Elevation North has News for YOU!

DECLARATIONS. What are they, really? And what is their purpose? We know they were used years ago as legal documents … like the Declaration of Independence. But are declarations still used today? And how do they affect us as believers … as children of God? God is really stirring something deep in my spirit about all of this, so I will try to keep on track with what is on my heart. First of all, a declaration is the act of making something known … it is announcing it, proclaiming it – or in other words: declaring it. A declaration is also an affirmation. It can be a formal statement put into a document complete with signatures. Or it can be a strong personal statement showing one’s stance or belief about a given decision or event or circumstance. A declaration gets your point across, and you put it out there – either to the masses or to a more intimate group of people, depending on your target audience. A declaration makes clear what you want someone else to make no mistake about. When it comes to a declaration, there is no wavering – no waffling. It is – what it is. So, because a declaration is a powerful thing – why is not used more? What’s keeping us as believers from declaring things in the spiritual realm? Why do we not declare the Word of the Lord more? Why do we not declare the promises of God more? Why do we not declare things as “being” – as existing. I mean, declaring things before there is evidence of them. Look at what a great Teacher and example we have in our Creator. It was He who “spoke” the world and everything in it – into “being”. He declared it, and it was. He declared it – and said it was good. What if He had just kept wondering out loud if He could actually create anything? What if He had doubted His abilities to make something out of nothing. Oh, that’s right: He had the dust of the earth to work with! So He took what He had and declared something out of practically nothing. To begin with, everything was formless and void. Often that’s the foundational point at which we should be declaring something. Because when we begin to declare things through the power of God, then we’ll begin to see things take shape. Things will start to happen. We will see “something” come out of “nothing”. And we will have no doubt that the results of the declaration are coming from the creative hand of God. What we’ll see happening is nothing that we can take credit for. But our faith just might get a real boost when we see what takes place when we begin to put into practice spiritual declarations and proclamations! What I am going to share with you now – I wish I knew who to give credit to! All I know is that I heard someone say this some weeks ago now, and it so struck a chord with me, that I ran for pen and paper. This is what I wrote down: “We need to turn our prayers from a plea to a proclamation!” Then the speaker went on to say that “it’s not how we feel … it’s WHO is in us!” Finally, this person threw out the challenge that God’s people and God’s church needs to move from passivity into declaration. In other words, we need to DECREE WHAT WE DESIRE!!! So, when we desire peace in our hearts over a situation … we need to DECLARE and DECREE it! When we desire healing in our bodies and souls … we need to DECLARE it! When we desire anything at all – a job, a house, a vehicle, an increase in pay, a promotion … we need to DECLARE it! When we desire a closer walk with God – more intimacy, more victory, more power, more trust, more faith, more contentment, more obedience … we need to DECLARE it! When we want to walk in happiness and joy instead of stress and sadness … we need to DECLARE it! We can speak blessings into our lives … we can speak life into our future … we can speak God’s favor into our todays and our tomorrows. I believe that more with each passing day ~ because with each passing day God brings things to pass that I’ve declared in His Name! And not just little things … but big things! There is no way that we could have made those things happen on our own, but God did – so HE gets the glory! I think that’s the way He designed it to be! It’s such a great thing when God’s truth sinks in ~ and we GET it! It’s such a great thing when Jesus’ declarations sink in ~ and we realize we can speak the same declarations – in His powerful Name! It’s such a great thing when we don’t have to wonder anymore ~ and we just know that we know that the answer is on the way! We can trust God to be the loving and caring Father that He is. He can be no one else ~ He can be nothing less! He is “El Elyon” – the God Most High- and His purposes and plans will be established and accomplished. For He declares His purposes. “Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, surely I will do it.” (Isaiah 46:11) Dear ones, what will YOU declare?

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

- THERE’S NOTHING ~ quite like being in the very presence of God, and literally experiencing that presence and power as we did this past Sunday morning! We began the service with fervent prayer for several of our people as we anointed them with oil and laid hands on them, according to scripture. And there was no doubt that God was standing right in our midst doing His supernatural work! Praise be to our God!

- SPECIAL BIRTHDAY WISHES go out to Destiny who will be celebrating on September 6th! May God’s best be yours, is our prayer!

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .

- THIS SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 5TH: 10:00 A.M. – WORSHIP & PRAISE with a unique time being planned – something a bit out of the ordinary! Be sure to come and participate fully in what God will do! You will be blessed and your faith given a boost!

- NEXT SUNDAY, SEPTEMEBER 12TH: 10: A.M. – FALL KICK-OFF will take place at Elevation North as we begin with powerful worship and praise. Pastor Doug will resume the series on “The Fingerprints of God”. You will experience a message that’s down-to-earth and yet takes you deeper. Come and learn with us more about the fourth fingerprint of God: “The Love of Jesus!” And bring your Bibles to follow along from scripture to scripture! Plan to stay for the newly re-vamped Sunday School classes … and then make sure to bring along a dish to pass for the potluck meal that follows! The meat will be provided, as well as the beverages and table service! And … after all that – then comes the BLAST FROM THE PAST with all kinds of super fun games for everyone! We are all kids at heart, you know! We’ll see you there!

- OCTOBER 22-23: WOMEN OF FAITH CONFERENCE / Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul / Theme: “Over the Top!” / Lunches for both days included in the $89 ticket / Top-notch anointed speakers and great worship and praise music! What could be any better than sharing all that with lots of Christian sisters?! See Tina or Debbie for more details!

- TIME OUT FOR THE GUYS – will take place the Friday evening that the gals are attending the conference! A great time is being planned (did someone mention “steaks”?!!!). And that’s just a part of what’s being planned!

- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .

- OUR GOD CONTINUES TO AMAZE US! Though not large in numbers (yet) … God shows us His favor week after week with miraculous answers to prayer! Our church family is experiencing spiritual growth, divine healing, provision and blessing, family reconciliation, and so much more! This week lets commit to “turning our prayers from pleas to proclamations”!

- THIS WEEK . . . Remember, God is as close as the mention of His Name!


Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

Elevation North has News for YOU!

HOW SWEET LIFE IS . . . ! Well, it IS ~ when everything is going great and the sun is shining and the temps are a bit more comfortable and we’re feeling healthy and happy and our tummies are full ~ and oh yes, all the bills are paid!!! You get the picture! But just how often do all of these things occur at the same time? Not all of the time, that’s for sure! So what’s our motto for the days when life is NOT so sweet? I think I know one, because God’s Word tells us that we can live in the law of expectancy. So just how does that give us a new motto? And what is it? How about . . . HOW SWEET YOU ARE, JESUS! You see, because Jesus is Who He is and because He is so precious, I can expect certain things out of the life I am living here on this earth. And just what can I expect? Let’s check it out:

PEACE ~ “We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:1
This peace is not just a feeling, but it is a state in our relationship with God!

JOY ~ “His joy in us – that our joy might be complete; a joy that overtakes us.” John

15:11/Isaiah 51:11
We will actually be pursued by gladness and joy; it will “catch” us!

LOVE ~ “The Father’s love is so great and He lavishes it on us, calling us His children!” I John 3:1
This love is generous, liberal, extravagant, like torrents of rain pouring over us!

HOPE ~ “Our God has plans to give us hope . . .” Jeremiah 29:11
We can keep on keeping on – knowing that our desires and expectations matter to God!

FAITH ~ “Our faith in God helps us be sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1
We can believe without questioning or having proof or even evidence - we can KNOW!

PROVISION ~ “God richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.” I Timothy 6:17
This provision encompasses everything we need to live for today - and eternally!!!
You’re doubtful sometimes? Check out the stories recorded in God’s Word; you’ll find
provisions of everything from a lamb for Abraham’s sacrifice - to water in the desert –
to comfort for grief – to a way out – to sustenance for the poor – to redemption for
His people – to a great fish for Jonah – to a vine, a worm, and a scorching east wind, all
for Jonah to teach him a valuable lesson – to ravens who delivered bread and meat twice
a day to Elijah - to food for those who fear Him – to clothing for the naked – to
strength for our service to God and others. And we could fill pages more of God’s
provisions in every area of our lives!

