All things must start anew! (Lunch time post for 9/30/09)

God declares in Isaiah 43:18-19, "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.  God is seeking to do a new work in you and us all.  In the book of Ecclesiastes we read that there is a time for everything.  Such as, "a time to begin and a time to end".  Generally, endings are difficult for most specifically because we do not handle change that well.  Yet, an ending always means a new opportunity to begin.  Jesus tells us that one does not put new wine into old wine skins.  Simply because the new wine would stretch and break the old wine skin and ruin both.  This parable Jesus uses is speaking to the fact that Christ wants to do a new work in our hearts.  God is not looking to continue with the old but wants to begin anew.  If you look in the book of Revelation, we read that God is not going to restore heaven and earth but make a new heaven and earth.  He has not restored us as fallen human beings but made us a new creation in Him (2 Corinthians 5:17).  This truth applies to revival in our lives and community as well.  God is longing to do a great and miraculous work in our lives.  God is looking to begin a new work that our generation may praise and point to the power of God almighty.  But we must seek out this new work, new miracle, new revival. Psalm 85:6-7 states, "Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?  Show us your unfailing love, O Lord, and grant us your salvation".  Today as you pray for the lost, pray specifically for a new revival to break for in your heart, in your church, in your community, and in our world. God bless,

Pastor Joe

The Fear Factor--(Lunch time post for 9/23/09)

Many times I have felt inadequate and scared to share the truth about Jesus.  I have felt scared that people will look at me funny or ostracize me.   Admittedly, I have allowed this fear to rob me of many opportunities to share the best news ever!  News that our Lord and Savior died to give us.  Yet, we can find comfort and encouragement in the fact that Godly servants of Christ have also struggled with fear but were not overcome.  For instance, have you ever noticed that even the Apostle Paul struggled with fear of sharing the best news ever!  We read in Ephesians 6:19-20 the Apostle Paul petitioning the church for prayer that he may declare the word fearlessly as he should.  We also read in Colossians 4:2-4 Paul asks for prayer to share the gospel clearly.  If fear or clarity were not an issue he would not have asked for prayer for it.  But, the encouragement for us today is that we do not have to allow our fears to dictate our behavior.  We also, as the Apostle Paul did, can go to God and ask Him for strength and clarity in sharing His precious gift to the world.  We can rest in His grace that we are able to share in His strength and wisdom and not in our own!  Today as you pray for the Lost, ask God to give you courage and clarity that you may declare God’s truth as we have been called to do!  And remember we have not been given a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power, of love and of self-disciple (2 Timothy 1:7).   God Bless,


Pastor Joe

Admiring the Rich (Lunch time for 9/16/09)

I just returned from a beautiful wedding this past weekend.  While I was at the wedding I was surprised at how many people came up to me and felt compelled to explain how rich this person was, what this person did, and how they made all of their money.  The surprise for me was not that we are all awed by how much wealth some people accumulate, but on how many Christians admired the wealthy and held them on such high regard based solely on their material possessions.  I clearly received the impression, from "believers", that the more money you have the more successful you are perceived.  This disturbed me, not because I do not have all that wealth, but because we seek to emulate that which we admire.  I wished we would hear more testimonies and admiration about those who have spent their lives building God’s kingdom and not their own.  This would encourage others to seek God's King and His righteousness. Jesus says you cannot serve two masters for where your treasure is there heart will be also (Matthew 6:19; 24).  Remember this as you choose those whom you admire; Christ, who is God, became a servant, a poor servant in order to seek lost: you and me.  As you pray today for the lost, remember to ask God to give you a devoted heart to His kingdom and His purpose.  Material wealth is not bad. But if the quest for wealth is our priority, and our heart and admiration is in the wealth of this world, then we will naturally spend our lives seeking the riches of this world and consequentially forfeit the riches of God’s kingdom.  God bless

Pastor Joe      

Answered Prayer

God has quickly answered my prayer for open doors and for divine appointments. Yesterday, as I flew back from Montreal I sat down next to a man who was very talkative.  Which as you know when you are tired and on a plane is not always the most enjoyable thing.  But, I began speaking with this gentlemen and God opened the door and I had a chance to share the Gospel with him.  I could see lights going off in his head when he was making the connections.  He did not accept Christ right on the plane but I felt God had divinely placed me next to him to share the truth and love of Christ.  What he does with that is up to him.  Please pray for Bill.  God bless and continue to ask God for divine appointments and the salvation of the lost.

Catching God's Wave (Lunchtime post 9/9/09)

As a surfer I have my favorite surf spots to surf.  Unfortunately, my favorite spot only works really well on a north swell.  I can paddle out anytime I want, but if there is not a north swell, I will just be sitting there in the ocean at my favorite spot with no waves.   Walking with God is very similar.  Often, we go to God with our own agenda and on our own set time schedule.  Then when nothing happens we wonder why?  The truth is that God is moving!  And we can participate in His work and miracles.   We just need to know which direction He is moving in!  We need to catch God’s wave, we need to be in God’s spot.  Today as you pray for the lost, lay down your own agenda and ask God to lead you in prayer and in divine appointments for those He is ready to call.  This is not to say you cannot nor should you stop praying for your lost loved ones who may not know Jesus, but begin by seeking out what God is doing.  Perhaps, God has a coworker who is ready to hear your testimony or someone who is going to sit down by you at dinner.  Only God knows!  But that is the point, this adventure we are on is by God’s strength and leading not our own!  What a freedom we have when we stop trying to make things happen and take advantage and participate in what God is doing.   

Proverbs 3:5-7:  “Trust in the Lord with all of your heart.  Lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight!

What is Lunch for the Lost?

Jesus says in Luke 19:10 that "the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."

Christ's very purpose in being born was to reunite humanity (which is lost), to God in an intimate relationship.  God is so passionate about reaching the lost that He reminded His disciples in Luke 15 that God rejoices over one sinner who repents over the 99 righteous who do not need to!

As followers of Christ, we have been given the mandate of God to be His Ambassadors, as though God Himself is making His appeal through you and I (2 Corinthians 5:18-20).  To do this we need to begin with prayer with a humble dependence upon God, understanding that it is God who is able to save and not us.  We are called to love and share the love of Christ with the lost.

So, with this in mind, I thought about different ways that we can be unified in our efforts to love the lost.  I began thinking that everyday, people generally spend on an average of 1 hour buying or preparing and then eating lunch.  But the average Christians spends less than 5 minutes (if that) in a week praying for the lost to begin a relationship with Jesus as Lord.  What would happen if we all decided to take our hour lunch break on Wednesdays and instead of going out to eat, or in addition to going out to eat, we prayed for God to use us for His glory and  to share His truth in order that others may come to know Him in a personal way. I believe if we do this we will see God move powerfully in our midst.

To demonstrate God's answer to our prayers we have created a blog that we can post testimonies of how God has used us in this new adventure.  Also, each Wednesday a new encouraging scriptural reminder of our purpose and reason behind "Lunch for the Lost" will be posted.  We can call it "Lunch time".  If interested in partnering then sign up and commit to praying.  Also, be sure to check the blog weekly and give me updates on how God is answering your prayers so others may be encouraged as well.  We can also post specific prayer request on the blog for the salvation of individuals.

Lets transform lives and change the world, beginning with our selves through Christ's power!

Pastor Joe Houser

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."  Ephesians 3:20-21