I know – it’s a wild question BUT….this morning we had a flat tire and believe it or not WE believe it was a gift from God! Through this flat tire situation we were able to come in contact with three prospects for our new church that we would otherwise have never met. The first was a young man in his early twenties who stopped literally two seconds after we did and asked if he could help change the flat. He helped us and we got to talk about the Lord and the new multi-cultural church that we are starting. HE WAS INTERESTED!!! Then we went to purchase a tire and the young man in his mid twenties knew me and was interested in the new church because he had not really found one where he and his girlfriend felt comfortable or welcome. Both of these men expressed real interest and it was a blessing to be able to share with them about Life House and the new ministry there. Are flat tires from God — HMMMM…MAYBE ….HMMM I think YES!
Romans 8:28 is still in the book – so YES YES YES – this flat was a gift (even though it didn’t feel like it when it first happened!). Look for “God moments” in your life. Look for opportunities that might seem like a problem or burden at the moment and watch and see what God can do with it in your life to be a blessing to His work.
Pastor James
Our faithful computer man tells me that the “blogs” section of our web site gets lots of “hits” per day – so that means that people are stopping by and reading it on a regular basis. THAT IS GREAT! However, it seems that most people are just “lurkers”. They are “lurking and looking” around. If you are a self identified “LURKER” (LOL) I challenge you to begin responding to the blogs occasionally. Some people do send me e-mails and make comments about the blogs but posting on this site would be a motivator for others to join in. So “LURKERS” sound OFF! LOL Have a great day and shine for Jesus!!! I’ll post more later — gotta get ready and run. Work to do! Pastor James
Since we began Life House Church & Ministries it has been so amazing to watch God work in so many ways. He has provided for this new church in so many ways. We have seen Him provide a building, furniture, copier, computers, paint, building materials and money to get started. He continued to provide by giving us a great “mother church” – (Shiloh Baptist Church -Texarkana, AR – Pastor Todd Reed). They have been so encouraging by not only putting the new church plant in their budget, but also by praying, working and being available to help us out. We continue to see God’s hand as He brings people into our lives who are seeking a church like Life House or even bringing people into our lives who want to “help” in some way. We received news today that a local business is making a contribution to help us, a local church is adding us to their monthly budget and becoming a partner church and our local association is going to help us prayerfully and finacially also.
Other blessings are that even though we have not yet “LAUNCHED” the new church we are seeing people come, call or ask questions about the new work. God is putting this church together one puzzle piece at a time. We know God is in this new work. We know He has plans to use this new church to reach souls. We believe that we are going to see souls saved, lives changed, children rescued and a great church come about for His glory. Life House won’t be like a traditional church. It will be much different. It’s time for us to get away from form and fashion and invest our lives in the lives of those who need a Savior. As the old hymn says we are to “Rescue the perishing, care for the dying, snatch them in pity from sin and the grave. Weep over the erring one, lift up the fallen, tell them of Jesus the mighty to save. Rescue the perishing, care for the dying, Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save. “
Thank you Lord for all you are doing. Thank you for doing what we can’t. Help the Life House Family to have open hearts and arms and be ready and willing to reach out to all we come in contact with and share Jesus with them. Praise you for all you have done and all you are going to do!
We haven’t seen anything yet — keep praying and keep watching – God is gonna do some great thing in the near furture at Life House! Pastor James
During my quiet time this morning two passages in 1 John 2 really hit home with me. 1 John 2:3-6 says that if we say we are saved, we should keep His commandments and walk after Him. If one says he is saved and doesn’t do that is a liar. A true test of one’s own salvation is the heartfelt desire and consistent seeking to follow the Lord. Anyone who says they are saved and yet has no desire to read the Word, worship, pray or fellowship with the Lord and His people – more than likely isn’t saved. How can some “say” they are saved and never read the Word, pray, witness, worship or fellowship with the Lord or His people REALLY BE SAVED? More than likely (according to the Word of God – they aren’t). It’s one thing to walk down the isle and pray a little prayer or even get in a tub of water and go under…and totally another thing to become convicted by the Holy Spirit of your sins and need for a Savior…confess those sins, believe that Jesus died for you, rose from the grave and is alive today and cry out to the Lord and ask Him to save you. Salvation isn’t a religious act. It’s not religion…it’s RELATIONSHIP.
