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Happy Thursday, Reader This past Sunday, Reverend Marcie Stowers-Wilson preached a word that hit the heart and lifted our heads: you are not random. You are handpicked and handmade by God. If life has been loud, complicated, or heavy, Psalm 139 reminds us that God’s workmanship is precise, personal, and intentional. And this weekend, we’re stepping into another moment of grace: Jesus Stopped at Your Tree (Luke 19:1-10). If you’ve been watching from a distance, this one is for you. This Sunday’s Message: Handpicked and Handmade by GodThe Big Idea this week: God formed you with intention. Your identity is not up for debate.
Key Takeaways:⓵ Your life is not accidental. God was “knitting” you together with detail and purpose. The way you are wired is not a mistake. ⓶ You are wonderfully complex on purpose. If you’ve been labeled “too much,” remember: God’s craftsmanship is marvelous. Complexity is not a curse. ⓷ What is spoken over you matters. The words we speak to children and to one another become anchors, even before people fully understand them. This Week’s Practice: Speak Psalm 139 over someone this week: your child, your spouse, your parent, a friend, or yourself. Say it plainly: “You are fearfully and wonderfully made.” Then name one specific gift you see in them.
This Sunday: Stop Waiting Until You’re WorthyScripture: Luke 19:1-10 | Series: THE GOD OF THE SECOND CHANCE (Week 5 of 5) What would you do if Jesus called your name before you cleaned yourself up? If you have been watching from a distance, too far gone, too compromised, too long away, this message is for you. Zacchaeus did not get his life together before Jesus showed up. Jesus stopped at his tree first. That is how grace actually works. Jesus did not wait for Zacchaeus to get down from the tree. He called him while he was still up there.
The bottom line: Grace is the aggressor. Jesus pursues before you perform. To prepare for worship this Sunday, listen to this playlist.
This Sunday at Mars HillThis Sunday, we are online only at 10:30 AM (CST). Worship with us live ⤵️ 📲 Log on from anywhere:📺 Watch on YouTube | Watch on Facebook You Built the Right Life for the Wrong YouThere are seasons where everything looks “right” on paper. But your soul is still tired, still numb, still searching. This new Substack piece names that tension without flinching, and then points you toward the deeper work: becoming whole, not just successful.
If you’ve been carrying the pressure to keep performing, keep proving, and keep producing… this is for you. Read it slowly. Let it confront you. Let it free you. And if one line hits, share it with someone who needs language for what they’ve been feeling but couldn’t explain. My Prayer RequestThis week, we’re praying for Mars Hill as a hybrid church, with people in our seats and people watching from screens. Both need the same thing: someone praying that the wrong place stops being comfortable and the right place starts feeling like home. Pray with us. GivingIf this message moved you, consider making your giving recurring. One decision. Consistent impact. Every week, someone’s locked room gets light because of what you do. Give SecurelySupport the mission securely at marshillchicago.org/giving, in our mobile app, or by texting MHGIVE to 33777. You can also mail checks to: Mars Hill Baptist Church
With love and expectation, Pastor Clarence E. Stowers, Jr. P.S. This week:
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You Are God’s Deliberate Design
