UPDATE FROM PASTOR EDDIE - Friday, August 30, 2013
Published: Fri, 08/30/13
Grace House Update from Pastor Eddie
Think About It...
Wherever there is a human in need, there is an opportunity for kindness and to make a difference.
~ Kevin Heath
Unexpected kindness is the most powerful, least costly, and most underrated agent of human change.
~ Bob Kerrey (1943)
Remember there's no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.
~ Scott Adams (1957)
Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,...
~ Colossians 3:12
Happy 5th Anniversary Grace House!
Can you believe that Grace House is turning 5 years old? Wow, in some ways it seems it was just a year or so ago when we all met for the first time in our front yard. In other ways, it seems like many more years. We have all seen a lot of changes. God has blessed us in so many ways. We have had a number of people who have moved out to start new ministries that are now growing, some have relocated to other cities or moved on to other congregations, and many of you are still here enjoying life at Grace House while God continues to bring new people to us. Change is a constant in life. I am happy that God is still stretching and challenging us to change.
I am also very grateful for the number of deep relationships that I have seen formed in the last five years. This is so important. God has blessed us with a beautiful facility, He has from day one blessed us with the provisions we have needed. He has allowed us to sow 10's of thousands of dollars into missions and ministries around the world. He has helped us to help hundreds of people in our area during their time of financial need and spiritual need. We have had many people who have come through temporarily to be healed and refreshed. We have witnessed miracles. We have laughed together and cried together. Love that together word. Last year, we opened our doors and invited the ARK who were in need of a facility to come and do life together with us. Thank you for your big hearts.
I am excited about the next five years. We certainly have areas we are working on improving and yet we are enjoying learning who we really are and committing to be faithful to what He has called us to do -- namely, loving God, loving people, and equipping people to live Kingdom lives following the Holy Spirit's leadership. We want to keep Jesus first and be a people who understand and give grace to others. We want our reach to touch the nations while embracing our neighbors. May we always be a house of Grace.
Again, Happy 5th Anniversary and may this be a year of Great Grace for Grace House.
This Sunday: The Bride of Mr. Grace
Get ready for another identity message. Being married to Mr. Law was really hard but now, the widow of Mr. Law is a bride who has married Mr. Grace. However, there can be some struggles of adjusting to such a new liberating life. I really believe you will be blessed by this life giving message. See you on Sunday at 9:00 a.m. and how about inviting a friend to come with you.
Followup: Discovering Your Legal Identity
For those you you who were unable to hear the message last week on YOUR LEGAL IDENTITY, you can hear it on our SERMON page. Or, you can request a CD from our Mike Sledge who is over our Media.
The Super Seers Conference is Underway. Night Sessions are free and open to the public.
A wonderful opportunity for equipping and activation in the prophetic is coming soon here at our facility. The ARK is hosting Jonathan Welton's annual Seer Conference August 29-31.
Just Click Here for more information. Don't miss this opportunity to advance the Kingdom in your life and in our region.
Thanks for the Shoes for the Nations!
Last Sunday it was such a blessing to see people arriving with bags of shoes. Old shoes, new shoes, torn shoes. A whole 12 foot trailer load of shoes. Thanks to Russell Harper and Larry Lash for delivering to the Nazarene Church here in the Florence area. From there they will be shipped to India where they will be used to show God;s love in a very tangible way. Yeah God and thanks Grace House!
MISSIONS - GOD'S HEART FOR OTHERS
We are so grateful for the huge heart that our Grace House people have for missions. I appreciate all that you do to help support missions. Your going, giving, and praying really does make a difference.
THE SMITHS - Welcome back Ross and Lisa Smith from South Africa. We appreciate what Ross, Shirley, and Lisa mean to us and the Kingdom. They have been faithful to God's call to bring transformation and change to others and are making a wonderful difference in South Africa.
SARAH AND JEANETTE - Sara Davis and Jeanette Lerch will be leaving soon to minister in Honduras. They will be part of a medical team that will minister the love of Jesus in the mountains of Honduras. We will be helping them by bringing clothes, shoes, and other articles for them to distribute to these people in great need.
THE RICKETTS
- Jason and Sarah Ricketts will be leaving in a couple of weeks for India on a ministry trip. They will be in the Northeastern part of the country and will minister to the least, lost, and lonely in India. This couple has such a heart for children around the world.
Please continue to pray for these three specific needs and consider blessing them as well. We are grateful to be a part of what God is doing on the mission field through these who are willing to go.
Our Next Grace House Mission Trip -- Looks like late January.
Please be praying for the development of our next mission trip. This team will purposely be a very small team due to the travel schedule and arrangements and assignment.
About nine years ago the Lord really touched me deeply concerning the island nations. Since that time, I have had the opportunity to see the Lord do some amazing things in the Caribbean. We had an awesome time in Trinidad last year and this past April we saw God do a mighty work in Carriacou and Petite Martinque. It looks as if our next trip will be to Barbados with the possibility of island jumping to revisit Trinidad and Carriacou.
There is no doubt that developing a missions heart is one of the greatest things a congregation can do.
Hook Up With A Life Group!
We are so grateful for the togetherness that our life groups are enjoying.
Our Life Groups Ministry is touching lives. I rejoice to hear about how our groups are praying for one another, ministering the Word to one another, going places together, building deep relationships. This is an important part of the family life of belonging to a local congregation.
If you have questions about being in a group or leading a group, just get with Hillard and Charlotte Matthews who lead our Life Groups ministry.
You are now able to view all the options on our new Life Groups website at LIFEGROUPS.INFO
Please check it out!
Have A Laugh....
SMARTER THAN YOU THINK
A young boy enters a barber shop and the barber whispers to his customer, "This is the dumbest kid in the world. Watch while I prove it to you." The barber puts a dollar bill in one hand and two quarters in the other, then calls the boy over and asks, "Which do you want, son?" The boy takes the quarters and leaves. "What did I tell you?" said the barber. "That kid never learns!" Later, when the customer leaves, he sees the same young boy coming out of the ice cream store. "Hey, son! May I ask you a question? Why did you take the quarters instead of the dollar bill?" The boy licked his cone and replied, "Because the day I take the dollar, the game is over!"
Know Someone Who Would Like to Receive These Updates?
If you are aware of someone who would enjoy receiving these updates from me, just forward this email to them and let them know just to click the link below and they can sign up and opt in to this email list. This is a great way to stay more up to date on the happenings around Grace House and the ARK. Thanks for helping.