The second verse that really spoke to me was 1 John 2:15-17 where the Word teaches us that we should not be IN LOVE with the world and the things of this world. The world is passing away. What we see is temporal – temporary. What we do not see is eternal..existing long after this world and life are over. Many of us are so EARTHLY MINDED we are of no HEAVENLY GOOD. Always remember that THINGS pass away. THINGS do not endure. The THINGS of this world rust, mold, break and fall apart. Your relationship with the Lord endures forever. Place the things of this world in their proper order…material things are only “stuff”. The pleasures of this world are only fleeting. The bright lights and enticing sins of this life are temporary and they never bring true peace or happiness. Only a relationship with the Father brings that. Only a heart turned toward God and one that seeks to KNOW Him really experiences true peace while in this old world.
What have you learned today as you read 1 John 2? What ‘jumped off the page’ at you? Read it, pray over it, meditate on it and be ready to let God speak to you! God’s Word is alive!! Experience it!
Hope you have a great day and see you at Life House soon!! Pastor James
Let me challenge you to be faithful every day this week to spend quiet time alone with God. This weekin Life Group we are going to discuss 1 John. Every day this week we will be reading one chapter from 1st John and spending some time in prayer and meditation. Take the time to ask God to speak to you through His Word. Ask God to open His Word up to you and show you areas you need to work on, walk in and learn. Ask Him to help you as you seek to become a better Christian and witness for Him. We will meet Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m. for Life Group and share what God is saying in His Word to you and me. Today, Monday, we begin on Chapter 1. Let’s get in the Word and allow the Word to get into us! You will be surprised what the Lord will speak to your heart if you will only take the time to read, meditate and pray. I can’t wait to hear what He says to YOU and ME this week! Have fun in the Word! Pastor James
Is it me or does it seem that many churches have lost their focus? Is it possible that we have forgotten that we are called to be a light in a dark world, a beacon that shines to let the world know that Jesus is the way to heaven? Is it possible that we have forgotten that the great commission is MORE than just sending money to missionaries but rather it’s the local church getting out into the mission field around us and sharing the good news? Is it possible that we have turned the great commission into just the great suggestion? Is it me or does it seem that many spend more time on buildings, budgets and battles rather than on reaching their lost neighbors, co-workers and family members? I wonder how the Lord must feel when He sees the church that He left in the world focusing on material things rather than spiritual things? It’s time for the church to rise up and be the church she is called to be. It’s time to get past the external things of this life and realize that there are souls dying and going to hell in our own neighborhoods. It’s time for us to get past the fine buildings, clothing and programs and get down to the business of being the church that Jesus commissioned to witness, win and baptize. It’s my prayer that we at Life House Church NEVER get so focused on material things that we forget our primary mission….reaching souls. God help us to never – NEVER forget! See you on the mission field!! Pastor James
The Memorial Day holiday weekend is fast approaching. Many people will use the long weekend for trips to the lake, family gatherings, cook-outs and etc. It is almost the “gateway” to signify that summer is officially here and people begin the process of planning vacations, get aways and all of the laid back summer activities that we as Americans enjoy. It’s great to be an American citizen with all of it’s blessings and benefits but with those blessings comes the responsibility to remember that while we are enjoying all of our many freedoms there are many who have served, lived and died so that we could have our way of life. We are free to worship, live, move, protest, agree/disagree and live life in relative safety and freedom all because men and women served our great country. Freedom isn’t free. It costs money, time, energy, heart and many times lives. Never forget the blessings we enjoy as Americans. Never take those freedoms for granted. Stop this weekend and THANK GOD for His blessings on America. Pray for our country that we might experience a national revival and begin to be the country we need to be. Stop this weekend also and thank a veteran or a soldier for all that they have done or are doing for you and me. I’m proud to be an american! Thank God for America! She’s not totally what she needs to be but thank God she isn’t what many countries are!! Love her, pray for her and never forget those who have served us.
