From the Pastor

The Story Of Grace 6

The Story Of Grace… (6) Sustained By Grace

CELEBRATORS… Can’t hardly wait for this coming weekend at COC! Huge CELEBRATION as we honor our Mom’s (Mother’s Day) and we honor Generosity with Baby Dedication (Giving BACK to God what He has given to us!)! We also continue our walk in ‘The Story of Grace’ with a ‘timeless classic’ story from the OT… DAVID! ‘Of whom MUCH is GIVEN… MUCH is REQUIRED’ – soooooo thankful for GRACE for those of us who’ve been GIVEN MUCH but haven’t GIVEN MUCH back! God’s GRACE SUSTAINS us - even when we FAIL!

Below is a sneak-peak into a few of the ideas for THE STORY OF GRACE…

Fortunately… For those of us who “HAVE BEEN GIVEN MUCH” and are thus RESPONSIBLE FOR MUCH… there is “MUCH”… GRACE!

2 Samuel 7:11-16… God made David a PROMISE... A PROMISE that was rooted in GRACE – not in PERFORMANCE! (WOW!)

DAVID SINNED and GOD RESPONDED!

-Sometimes the DISCIPLINE ITSELF - IS AN EXPRESSION HIS GRACE! (Let that one sink in!)

Psalm 51:1… David UNDERSTOOD that the grounds for REDEMPTION and FORGIVENESS are found EXCLUSIVELY in GOD’S UNFAILING LOVE!

In the end... GOD NEVER WITHDREW HIS PROMISE TO DAVID! After all... it was never really about DAVID... it was always about GOD'S UNFAILING LOVE!

Because of GOD’S GRACE… He can always take your MESS and RE-WRITE YOUR STORY – if you are truly REPENTANT and accept GOD’S DISCIPLINE as a FORM OF HIS GRACE!

REGARDLESS of WHAT YOU’VE DONE…

REGARDLESS of HOW FAR YOU’VE STRAYED…

REGARDLESS of HOW YOU FEEL…

GRACE… IS ALWAYS WAITING TO “SUSTAIN” YOU!

See You THIS WEEKEND… Celebrators!! 

(Sat) Sequoia Pathways – 5P

(Sun) MHS Performing Arts Center – 9A

ONE MORE THING - Keep those 2013 COC “SUN STAND STILL PRAYERS” going…

1. COC NEW WORSHIP SERVICES! (Sundays / 9a and Saturdays / 5p)

2. 500+ SALVATIONS! – Over 80+ for the Year!

3. PowerPackCopa.com – God is BLOWING THIS MINISTRY UP COC! We’ll be stocking up with both FOOD and CASH through the summer to be ready for the 2013-14 School Year! Thanks for your Generosity Celebrators and PLEASE KEEP “GIVING” and PLEASE KEEP ASKING GOD “WHERE” YOU CAN BE INVOLVED!

4. 25 DNA Small Groups! – Last year we ended with 11 Active Groups – we now have 20 ACTIVE GROUPS! Are you IN COMMUNITY somewhere? YOU NEED TO BE… Sign-Up for one this weekend!

5. Increased GENEROSITY! (Time/Talents/Treasures) – Thank You for your INCREASED GENEROSITY Celebrators! Remember the keys to “BALANCE” with your FINANCES… 1. Reference Point (KNOWING where your Money’s GOING!) 2. Keep it BALANCED! (Honoring God with EVERYTHING!) 3. Make Constant Corrections! (1. Debt (Get out of it!) / 2. What Do I Do with my EXTRA? (Be RICH towards GOD FIRST!) / 3. Financial Appetites (Dealing with Discontentment)) 4. Flip Your LIST! (SEEK FIRST… God’s Way in your FINANCES… 1. GIVE (God) 2. SAVE 3. LIVE on the rest!)

6. A Place To Call HOME! (LAND) – Keep Praying Celebrators! Let God know the ‘Desires Of Our Heart!’

SAT/SUN SNAPSHOT (The Story Of Grace 5)

The Story Of Grace… (5) Rescued By Grace

CELEBRATORS… Pastor Mat will be bringing one of my FAVORITE STORIES in all of Scripture this weekend! A Story with ‘Remarkable Grace Implications’ ALL over it – you don’t wanna miss it! I can’t hardly wait to hear it myself – but I’ll have to wait till it’s up on Videocast - since I have the privilege to speak this coming weekend at our Daughter Church (COC Metro) in Texas! Please be in PRAYER for Mat and Myself as we share some GRACE with YOU and the incredible folks of Texas! Gonna be a GREAT weekend at both COC and COC Metro – you won’t wanna miss it!

Below is a sneak-peak into a few of the ideas for THE STORY OF GRACE…

Psalm 145:8... The LORD is Gracious and Compassionate... Slow to Anger and Rich in Love!

Rescued by Grace… God is both Terrifying and Merciful -- He is both Just and Gracious! (TY Jesus!)

God doesn’t require those with embarrassing labels to shed them as a prerequisite… His GRACE empowers them to do so!

God doesn’t require sinners to stop sinning without first extending GRACE... which empowers them to do so!

God has invited us personally to Join Him in a Relationship initiated by FAITH... not adherence to a set of rules!

People labeled Rahab a “Harlot”... God changed the label to “The Mother of Kings!" (WOW! Only by God's Grace!)

God’s GRACE is Slow to Judge and Quick to Rescue! (Thank You Jesus!)

See You THIS WEEKEND… Celebrators!! 

(Sat) Sequoia Pathways – 5P

(Sun) MHS Performing Arts Center – 9A 

ONE MORE THING - Keep those 2013 COC “SUN STAND STILL PRAYERS” going…

1. COC NEW WORSHIP SERVICES! (Sundays / 9a and Saturdays / 5p)

2. 500+ SALVATIONS! – Over 75+ for the Year! And “23” people took that first step of OBEDIENCE last Saturday through BAPTISM – demonstrating their INWARD FAITH COMMITMENT to JESUS! (WOW!)

3. PowerPackCopa.com – God is BLOWING THIS MINISTRY UP COC! Starting in MAY – we will be PACKING and DELIVERING over 120+ Bags for THREE MUSD ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS – with ONE LAST DELIVERY for the School Year! We’ll be stocking up with both FOOD and CASH through the summer to be ready for the 2013-14 School Year! Thanks for your Generosity Celebrators and PLEASE KEEP “GIVING” and PLEASE KEEP ASKING GOD “WHERE” YOU CAN BE INVOLVED!

4. 25 DNA Small Groups! – Last year we ended with 11 Active Groups – we now have 20 ACTIVE GROUPS! Are you IN COMMUNITY somewhere? YOU NEED TO BE… Sign-Up for one this weekend!

5. Increased GENEROSITY! (Time/Talents/Treasures) – Thank You for your INCREASED GENEROSITY Celebrators! Remember the keys to “BALANCE” with your FINANCES… 1. Reference Point (KNOWING where your Money’s GOING!) 2. Keep it BALANCED! (Honoring God with EVERYTHING!) 3. Make Constant Corrections! (1. Debt (Get out of it!) / 2. What Do I Do with my EXTRA? (Be RICH towards GOD FIRST!) / 3. Financial Appetites (Dealing with Discontentment)) 4. Flip Your LIST! (SEEK FIRST… God’s Way in your FINANCES… 1. GIVE (God) 2. SAVE 3. LIVE on the rest!)

6. A Place To Call HOME! (LAND) – Keep Praying Celebrators! Let God know the ‘Desires Of Our Heart!’