Halfway There!

We’ve been traveling to Champaign, Illinois, for Thanksgiving for the last 23 years. In fact, I’ve never eaten Thanksgiving Dinner anywhere else since Teff and I got married. For my whole family, Champaign is Thanksgiving! Read more »

First Ever

What a great weekend of worship this past week! There was a lot of energy in the room at all three services, and I believe God was greatly honored by our praise. We celebrated our Crossing Together total (over $400,000 since June 1), and we cheered like men and women who serve a great big God! It was awesome!

I will have to admit, however, that a lot of the buzz this past week was not about Crossing Together…it was about the first ever addition of a tuba to our band.

Read more »

Let’s Celebrate!

I’ve been in the Book of John for the better part of the last two months. As I have read a small passage and studied and meditated on it each morning, I have been surprised by John’s account of Jesus’ ministry.

Jesus stopped everything and went to Jerusalem for EVERY Jewish feast. Read more »

What a Weekend!

If you weren’t here last weekend, you missed a memorable event! I was blown away by the excitement I beheld at Covenant Church on our First Fruits Weekend.

First, there was “the number.” As you know, I did not announce the total amount of our commitments together, mostly because everyone had not had the opportunity to turn in a card. Over the last three weeks, we’ve had another 100+ families join in the task of “finishing what we had started” three and years ago when we began our expansion. When I announced the number this past weekend, the worship center was electric. Read more »

First Fruits

This weekend we’re planning to celebrate the kickoff of our Crossing Together Celebration with a Firstfruits Offering.

Firstfruits was a Jewish feast held in the early spring at the beginning of the grain harvest. It was observed on the third day after Passover and the second day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Firstfruits was a time of thanksgiving for God’s provision. Read more »

40 Days of Love

One of the great parts of our recently-completed series, Crossing Together, was that there were literally hundreds of us all reading the same passages of scripture.

Enjoying the conversations around the four weeks of devotions, sharing what the Lord was speaking to each of us was equally as amazing. It reminded me that something powerful happens in a body of believers when many people are reading and praying over the same passages of God’s word. We don’t have to stop now! In fact, this can continue for you as you connect in a small group this summer. Read more »

The Power of Togetherness

OK, I was amazed this weekend. How about you? I still have’’t gotten over the expectation and enthusiasm I experienced in all three worship services.

What an awesome sight; there were tons of rocks everywhere. People came in with bags of rocks, carrying their rocks in their hands, and one person even asked me help her with her rock as she grabbed her Bible and purse! I saw rocks on the platform, rocks on the floor beside chairs, and a few people brought their rocks up with them at the end of the service. Read more »

What’s He been saying?

Bring your BIG ROCKS!

Greetings, Covenant friends! We’re right in the middle of one of the most exciting weeks in Covenant’s history.

If you were here last weekend, you’ll remember I asked all of us to spend this week in preparation for the upcoming Commitment Weekend. I referenced Joshua 3:5 (NIV): Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.” Read more »

Expectation

One of my goals for 2010 was to spend more listening time during my devotions each morning. I’ve been getting up earlier and spending more time than usual, so I could be sure and allow plenty of time for God to speak. Not surprisingly, God has been showing me all kinds of things in the scriptures as well as nudging me to actions and sharing some great truths I’ve needed to hear. Read more »