SALVATION ~ “The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23
Though not worthy in the least, we can accept and expect this gift to be of
unspeakable dimensions, spiritually and physically, extending from life on this earth
to our heavenly home where there will be no end to this Gift of all gifts! We can
anticipate and know that we will forever live in the very presence of the King of Kings!

Can you get excited about the motto, “HOW SWEET YOU ARE, JESUS!” We encourage you to express that to Him often, and not just daily, but several times a day! And as you practice this expression of adoration and gratitude to the Lord, you will soon discover that circumstances and struggles are beginning to change. And soon, you’ll also be able to say, “How sweet life is!”

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

- LAST SUNDAY was one to be remembered as the sun shone down on us at the Community Worship Service at the Steele County Fairgrounds! What was especially memorable is that God’s Son shone down on all seated there as we lifted our voices in awesome worship and were blessed by an incredible message from God’s Word! What a neat experience for our Elevation North church family!

- OUR SPECIAL THANKS to the Rogers family who donated carpet for the little ones’ Sunday School area, a coffee-maker, a fan, and more … to bless us as we transform the Town Hall into a church each Sunday! May God bless you for your generosity!

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .

- THIS SUNDAY, AUGUST 29TH: 10:00 A.M. – WORSHIP & PRAISE with the message planned for last week ~ moved forward because of our participation at the Fair service! Pastor Doug will be sharing from John 15:9 and other scriptures on the fourth “Fingerprint of God” – “The Love of Jesus!” Who do you know that needs to hear how much they are loved by the Lord of the universe? Give them a call and bring them along with you to church!
- SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 12TH: 10:00 A.M. – FALL KICK-OFF with an exciting, powerful service planned that will lift your spirits and challenge your hearts for what’s ahead here at Elevation North! Plan to arrive early for worship and praise, plan to stay for Sunday School, and then celebrate with us around the table as we partake of the potluck meal with all that great food! After, we’ll enjoy a BLAST FROM THE PAST with lots of games and fun for all ages! Begin thinking now about who you could give a special invitation to that would enjoy spending this time with the family of Elevation North – as we continue to have a heart to reach out!
- OCTOBER 22-23: WOMEN OF FAITH CONFERENCE will be held at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul for a Friday/Saturday event that you will NOT want to miss! Are you feeling like you are “at the bottom” – but would love to know what it’s like to feel “over the top”? This time of worship and blessing amongst thousands of other women will spark and fan into flame what’s inside your soul that’s been buried for awhile! Come and set aside everything else for these moments in time and be revived and refreshed! The $89 cost includes the two lunches – and will be the best $89 you’ve ever spent!!! We have 50 tickets available, so see Tina or Debbie to get yours!
- TIME OUT FOR THE GUYS … will be a great time shared as the women are in St. Paul! Be watching for all the details soon to come!

- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .

- OUR GOD IS SO-O-O GOOD!!! He truly “blesses our socks off”! How exciting to hear of answers to prayer … like James being able to go back to work – and Tina feeling better than she has been! Our God is an awesome God! Shirley’s progress following knee replacement surgery continues to amaze everyone; how God is showing His favor! Let’s continue praying for each other, not only for jobs and healing ~ but for every aspect of our lives as we go about our everyday living. Please lift up our nation’s leaders and the well-being of our country, that there might be a passionate return to God. Pray for REVIVAL, beginning with YOU and ME and US!!! Please keep Josh and Sarah and the boys in your prayers for travel safety as they return to minister in Perth! There’s always a long list of petitions … but our praise list should be even LONGER!!! Praise be to our God Almighty for His wondrous works!!!

- THIS WEEK . . . Remember, “We might have limitations sometimes, but our limitations don’t have us! A set-back is just a set-up for a come-back!” ~ Willie Jolley

Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

Elevation North has News for YOU!

GOD’S WAYS. A LITTLE STRANGE sometimes, wouldn’t you say? Before I elaborate on that, let me get really honest. Though my husband and I are 1000% sold out to our God-given call to ministry, there are times in this new place God has us that we don’t totally understand. I mean, we’ve never started a new church before. We’ve never walked this way before. We’ve never had to blend ministry and several other jobs. We’ve never faced these specific limitations and challenges and attacks before. Oh, we’ve faced others, yes. But not these … not in this same way. We’ve never before had these kinds of time restraints and financial limitations. We’ve never before had such few people and lack of a conducive facility. Yet, God’s call to do what we’re doing rings ever loudly and clearly in our hearts. Don’t get me wrong. We absolutely LOVE what we’re doing … we just want to do MORE! We want to pour our very lives into this new Kingdom work. We have so many incredible ideas for ministry. We want to flesh out the basic ministry that it is now. We want to offer ministries that will grow people even deeper in their walk with God – beyond our time together on Sunday mornings. We have a heart to expand the boundaries of Elevation North to levels beyond our present comprehension. But here we are, still a small church with a big heart … and the best news of all is that we ARE experiencing a multitude of miraculous answers to prayer. We ARE seeing God work in supernatural ways in our midst. And we just want to share that with as many people as possible! So, you might say, why the honest reflection? Do we sense a bit of discouragement? Perhaps. Yet, God has been SO very faithful, and He continues to be faithful – every day – every week! People have come alongside us and stood with us. They pray for us. They support us. What more could we ask for? Well, we must admit, we want MORE! We want to reach MORE people with the message of Christ! We want to grow MORE in the Lord as a family in Christ! We want to offer MORE to the hurting around us who already know Christ! We want to share MORE with those in need – who need the compassion of Christ! We want to help prepare people MORE for the prophetic end times that we are already living in. These things are the cry of our heart … our deepest desires. But, we cannot do it alone. Of course, we are not alone ~ we know we have the God of the universe at our side, going before us, and flanking us on the rear. But we need more individuals and families who are equally sold out to the cause of Christ. We need more people who will take the risk and who will sacrifice becoming involved in a new, small church to help grow it beyond its present stage. We need more people who will walk with us through these growing pains as we expand. We need more people called to leadership at every level – in every aspect of the church. Do these people need to be perfect, or polished, or wealthy, or intellectual? No, no, no, and no! Because God’s Word says, “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” (I Corinthians 1:27, NIV) I’m not saying that we’re foolish and weak; what I am saying is that even in our limitations, God chooses to use us. And if you’ve been wanting to step out and do something for God, but feel inadequate – just step up to the plate and DO it! God will use you. He will empower you. He will surprise you at what He will do through you, if you will just give Him a chance! My husband and I are longing for and seeking God for a “spiritual tsunami”!!! We want a spiritual “underwater surge” that cannot be stopped to come and wash over Elevation North and overflow its boundaries! Did you know that PRAISE is the cause and effect of a “spiritual tsunami”? Just like underwater earthquakes cause the effects of an ocean tsunami – praise will cause the effects of the spiritual parallel to take place. We won’t necessarily “see” it coming, but when it comes, we won’t be able to stop it! We will NOT want to stop it! So, dear ones, will you join your pastor and his wife and tell the Holy Spirit “yes” … that you are signing up to praise God for Who He is? That you are signing up to say “yes” to what God wants you to do? That you are signing up to say “yes” to being where God is working? That we’ll say “yes” – before the results take place? We believe that YOU can worship God like no one else can … your worship doesn’t sound like anyone else’s. So when your praise hits the ears of God, He instantly knows it’s coming from YOU, and He LOVES it! Let’s see how often we can get God’s attention with our praises, and let’s be ALL He designed us to be in this new ministry called “Elevation North”! After all, it’s all about ELEVATING HIM!

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

- IT IS ALWAYS A PRIVILEGE to enter the House of the Lord and lavish our love and praise on our God, plus we have the bonus of friendship and fellowship with each other! What amazing blessings God brings to us!

- SPECIAL GRATITUDE AND THANKS to our “away supporters” who give so faithfully each month towards the ministry and outreach of Elevation North! May God bless each of you abundantly, is our prayer!

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .

- THIS SUNDAY, AUGUST 22ND: 10:00 A.M. – WORSHIP & PRAISE with the message being centered on the fourth “Fingerprint of God” – “The Love of Jesus”! Pastor Doug will be preaching from John 15:9 and several other scriptures. Who can you invite that would be encouraged and blessed by learning more about the love of Jesus for them?
- SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 12TH: 10:00 A.M. – FALL KICK-OFF with an exciting time of worship and praise, with a potluck meal and great food, and A BLAST FROM THE PAST with games and fun for the entire family! Be in prayer about using this event for out-reach to those who might be looking for a church home!
- OCTOBER 22-23: WOMEN OF FAITH CONFERENCE in St. Paul at the Xcel Energy Center – with “just what the doctor ordered” for a pick-me-up for your body and soul! Two days of great speakers and incredible worship music and opportunities for fellowship with thousands of “sisters in Christ”!!! It will definitely be an “Over the Top” experience! Be sure to be setting aside a few dollars each week for the cost of $89. It will be the greatest investment you’ve made in yourself – all year! We have 50 tickets available - with great seating! The two days’ lunches are provided with the tickets. See Tina or Debbie for more details!
- TIME OUT FOR THE GUYS … at the same time the women are off to St. Paul! Be watching for “what” and “when” and “where”!!!

- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .

- GOD JUST KEEPS POURING OUT HIS BLESSINGS! Each week we are recipients of God’s amazing love and healing and provision and so much more! Shirley is recovering from knee replacement surgery amazingly well, and she thanks everyone for their prayers! Special requests for healing for Mitch, Emily, and Sean (all in MI); and for Stacey’s aunt’s family in AZ in the loss of her Aunt Linda; for provision of a job for James; healing for Jimmy, for Tina, and others we are holding up. The Bible says we have not – because we ask not. So let’s ask God in faith believing for all His good gifts! Let’s claim all that God has for us, in the Name of Jesus!

- THIS WEEK . . . Remember, “May God teach us perseverance in all we do, and may He help us especially to run with perseverance the race marked out for us!” (from Hebrews 12:1)


Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

Elevation North has News for YOU!

ARE YOUR STEPS ORDERED? If so, by who? And for what purpose? Do you, like me, ever feel like your life is going in a million different directions? You know what needs to be done … and you understand priorities. You are aware of deadlines. You’re ever mindful of lengthy lists. Yet – where do you start? You’ve already committed to simplify your life as much as you can. And you’ve seen some results from that. But the schedules continue to come, practically tumbling over each other as if in a race against time itself. It’s like the foreboding, charcoal grey storm clouds I saw a few evenings ago. They were literally rolling across the sky at break-neck speeds, churning, agitated, turning, tumbling over each other to get to the finish line – wherever that was. They held the potential of powerful destruction within their masses, and they had no intention of stopping before they started. I’ve never been one to be frightened of storms, yet I respect their capability to the utmost degree. I’ve seen the devastation they’ve left in their wake. I’ve seen the losses, the messes. The unrecognizable sights of the aftermath. And a few times, their fury took me to my knees in solemn, fervent prayer. I was begging God to intervene, to spare lives and belongings. The other night was no exception. And God answered. The storm clouds blew themselves out – or at least their color and strength were greatly diminished by the time they faded out of sight. And all was well! The Storm-Calmer … the Tranquility-Giver … the Peace-Speaker – He showed up and the clouds obeyed. Ultimately, peace and quiet reigned, and all was well! How I love it when in the midst of my churning schedules and overwhelming responsibilities, God shows up! How I love it when I feel like there is no way humanly possible to accomplish everything that is awaiting my attention, God shows up. He starts bringing people before me who offer to do this or help with that. I realize help is on the way! Sometimes He already has a surprise awaiting me, and what I was expecting to have to do, is already done when I get to that time and place! I’ve had lists full of people’s names who I wanted to/needed to call … and before I could find the time to call their number – my phone was ringing … and it was them! Do these things occur by happenstance or coincidence? No, I believe that when these things happen in the midst of our sometimes chaotic lives, God brings order to our steps. I believe that He brings “harmonious arrangement” to our days, even our lives! That’s what the dictionary says “order” is: harmonious arrangement. How I love the sound of that! How I love experiencing that gift from God! I also believe that is God’s favor being shown to us! Of course, not everything always turns out the way we’d like it to, or right when we want it to, so when the “storms” are raging the wildest, God comes and calms His child. We don’t always escape the storms in our lives, but we find that place of peacefulness and quietness that God provides. It’s the greatest place to be! Suddenly, there’s that consciousness that not only are our steps ordered by God, but times and places, as well! I love how God deals with storms. In the Old Testament, “the Lord answers Job out of the storm.” (Job 38:1) In the midst of all of Job’s devastating storms, comes the sound of God’s voice! God speaks and speaks to Job, and then Job answers the Lord. The storm of devastation is stopped, and the Bible says that “the Lord made Job prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before.” It says furthermore, that “the Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the first.” How’s THAT for the ending of a storm? (Job 42) Then the 107th chapter of the book of Psalms is filled with praises to the Lord for His unfailing love in the depths of our needs, and this is what verse 29 says: “He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed.” Think of what a wondrous thing it is that God does for us ~ His children! He takes any kind of storm that’s raging in our lives, and He quiets it. Sometimes He quiets us. Either way, He’s doing a wonderful thing for us! And then there’s the stormy episode in Luke 8:24, where the disciples race towards a sleeping Jesus on the boat, shake Him awake, and scream that they’re going to drown! Ever feel that way when the storms are pressing in? Jesus gets up, and Scripture records that He “rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm.” Jesus used His authority way back then in Israel on the lake, and today His authority is ours, if we will speak it into being. Our spiritual weapons can demolish strongholds, arguments and pretensions; and we can take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (II Corinthians 10:4) You see, we can even have a part in ordering our steps, through the authority that is ours in Christ Jesus! We can muzzle our storms and live in peace and calm – that’s God’s design and order for us! And let’s not forget to thank Him and praise Him!!!

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

- SUNDAY MORNINGS bring us such blessings … and these past few weeks have brought to us some special people! WELCOME to Dustin. Becky, Isaiah, and Miles (it was SO great having you worship with us!) … and WELCOME BACK to Cierra as she returns for another year of college (it’s great having you back again!). WE WELCOME Bobby, who worshipped with us for the first time this past week – it was great to have you with us! May God bless all of you!
- HAPPY 5TH ANNIVERSARY to Dustin and Becky on Sunday, August 15th! May God bless you two; we love you!!!

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .

- THIS SUNDAY, AUGUST 15TH: 10:00 A.M. – WORSHIP & PRAISE in a joyful setting as we move forward to the third “Fingerprint of God”: the Bible! Come and be blessed as we learn more about this incredible gift from God to us! Join us in singing and praying and in sharing as a family of God!
- 6:00 P.M. – SPECIAL CHURCH LEADERSHIP PLANNING MEETING for all the adults at the home of Pastor Doug and Debbie! Come prepared to share ideas & insights as we prayerfully consider visionary plans for the upcoming year of ministry and outreach!
- SEPTEMBER 12TH: 10:00 A.M. - FALL KICK-OFF with a special worship/praise service, potluck meal, game time, and fun for the entire family! Due to the extreme heat and no air-conditioning we’ve experienced recently, we will resume Sunday School and Youth at that time. We will break for these next four weeks only.
- OCTOBER 22-23: WOMEN OF FAITH CONFERENCE in St. Paul for two incredible days of “Over the Top” experiences with God and each other! Continue to set aside some money each week! See Tina or Debbie for more details! Be thinking of others you would like to see come along; we have 50 tickets!

- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .

- LET’S PUT GOD IN CHARGE OF OUR LIVES! Let’s praise Him … and praise Him. Over and over! Let’s bring our needs to Him and watch what He will do! Let’s hold up LaFawn, Shirley, Jimmy, Julia and her brother, Tina, James, and Sean, Mitchell in MI – all for divine healing! Please pray for Justin and others in the military; for our President and our nation; for our missionaries and pastors and those in leadership; for our church family, for relationships and unspoken needs, for provision and opportunities; and for a home for Elevation North!

- THIS WEEK . . . Remember, “A vacation is what you take when you can no longer take what you’ve been taking!” ~ Earl Wilson (And God says, “Come to Me for some ‘harmonious arrangement’ when you can no longer take what you’ve been taking!”)


Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

Elevation North has News for YOU!

