What I’m excited about . . . What I’m bummed about
By Stovall Weems
What I am excited about
Another monster attendance weekend at Celebration Church – 7,237 people attended Celebration Church this past weekend.
Nearly 150 people gave their lives to Christ this past weekend (that brings our monthly total to 450+ decisions for Christ).
Groups are kicking off this week. This spring semester of groups is going to be our best yet.
But I am even more excited about our group leaders and the level of leadership and leadership training that now exists in our leadership pipeline. We are on schedule to have nearly 300 well trained, qualified, high capacity group leaders by the end of this spring semester which means for the first time we will have the capacity to have over 50% of our adults attending a group.
We have been working very hard on this (especially Pastor David Branker, Jenny Huang and all of our faithful group leaders that are currently leading) and I am so grateful to them and to God that this is about to become a reality.
People are encountering God. People are getting saved. People are getting healed and freed from addictions. People are getting breakthroughs in areas they have struggled in. People are getting really grounded in the Word of God.
The services and church life have been incredible in the month of January. In the 9 year history of Celebration Church, I don’t think I have ever seen this many people in our congregation really getting on fire for God and going to the next level in worship.
Something is happening. You can feel it in the atmosphere and life of the church. I pray that God would continue this throughout the year. If the start of 2008 is any indication of how the rest of 2008 is going to be . . . WOW!
What I am bummed about
Believe it or not, even though I am so ready to eat a huge cheeseburger, I am bummed that our 21 days of prayer and fasting comes to an end this Wednesday. (Don’t miss the Wednesday night service, it is going to be great.)
This time of prayer and fasting has been so powerful.
I agree with what many people have been saying: we need to do some smaller versions of this throughout the year in addition to the big one in January. Therefore, it looks like we are going to do a 3 day fast in April, a 3 day fast in August and possibly a 3 day fast in early November. These 3 day fast weekends will include the Friday night worship and prayer meetings (with breakdancing – ha, ha – you had to be there to see it) and some other special components.
We are thinking about calling these 3 day fast weekends with the Friday night prayer meeting and weekend services FURNACE WEEKENDS.
Let me know what you think.
What I’m Excited About . . . What I’m Bummed About
By Stovall Weems
I am excited about the new service times and being able to go a little bit longer in worship. Also having enough margin between services for adequate exiting and egress. It was just so chaotic with those tight turnarounds.
I am bummed about the latest wave of violence that has hit Jacksonville. It seems like someone is getting shot every other day. I’m praying about what we can do to help some of these communities in our city. I was at a meeting with some pastors and leaders at First Baptist downtown today and we are seeking God on how to unite and make a difference.
What I’m Excited About . . . What I’m Bummed About
By Stovall Weems
I am excited about the spiritual hunger of our congregation and the monster attendance weekends we are having at church. Incredible breakthroughs are happening in the lives of so many people during this season of prayer and fasting in our church. We have had hundreds of salvations and so many people are being healed and set free from addictions. The Friday night prayer meetings have been unbelievable.
I am bummed that there is no prayer meeting this Friday night. Man – if you have been to one you know what I am talking about. They have been so much fun. But at least the weekend is gonna be kickin’ with John Bevere!
New Blog Series: What I’m excited about . . . What I’m bummed about
By Stovall Weems
In this series, I’m going to post most weekdays a few things I am excited about and something I am bummed about.
So to get started . . .
What I am excited about
I am excited about Craig Groeschel and LifeChurch.tv joining the Association of Related Churches.
I got to spend some time with Craig last May and he is a tremendous man of God. It is going to be a lot of fun with him on our team and what a tremendous addition to the ARC.
I am so thankful to be part of the ARC and linked up with a great group of guys. This year we (the ARC) are going to be planting 30 churches nationwide. Go GOD!
What I am bummed about
I saw that ESPN had a preseason college football poll already out for next season and LSU was only ranked #8. What are they thinking?
The 2007 NATIONAL CHAMPION LSU TIGERS are going to be even more talented than last year!
My Yoke is Easy
By Stovall Weems
Matthew 11:30 (NLT)
30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.
The word “easy” simply means “fit for use” or “fits well.” Consider for a moment – in context, a “yoke” was used to harness one ox to another for working the fields. Jesus, being the master carpenter knew how to build well-fitted yokes that eased the burden on the oxen.
Why?
Because not only was he a carpenter, He was creator. He understood the muscular structure of oxen – every pressure point, every nerve, and how the oxen moved. He knew how to make yokes that fit while easing the burden.
Work was done – but the ox was never happier than when fitted by Jesus!
In our lives He does the same. God has linked us up together in ministry and does it in a way where the burden for our homes, our neighbors, our jobs, and our city fits us well. It fits our call, our gifts, our passions, and ultimately our church – all fitted together to bring in a great harvest for the Kingdom of God and shorten the line.
I feel privileged to be fitted together with you as your Pastor.
As we continue to pray in this season of prayer and fasting, I want to encourage you to allow God to fit you well for what He has in store for us together!
It’s Time to Seek the Lord
By Stovall Weems
Personal and corporate prayer is not an act of prying stuff out of God’s hands. Prayer is a privilege and responsibility to partner with God to see ourselves and our world changed through His mighty power.
Let’s take up the call to pray. Jesus teaches his disciples how to pray in Matthew 6:10.
Matthew 6:10 (NLT)
May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth,
as it is in heaven.
Let’s seek the Lord so His will can be done within us and through us.
God, may Your will be done in:
- Our families as it is in Heaven
- Our church as it is in Heaven
- Our community . . .
- Our nation . . .
- Our world . . .
. . . as Your Will is done in Heaven.
It’s time for us to personally and corporately seek the Lord. When you do, seek Him not just for His stuff, but for His presence in your life.
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Recent Comments
- Darren Sullivan: Excited to hear Pastor Craig Speak this Sunday. Who needs sleep when you can have the presence of...
- Raj and Ruth: Would like to see online Sunday service and hear from Pastor Craig Groeschel! Praying for Celebration...
- Heather Watson: Woo-hoooo! I love me some Pastor Craig Groeschel!!
- Debbie Heald: Yeah!!! I can’t wait to hear from Pastor Craig Groeschel this Sunday at our Church! His messages...
- Jill Dykstra: Yay, the “Lord of the cookies” is back in da house
Can’t wait! - Patricia Powell: Today was AWESOME!! Pastor Stovall- It’s so great to have you back, our family is praying for...
- Owen Boales: Pastor Stovall, It was so wonderful to see you (and your Robert Graham) back on the platform Sunday...