Email is a wonderful way to communicate quickly. However if you are like me your inbox can get pretty full with “junk mail.” And sometimes if we are not careful we can send an e-mail to the wrong person. I recently read a funny story that illustrates what I mean...
“An Illinois man left the snow-filled streets of Chicago for a vacation in Florida. His wife was on a business trip and was planning to meet him there the next day. When he reached his hotel, he decided to send his wife a quick email.
Unfortunately, when typing her address, he missed one letter, and his note was directed instead to an elderly preacher's wife whose husband had passed away only the day before. When the grieving widow checked her email, she took one look at the monitor, let out a piercing scream, and fell to the floor in a dead faint.
At the sound, her family rushed into the room and saw this note on the screen:
Dearest Wife, Just got checked in. Everything is prepared for your arrival tomorrow.”
Life is too short to take yourself too seriously. When was the last time you did something foolish that you can now laugh at? Here is the challenge, share that with someone else, it just might brighten their day...and it will keep you humble!
Loving and Leading,
Jeff Powell
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Investing Wisely
In life we invest in our health, our families, our homes, our education, and our pleasures. We also need to invest in God’s Kingdom through giving. Although giving is not the only way we can invest in God’s Kingdom, it certainly is an important one. Jesus told us that we could determine the condition of our heart based on our giving! He said, “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Luke 12:34)
Through our ONE Story theme for 2011, we have plans in place to reach our community and world with the love of Jesus like never before. We are expanding our international outreach in India. We are expanding our Bible Study opportunities. We are expanding our leadership training. We are expanding our facility improvements. We are expanding our staff. And we are expanding our local community outreach. I look forward to sharing these plans and much more with you at our church wide dinner on January 30. As you remain faithful in your giving, people will be touched by Jesus!
I want to encourage you set a percentage of your income that you will give to God’s work during 2011. If you already are a percentage giver, I encourage you to challenge yourself by increasing the percentage that you give. Whatever you decide to give, remember that God promises to bless those who give generously (see 2 Corinthians 9:6)!
Thankful for you,
Jeff Powell
Through our ONE Story theme for 2011, we have plans in place to reach our community and world with the love of Jesus like never before. We are expanding our international outreach in India. We are expanding our Bible Study opportunities. We are expanding our leadership training. We are expanding our facility improvements. We are expanding our staff. And we are expanding our local community outreach. I look forward to sharing these plans and much more with you at our church wide dinner on January 30. As you remain faithful in your giving, people will be touched by Jesus!
I want to encourage you set a percentage of your income that you will give to God’s work during 2011. If you already are a percentage giver, I encourage you to challenge yourself by increasing the percentage that you give. Whatever you decide to give, remember that God promises to bless those who give generously (see 2 Corinthians 9:6)!
Thankful for you,
Jeff Powell
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
India Ministry
Together, we are making a positive difference in the world. Here is a recent update from Pastor Joseph Matcha in India:
“After your visit in November, wherever I went God used me powerfully. I had a tremendous leading of the Holy Spirit in me as you prayed for me. After your visit I myself experiencing great revival in my ministry.
In every Christmas meeting there were 500-600 people in attendance. On December 31 and January 1 we had a huge attendance of 2,500 people. Thanks to your visit and prayers, my ministry is fruitful.
In the New Year service we presented a tricycle to a handicapped girl. She was born handicapped and 2 months ago she received Jesus Christ. She used to come church with great difficulty and used to cry in the presence of God. On January 1 she was baptized and when we presented the tricylce to her, her happiness knew no bounds. She was praying to God to ease her difficulty as every time she came to church, she needed to be carried by men. This Sunday she came on her tricycle to the Church.
I am praying for your second trip to India along with your family. I pray that day will come soon as we are expecting more blessings from your teaching and by your visit to my ministry. Give my wishes to your church and sister Jane and my love to your children.”
Thank you for praying and thank you for giving. Together we are making a positive difference in the world!
Thankful for you,
Jeff Powell
“After your visit in November, wherever I went God used me powerfully. I had a tremendous leading of the Holy Spirit in me as you prayed for me. After your visit I myself experiencing great revival in my ministry.
In every Christmas meeting there were 500-600 people in attendance. On December 31 and January 1 we had a huge attendance of 2,500 people. Thanks to your visit and prayers, my ministry is fruitful.
In the New Year service we presented a tricycle to a handicapped girl. She was born handicapped and 2 months ago she received Jesus Christ. She used to come church with great difficulty and used to cry in the presence of God. On January 1 she was baptized and when we presented the tricylce to her, her happiness knew no bounds. She was praying to God to ease her difficulty as every time she came to church, she needed to be carried by men. This Sunday she came on her tricycle to the Church.
I am praying for your second trip to India along with your family. I pray that day will come soon as we are expecting more blessings from your teaching and by your visit to my ministry. Give my wishes to your church and sister Jane and my love to your children.”
Thank you for praying and thank you for giving. Together we are making a positive difference in the world!
Thankful for you,
Jeff Powell
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
What Can You Do?
Years ago a man was walking along the beach one morning. He noticed that thousands of starfish had been washed up on the beach. Ahead of him was a gigantic rainbow. At the base of the rainbow stooped a little boy, gazing at an object in the sand. Eventually, he flung the object far beyond the breaking surf.
The man went up to the boy and asked, "Son, what are you doing?" The little boy answered, "I'm throwing starfish back into the sea because if I don't they're going to die." "But there are thousands of starfish. In the larger scheme of things you're not going to make much of a difference to all these starfish." The boy looked up at him, stooped down to pick up another starfish and flung it back into the ocean. "It's going to make a big difference to that one" he replied.
Life is short. Life is full. And life needs you to do your part!
Life is made up of billions of people - all who need the refreshing and saving love of Jesus. Is it a tall task? YES! Will we give up in despair or will we do our part? None of us can “rescue” every human being that needs help, but each of us can do our part.
We can pray. We can encourage. We can share. We can open our lives to others. We can invite. We CAN make a difference!
Will you do it? I trust you will!
Seeking to do my part,
Jeff Powell
The man went up to the boy and asked, "Son, what are you doing?" The little boy answered, "I'm throwing starfish back into the sea because if I don't they're going to die." "But there are thousands of starfish. In the larger scheme of things you're not going to make much of a difference to all these starfish." The boy looked up at him, stooped down to pick up another starfish and flung it back into the ocean. "It's going to make a big difference to that one" he replied.
Life is short. Life is full. And life needs you to do your part!
Life is made up of billions of people - all who need the refreshing and saving love of Jesus. Is it a tall task? YES! Will we give up in despair or will we do our part? None of us can “rescue” every human being that needs help, but each of us can do our part.
We can pray. We can encourage. We can share. We can open our lives to others. We can invite. We CAN make a difference!
Will you do it? I trust you will!
Seeking to do my part,
Jeff Powell
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