Lamar Living Hope Church

06/11/2026

THE MUD OF TRANSFORMATION

In John 9, we see Jesus encounter a man born blind. Instead of a word of power, Jesus reaches down, gathers the dust of the earth, and mixes it with His own breath—creating mud to open eyes that had never seen the light.

It is a stunning picture of grace:

* The world looked at the man’s condition and saw only "uncleanness" and judgment.
* Jesus looked at the same "dust" and saw a vessel waiting to be filled with the glory of God.
* He used the very things the culture considered common, or even unclean, to perform a miracle of new creation.

Often, we feel like the "dust" of our own lives—our pasts, our weaknesses, or our seasons in the wilderness—makes us unusable or unworthy. We think God only works through the polished and the perfect. But the Gospel tells a different story. The same God who formed man from the dust in Genesis is the same Jesus who meets us in our mess today.

He doesn't just want to "fix" us; He wants to re-form us. He takes the parts of our lives we try to hide and turns them into a testimony of His healing power.
You are not defined by what the world calls "broken." You are defined by the One who stops, touches the earth, and says, "Let there be light."

Let’s walk in that transformative grace today!

06/10/2026

So grateful to have Russell and Carla Frazier at our NMI Pizza Night!

Big thanks to Ronda Baldwin our local NMI (Nazarene Missions International) President for coordinating the event!!

06/09/2026

The Fruit of the Spirit is: LOVE!

Catch part 2 of the sermon series on the Fruit of the Spirit on the Living Hope YouTube channel!

Big thanks to Randal Mundy for getting everything set up, recorded, edited, and uploaded!!

Pastor Allen discusses Love as the Fruit of the Spirit. Taken from...

06/09/2026

THE GOD WHO IS ALREADY THERE

In our daily lives, we often feel like we are stumbling through a wilderness, trying to figure out our next move, looking for signs, or hoping to find a "secret" map to navigate the troubles of life. It’s easy to feel like we are wandering alone.

But in John 8:58, Jesus gives us an anchor that holds through any season: "Before Abraham was, I am."
When Jesus claimed the title of the Eternal "I AM," He wasn't just proving a point to the Pharisees; He was offering us the ultimate security.

He is the Eternal God: He doesn't just exist in time; He is the Author of it. He was with Abraham in his wilderness, He was with the disciples in their confusion, and He is with you in your struggle today.

He is the Constant: We don't have to hunt for hidden wisdom or complex secrets to find favor with God. The Truth is standing right in front of us.

He is the Architect: Because He is the "I AM," He isn't surprised by the detours or the dry seasons of our lives. He has been there from the beginning, and He is already waiting for us at the end.

If you are feeling overwhelmed, remember that you serve a God who isn't "finding His way" through your mess—He is the Way. You don't have to have all the answers; you just need to keep your eyes on the One who is the Answer.

Let’s walk in the confidence that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is the same God walking beside us this very week.

06/08/2026

Are You Walking in the Light or Searching for Shadows?

We often think we have the plan all figured out, only to find our schedules disrupted and our circumstances changing. When life feels like a "wilderness," it’s easy to get frustrated or lose our focus. But what if those moments of confusion are actually an invitation to the "Wilderness School"?

In the Gospel of John, Jesus stood in the Temple courts during the Feast of Tabernacles—a festival meant to remind Israel of their dependence on God in the desert. Amidst the rituals and the traditions, Jesus made a startling claim: "I am the light of the world" (John 8:12).

He was telling the people—and He is telling us today—that we don't need to hunt for "secret" wisdom, hidden paths, or temporary solutions. We don't have to look for shadows when the Sun has risen.

Whether you feel lost in the desert or are just trying to navigate the daily grind of life in Lamar, remember this:
Jesus is the Living Water that truly satisfies.
He is the Pillar of Fire who guides our steps.
He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and there is no other name under heaven by which we are saved.

You don't need to be a "secret-knower" to find God; you just need to be a follower of the One who came to us. Let’s stop looking for answers in the peripheral and fix our eyes on the One who is the Answer.

We are called by the Father, empowered by the Spirit, and sent by the Son to share this hope.

Let’s keep doing life together this week!

06/07/2026

Are you tired of trying to force yourself to feel loving toward difficult, ungratefully draining, or just plain exhausting people? 😓

The truth is, on our own, we simply don’t have the power to keep up unconditional love. The world offers a transactional, copycat love—but God offers us something radically different.

Today at Living Hope, we are stepping into Part 2 of our sermon series, "The Harvest: The Inward Fruit," as we dig into what it truly means to live out Love (Agape).

We’ll be looking at Galatians 5:22 and discovering that holy love isn't a feeling we have to manufacture or pump up on our own. It is a supernatural fruit grown by the Holy Spirit, unlocked by His prevenient grace, and lived out through our everyday choices.

Whether you are a child practicing a secret blessing at home, a teenager choosing to stand up as a quiet defender at school, or an adult trying to navigate an exhausting relationship—God's enabling grace is ready to supply the power. 🌿✨

Join us at 11:00 AM as we look at how the Holy Spirit cleanses our hearts to pour out His love into a weary world. See you there!

06/07/2026

🍇 The Harvest: The Inward Fruit | Part 2: Love (Agape) 🍇

The world tells us that love is a feeling—a transaction where we give only to get something in return. But the Scriptures point us to something infinitely greater. True, biblical Agape love isn’t a feeling we manufacture; it is a holy, sacrificial choice powered entirely by God’s grace.

When we try to love others in our own strength, we quickly find ourselves running on empty. But when we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we get to love out of the overflow of the unconditional love that has already rescued us!

Join your Living Hope church family tomorrow morning as Pastor Allen unpacks Galatians 5:14-15, 22 and challenges us to look at what real, unconditional love looks like in action.

Plus, we have a very special presentation you won't want to miss! Bring a neighbor and join us as we worship together.

🗓 Tomorrow, June 7th
⏰ 11:00 AM
📍 Living Hope

We can't wait to see you there!

06/01/2026

Celebrating Kindness: A Reflection for National Say Something Nice Day

It is National Say Something Nice Day, and as we reflect on the power of our words, let us remember the instruction found in Ephesians 4:29:

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." (NIV)

In the Wesleyan-Holiness tradition, we believe that grace should not only transform our hearts but also govern our speech. Our words are an extension of our sanctification; they have the divine capacity to minister, heal, and encourage. Today is a beautiful opportunity to intentionally use our voices to reflect the character of Christ.

Let us commit to being instruments of grace in our communities. Whether it is a word of affirmation to a neighbor, a note of gratitude to a friend, or an encouraging message to someone struggling, let us choose words that build up and offer the hope of the Gospel.

May our speech be seasoned with salt, bringing life to everyone we encounter today.

05/31/2026

Tomorrow morning at 11:00 AM, we are kicking off our brand-new Sunday morning series, The Harvest.

In our culture, we are constantly told that growth is about hustle, grit, and human effort. We try to force results and build an image, but true spiritual transformation cannot be factory-made.

Join us at Living Hope tomorrow as we open Galatians 5 for Part 1: Manifested, Not Manufactured. Together, we will discover what it means to stop trying to force spiritual outcomes and instead learn to live in perfect step with the Holy Spirit.

Come early for prayer and community. The countdown begins at 10:55 AM, and the service starts promptly at 11:00 AM. We will see you there!

05/24/2026

Even our doors are ready for Pentecost Celebration 2026 with a red light in the background!

See you at 11am!!