EXUBERANT! Living life with exuberance! For most people today, that seems rather unattainable! I hear stories every day that tug at my heartstrings, and I just want to “fix” everything for the ones who are spilling their hearts out to me. Some days even, I just want to “fix” everything for … my husband and me, eliminating some of the craziness of our never-ending schedules! There are moments when I hear myself declaring strongly, “God, I wouldn’t do all this for anyone but You!” Then I hear another woman pouring her heart out to me, sharing a family situation so private and with such extreme emotions, that I’m amazed at her pure honesty. There’s the love and the hate and the love again. It’s being in the place where you don’t know where to turn and you feel as if your life has gone into exile and you’ve been taken captive – and you have no idea how long you’ll be in captivity. But you know you’re committed for the long haul. There’s no bailing. And there’s no escape. Well, we feel like there’s no escape. We search for tiny moments of reprieve as if on a treasure hunt for precious gems. We anticipate the moments at the oasis as if we were totally parched and dry, unable to take even one more step! We enter that place of rest, a fleeting taste of heaven on earth, and we have to literally pull ourselves away as we re-enter the “reality show” of our lives. Is it possible to blend “craziness” and “exuberance”? Is it possible to blend “desperation” and “hope”? I believe there’s only one place where that exists. That’s in the “place of peace” that comes only from our Father in Heaven. It only takes effect when we walk in that peace – and when we practice living in that peace. That kind of peace changes everything. It calms the craziness and downsizes the desperation. It helps kick our spirits up a notch to exuberance and brings on a new dose of hope when we didn’t see even a hint of it before. Reading about Jesus’ disciples after His resurrection, we get a glimpse of ourselves and how this all fits together. Hearing the incredible news that Jesus was alive, the disciples huddled together in a safe place, fearful of those who had killed Him. They had locked all the doors, so they thought they were safe. Enter: Jesus! Locked doors don’t keep Him out. Locked doors are no hindrance to His entrance. When He wants in, He just comes in! For after all, He had a message of importance for His disciples … a message they badly needed. Simply stated, he said, “Peace to you.” Then He went on to show them the proof of His identity and His victory over death: the nail-prints in His hands and His side. The Scriptures say in John chapter 20, that when the disciples saw Jesus with their own eyes … “they were exuberant.” There’s that word! And what does it mean? Well, it means that when they saw Jesus – alive, they were suddenly full of high spirits and full of life, uninhibited! They spoke and responded without restraint. In the midst of all the joyous expression, Jesus repeats His greeting: “Peace to you. Just as the Father sent Me, I send you.” Wow … there it is! If we’ve ever wondered, well, there’s our call! But I really love what comes next! “Then He took a deep breath and breathed into them. ‘Receive the Holy Spirit,’ He said. ‘If you forgive someone’s sins, they’re gone for good. If you don’t forgive sins, what are you going to do with them?’” (That’s a REALLY good question: what ARE we going to do with the things we don’t forgive? And each of us can only answer that for ourselves!) You see, it’s in forgiveness that we also experience the peace that Christ brings! This past week my husband and I experienced some of that breathing into us as we excitedly awaited the arrival of our kids and grandkids! In a very limited amount of time, God helped us with preparations for their coming, though we still would have loved to have added a few more items to our list. But the necessary things were accomplished, and then “seeing Dustin & Becky and Isaiah & Miles and baby-to-be with our own eyes, we were exuberant!” What a great word to describe the intensity of our joy! We had already prayed that God would use us to be a blessing to our kids and grandkids – and our few days together proved to be a priceless treasure of togetherness and fun and laughter! We were even able to celebrate Isaiah’s 5th birthday a bit early! God had provided tickets for the amusement park at the Mall of America and what a glorious day of sunshine and fun with our two small grandsons come Monday morning! Fast rides, squeals of adventure, munching our lunch, walking around, and seeing the excitement in their eyes ~ was a special reward for this grampa and gramma who are always working! We were in high spirits and as full of life as they were … all of us uninhibited! Our time was a gift from God that transcended fatigue and longing for family. He breathed into all of us His good gifts from Above! Thank You, Lord! And dear ones, in the midst of your “todays”, may you find exuberance for your “tomorrows” – through the peace of Christ that passes all understanding!

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

- SUNDAYS ARE SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO – when God meets with us! He was definitely in our midst as we were blessed by the presence and ministry of Josh and Sarah Seykora and Noah and Caleb, from Perth, Australia! We were also blessed by many of their family who came to worship with us and fellowship with them! We welcome all of you in the Name of Jesus! Thank you to everyone who supported them so generously with a love offering! We encourage all of you to prayerfully consider becoming monthly supporters of this powerful Kingdom outreach through global missions!
- SPECIAL BIRTHDAY WISHES to Tanner on August 13th! God bless you with a great year, Tanner!

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .

- THIS SUNDAY, AUGUST 8TH: 10:00 A.M. – WORSHIP & PRAISE with Communion, as we continue to learn more about the “Fingerprints of God” through this series of messages that God has laid on Pastor Doug’s heart! You’ll want to be in attendance – and not miss even one message!
- 11:15 A.M. – SUNDAY SCHOOL – with classes for the entire family that will stir hearts, young and younger, alike! Taking a bit more of Jesus with us into our new week comes from being in His Word and from learning and growing together as a body of believers! Plan to stay for class after the service!
- FRIDAY, AUGUST 13TH: RE: FUEL summer event with an evening packed full of lots of fun activities & food & learning opportunities as we hang out together at Pastor D’s and Debbie’s house beginning at 6 P.M.
- SATURDAY, AUGUST 14TH: “ALL ABOUT GUYS” outing to the Twin’s Game at Target Field at 6:10 P.M. – see Pastor D or Isaac for last-minute details!
- SUNDAY, AUGUST 15TH: WORSHIP & PRAISE / AFTERNOON CHURCH LEADERSHIP & PLANNING MTG for the adults at the home of Pastor Doug and Debbie!
- OCT 22/23: WOMEN OF FAITH CONFERENCE – who can you invite to take in this “Over the Top” theme at the Xcel Center?! Begin setting aside a few dollars each week so you can come along!!!

- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .

- God loves working in the realm of the impossible! So when your needs loom large in front of you, remember that NOTHING is impossible with God! In the days ahead let’s remember Shirley’s knee replacement surgery on Monday and recovery/therapy; family situations; urgent, unspoken needs; Mandy; financial provision, divine healing for Tina, Jimmy, Julia, and her brother; for miraculous provision of a permanent place of worship for our Elevation North church family; for Seykora’s support level to increase; and most of all, remember to praise the Lord for WHO He is, and for His constant faithfulness!!!

- THIS WEEK . . . Remember, “When God opens the door, all we have to do is to walk through it!”

Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

Elevation North has News for YOU!

