Saturday, March 14, 2009

Elevation North has news for You!

LIFE HAPPENS AND COMES AT US FROM ALL DIRECTIONS … and sometimes it doesn’t feel very good, does it? I just heard a well-known speaker talk about some rough times she’s been through, and she said that in her dark hours, God spoke to her and said, “I didn’t come to get you through this – I came to live in you through this!” Wow! There’s quite a difference in the two, isn’t there? You see, God plans His best for us, so just getting us by … just getting us through something … isn’t good enough for God! He knows that with His help and His power, we can not only get through the tough times … but we can do it in a way that SHOWS that He is living in us during all those dark hours! And then, who will be glorified? Yes, you’ve got it! None other than the Lord Jesus Christ! We won’t look like we’re ready to keel over and cave in and give up – like we’ve lost it all … we’ll look like Someone is giving us unusual strength and fortitude as we go through what-ever it is that we’re going through. And we’ll do it not with sadness, anger, and bitterness … but with peace and joy! And that will make a statement to the world around us that we wouldn’t have been able to make otherwise. We actually will look more like Jesus this way! And they might just want to know WHO this Jesus is! After all, isn’t that our passion: sharing Christ and His love with as many people as we can?
HOW WE LOVE TURNING THE PAGES OF GOD’S WORD each Sunday as Pastor Doug leads us through the scripture references for the pre-Easter message! It’s amazing how God speaks to us as personally and directly now in 2009 as when the Words first came from His lips! Pastor challenged us to desire the holiness of God; it is only the fire of God that can cleanse us. It enables us to be sent – to be used! Total commitment to God means that we’ll do whatever He wants! Our prayer is that God will give each of us at Elevation North THE FIRE!
IN A NUTSHELL . . .
- YOU ARE INVITED TO OUR FRIENDSHIP CHURCH LUNCHEON next Sunday, March 22, following worship. Please sign up on the list to bring homemade soups or chili, veggies and/or fruit trays, desserts, and the homemade bread will be provided. Plan on bringing enough food for your family and the family we are encouraging you to invite to church next Sunday!
- OUR SPECIAL THANKS to Nelson’s Carpet and Decorating for donating carpet strips for the kids to use during Children’s Chat Time!
- A BIRTHDAY/ANNIVERSARY FORM is ready for you to fill in your family’s info; and we thank Tina Rogers for preparing it for us!
- WATCH FOR THE NEW CHURCH AD COMING NEXT WEEK that will let our community know that Elevation North is here! Included with that will be our church blog which will become our new weekly point of contact … and will actually be available 24/7 for anyone that wants to check in for our latest news, uplifting music, special links to provide encouragement in your walk with God, a link to e-mail us with your prayer requests and praises, a recommended book of the month, and of course, info about our church!
- SR HI YOUTH meet on Wednesday evenings from 6:30-8:00 ~ and what a great time we had as we dug into our “uncommon Bible lesson”! Great participation, kids!
- JR HI YOUTH meet this Saturday at Pastor and Debbie’s home from 5:45-7:00 p.m. with Cierra Bucholz leading the group; this first session will be a get-acquainted time!
- WOMEN . . . be praying about who you can invite to our first Mother/Daughter Tea on May 2nd! It promises to be a great time!
- LET’S CONTINUE TO UPHOLD Shirley Jones as she continues with further testing at Mayo Clinic in Rochester; for Tina’s mom and awaited results of her biopsy; for God’s touch on several others in our church family. How we need our Lord; and we are so grateful that He is fully able!
- JOSH AND SARAH AND NOAH have just returned home to Perth from their time in Africa! They continue to ask for our prayers as they minister there, and also for Noah, who had gotten a fever as they were about to travel home. We pray they will be strengthened and renewed for the days ahead!
ARE YOU NEEDING A SPECIAL TOUCH FROM GOD, as well? Come and join us in worship and praise this Sunday morning … we know that God will not disappoint you! Being in His presence is the best injection we can get! It renews our minds and we find strength we didn’t know we had! Let’s make a joyful noise to the Lord and let the praises roll!

Serving Christ Joyfully . . .