Pastor James
Thanks to Bro. Andrew for all the hard work he has done to get our web page up and running. He is continually “tweaking” it to make it the best page he can for the Life House ministry. He recently added a “PRAYER REQUEST” button on it and that is going to be an awesome feature to our church’s ministry. Our own members as well as anyone with access (here and around the world) will have the ability to call on us for prayer. God is going to use this new “button” in a mighty way! Let me encourage you to use it! Also, spread the word about our web-page and let people know we want them to visit the site. Encourage them to make comments and share requests. Talk it up – share it in your e-mails – spread the word! Isn’t technology wonderful (for the most part! LOL)!! Have a great day and remember to PRAY! Pastor James
They are everywhere. Jacob’s wells that is. Jesus went there on purpose (John 4). He knew there was going to be a woman coming to the well who had a heart need. While she might have looked just like all of the others who came to the well that day, she was one who needed a “God moment” in her life. The exact place isn’t important – the availability and ability to look past the exterior and see the heart is what was important. You and I both have “Jacob’s Well” moments come into our lives (sometimes every day and sometimes several times a day). While the place might seem mundane or usual, what is happening there is a “God moment”. Two people in the same place, at the same time – one saved, seeing, being available, sharing a word with one who is lost, hurting, confused, needy or all of the above and more. Yesterday we experienced a “Jacob’s Well” in our own front yard. Since we have moved into our new neighborhood we have found that just being outside working in the yard gives us opportunities at “Jacob’s Well”. A young man (middle 20’s I would guess) was walking by. We both spoke and he opened up that he was struggling and had needs in his life. God gave us the opportunity to let him know that we are opening a new church soon and that we wanted to “be there” for him and help. At least four times while working in the yard yesterday we had the opportunity to stop and talk with people passing by. While I realize that no one “got saved” during any one of those conversations – I believe that seeds were planted and that with prayer, love and compassion we just might see some “come up”. I want to encourage you to be open to the “Jacob’s Well Experiences” that God is going to set up in your life. Watch for those times, places and moments. Be available, sensitive and ready. God wants to use you in your world to reach people with His love and with the gospel. Don’t miss out on the blessing! By the way – if you have trouble finding “Jacob’s Well” in your life – come hang out with me in the front yard of our house…and you can choose to mow, weed-eat or sweep. Up to you! 
Now get up, get out and head to the well!!
Pastor James
We pulled in to Texarkana Sunday night about 5:30 p.m. – tired but excited! Cindy and I are so thankful that the Lord gave us this opportunity to attend the North America Mission Board Church Planter Training. We learned so many things that will be helpful on our journey to planting Life House Church. Throughout the training I kept thinking that it would do every pastor who has a desire to grow a church (whether they wanted to plant a new church or just desired to see an established church grow) good if they could go through this type training. There were so many “hands on” things presented. Pray for us as we seek to put the info shared with us into practice in the coming weeks and months at Life House Church.
We were also excited to hear that in spite of 6 members of our core group having to be gone this past Sunday – that we were UP in total number for the weekly worship service. Thanks to all who worked hard to make sure the service went smoothly. Special thanks to Josh for preaching for me in my absence. I can’t wait to hear/view the service.
Lastly – on the way home from Oklahoma we received a call from a man who wants more info about our vision, mission and the future of Life House Church. He lives in the Texarkana area and attends church at a great church in the area but has heard of the new church plant and believes God may be leading him to get involved. Pray that he will know for certain God’s direction in his life.
This is an exciting journey – hang on – God’s got some great surprises and blessings for us all. Continue to pray, study God’s Word and be faithful. Pastor James