ARE YOU IN THE HABIT of checking the amount on the price tags before checking out? We’ve pretty much always paid attention to the cost of what we are purchasing … but these past few years we’ve made ourselves especially aware of what follows the dollar sign on the ticket before we commit to taking the item home! We ask ourselves, “is it worth what the ticket says?” That pretty much determines if we’ll choose to take it home with us … or not! Some weeks ago, I came across these statements that talk about another cost that is usually touting a high price . . .
“Sin will take you farther than you wanted to go!”
“Sin will cost you more than you wanted to pay!”
"Sin will keep you longer than you wanted to stay!”
Yet, people pursue these wares as if they are the hottest items on the shelf – and will make them the happiest they’ve ever been. Disappointment and disillusionment follow soon after. They realize sin is not all that it appeared to be. The glamour and glitz turn grey. The heat of the moment cools down. The promises that you can “have it all” end up being nothing more than masked lies. But the inflated price doesn’t go away. Usually it increases with a daily accrual of continued remorse and regret. “If only” … becomes a repetitious phrase in daily vocabulary. There’s only one way out. That’s when our remorse and regret turn to repentance, and we find that we have a Savior who steps in and reminds us that a long time ago, HE paid the price. The entire price … the principal AND the interest AND the tacked on fees, EVEN the buyers remorse. When Jesus does something, He does it right. He does it completely. There are no invoices that show up in the mail a week later with an outstanding balance still due. There is no portion of the debt still unpaid. It’s hard to comprehend why someone else would pay the price He paid so that we wouldn’t have to! That’s because that Someone is spelled with a capital “S”! Our Savior loved us enough to invest His very life into ours, knowing that when we would say “yes” to His offer and His terms, then we’d get to enjoy the dividends of spending “forever” with Him. It’s ironic, though, that once we make that transaction, often we don’t pursue the wares of godliness and faith like we once ran after sin. And the fact is, this new life in Christ IS all it is written up to be! While it was never promised to be easy, we have God’s promise that He will never leave us alone. He guarantees that He will walk with us and carry us through and lift us above our every circumstance in life. Yes, sometimes there’s a cost, and it seems like the price is high. But instead of going after this life of faith anyway, we shrink from it. We walk the other way. “That’s just too high of a price to pay,” we say. Yet, the results and the rewards are Eternal! Why won’t our heart compute? After all, just what IS the price of a lost soul? Or a hurting heart? Can we not pay the cost for something so priceless and valuable as that? That’s why we must pursue a life of reaching out and offering to others the incredible gift of God’s Son, Jesus, no holds barred. It’s not enough to just live the life of faith ourselves … it’s putting that faith into action and walking into the appointments God prepares for us so we can share Him with those who need Him so much. Following hard after God is the only way to live life – even when that demands our all and takes us way out of our comfort zone. It would be far better to grieve over some tough places God allows us to be in for His divine purposes, than to look back later with regrets for having run from God, forever wondering just how God could have used us to make an eternal difference! We love what the apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 2 at the very close of the chapter: “This is a terrific responsibility. Is anyone competent to take it on? No – but at least we don’t take God’s Word, water it down, and then take it to the streets to sell it cheap. We stand in Christ’s presence when we speak; God looks us in the face. We get what we say straight from God and say it as honestly as we can.” (The Message Bible) So, dear ones, push on. Push through. Take a risk for God. Step out in faith. Sure, consider the cost … but then go for it! Embrace God’s Kingdom work – whatever the cost, and you’ll experience first-hand, some of His greatest opportunities for you – ever!

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

- SERVING GOD JUST GETS BETTER AND BETTER! That’s how we feel every Sunday morning when we gather together to worship our Lord! How we love coming to Elevation North to meet with our church family and with frequent visitors who join in with us! What a privilege that is!
- A SPECIAL WELCOME to Johnny & Kamara who came to worship with us for the first time this past Sunday; it was great having you with us, and we pray God’s blessings upon you!
- DOUBLE BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS to our grandson, Isaiah, who will be 5 years old on August 7th, as well as to Mom Jones, who celebrates her birthday on the same day! You are both loved more than we can say! And, special birthday wishes to Merv, who will be celebrating on August 5th; God’s best to you always!

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .

- THIS SUNDAY, AUGUST 1ST: 10:00 A.M. – A MISSIONS SUNDAY with JOSH & SARAH and Noah and Caleb, as they bring to life a renewed passion for sharing Christ at home and among the nations! Serving with Youth With a Mission in Perth, Australia, they are back in the states visiting churches and supporters. You will discover that God is alive and well and at work all over the world as they share about their ministry!
- 11:15 A.M. – SUNDAY SCHOOL – with Josh & Sarah sharing a multi-media presentation on global missions during class that will inspire and challenge your hearts! You won’t want to miss this! There will be classes for the little ones, while the teens will be joining the adults!
- SUNDAY, AUGUST 8TH: Pastor Doug will be continuing with another message in the “Fingerprints of God” series; why not invite some friends to worship with us?
- AUGUST 13TH: YOUTH: RE: FUEL summer session with movies and snacks, devotions, and lots of fun at Pastor Doug’s and Debbie’s home! Watch for more details!
- AUGUST 14TH: “ALL ABOUT GUYS” outing – taking in the Twin’s game vs. Oakland at 6:10 p.m. at Target Field!
- AUGUST 15th: CHURCH LEADERSHIP/PLANNING MEETING for all adults as we set our fall schedule!
- OCT 22/23: WOMEN OF FAITH CONFERENCE – celebrating an “Over the Top” theme at the Xcel Center!

- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .

- There is nothing too large and nothing too insignificant for God! He wants to be involved in our everyday lives, in all the things that matter to us! So let’s not hesitate in asking Him for all His benefits: this week let’s claim healing for Tina, for Julia, for an urgent unspoken need, for financial provision, for Shirley for upcoming surgery, for Justin on his military assignment, for relationships, for our nation, and for outreach! May God be glorified through His faithfulness and through answers to prayer!

- THIS WEEK . . . Remember, “Your Heavenly Father knows your needs. He will always give you all you need from day to day … For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.” ~ Luke 12:30-32


Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

Elevation North has News for YOU!

REMEMBER AS A KID . . . lying on the ground on your back and looking up at the sky? You tried to search the clouds out for shapes of animals or objects or people – trying to make sense out of the jumbled frothy white shapes that resembled dollops of whipped cream about to adorn a piece of yummy chocolate cake! When you spotted something that looked familiar to you, you cried out, “Look, over there! See, that cloud looks just like a teddy bear – or a kitten – or a giraffe!” It’s kind of neat when we can make sense of things, at least once in awhile! But so often in our lives, we experience the jumbled experiences that seem to just tumble into our lives unannounced, and try as we might, we cannot seem to make any sense of them at all! And as our circumstances go on and on without change even after we’ve prayed and prayed, we begin to feel as if God isn’t listening, or doesn’t know what we’re going through … and sometimes we get to the point where we wonder if He even cares. Today I heard a story that brought tears to my eyes and a burning new hope within me for what lies ahead! There was this young teen named Daniel, who was an active part of his church and youth group. He loved the Lord and loved serving Him however he could. One year, he encountered a fierce case of sleeplessness at night. No matter how hard he tried to sleep, he could not. The days turned into weeks, then into months. He prayed – his parents prayed. They would pray that God would just let him get even a few hours of sleep at night. He was going to school, but finally had to quit because of the total lack of sleep. The teen continued to cry out to God, all the while still being faithful to go to church and to be involved with the youth. One night as he was pleading with God, he just broke. He told God that it seemed like He didn’t even care about him anymore – after all, he was just a teen. Maybe God was too busy for him, or had bigger things to take care of. Finally, about three in the morning, in desperation Daniel cried out, “God, I just need to know that you still love me – even if You won’t help me get any sleep!” Nothing. A day or two later, his mom asked him to pick up the mail and there was an envelope addressed to him. In this day of e-mails and texting, he couldn’t figure out who would send him a letter because he never, ever got any mail. His mom encouraged him to open it, and to his amazement it was from a girl in his church that he barely knew that lived just across the street and down a little ways. When he began to read the message, he was even more amazed! She told him that he’d probably think this was really weird – and not understand. But she had been awakened suddenly in the middle of the night and he was on her mind. She got up for a few minutes and then went back to bed to go to sleep – and she couldn’t. She began to be very concerned for him, and when sleep wouldn’t come to her, she knew she had to jot down on a piece of paper what God was telling her to say. She said, “God wants me to tell you that He loves you, and that He woke me up to have me give you this message. But it’s so late, I don’t want to awaken your parents with a phone call at this time of the night, so I’ll just drop this note in the mail tomorrow.” Daniel ran across the street and asked her which night this happened and what time she awoke. When she told him, he realized it was at the very same moment he was crying out to God in desperation. Sleep still didn’t come – for more days and more weeks. At least he knew now what he was longing to hear – that God loved him. He continued to be faithful in his walk with the Lord, and soon it was time to go to summer church camp. His dad dropped him off, and the week began. To make a long story short, there had been some things going on with some of the kids in the youth group, and the speaker felt led to take one evening just to invite the kids to share what was happening. Silence. No one spoke, waiting for the speaker to give up and move on. But he persisted. Finally, Daniel began to share about how he had felt forsaken by God and how, though his prayers for sleep had not been answered yet … his longing to know that God still loved him had been miraculously answered. Immediately another young teen spoke up and shared that because of circumstances in his life, he had decided to end it all. But thinking that he didn’t want to leave this life without at least talking to one person, he tried to think who he could call. It was four in the morning. Who would be up at that hour? No one – oh, yes, there would be this kid who can’t sleep. He’d be up, he thought. So he called Daniel and heard his voice immediately. When asked what was going on, knowing that at that hour of the night, it couldn’t be good – the other kid broke down and spilled out his plan to end his life. Daniel pleaded with him not to do that but to meet him for breakfast and they would talk. They did just that, and the kid who was contemplating suicide told the group that if Daniel had not been up that night, he would have carried out his plans. He said, “I’m alive today because Daniel couldn’t sleep that night.” One by one, several more young people spoke up to share similarly gripping stories of how their lives had been saved because of Daniel’s sleepless nights. It seemed that Satan had attacked this youth group, attempting to take many of them out. God saw fit to use this young teen, rather than the pastor or the youth leader. He put the sleeplessness on Daniel, who did not then understand at all why God would not answer. After this night at summer camp, now he understood – now it all made sense. He had been sleepless for a greater purpose than his own rest. He had been chosen by God to stand in the gap for these other young people. And so important was this assignment from God, that his thorn in the flesh had actually saved lives from destruction! Next time you and I wonder why we’re going through what we’re going through, let’s remember Daniel from 2010 and Job from the Old Testament … and trust God that He knows what He’s doing … and in due time, He will let us in on the plan! Wow!!! I love what God does through our pain, if we’ll just hang on tight and not let go!!!

