I love to see the joy and fulfillment that comes when a really meaningful gift is given.
Do you know that God is the ultimate giver of gifts? Sure He likes to receive our gifts to Him (praise, worship, gratitude, obedience, surrender, faith), but He really loves to give gifts to us. And nothing matches THE GIFT He gave to us in His Son Jesus!
I can only imagine the excitement God gets when a person is surprised by His gift of grace in Jesus. I can only imagine the understanding God has when a human being is speechless over the love they’ve experienced in the gift of Jesus. I can only imagine what satisfaction God gets when an unfulfilled, empty life becomes utterly filled with peace by receiving the connection to God that only comes from the sacrificial gift of Jesus.
Yes, I can only imagine. My best imaginations, fall far short of the true reality of God’s sheer pleasure when we receive the gift of Jesus!
Have you received the gift God has for you in His Son Jesus? If you do, you will make God’s day!
Glad for you,
Jeff Powell
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
I Am Expecting!
“Expectation is the breeding ground of miracles!” said the preacher from the pulpit. As a new preacher, I was not sure of this bold statement. I said to myself, “I don’t think that is true.”
Thankfully, the Holy Spirit and God’s word had the final say so in my evaluation of that statement. The Holy Spirit reminded me that Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” He showed me that “sure” “hope for” and “certain” all have to do with expectation. Faith IS expectation!
As a new preacher, I knew that we could not become followers of Jesus apart from faith (see Ephesians 2:8). I knew that without faith it was impossible to please God (see Hebrews 11:6). And I knew that all of the men and women of old that did great things for God did them through faith (see Hebrews 11). Now I knew that faith was expressing my expectations and that by doing that, I was setting myself up to receive miracles from God!
Yes, “Expectation is the breeding ground of miracles!” What are you expecting from God? What promises of the Bible need to be fulfilled in your life? What in your life needs to be healed? Who is not saved yet in your relationships? What needs to change in you?
Will we expect God to do this and more? Will we expect God to use us to invite many to attend with us next Sunday on Easter? And will we expect God to multiply the gift we give next Sunday in the Bring Your Best offering? If so, God will amaze us by what He does!
Expecting Miracles,
Jeff Powell
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