Thursday, June 4, 2009

Elevation North Has News for You!

OUR GOD IS BIG ENOUGH!!! In ministry … and in the marketplace … we talk to people everyday who share needs that are way beyond “human fixing”. As human beings, none of us have the perfect answers – or even if we did, often we do not have the capability to make things happen that will solve the problems. But then … there’s Heaven’s solution! Meaning, where we are lacking, our God in Heaven is fully able to meet our every need, our every heart’s cry, our deepest longings. How do we know? Well, first of all, by God’s Word … as we see His hand at work in supernatural ways all throughout scripture – recorded for us to increase our faith! Secondly, by first-hand experience; some of which I shared last week about miraculous provision for the recent family trip and how God lavished love gifts on me every place I went (and that’s only one experience out of countless throughout my entire life!). Thirdly, by the testimonies of others who share God’s amazing works in their lives. Like Josh and Sarah Seykora, serving in Perth, Australia (with YWAM Perth) . . . let me try and briefly summarize these exciting and powerful miracles! From Papua, New Guinea where Josh recently ministered and where some teams still remain: they have reached nearly 3000 of the 6000 residents of the Kerema area, and as requested, the team is helping do HIV/AIDS education seminars/marriage seminars/youth gatherings/ongoing discipleship seminars. The churches are heavily involved and the pastors and leaders are setting a beautiful example by regularly coming together to clean the city – coming out of what they are learning from the seminars about godly stewardship of God’s creation and all that God puts us in charge of. From Cape Town, South Africa, a young student named Nick shares about how God spoke to him that He will heal. In Nick’s words: “I met a drunk man who was in pain and I found out that his right leg was shorter than his left leg. God told me to pray for him, so I got him to sit down and I stretched out his legs and I began to proclaim healing through the power of Jesus, and his leg grew out and all his hip pain and back pain was gone and his feet were even.” Another guy who saw this happen, asked for prayer for his back – and he was healed. This guy led Nick back to his shack where his “mum” was – blind and suffering with arthritis. She, too, received sight and her arthritis was gone! From Uganda, Africa, young women from the YWAM Birth Attendant School, encountered a woman in labor on an island of Lake Victoria. She had been in labor almost an entire day, and they were eager to get her to the mainland to the hospital. Quoting from the report: “While on the open water in a v-shaped bottom boat, the woman began to push and give birth to her son. One of the students got down low to help deliver the baby. By the light of their cell phone she saw the baby’s head and the umbilical cord that was wrapped around his neck. After cutting the umbilical cord, she was able to deliver the baby only to find that it was not breathing – the little baby boy was in fact, dead. With much fervent and focused prayer and CPR, the baby miraculously began to breathe! The mother, after, decided to name her baby boy ‘Moses’ (Lake Victoria is the head of the Nile River), and wanted very much to go home, so they turned the boat around for the island. The next morning the students went to visit the mother and Moses, arriving to the joyous noise of the cry of the healthy baby boy. Praise the Lord!” Yes, we know … many people do not believe in supernatural miracles … but why would anyone not want ALL that God has for them?! And for those who may think that these are all “made-up stories” ~ Pastor Doug and I have a personal story of his dad’s supernatural miracle from many years ago when Doug was a young boy still at home. His dad’s testimony about one leg being shorter than the other and being healed after he was prayed for – is a carbon copy of this miracle in South Africa, only it happened in North Dakota decades ago! And my husband and many others witnessed this miracle first-hand! Why do we share all of this? Well, we want YOU to know that the same God of the Old Testament and New Testament, is still doing supernatural miracles in 2009 … and if you ask and believe … the miracle you need is in God’s hand at this moment, just waiting for you! God, of course, being God, will do it in His way, in His time … because He knows what miracles we need – and when. But just because we feel limited at times, let’s NOT limit Him! Claim Heaven’s solutions TODAY!!!

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

- SPECIAL CONGRATULATIONS to Kayla Joachim and to Chandra Webster who graduate from Owatonna High School this Sunday; may God’s awesome blessings be yours as He leads you into your future! (Jeremiah 29:11)
- LOVING SYMPATHIES to Hazel Chapin on the loss of her sister in Wyoming; Hazel, we are praying for you!
- OUR PRAYERS go with the Rogers family as they travel to see family in Tennessee; be blessed and refreshed!
- PLEASE HOLD UP Alyssa Edel, who is ministering in Myrtle Beach, NC with Campus Crusade for Christ, that God will bring to her many opportunities to share Christ, and that she will be able to find a job while there, as well!
- CONTINUE TO LIFT UP the several unspoken prayer requests that are urgent in nature; and remember, OUR GOD IS BIG ENOUGH! Let’s trust – and claim the answers!

- LOOKING AHEAD:

- Tuesday, June 9th: YOUTH EVENT at Pastor Doug’s & Debbie’s – from 6:45-8:00 p.m. Don’t miss it!!!
- Sunday, June 14th: Celebrating Elevation North’s FIRST ANNIVERSARY, including a potluck meal!
- Friday, June 19th: Elevation North Float in Straight Rivers Days Parade ~ with candy and a message!
- Couples Event in June: hosted by Pastor Doug & Debbie ~ date and details to be announced soon!
- July 4th: Bake Sale at Wal-Mart; fundraiser for our youth groups!
- July/Patriotic Worship Service: watch for upcoming details!
- July 17-18: RELAY FOR LIFE – we need YOU on our Elevation North team (Disciples); see Tina Rogers for complete details on how you can help; packets will be handed out this Sunday! She is the new Steele County Co-Chairman for Relay for Life; we are proud of you, Tina!
- HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Jacob Babbitt on June 9th! We celebrate YOU and wish you a blessed day!
- HAPPY 38TH ANNIVERSARY on June 5th ~ to my sweet husband, Doug, who I thank God for ~ every day!!!
- THIS PAST SUNDAY, we celebrated Pentecost Sunday, and Pastor Doug reminded us that without the Holy Spirit, we are like a Volkswagon engine in a huge Caterpillar machine! It’s the Holy Spirit who empowers us, so Lord, pour out Your Spirit on us! THIS SUNDAY, come prepared to participate in a powerful service, filled with opportunities for focused worship and prayer, energized preaching from the Word, as well as fun fellowship with the family of God! We will look forward to seeing YOU in God’s House as we come together and offer Him our best!



Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

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