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

- WHAT A PRIVILEGE it is to gather together each week in God’s House to express to Him our adoration and praise! No matter what kind of a week we’ve encountered, God shows up in our midst and ministers right back to us, just what we need! And this past Sunday was no exception … He was with us in full measure as Pastor Doug began the series on “The Fingerprints of God!”
- SPECIAL ANNIVERSARY WISHES go out to Matthias and Liz who celebrated their anniversary on July 20th; may God continue to bless your lives together!
- HAPPY BIRTHDAY WISHES are sent out to Justin who is celebrating his birthday on July 27th; God bless you, Justin – and we miss you already!
- RELAY FOR LIFE again made a huge difference as 4200+ luminaries lit the pathway honoring those whose lives have been touched by cancer. Thanks to each of our church family who participated in the raising of funds and the program, as well as the walk. Special acknowledgement goes to Tina and the Rogers family, and to Isaac and Lizzie for all their extra work and involvement!

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .

- THIS SUNDAY, JULY 25TH: 10:00 A.M, - WORSHIP & PRAISE continuing on with message 2 in the series, “GOD’S FINGERPRINTS ARE … ALL OVER YOU!” Pastor Doug will be focusing on the creative aspects of God’s fingerprints this week, so plan to come and bring a friend or two with you!
- 11:15 A.M. – SUNDAY SCHOOL – with classes for everyone that will bring God’s Word just a little closer to your hearts as we all participate in this enjoyable learning experience!
- SUNDAY, AUGUST 1ST: Josh & Sarah and Noah & Caleb will be joining us for worship & praise, and they will be sharing the morning message about being an active participant where God is at work not only in Australia but in many other countries they’ve traveled to this past year. And during the Sunday School hour, they will be sharing a powerful global mission presentation that will challenge our hearts to birth new commitments to reach out more than ever before! Don’t miss this!
- AUG 14TH: “ALL ABOUT GUYS” outing to the Twin’s game vs. Oakland in the Cities at 6:10 p.m. – who can you invite?!
- AUG 15TH: CHURCH LEADERSHIP/PLANNING MTG for all adults; watch for more details to come!
- OCT 22/23: WOMEN OF FAITH CONFERENCE – with an “Over the Top” theme at the Xcel Center; plan now to attend!!!

- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .

- If we really knew what God had in mind for us and for Elevation North, we wouldn’t be able to contain our excitement and joy! So let’s be active in pursuing His perfect will not only for our own lives – but for the ministry God has given us as a church! There’s no time to waste; God’s Word says NOW is the time! Let’s be on our knees for those who need God’s healing touch, for Tina and Sean who are on a mission trip, for several unspoken requests, for Justin as he begins his new military assignment, and let’s continue to fervently pray for and claim God’s new place for Elevation North! He is SO able!!!

- THIS WEEK . . . Remember, “Our disappointments are often God’s appointments … adversity is the touchstone of character.” ~ Bill Bright


Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

Elevation North has News for YOU!

SUMMER IS A TIME FOR GETTING TOGETHER AS FAMILIES … family reunions, trips to visit far-away families, outdoor picnics together, and just being together every time we can snatch a bit of time! Our family is no exception ~ except all of us are long-distance from each other! That’s why what I’m going to share with you is so special to us. Dad is no longer with us, and on July 21st, we will celebrate his Home-going 41 years ago! Mom asked that I write something to put in their local newspaper, and I decided I would love to share it with all of you, as well!

“Dear Dad,
If we could talk to you now, there’s so much we’d love to tell you! It’s almost unbelievable that on July 21st, we’ll have forty-one years of living without you and a lifetime of memories and experiences to share. I’m not sure just where we’d start … but our words would tumble over each other in rapid succession in our eagerness to “tell all” – so you wouldn’t miss a thing!
We’ve missed celebrating lots of birthdays with you, Dad, and we remember that you always chose homemade apple pie over birthday cake; so we’d serve you an extra large slice of warm apple pie with a cup of freshly brewed coffee. Yes, the real thing, Dad; since espresso and cappuccinos and lattes were not on any menu back in 1969 when God called you Home!
We’d have you sit in your favorite chair (did you have one?!), and we’d all curl up on the floor at your feet and attempt to take turns telling you about our lives and our families. After all, you were the one who taught us that family was more important than careers and jobs and money. So you’d love hearing about how close we are, and that we are here for Mom and for each other. She’s been a real trooper, Dad. For forty-one years now, she’s carried on without you; and while it wasn’t easy raising four children alone, she says she wasn’t alone. And we can all confirm that God has been her strength and her guide and her joy all these years! She’s now 86 years old, Dad – and when you left us, you were only 48! When you left us, we were ages six to sixteen, and now some of our grandchildren are older than that! We’re sure God has kept you informed every time the family grows, and perhaps you’ve been looking down on us and smiling over each new little life – each addition to our family. Just think, here we are, the four of us kids having added thirteen grandchildren to Mom’s life – and they, in turn, have gifted her with sixteen great-grandchildren (well, sixteen, when December arrives!).
While we won’t talk about our jobs, they keep us more than busy, and we’re so glad you taught us the value of hard work and integrity. We love what we do; it’s our calling! So we do it with pride and passion. Let’s just say that like you, we’ve packed a lifetime of living into the years God has already given us! Our lives haven’t been easy, but we are so blessed. We’ve followed your and Mom’s example, and put God at the foundation of our lives and built on that. We’ve weathered lots of challenges; some that nearly took us down. But we didn’t let go … and God carried us to higher ground. And we continue to keep our eyes on the goal, surging ever forward. Oh, we’ve made our share of mistakes, but we’ve learned through each one, and we knew you’d still be proud of us; because that’s how you loved us: unconditionally!
If we shut out the noise of the craziness around us, we still hear your beautiful singing voice. How we’d love to have it on CD or DVD! But, we’ll hear it again, and for now, it lives on in each of us. Your song carries on, and your love of music has passed on from generation to generation. Can you hear our songs? We hope so! Someday we’ll sing together again! When we all come home, that’s one of our highlights. We sit around and while your son plays guitar, we all sing the songs you loved so much. Now, they are our songs, too!
Well, Dad, we could write a book (maybe someday we will!). But for now, what seems like a million images of our lives with you roll across the panoramic screen of our minds and we see you with us. Working. Playing. Sleeping. Worshipping. Enjoying family and friends. Helping. Loving life. Dreaming. Hoping. And in all that and more, you left a legacy that we treasure to this day. Our prayer is that your love and kindness and compassion lives on in us. Our hope is that we are leaving the same kind of impacting legacy for our families. For after all, a life lived to the fullest, no matter how short or long, will leave imprints on the hearts of all who know us. Add in our introductions to our family’s Friend and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, and that leaves an eternal impact! Dad, we can hardly wait to see you again; and the way time flies, it won’t be long! It could be any day now! We’ll run to you … and enjoy Heaven together ... forever! We can only imagine … how incredible that will be!”

