Posts by courtnut02 (Page 2)
This past weekend we took our Youth Ministry to SWBCA for our Winter Retreat as we set out to challenge our students to pursue Christ with single-minded devotion, discovering that the only love worth giving God is an undivided one. Thank you to our amazing leaders that went as well as those that provided food as well as prayer over the weekend.
Are you filled to overflowing? Well maybe, it just depends with what are you filled? Repeatedly in scripture God encourages us to fill our minds and hearts with the things from above. The Psalmist tells us “to taste and see that the Lord is good.” And again the psalmist says “Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I may not sin against Thee.” Paul wrote in Philippians to dwell on the things that are pure, true and right.…
As we were cleaning out the sound booth and many closets around the Sanctuary during the rebuilding/ refreshing, we found many things. Some of those things where dated and have outlived their usefulness. In their day all these things were very useful and even produced fruit within ministry. But as ministry, culture and technology advanced, these things were put in a closet and forgotten. As we went through these things, we had to decide a few things. Are these things…
[12] For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. (ESV) 1 Corinthians 12:12 I don’t know if this has ever happened to you, but in the middle of a time of worship or prayer you find yourself with a word from God. A thought or statement that you know as not your own but one from God. This past Sunday…
The New Year is here. By now that is not a new thought. Yet this is still a great time to re-focus and renew. Refocus on how Christ wants us to live. This period in which we live is fast becoming one of the most divisive in history. It is too easy and simplistic to just take sides and claim we are right or have moral correctness on our side. It matters not what the world says or does, we…
UNDIVIDED
Winter Retreat 2019 January 20th-21st Cost $40 (Includes Weekend Material, Lodging, Food, Transportation and EBC Youth Hoodie) “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” 1 John 2:15 There are few things more powerful than witnessing someone throw all of themselves after a cause or a commitment. When we as people get behind something with all our energy and focus, it’s remarkable what…
This past Sunday I had the honor of leading our church in worship during the Sunday morning worship service. It is something I have periodically had the opportunity to do when Bro. Mark is away, I’m always grateful and honored when he asks me to do it. I began thinking about things that I do here at Emmanuel and who I ask to fill in for me when I’m gone. Right now we are blessed to have an Interim Pastor…
Notes from Mark
Thank you EBC for your generous and willing spirit. Generous in the way you give up what is comfortable for that which is out of the ordinary. Your willing spirit has been on display in the way so many have pitched in to help in many different ways during this time. You and your work is so greatly appreciated. I believe that what we do has eternal significance and even in these seemingly small ways God notices what you do…
Notes From Mark
Wow! It was different at EBC Sunday! Different location, different look, different feel, sanctuary is EMPTY. It is just different. Yet in our time of worshiping together the Spirit was the same. The praise was the same, for our God does not change. This was a great reminder that no matter our situation that our God is faithful to His Word always. I am so thankful for the help and “will do” attitude that our members have given and displayed…
When you have 4 (I mean 5) kids that are all under 10 you become very familiar with cartoons. One that has been played at our house is Finding Nemo. In the movie Dory sings a little tune, “Keep on Swimming”. This has played throughout my head during times of stress and doubt in my spiritual life. I don’t “sit” well, even on my day off when I know that I need to be at home with my family, I…