We all need mentors and I have been blessed to have quality mentors along the way. Pastor Dennis Watson (Celebration Church in New Orleans) is one mentor that has made a lasting impact on my life. Recently he shared some thoughts about excellence that I think we will benefit from...
Excellence is not perfectionism, status seeking or trying to outdo, outshine and outperform everyone else. Excellence is exhibiting quality and integrity in everything we do. It is always giving our best for the Lord in order to please and honor Him. Paul wrote in Colossians 1:10, “Live a life worthy of the Lord and . . . please Him in every way, bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.” That’s what excellence is all about, and a commitment to excellence encourages and helps people, and it is also a powerful act of worship (Romans 12:1). Daniel 6:3 reads, “Daniel so distinguished himself . . . by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him before the whole kingdom.” Daniel’s commitment to excellence honored the Lord and drew the affirmation of others (as well as persecution from those who hated God and hated him).
Do you live a life of “excellence?” Would you characterize your work life, your friendships, relationships, or your home life as being filled with quality and integrity? Do you fulfill your Christian and Church responsibilities with excellence and integrity? Christian author Max Lucado said that “the quest for excellence is a mark of maturity,” and Greek philosopher Aristotle said that “quality is not an act; it is a habit of our lives.” That other great philosopher (and baseball player) Willie Mays said it like this: “Almost anybody can be good at what they do once in a while. It’s being good every day that separates the good from the great.”
Whether or not we live a life of excellence is up to us. We’ve all been given gifts, talents and abilities from God to enable us to fulfill our purpose(s) in life. But we have to choose to utilize what the Lord has given to us to live an excellent life. We are the only ones who can commit to excel at who we are, where we are, with what we have, and while we can. I pray that all of us will desire to be everything God has called us to be, so that we can do everything He has called us to do. When that is our desire and commitment, one day we will be able to hear the Lord say: “Well done good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things. I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of the Lord.” (Matthew 25:21)
Thank you Pastor Dennis for sharing these thoughts. Fellowship Church, may we strive to be spiritually excellent in all we do!
Loving and Leading,
Jeff Powell
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Are you a Convert-Able?
I love working with a team where each member of the team challenges and sharpens the other. Fellowship’s Minister to Students, Pastor Damon, recently shared with me a devotional that challenged and sharpened me. I know it will do the same for you...
Are you a Convert-Able?
We are all God’s wonderful creation. Though we are all distinctly different, we are still made on the same assembly line of God’s two hands. God created us to be vessels, vehicles to carry His Agape love and His Glory to the ends of the earth. My question to you is: are you a Convert-Able or are you a Hard-Top? Are you the type of person that is hard and rigid and likes to keep a controlled environment that suits your preferences? Are you the type of vehicle that is not willing to let the freshness of the God given breeze blow through your space, or even at worst, allow the frightful contaminates of this world leak into your climate controlled space? Are you flexible enough to let your guard down when God is ready to change the seasons? Are you able to retract, bend, and bow under the pressure of God’s finger on your button, or are you the vehicle that states “I am solid and not weak like those ‘Convertibles’?” It has been said by Hard-Tops that Convertibles are not practical and are only preferred by folks who are either going through mid life crises or the young, wild and prideful? I beg to differ. Why not be a vehicle that is willing to submit to the various climates of God’s Spirit? Why not be a vehicle that is able to bend, retract, and bow under the pressure of God’s finger on your button. Why not be a vehicle that is able to let your guard down and allow the Wind of God’s Spirit to breath fresh life into your lungs and blow away the old stale, human controlled air that you’ve been comfortable with inside your space? Letting your guard down will allow you to see and experience even more of God’s great creation and changes due to your spiritual peripheral vision being expanded without your Hard-Top getting in the way of what God wants to show you for the day. Are you a vehicle that will submit to HIS plan of manufacturing you and your destiny? Are you willing to be brought back to the Chop-Shop, the Potter’s Wheel so to speak? Would you be willing to let God transform/ convert you into a vehicle that is able to encounter the atmospheric changes that God has in store for all of our lives? Are you willing to allow God to convert your desires into His desires? Are you a Convert-Able?
Thank you Pastor Damon for sharing this awesome devotional with us today!
Loving and Leading,
Jeff Powell
Are you a Convert-Able?
