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 . . .
“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
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