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

- God’s Word comes alive each week for us as we gather together to search out His truths through the message and in music and in worship! We always encourage everyone to be sure that what they are hearing or reading or seeing – matches up to the Word of God! Anything less is not truth! And as God anoints, we feast on His message that zeros right into the core of our hearts!
- WE WELCOME Lachelle and Becky who visited Elevation North for the very first time; how we loved having both of them worship with us as we lifted up the Name of Jesus! We pray that you received a special touch from God! And welcome back, Carianne and Isaiah and Elyse and Kaitlyn!
- HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to Merv and Kathy who are celebrating on July 20th! May God continue to bless your lives and your love! Thank you again for providing freshly brewed coffee each week for our fellowship time!

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .

- THIS SUNDAY, JULY 18th: 10:00 A.M. – WORSHIP & PRAISE with opportunities to take a deeper look at how “GOD’S FINGERPRINTS ARE … ALL OVER YOU!” Pastor Doug will be sharing lots of scripture as we check out God’s fingerprints, so bring your Bible along, everyone!
- SPECIAL THANKS & FAREWELL to Justin as he heads out on military training & deployment for the next several months! Our prayers go with you, Justin, and we thank you for your time and investment in our youth over the past few months. May God continue to use you wherever He takes you. We’ll look forward to your return!
- 11:15 A.M. – SUNDAY SCHOOL – with classes that challenge in a fun, uplifting blend of teaching and interaction … for all ages! Plan to stay after worship for a great session!
- THIS FRIDAY/SATURDAY, JULY 16/17: 6 P.M. - RELAY FOR LIFE event at the Fairgrounds, with Tina keeping things moving forward all through the night and Isaac & Lizzie providing some of the featured music. Plan to come and walk the lighted pathway throughout the evening and into the night under the stars. Let’s help our community raise the needed funds to continue in the fight against cancer as we honor our loved ones.
- SUNDAY, AUGUST 1ST: We’re excited to announce that Josh & Sarah will be with us to share their many God-appointments throughout the past year in Australia and other nations around the world; don’t miss this!!!
- OCT 22/23: WOMEN OF FAITH CONFERENCE – “Over the Top” theme - in St. Paul at the Xcel Center!

- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .

- One of the most exciting things we can do is to be about God’s work – and part of that is to be actively engaged in praying for others! This week join us in praying for James, Tina, & Sean for divine healing as they deal with health issues; for Julia & her brother, for Kiona’s mom, for Audrey, for Judy, for our nation and its leaders, for our churches and pastors around the world, and for Elevation North as we continue to seek God for a permanent place to worship ~ nothing is impossible with Him, you know! So let’s claim God’s best!!!

- THIS WEEK . . . Remember, “God has a thousand ways where I cannot see one; When all my means have reached their end, Then His have just begun.” ~ Esther Guyot

Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

Elevation North has News for YOU!

I DID IT! On a rare evening that I actually got to come home from work in the daylight … with lots and lots of work demanding my attention, I decisively put my things just inside the house, and I walked right back outdoors. I basked in the warmth of the late afternoon sunshine and hoped as it soaked into my pale skin that it would gift me with some golden glow, but alas, the remaining sunshine of the day could not quite pull off it’s magical bronzing quite that quickly! So I settled contentedly into one of the lawn chairs and drank in some rare moments of fun conversation with my husband – catching up on each other’s events of the day. He had surprised me with our favorite summer raspberry/lemonade soft drink, and so we sat and sipped and thought heaven had come to earth!!! Another of our summer joys is watching the ever-expanding growth of foliage and blossoms all over our yard, so when I could pull myself back out of the chair, I made my familiar tour of our natural garden area and gloried in the creative design that our God has provided for us. Each day it’s just a bit different: some plant is showing off new blossoms or a new bird has come to visit our sanctuary filled with bird-houses and decides to move in! In the midst of our craziness … we find this spot to be a haven of peace and beauty and renewal. And if all this earthly beauty is only an iota of an indication of what God has prepared for us in our forever home ~ well, we’ll love going Home, won’t we?! I DID IT! On my “normal” days, leaving the house before 6 a.m. and returning home anywhere from 7:30-11:30 p.m., I’ve decisively tried to set aside everything but what is right in front of me, and I walk right into my daily schedule with the Lord Jesus Christ by my side. I want to go nowhere without Him, so I invite Him to all the places I will be throughout those long hours. While I am human – which means I can only be one place at a time – much of the time I feel as if I am in another place, too. I am definitely focused on my responsibilities at hand, but there is a place of the heart that takes me right to where He is. I walk right through the outer court, past the milling crowds, and I want to get closer. My feet carry me closer now – to the inner court, and I see Him sitting there, as if awaiting my arrival. It’s beyond my understanding that while I realize He is right with me all the time, wherever I am at, whatever I am doing … He still longs for me to come to Him! It’s like we’re both desiring to have one come to the other. There’s something to be said for having someone seek you out and then spend time with you exclusively! The value of that … the intimacy of that! Where was I? Oh yes, in the inner court – now so close I can see the look in His eyes, the expression on His face. Without having to say a word, His eyes speak volumes. They tell me that He is so pleased that I have come; that I’ve pushed through the craziness of my day and made it this far. That look is captivating. I can look no where else. The noise around me dims, and I step even closer. I want Him to know how much I want to be here … in His presence; that there’s no place I’d rather be! But … I’d love to be alone. Is it possible that a mere human being could hope for a private audience with the King of kings? Really? His eyes beckon me to follow Him. Where is He taking me? We leave the edges of the inner court and move through an inviting archway … right into ~ just what is this indescribably wonderful place? Now He speaks and I discover I’m in the most intimate place that I can share His presence: in His private chambers! Incredible! He’s invited me to sit and converse. He says that He doesn’t want to do all the talking; He wants to hear what’s on my heart, too! And so, while the entire universe seems to stand still, it’s just Him and me. There are many moments when there is not a word spoken, but the language of the heart and the soul come through crystal clear, and there is full understanding between us. I begin to see more clearly all He wants for me and how His heart is thrilled when I pursue His plans. He says He’s most thrilled, though, when I pursue Him. Like now. Coming through the outer court into the inner court and then spending undivided time with Him in that private chamber … in His glorious presence! I bask in it … and I take on His reflection. I bask in it … and I discover joy untold. I bask in it … and I experience peace like never before. I bask in it … and I find strength beyond my own. I bask in it … and I am given wisdom equal to the task. I bask in His presence … and I am gifted with His loving favor in every facet of my life. His presence is so glorious, I never want to be away from it. I want to live in it every single moment! HELP ME DO THAT, LORD! My prayer is that we all will practice the presence of Christ and pursue Him with all that is within us! Of all the walking tours we can take, this comes the most highly recommended – and will be a place you’ll want to frequent every day!!! Here we come, Lord!

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

- WHAT UNIQUE BLESSINGS God favored us with last Sunday, even though so many of our families were out of town over the Fourth of July! God’s Spirit was evident in our gathering and how we loved worshipping in complete freedom! Our special thanks to Wayne and Verla who joined us and shared their music with us; it was great having you at Elevation North!
- SPECIAL BIRTHDAY WISHES to Stacey, our daughter-in-love … we love you and thank God for you! May you be blessed all year long with God’s best; and thanks for “birthing” our church blog for us!!

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .

- THIS SUNDAY, JULY 11th: 10:00 A.M. – WORSHIP & PRAISE with opportunities to have our heart’s focus pointed toward Christ, in message, song, and fellowship! Don’t miss Pastor Doug’s message on “GOD’S FINGERPRINTS … ALL OVER YOU!” Bring your Bibles to follow along in the Scriptures!
- 11:15 A.M. – SUNDAY SCHOOL – the perfect time to dig a little deeper in the Word & to verbalize your thoughts and share with others! Every age group will come away having learned a little more about Jesus!
- THIS FRIDAY/SATURDAY, JULY 16/17: IT’S HERE!!! RELAY FOR LIFE event begins at 6 p.m. on Friday at the Fairgrounds, with leadership by Tina and music featuring Isaac & Lizzie. Plan to give some of your time to walk the path and support this worthy cause as Elevation North joins our community this weekend!
- SUNDAY, AUGUST 1ST: A morning with Josh & Sarah Seykora sharing about their ministry with YWAM in Perth, Australia and in many other nations! Invite family and friends to this exciting mission opportunity!
- AUGUST 14TH: An “ALL ABOUT GUYS” outing to the Twin’s game vs. Oakland in the Cities at 6:10 p.m.!
- MID-OCTOBER: WOMEN OF FAITH CONFERENCE in St. Paul; plan now to attend with your sisters in Christ!

- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .

- As God’s people, we have much to be thankful for! As God’s people, we have much to ask for as we claim the promises in His Word: breakthrough, healing and health, finances, wisdom, guidance, happiness, peace and contentment. Please lift up Dustin (Pastor’s & Debbie’s son) and his band as they record in the studio this week in IA, for God’s anointing! God is so ready and willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish what He knows is best, so let’s engage in fervent prayer on behalf of our families, our church, our community, our nation, and those around the world still waiting to have Christ introduced to them! May our prayer this week be: God use US, for Your glory! And be ready for God-appointments!!

- THIS WEEK . . . Remember, “The Lord your God … will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” ~ Zephaniah 3:17, NIV

Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

Elevation North has News for YOU!

As I sit here and pray about this message, the waving flower blossoms and the leaves on the trees banter back and forth as if vying for my attention as they move in the lilting breeze. It’s the Fourth of July weekend … a time for being free and feeling free. But of course, that freedom was never free; it has cost our nation thousands and thousands of young lives. So why do we allow ourselves to get so caught up in stressful living when we live in the land of the free?! That’s the sixty-four million dollar question, isn’t it? That’s why I’m doing a re-write of something I wrote two decades ago. In the midst of my ever-so-full life with a zillion things on my ever-so-long list, I feel the need to simplify! Come … travel with me for a few moments … let’s do some soul-searching. See if you discover anything similar to what I have discovered. We all live in such a fast paced, hectic world nowadays that it is so easy to be caught up on the “merry-go-round” of life, wondering how we’ll ever get off, because it never stops. Have you ever noticed just how often you despair that seemingly the urgent most always takes precedence over the important? Just why is it that way? How is it that time – and life – pass us by all too quickly – and years later we’re still wondering how it is that so many precious opportunities have slipped past … because we’re still on the “merry-go-round” instead of getting off to walk around and discover what other “joy-rides” and experiences are awaiting us! The longer I live, the more I realize how quickly time evaporates … all too often into nothingness … and life is too precious to allow that to happen! So often I’ve said that God has given me one life to live, and how I desire that in my lifetime God will fulfill within me and through me all that He intends for me to be. So, I drink life to the fullest, and I am blessed to feel that I have ‘lived so much’ in the years I’ve already been given. But, alas, in my quest to live life to the fullest, I find myself from time to time getting sucked into the hurricane winds circling the “merry-go-round” ,,, and I have to struggle with all my might to jump off – and walk back to where I belong in God’s plan. That’s where I really want to be ~ there is no place in all the earth so exciting and rewarding as being right where God wants me. Do you ever feel, like me, that there are times the pressures and stress seek to weigh you down and crush you? Much of the time we feel like we are fighting the fast-moving current that drags us further behind in our attempt to “catch up” … and it’s those times that would seek to steal away the incredible moments in store for us with our Lord, our spouse, our children and grandchildren, even our church family … BUT ONLY IF WE CHOOSE TO LET THAT HAPPEN! You see, for so long I felt that I just somehow, with God’s help, had to bear all those pressures, deal with all that stress, win the battle and finally accomplish everything on my list of “things to be done”. (Confession time: sometimes I still feel that way – twenty-two years later!) Well, I tell you … it would take “Super Woman” to do all that I have on my list – in the time-frame I allow for that list to be done in. No wonder the stress comes and there’s that feeling of facing a mountain of insurmountable heights! Shame on me!!! How could I have been so foolish?! I’m sorry, Lord, for getting caught up on the “merry-go-round” of life, for stress will not allow me to be effective for You – it will only destroy me and all that I hold dear. I will choose to look at people and at things through Your eyes, Lord. Oh, I know I will still live a life filled to overflowing (little did I know “how” overflowing back then!!!) – but I will learn to say “no” more often (when You tell me to!) – and I will make more time for quiet times of the soul, spent alone with You. (Those times are truly my salvation and my joy!) It is in those times of soul-searching that I find my renewal and refreshing of spirit, my strength in body, and my peace of mind. With those gifts from God present in my life, I find freedom to choose all of God’s best for me, and the chains that Satan would try to bind me with, will drop powerless at my feet! Well, have you seen yourself in me? If you’ve felt some of those same battles raging in your soul from time to time, now is the time to make the necessary changes in strategy as you plan your daily life and your daily walk with the Lord – and then fly your victory flags! Independence Day was never meant to be celebrated only on the Fourth of July … God ordained every day of our lives to be freedom day! So let’s begin living in the freedom that is ours through the power of the Lord Jesus Christ, not squandering it away on things that will enslave us! Take a deep breath … and together let’s live free!

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

- WHAT A PRECIOUS TIME we enjoyed last Sunday as we centered worship around the Lord Jesus Christ and lifted up His Name! God’s Word is never stale, it is always fresh AND refreshing … so we at Elevation North come to drink in deeply! And His Word always revives and rejuvenates us, whether it’s spoken – or sung! Plus, we enjoyed a fun celebration with the church family for Pastor Doug’s 60th birthday!
- A SPECIAL WELCOME to Kenyon, Krissy, and Nataliia who worshipped with us for the first time! What a joy it was to have you in our midst ~ we hope you’ll join us again soon! May God’s blessings be yours!
- BELATED BIRTHDAY WISHES to Larry Lundstrom and to Wayne Jones, both wonderful encouragers/supporters of Elevation North! AND A JOYOUS BIRTHDAY to LaFawn, who will celebrate her birthday on July 8th … may God’s favor rest on ALL of you!
- WE WANT TO THANK Isaac for helping man the Relay for Life table at the Farmer’s Market this weekend, as well as all of you who provided home-made, hand-made, and hand-grown items! Your generosity is appreciated!

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .

- THIS SUNDAY, JULY 4TH: 10:00 A.M. - WORSHIP & PRAISE will focus on a patriotic message from Deuteronomy 28: “Why God Is Not Blessing America”. Come and learn a bit more about how we can do our part to turn that around so God’s blessings can flow freely upon our land once again!
- 11:15 A.M. – SUNDAY SCHOOL – This is the perfect place to learn and share your heart with other believers as we seek out what God has for us! Let’s not settle for anything less!
- JULY 6th: YOUTH / RE: FUEL OUTING to Valley Fair Amusement Park … have a fun time and remember who you are representing as you cross paths with all the other youth at the park! Check w/Justin for final details!
- JULY 16/17 – RELAY FOR LIFE EVENT at the fairgrounds; don’t miss participating in this incredible all-night walk that celebrates cancer survivors and honors those who lost their battle. Your time and involvement makes a huge difference! Let Tina know how you can help!
- THIS SUMMER – A Sunday with the Seykoras from Perth, Australia; be watching for the details!!!
- AUG 14 – FATHER/SON OUTING to the Cities to take in a Twin’s game against Oakland at 6:10 p.m.!
- MID-OCTOBER – WOMEN OF FAITH CONFERENCE; you’ll LOVE the “Over The Top” theme! Don’t miss out!

- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .

- We never lack for things to praise God for or to ask Him for! But He loves us to come to Him! This week join us in praising God for the miracle of sparing a little life; in praying for comfort for Shirley in the loss of her 95 year old Aunt Olivia; and for Wayne & Verla in the loss of her brother, Leslie; for healing for James as he is having tests done in TN for congestive heart failure; for Julia and her brother; for those who’ve suffered devastation from storms. God is ready and waiting to do the impossible … let’s ask and claim and receive the answers in Jesus’ Name!

- THIS WEEK … Remember, “Challenges are like summer storms. Everything is more beautiful when they have passed.” ~ Unknown

Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie