WHAT POWER DOES ONE LITTLE DROP HAVE? Well, if we’re talking “raindrops”, a single drop doesn’t have a lot of power, but put together lots of them … like millions … and you have a flood! What seems so extremely small and innocent, can come en masse … and it is no longer powerless! The tiny trickles compound into ever-widening streams and rivers, and what was once pretty and winding becomes a churning, propelling force of overflowing water called a flood. That’s exactly what happened in our town this week. The “flood of 2010” made both national news and history – and brought to all who experienced it a real respect for the power of “many little drops”! When the rain comes in pouring sheets almost non-stop for twenty-four hours or so, something is going to happen. Boundaries are going to disappear. Roads are going to be covered. Train tracks will be swallowed up. Fields will be submerged. Homes will be deluged with water coming in. Vehicles will be stranded trying to pass through. New routes will have to be found. Life suddenly changes. Appointments and work schedules get changed or canceled. Normal routines are thrown out the door. Suddenly the disaster takes precedence over everything else. People come out of … everywhere. Helping, assisting, rescuing. Making food and delivering meals to volunteers and rescue personnel. Calling to check and see if you’re alright – and if your home and possessions are still intact. Calling just to see how you are doing. One thing you know, you will never forget. You will never forget the sound of the drenching rains covering the earth. You will never forget the sight of the expanding waters. You will never forget the silence of the rain stopping - and over time, the welcome sight of the waters shrinking back. But the flood leaves its marks. The debris of soil and branches and crops washed away … the watermarks on houses and cars and anything else standing in the way … the loss of income and the expense of restoration. A flood has an insatiable appetite … it devours everything and anything in its path. Only if you are on higher ground are you safe from its clutches. I was reminded of how much like sin a flood is. It begins tiny, with no intentions of harm or hurt. But sin multiplies and expands and picks up the pace. It begins rolling and speeding out of control until it seems there is no way to stop what has gotten so big. We wonder how that happens. But it just takes one “little sin”. And because sin compounds when one doubles into another, and then doubles again … soon it seems as if sin is choking the very good out of us. The boundaries get crossed. Our conscience gets smothered. Our straight path gets diverted. Our common sense doesn’t make sense anymore. Our heart gets hardened in the process. Our compassion for others gets derailed. We hope for a way out, but that too, seems to have been washed away by the flood of sin. We cannot seem to forget the things that we ran after – they now disgust us. Yet, we cannot seem to make them go away. They play loudly in our minds like a stuck phonograph record. We’re addicted and sickened. We’re kidnapped and trapped. We try to break loose, but the disarray and debris has left such deep and muddied marks on our souls that we wish to God we could forget. Oh, what an insatiable appetite sin has … it devours life after life after life. And only when we cry out to God to pull us up to higher ground, are we safe from its clutches. Rescued! And then, I was thinking about one more thing! There IS one drop that is powerful beyond words. Do you know what it is? ONE DROP OF JESUS’ BLOOD is all it takes to cancel out the most hideous sin ever committed! ONE DROP is all it takes to cancel out cancer diagnosed! ONE DROP is all it takes to calm a frightened and distraught mind! ONE DROP is all it takes to bring back a wayward child who is breaking your heart! ONE DROP is all it takes to bring the hope back into your heart! ONE DROP is all it takes to bring back the dream that you thought had died long ago. Because of Jesus’ blood, we are blessed and blessed, indeed! Because of Jesus’ blood, our boundaries are enlarged! Because of Jesus’ blood, His hand is upon us! Because of Jesus’ blood, He can keep us from causing evil or harm. ONE DROP OF JESUS’ BLOOD is all it takes to send Satan scurrying away! ONE DROP is all it takes to bring victory and peace! So as this week ends here in our town, the only flood I wish to see in the future … is the flood of the very presence of Christ! May it bring a revival that rushes through our church and our town, transforming everything in its path. May we be marked with the glory of God and radiate that glory to others around us! May we never be the same … because of ONE DROP that comes rushing in like a flood to rescue us, change us, and send us out on fire for our God!!! Let’s become rescuers for those still waiting for a Lifeboat!
IN A NUTSHELL . . .
IN A NUTSHELL . . .
- GOD’S BLESSINGS ABOUND whenever we are together in His House … and that is exactly what happened this past Sunday! We are so excited about the $10.00 gift that was sent to Elevation North by one of Pastor Doug’s and Debbie’s friends in northern Minnesota! She called it a “tiny gift” ~ but God laid it on our heart to take it and give it to someone for a week to see how they could multiply this precious seed, and then bring the $10.00 back – plus the increase! We will be doing this for several weeks, and who knows just how far this $10.00 bill will expand to help further the ministry of Elevation North! The very first week, someone’s idea increased the $10.00 by another $20.00! Thank you, Cindy, for planting a seed that God is growing into something much larger – for His glory!
- SPECIAL BIRTHDAY WISHES to our son, Dana, who is celebrating his birthday on September 25th! May your life be blessed in amazing ways, son! We love you and thank God for you every day!
- LOOKING AHEAD . . .
- THIS SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 26TH: 10:00 A.M. – WORSHIP & PRAISE with Pastor Doug preaching a powerful message on the seventh fingerprint of God: “Directing My Paths”. Following worship, the entire church family will enjoy fellowship and great food – with meat and beverages being provided. Bring one of your food specialties to share … and then! Yes, then we will be heading to Oakview Nursery for the 1:00 p.m. tour including the pumpkin patch, corn maze, hayride, pumpkin painting, leaf piles, and much more! Someone has graciously provided a gift of money to pay for all the children & youth … and all adults will get the group rate of $6 each! What a great time this will be ~ THANKS to someone with a loving, giving, generous heart! MAY GOD BLESS YOU!!
- THIS WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29TH: 7:00-8:00 P.M. – “LEARN THE BIBLE IN 24 HOURS” STUDY at the home of Pastor Doug and Debbie! Come ready to participate & take notes; the notebooks are provided for you!
- THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30TH: WOMEN OF FAITH tickets need to be committed to and paid for in preparation for the OCT 22-23 Conference! See Tina or Debbie to turn in the $89 for both days and two lunches!
- GUYS, let Pastor Doug know how many can come to the STEAK-FRY on OCTOBER 22nd!
- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .
- DON’T DOUBT ~ TRUST GOD! Trust Him to do His very best for you this week! Let’s uphold Tina, LaFawn, Cherry, Julia, Mary’s dad and others for divine healing! Let’s claim provision for all things, that Christ might be exalted! May our faith continue to be increased as we ask God for a building for Elevation North to call home!
- REMEMBER, “What God invites you to do will always be greater than the resources you start with.” ~ Bruce Wilkinson
Serving Christ Joyfully . . .
Pastor Doug and Debbie
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