We are all God’s wonderful creation. Though we are all distinctly different, we are still made on the same assembly line of God’s two hands. God created us to be vessels, vehicles to carry His Agape love and His Glory to the ends of the earth. My question to you is: are you a Convert-Able or are you a Hard-Top? Are you the type of person that is hard and rigid and likes to keep a controlled environment that suits your preferences? Are you the type of vehicle that is not willing to let the freshness of the God given breeze blow through your space, or even at worst, allow the frightful contaminates of this world leak into your climate controlled space? Are you flexible enough to let your guard down when God is ready to change the seasons? Are you able to retract, bend, and bow under the pressure of God’s finger on your button, or are you the vehicle that states “I am solid and not weak like those ‘Convertibles’?” It has been said by Hard-Tops that Convertibles are not practical and are only preferred by folks who are either going through mid life crises or the young, wild and prideful? I beg to differ. Why not be a vehicle that is willing to submit to the various climates of God’s Spirit? Why not be a vehicle that is able to bend, retract, and bow under the pressure of God’s finger on your button. Why not be a vehicle that is able to let your guard down and allow the Wind of God’s Spirit to breath fresh life into your lungs and blow away the old stale, human controlled air that you’ve been comfortable with inside your space? Letting your guard down will allow you to see and experience even more of God’s great creation and changes due to your spiritual peripheral vision being expanded without your Hard-Top getting in the way of what God wants to show you for the day. Are you a vehicle that will submit to HIS plan of manufacturing you and your destiny? Are you willing to be brought back to the Chop-Shop, the Potter’s Wheel so to speak? Would you be willing to let God transform/ convert you into a vehicle that is able to encounter the atmospheric changes that God has in store for all of our lives? Are you willing to allow God to convert your desires into His desires? Are you a Convert-Able?
Thank you Pastor Damon for sharing this awesome devotional with us today!
Loving and Leading,
Jeff Powell
Thursday, August 13, 2009
YOU make a difference...
Fellowship Church, vision is the precursor to reality. Proverbs 29:18 paraphrased says that without vision (or revelation) God’s people perish. Nearly two years ago, God began to give vision for many areas of our church. This vision or dream has now become a reality in part!
Through your tireless labor and sacrificial giving much renovation has been done to the facilities that God has entrusted to our care. Let me boast in the Lord for what He accomplished through you in the recent months...
And in addition to all this, recently we were able to complete the Prayer Room, renovate the Media Center, renovate the Children’s Ministry Resource Office, and upgrade the flooring in the Son Seeker room and Student Bible Study rooms! God did all of this through you - THANK YOU for your faithfulness!
As great as these renovations have been, a greater renovation has begun in the lives of many. 7 small groups are now in operation. These small groups are made up of 3-15 people (not including children) that meet weekly outside of the church building for the purpose of evangelism, spiritual growth, and community with the goal of
multiplication. Children and adults are being impacted by the power and presence of Jesus in these small groups.
Fellowship Church, the ministry that Jesus is pouring out through you not only touches lives here in Florida, but literally around the world. Through your giving, children have been fed and people have been saved in The Philippines, India, Pakistan, Africa, and all over Central America. To learn more about how you have made an impact all over the world, check out the bulletin board in the Main Welcome Center.
Thank you for making a positive difference in the Kingdom of God both locally and globally!
Loving and Leading,
Jeff Powell
Through your tireless labor and sacrificial giving much renovation has been done to the facilities that God has entrusted to our care. Let me boast in the Lord for what He accomplished through you in the recent months...
- Air condition was upgrading to provide efficient air flow.
- Stage in the Worship Center was expanded and upgraded electronically and technologically.
- Worship Center lighting was upgraded.
- Carpet was installed.
- Painting was done.
- Technical visual enhancements were completed.
And in addition to all this, recently we were able to complete the Prayer Room, renovate the Media Center, renovate the Children’s Ministry Resource Office, and upgrade the flooring in the Son Seeker room and Student Bible Study rooms! God did all of this through you - THANK YOU for your faithfulness!
As great as these renovations have been, a greater renovation has begun in the lives of many. 7 small groups are now in operation. These small groups are made up of 3-15 people (not including children) that meet weekly outside of the church building for the purpose of evangelism, spiritual growth, and community with the goal of
multiplication. Children and adults are being impacted by the power and presence of Jesus in these small groups.
Fellowship Church, the ministry that Jesus is pouring out through you not only touches lives here in Florida, but literally around the world. Through your giving, children have been fed and people have been saved in The Philippines, India, Pakistan, Africa, and all over Central America. To learn more about how you have made an impact all over the world, check out the bulletin board in the Main Welcome Center.
Thank you for making a positive difference in the Kingdom of God both locally and globally!
Loving and Leading,
Jeff Powell
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Words and Writing...
Great writers have literally changed the world. Ideas and concepts have been put down in writing forming the way for incredible change in our world. The power of the spoken and written word is incredible. It literally has the power to forge the way for nations to rise and nations to fall. What a gift God has given to us in our ability to speak and write.
A world renowned poet once said...
“The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”
These poetic words have provided counsel and comfort for countless lives throughout the centuries. When David passionately expressed this 23rd Psalm he did so not just in theory or vain hope, but he expressed what he experienced from our great God and King!
Yes, words do indeed have much power in speech and writing and none more so than the Word of God. Thank you Lord, for giving us your powerful Word!
Loving and Leading,
Jeff Powell
A world renowned poet once said...
“The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”
These poetic words have provided counsel and comfort for countless lives throughout the centuries. When David passionately expressed this 23rd Psalm he did so not just in theory or vain hope, but he expressed what he experienced from our great God and King!
Yes, words do indeed have much power in speech and writing and none more so than the Word of God. Thank you Lord, for giving us your powerful Word!
Loving and Leading,
Jeff Powell
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