Time flies when your having fun! That may be true, but it is also true even when you’re not having fun. I sure have found that to be true in my life. Possibly it is because of our society. Or is it because of four children? Or could it be because of my own drivenness? Regardless, the fact remains: Time flies no matter what!
That is precisely why I believe we must live life intentionally. We don’t have time to waste. Just imagine if you and I were to live each and every moment like it was our last. What would we do differently? None of us are promised tomorrow. Today could very well be our last. So how we do maximize the time we’ve been given?
1. Be thankful for the things that did not cost you one penny (nature, breath to breathe, opportunities, etc...).
2. Imagine what you would want to do differently with your life if there were no obstacles. What is the real passion of your heart? Be honest and real.
3. Eliminate distractions. Get rid of the things that don’t have anything to do with where you want to go in life. Be free to say NO and I CAN’T!
4. Invest in what matters most - eternity. God has put people in your life that He wants to touch through you. It may be a word of encouragement, an invitation, or a prayer you give - there is something that you can invest in the lives of others around you. Resist fear and invest!
My hope is that this will help us maximize the time that God has given us. Let us all make a special effort to spend the remainder of this year (30+ days) maximizing each day, because time flies!
With Love,
Jeff Powell
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
The Flip Side of Life
There is a flip side to all things in life. This past week I was listening to a teaching CD by a gentleman whose teachings and insights have added tremendous value to my life recently. As I was listening to this excellent message, he said something that really got me thinking. He said basically to the effect, that for the follower of Jesus, there is no failure, just forced growth.
No failure, just forced growth - hmm. Initially I thought, well that is not true - failure is failure, but the more I thought about it, the more I began to see in my own life that everything (the good and the bad) as I have followed Jesus has ultimately aided my growth. And that is what got me thinking about the flip side of life. Just as there two sides to every coin, and just as the cup can be half empty or half full, life has more than one angle or perspective. So, what perspective do you have towards your life? Is it half empty or half full? Have you experienced failure or forced growth?
Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things God works it together for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” There’s the flip side to life - God’s side (His view and His higher purpose). Have you viewed your life lately through His eyes? Turn it around and let’s begin to see things the way God sees them. Forced growth isn’t always comfortable, but it leads to something really good. God is amazing in that He takes “all things” (the good, the bad, and the ugly) and flips them for good in our lives as we follow Him - now that’s the flip side to life. May we have open eyes to see this side clearly!
With Love,
Jeff Powell
No failure, just forced growth - hmm. Initially I thought, well that is not true - failure is failure, but the more I thought about it, the more I began to see in my own life that everything (the good and the bad) as I have followed Jesus has ultimately aided my growth. And that is what got me thinking about the flip side of life. Just as there two sides to every coin, and just as the cup can be half empty or half full, life has more than one angle or perspective. So, what perspective do you have towards your life? Is it half empty or half full? Have you experienced failure or forced growth?
Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things God works it together for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” There’s the flip side to life - God’s side (His view and His higher purpose). Have you viewed your life lately through His eyes? Turn it around and let’s begin to see things the way God sees them. Forced growth isn’t always comfortable, but it leads to something really good. God is amazing in that He takes “all things” (the good, the bad, and the ugly) and flips them for good in our lives as we follow Him - now that’s the flip side to life. May we have open eyes to see this side clearly!
With Love,
Jeff Powell
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Attitude, Attitude, Attitude
“Attitude determines altitude!” This was one of the first of many quotes and sayings by John Maxwell that I hid in my heart as a young pastor nearly two decades ago. And that statement has proven to be so true. The better our attitude in life, the higher we will soar in life.
How do you define attitude? My computer dictionary defines it as “a settled way of thinking or feeling about someone or something, typically one that is reflected in a person’s behavior.” Wow, so it is our outlook (thoughts and feelings) towards life which affects our actions.
The Bible even speaks about our attitude. Philippians 2:5 tells us that our attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus! Verses 6-11 then highlights what that attitude looks like - serving, compassion, humility, obedience, confidence, power - all expressed by Jesus in His outlook towards life. Let’s zero in on one of them, serving. How has your “serve” in life been lately?
Now I’m not poking, nor prodding, in fact, I have observed many of you diligently serving lately. And I am so proud of you. Your attitude has been expressed not in negativity, but in passionate and positive ways. I have observed many of you stepping up to serve in Children’s Ministry, Food Ministry, Small Group Ministry, Office Help, Building Maintenance, Core Leadership, and Worship Ministry just to name a few - what a blessing to Fellowship Church!
So, how has your “serve” been lately? Has it been all that it could be? What could you do today to improve on your attitude towards serving others and Jesus? Are your time priorities fully in line with God’s?
Great days are ahead of us all. God says we are victors, not victims. What an opportunity is ours to be able to serve others and our Savior, Jesus Christ. May our attitudes loudly display that reality! And hey, if you are looking for ways to improve your “serve,” just let one of the staff know, there are plenty of serving opportunities for us all.
Jane and I love you!
Jeff Powell
How do you define attitude? My computer dictionary defines it as “a settled way of thinking or feeling about someone or something, typically one that is reflected in a person’s behavior.” Wow, so it is our outlook (thoughts and feelings) towards life which affects our actions.
The Bible even speaks about our attitude. Philippians 2:5 tells us that our attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus! Verses 6-11 then highlights what that attitude looks like - serving, compassion, humility, obedience, confidence, power - all expressed by Jesus in His outlook towards life. Let’s zero in on one of them, serving. How has your “serve” in life been lately?
Now I’m not poking, nor prodding, in fact, I have observed many of you diligently serving lately. And I am so proud of you. Your attitude has been expressed not in negativity, but in passionate and positive ways. I have observed many of you stepping up to serve in Children’s Ministry, Food Ministry, Small Group Ministry, Office Help, Building Maintenance, Core Leadership, and Worship Ministry just to name a few - what a blessing to Fellowship Church!
So, how has your “serve” been lately? Has it been all that it could be? What could you do today to improve on your attitude towards serving others and Jesus? Are your time priorities fully in line with God’s?
Great days are ahead of us all. God says we are victors, not victims. What an opportunity is ours to be able to serve others and our Savior, Jesus Christ. May our attitudes loudly display that reality! And hey, if you are looking for ways to improve your “serve,” just let one of the staff know, there are plenty of serving opportunities for us all.
Jane and I love you!
Jeff Powell
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Conflict
Conflict is a part of life. Your order gets messed up at the fast food place - conflict. Your words get twisted and taken out of context - conflict. You make a joke and without realizing it, offend someone - conflict. Your spouse asks you to do something and you forget - conflict. Your unhappy at your job - conflict.
I could keep going on and on, but I think you get the point. And have you noticed what the common denominator is? PEOPLE. Conflict occurs because we are all different and we all bring different perspectives to every situation in life. And that perspective is what either extinguishes the conflict at hand or makes it worse. Let me share what I mean...
This past week I spoke with Pakistani Evangelist Imran Sadiq. His country has been in much turmoil recently with suicide bombings going on all around and within a close distance to his base of ministry. Many have been killed and wounded. Thousands have been displaced. Conflict has run rampant.
So what has Imran done during this very real conflict? He has expanded his ministry outreach to feed the displaced, provide medical care to those that need it, and start a new church to reach those that are rocked by the conflict in Pakistan! WOW - what a perspective. When most of us, probably including myself, would be staying indoors, playing it safe, waiting for the conflict to pass, Imran’s perspective is that God is in control and it is time to keep walking with Jesus - especially when conflict abounds!
I was humbled by his testimony and as I shared with him some of the conflict we have been through as a church, he had the grace to encourage me and actually pray for us. What a positive, faith-filled perspective!
So, how has your perspective (outlook) been towards the conflicts you face? God says we are victors, not victims. May our perspective loudly display that reality!
And by the way, I have been so proud of so many of you who have maintained such a positive perspective as we have faced conflict as a church - you have inspired me!
Jane and I love you!
Jeff Powell
I could keep going on and on, but I think you get the point. And have you noticed what the common denominator is? PEOPLE. Conflict occurs because we are all different and we all bring different perspectives to every situation in life. And that perspective is what either extinguishes the conflict at hand or makes it worse. Let me share what I mean...
This past week I spoke with Pakistani Evangelist Imran Sadiq. His country has been in much turmoil recently with suicide bombings going on all around and within a close distance to his base of ministry. Many have been killed and wounded. Thousands have been displaced. Conflict has run rampant.
So what has Imran done during this very real conflict? He has expanded his ministry outreach to feed the displaced, provide medical care to those that need it, and start a new church to reach those that are rocked by the conflict in Pakistan! WOW - what a perspective. When most of us, probably including myself, would be staying indoors, playing it safe, waiting for the conflict to pass, Imran’s perspective is that God is in control and it is time to keep walking with Jesus - especially when conflict abounds!
I was humbled by his testimony and as I shared with him some of the conflict we have been through as a church, he had the grace to encourage me and actually pray for us. What a positive, faith-filled perspective!
So, how has your perspective (outlook) been towards the conflicts you face? God says we are victors, not victims. May our perspective loudly display that reality!
And by the way, I have been so proud of so many of you who have maintained such a positive perspective as we have faced conflict as a church - you have inspired me!
Jane and I love you!
Jeff Powell
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