Posted in Church, Emmanuel Fellowship Church, Fellowship, tagged Church, Fellowship, Newman Park, Picnic, Sweetwater, Texas, Worship on June 27, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Emmanuel Fellowship Church is excited to host our Sunday morning worship service at Newman Park this Sunday, July 3! Worship will begin at 11:00 AM at the Little League ball field. We will follow the service with some fun family games and a picnic at the pavilion at noon.
I hope your family will make plans to join us for this special celebration. The church will provide the main course and drinks for the picnic, so bring a side dish and come ready to have a blast!
Posted in Church, Personal Growth, Prayer, Sermons, tagged Blessing, Emmmanuel Fellowship Church, Jabez, Pain, Prayer, Sermon, Sweetwater, Texas on June 20, 2011 | 1 Comment »
Somewhere along the journey of life each one of us takes a picture of ourselves. And in that snapshot, we magnify our faults. We memorialize a moment of failure, a moment of weakness, or an insecure or awkward stage of life.
At some point in time, someone said something, pointed out a fear, or made a judgment about you — and it stuck. In fact, it is still sticking.
As much as we try to hide, it seems impossible to get away from the flaw-filled person we see in the mirror. We are all wounded by the damage we have received, and even more, we all fear the damage we can cause.
As personal as our story may be, we are not the only ones who feel this way. It is a wound common to us all. Tucked away in the pages of the Bible, we find a man who shared our common pain, our common fear.
Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested. (1 Chronicles 4:9-10 NKJV)
I see three simple, yet powerful connections between each of us and the life of Jabez. Through acknowledging these three truths, we could each find ourselves breaking the cycles of our past and enjoying the grace of God for our lives today.
This was the story of Jabez. He carried the scars of the wounds he caused as a child and the fear of the name given him that he would continue to cause pain all the days of his life. But somewhere in the midst of the scars and fear, Jabez nurtured hope, and his hope caused him to cry out to the God who created him, “Bless me, indeed. Enlarge my territory. Let Your hand be upon me. Keep me from evil. Keep me from causing pain.”
A powerful and faith filled prayer. A prayer we still connect with on a very deep level.
If I were to summarize my personal connection with the prayer of Jabez, it would be: “I don’t want to keep hurting from the same old wounds, and I don’t want to be the link that causes my pain to become my children’s pain.”
Do you have a personal connection with the prayer of Jabez? How does his cry touch your heart? What does it stir in you?
May you be blessed indeed! May God enlarge your territory, your sphere of influence! May the hand of God be upon you. May God keep you from evil! May you and those you love be free from pain! Amen.
“Hope in the Midst of Pain: The Prayer of Jabez” is available online. Click to listen.
Our Youth Departed this morning for Extreme Camp. Please lift them up this week as they encounter the presence of God in a real and powerful way!
The Sale of Fireworks is currently banned for Nolan County. This has suspended our opportunity to manage a fireworks stand as a youth fundraiser. If we get some good Summer rain, the county may reverse its decision, but if not, we’ll wait until next year to man a fireworks stand.
Mother’s Day Out information is available online! Emmanuel Fellowship Church is excited to host a Mother’s Day Out program beginning Fall 2011 for children ages 1-5. There are only a few spaces remaining for the Fall semester. More information and downloadable registration forms are available by clicking HERE.
Click here to purchase a copy of The Prayer of Jabez by Bruce Wilkinson on Amazon.
Check out these resources to connect with our ministry to children and youth.
Next Sunday, June 26, we continue our summer sermon series entitled, “Prayers that Shook the World.”
Posted in Emmanuel Fellowship Church, Missions, tagged Church, Emmanuel Fellowship, Haiti, Missions, Offering, Sweetwater on June 17, 2011 | 1 Comment »
This Sunday, June 19, we are excited to commission our Haiti team for their upcoming mission trip.
On January 12, 2010, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck the nation of Haiti, killing thousands of men, women, and children and leaving more than 3 million lives in need of assistance. On July 8-14, a mission team from Emmanuel Fellowship will go to Haiti to bring hope and encouragement through demonstrating the love of Jesus Christ.
Here is how you can help! What may seem like common items lying around your house could very well be a necessity for life and / or a luxury in Haiti. The following is a list of items needed for distribution in Haiti. Though they only meet a small and temporary need, they may also open the door to meet greater spiritual and emotional needs in people’s lives.
On Sunday, January 19, we invite your family to become part of the mission team by bringing a special offering of any of the following items:
We look forward to a very special Sunday of uniting together to provide help and hope to our brothers and sisters in Haiti.
“I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” – Jesus (Matthew 25:40)
Posted in Christianity, Church, Emmanuel Fellowship Church, Healing, Prayer, tagged Church, Dangerous, Daniel, Emmanuel Fellowship, Healing, Prayer, Prayers, Shoulder, Sweetwater on June 15, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Every Sunday morning, about three songs into worship, just before we receive Communion, I stand before my friends at church and invite them to experience the healing grace of our Lord Jesus.
I usually have a list in my hand, filled with words of knowledge from our ministry team. As they pray for the service each Sunday morning, they take time to listen to the invitation of the Holy Spirit to speak to specific physical and emotional needs of people attending our worship service.
I often find myself saying something to the effect of, “When Jesus died on the cross, He made a way for your sins to be forgiven and your body to be healed.” And every Sunday I watch in awe as people respond to the call for ministry and receive the healing Jesus purchased for them. I’ve seen it over a hundred times and it is beautiful every time.
But, this Sunday was different. This Sunday I was the one in need. A few years back, I became aware of a painful spot in my left shoulder while I was lifting weights. I didn’t give it much thought, changed my workout routine so as not to aggravate it, and moved on. Recently that “catch” in my shoulder has resurfaced. I felt it in the gym, I felt it wrestling with my sons, I felt it laying down to sleep, I even felt its sharp reminder when I would cross my arms.
The usual battery of fear began to run through my mind as I considered living a lifetime struggling with shoulder pain. I found myself contemplating the possibility of shoulder surgery to heal the damage. And then I remembered Sunday morning. Every Sunday morning I invite people to experience God’s healing. Why not accept my own invitation?
So last Sunday, I was the first one to the healing line! I went to the first person in the line, explained the situation and received prayer for healing. It was a simple and sincere prayer. I didn’t feel anything or hear anything while being prayed for, but at the end of the prayer I started testing my shoulder and I was pain free!
It amazes me how I am still amazed by answered prayers. I truly expected my shoulder to be healed and then I was stunned when it was. Then, I began to wonder if it was really going to last. We often program ourselves for disappointment in such a way that we have trouble receiving good gifts from God. I still find myself being careful with my left shoulder, expecting a sharp pain when I move in a certain way. But, the pain is gone! And it’s not coming back!
I know many of you have been whispering fragile prayers and holding on to fading hope. Hope for healing. Hope for freedom. Hope for reconciliation.
God answers prayers, my friends. Psalm 103 tells us He forgives, heals, redeems, crowns, and satisfies. I encourage you to stretch out and ask God to bring healing to your situation. I encourage you to let a friend pray with you at church this Sunday.
And don’t be too surprised when God answers your prayer.
“Pray Dangerous: The Prayer of Daniel” is available online. Click to listen.
Mission’s Sunday this Sunday, June 19. We will commission our Haiti Mission Team this Sunday. We will also receive a special offering of supplies and resources to assist the team in reaching out to Haitians on their trip.
The Sale of Fireworks is currently banned for Nolan County. This has suspended our opportunity to manage a fireworks stand as a youth fundraiser. If we get some good Summer rain, the county may reverse its decision, but if not, we’ll wait until next year to man a fireworks stand.
Mother’s Day Out information is available online! Emmanuel Fellowship Church is excited to host a Mother’s Day Out program beginning Fall 2011 for children ages 1-5. There are only a few spaces remaining for the Fall semester. More information and downloadable registration forms are available by clicking HERE.
Check out these resources to connect with our ministry to children and youth.
Next Sunday, June 19, we continue our summer sermon series entitled, “Prayers that Shook the World.” We also look forward to a special opportunity to celebrate Dads. Make plans to join us for a great Sunday morning!
Posted in Christianity on June 7, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Come join the fun at the 2nd Annual Youth Verses Adults Softball Game!
This year it’s The Redemption Match as the youth attempt to defeat the reigning adult champions. You won’t want to miss the action!
The competition doesn’t stop there. We’re having an ice cream contest too!
Prizes awarded for ice cream in the following categories:
So load up the family, and join us Wednesday, June 8, at Newman Park at 7:00 PM. We’ll see you at the big game!
Posted in Christianity, Personal Growth, Prayer, Sermons, tagged Acts 4, Apostles, Prayer, Shaken, Verbs on June 6, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
“Prayer Verbs” is available online. Click the player to listen.
Softball and Ice Cream Fellowship next Wednesday June 8, at Newman Park at 7 pm. Join in the Redemption Match as the youth attempt to take the championship title from the adults! There will also be awards given for homemade ice creams, so bring a freezer of your best!
Elementary Kids Camp is this weekend! Be in prayer for our children and volunteers as they head out for a Jesus loving adventure at Camp Chaparral in Wichita Falls!
Mother’s Day Out information is available online! Emmanuel Fellowship Church is excited to host a Mother’s Day Out program beginning Fall 2011 for children ages 1-5. There are only a few spaces remaining for the Fall semester. More information and downloadable registration forms are available by clicking HERE.
Check out these resources to connect with our ministry to children and youth.
Next Sunday, June 12, we continue our summer sermon series entitled, “Prayers that Shook the World.” We will look at the prayers of Daniel, which were so dangerous they got him thrown into a lion’s den!
Posted in Bible, Christianity, Emmanuel Fellowship Church, Prayer, Sermons, tagged Emmanuel Fellowship Church, Prayer, Sermon, Sweetwater, Texas on June 2, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Summer is here, and a great new sermon series is on the way! Each Sunday in June and July, we will explore “Prayers that Shook the World.”
I look forward to rediscovering the power of prayer together each week, and I pray through this series you will find the strength to shake your world with faith-filled prayers!
After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. Acts 4:31
Every Sunday a pastor preaches three sermons:
the one he planned, the one he preached, and the one he wished he had planned to preach. This blog is dedicated to that third sermon.
Verse:
John 3:16; Jn 3:16; John 3
Keyword:
Salvation, Jesus, Gospel
With Operators:
AND, OR, NOT, “ ”
