Thoughts From Our Pastors Written by Associate Pastor, Chelsea Peugh
I love wrapping gifts, I love giving gifts, I love getting gifts. They're just something that make you feel special. Now I have a question for you: would you rather receive a gift that's not well put together or a beautiful ornate gift that is perfectly put together? I don’t know about you, but I love wrapping gifts and putting together little packages. I’m actually lucky enough to get paid (as a part of my part time job) to do this. I love wrapping gifts and getting the corners just right, tying bows in perfect form, or curling string just right. There’s just something in me that loves wrapping gifts. I thought about this for a bit and I think the reason I love it so much is because it makes me feel like I’ve got it together. I can put together this beautiful package and forget (just for a moment) that my house is not as clean as I’d wish, or it would help me forget about that task that I’ve been putting off, or the things I have yet to take care of that are way overdue. I don't know about you, but sometimes I feel more like a mess than a masterpiece.I wonder if maybe some of you have ever felt this way? Have you ever felt like you’re just barely scraping by either in your personal life or in your walk with the Lord? Are you just surviving rather than thriving? Maybe it feels like you’re drowning in the deep end of a pool…. AND then SOMEONE throws a baby into your arms!!! Sinking faster and faster…
You know, God’s word tells us a little something about us even when we feel like we’re not enough. In Ephesians 2:4-10 it says this, “ But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Brothers and sisters, if you are IN CHRIST, do you know what God says about you in Ephesians 2:10? He says that you are HIS MASTERPIECE, you are HIS WORKMANSHIP, you are HIS HANDIWORK and you are HIS WORK OF ART. God has placed his signature on you! Each one of us is made fearfully and wonderfully because God created us! The greatest, greatest artist ever known made you and placed a stamp on you! So it doesn't matter if you have everything together it doesn't matter how beautiful everything looks and feels. What matters is that God loves you and God made You, you are his. The Greek word there is POIEMA, which translate to “something made” by God himself. Sometimes we don’t feel much like a masterpiece though, do we? But you MUST remember that regardless of how you feel or what your circumstances might be, you are God’s masterpiece. In fact, you are one of a kind, custom designed, tailor made by the master’s hands. Maybe it doesn’t always feel that way, but we need to keep in mind, that even in our mess, God is making us a masterpiece.
Take some time to watch this powerful video about being God's masterpiece. I promise it is well worth your time!
Wednesday Food Sign up:
So let's talk about food and Bible Study, we would love for you to join us on Wednesday for dinner and Bible study. If you enjoy our time together please also consider inviting your friends. The more we have the merrier it will be. To make sure we have everything we need, here is the link for this week Wednesday, September 26th. If you would like to sign up for next week here is the sign up sheet for that. Wednesday, October 3rd.
Wednesday Night Fellowship + Kids Program:
WEDNESDAY, 6-7:30pm. Come join us for an evening for every age! This will be the last week for this cycle of programs. The children will be finishing up their pirate themed lessons on treasures in heaven. Chelsea will be closing up the study on, “What is a church member?” Bryant will be finishing Judges. We want all of you to join us. If you missed this set, join us for the next set of Bible studies.
Operation Christmas Child:
We are gearing up for Operation Christmas Child. To keep our minds thinking about it I want to share the story of Eva Bossenberger who is 100 years old. Eva, who has enjoyed sewing since she was a child, makes dresses to pack in Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts. She prays that every girl who receives a dress will hear the Gospel and come to know Jesus as her Savior. To learn more please watch the video below.
Fall Festival:
Saturday, October 27 from 2-6pm. Plan to join us for this fun outreach event that our church will be doing. We will be having a chili cook-off if you would like to participate in that (talk to Kari Riek). We will also need volunteers to sign up to make cupcakes for our cupcake walk. Other volunteer opportunities will be announced soon!
SoCal District Work & Witness Trip:
November 5-12, Puerto Rico, $1200. Check out the menifeechurch.org/missions for more information or talk to Chelsea if you have questions!
Offering:
To all those who give during out service or online, THANK YOU!!! The money you give goes to helping our community and the global church. If you missed giving this week, just visit our giving page here and give online.
We also are set up to receive Faith Promise through our online giving here just make sure that you select Faith Promise instead of general offering.
Tithing is a discipline that will strengthen your faith and the church cannot function properly without your support. If you consider Mount Carmel your church home, please pray about being obedient to the Lord in this way.
SO here is a nice surprise:
If you made it this far, Jeremy and Chelsea are excited to share that we will be adding a new member to the family April 17, 2019!
Eva's Story.
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Our mailing address is:
Mount Carmel Church of the Nazarene
10060 Carmel Mountain Road
San Diego, Californis 92129, United States
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