“ONE OF THE SADDEST THINGS IN LIFE IS ENDING SOMETHING THAT ISN’T OVER YET!” I heard this quote yesterday by Pastor Brian Houston from Hillsong Church in Australia, and it really got me to thinking! More than dwelling on the question of wondering how many times in my life I might have ended something that wasn’t over yet … I decided that from this day forward I will make sure I stay in there for the long-haul. No quitting before it’s over. No thoughts of giving in – or giving up. No premature endings. If you, like me, has ever ended something before God was done with it – I wonder what we missed out on! How sad that we might have missed the divine outcome: the miracle … the answer … the unexpected result … the solution … the dream-turned-into reality … the provision … the healing … the restoration … the promotion … the surprise blessing … the extraordinary idea ... the life that previously we’ve only dreamed about! If we had kept on, we would have experienced God’s plan to the fullest measure! Hopefully we can all say that we HAVE kept on more times than not – and we HAVE experienced the joy of receiving what God loves to bring into our lives. But for those moments that do come to us with fleeting thoughts that “this” is just too hard – that we cannot do it any longer – that we are not able to hang on for even one more day, this is your reminder that God is here. Right now. Today. For you. He’s right here with you in whatever you are going through! A long time ago, I saw a small poster with some powerful words that impacted me so greatly back then. I haven’t read those words for several years, but today a co-worker shared them with me after hearing them on a Christian radio station. And though I shared them with my written audience way back then … I feel led to share them with you now, so that you, too, can be impacted by them. Written by Helen Mallicoat, here is the message: “I was regretting the past and fearing the future. Suddenly my Lord was speaking. ‘My name is I AM.’ He paused. I waited. He continued, ‘When you live in the past, with its mistakes and regrets, it is hard. I am not there. My name is not I WAS. When you live in the future, with its problems and fears, it is hard. I am not there. My name is not I WILL BE. When you live in this moment, it is not hard. I am here. My name is I AM.’” You see, whatever we need in the present, God is so able to take care of. Because HE is present. Because His promise is true – that He will NEVER leave us or forsake us. Because He is bigger than any of our problems or trials or circumstances. And because He WANTS to be a part of our lives, every day – in THIS moment! He loves walking with us, and He loves living in us! He loves helping us and rescuing us! He loves enabling and empowering us! It is so true that the divine power of God will meet us at the level of the commitment that we make. When we commit to living as sold-out followers of Jesus Christ in the here and now, God will be with us in the here and now. Like the words I shared on Sunday from the song, “City on Bended Knee”, let’s make this our daily theme ~ our heart’s cry . . . “If we’ve got to start somewhere – why not here? If we’ve got to start sometime – why not now? If we’ve got to start somewhere, I say here. If we’ve got to start sometime, I say now. Today’s the day!” May this become the clarion call of Elevation North as God leads us down the path of this new year. Each new day CAN be THE day! After all, it’s the day God has given us … and He’s promised to be there with us … for after all, He is . . . “I AM”!
IN A NUTSHELL . . .
- THIS PAST SUNDAY, Pastor Doug shared an awesome message from a variety of scriptures on fasting and prayer as we continue on the 21-Day Fast, teaching us more about God’s commands and blessings. He related the experiences of several people in the Bible who obeyed God and received spiritual breakthroughs and supernatural favor. As a church body, we can fast forward to 2010 and record our own victories and blessings in this time of fasting and praying at the first of the year! No one but God will ever know the far-reaching effects of what He has impressed on our hearts to do, but already we are seeing things happening for His glory! And out of the Visionary Meeting that followed the service, we’ve laid a great foundation to build upon for what comes next! Thanks to everyone for attending!
- A SPECIAL WELCOME to Brent who came to worship with us for the first time on Sunday morning! We pray that you sensed the Spirit of God, and we pray God’s best in your life!
- BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS to our grandson, Tyler, on his 20th birthday, on the 24th! We love you, Tyler!
- LOOKING AHEAD . . .
- THIS SUNDAY, JANUARY 24TH:
- 10:00 A.M. – WORSHIP & PRAISE – Don’t miss out on this message straight from God’s Word as we seek to pursue what and where He wants us to be following our season of fasting and prayer as a body of believers. Pastor Doug will share God’s Word boldly and challenge your heart to step up to the plate in your Kingdom walk! Be a part of the God-focused, anointed, energetic singing and the great fellowship! You’ll feel right at home!
- 11:15 a.m. – SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES – for all ages, with lessons geared to every level as we learn more about our God and His plan for us as His children!
- AFTERNOON MOVIE YOUTH EVENT – details and time to be announced! Let your friends know so they can join us, too! The following week we will be back at Pastor’s and Debbie’s home!
- PLANNING MEETING for upcoming ministries and schedules – date to be announced!
- PRAYER OPPORTUNTIES . . .
- A LOT OF KNEELING WILL KEEP YOU IN GOOD STANDING! That’s true for every arena of our lives! This week let’s continue to be on our knees before our God as we remember not only each other’s needs, but the needs of our brothers and sisters around the world! Especially, for those in Haiti who are experiencing such devastation from the recent earthquake, that God’s love and care might be revealed to them through His people! Also, be in prayer for Larry and Gloria Lundstrom as they begin their series of rallies in Hawaii, and for Josh and Sarah Seykora as they prepare for upcoming ministry in Asia. We can be a part through prayer!
- THIS WEEK . . . Remember, “Hope is not a granted wish or a favor performed; no, it is far greater than that. It is a zany, unpredictable dependence on a God who loves to surprise us out of our socks.” ~ Max Lucado
Serving Christ Joyfully . . .
Pastor Doug and Debbie
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