WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE A CATALYST? If you’re not sure, then maybe you just need to have its meaning clarified. Simply defined, a catalyst is someone being the stimulus to bring about a result. Or it can be something that becomes the motivating factor in propelling the result forward more quickly. When I think about people and things in life that are catalysts, there definitely are several that come to mind immediately. For you see, one of the defining characteristics of a catalyst is that they touch people’s lives and effect change – for the better or the worse. So, they make an impact on us, sometimes in life-changing ways. Today I think of the opportunity for dads everywhere to be catalysts that will effect great results in their families and their homes, and ultimately for our nation! With Father’s Day on our minds and our dads in our hearts … we must admit that either the celebration of this day brings feelings of love and honor and respect for the one we call “dad” … or for varied negative scenarios of a less-than-wonderful relationship, we shrink away from it. I believe that one of the most powerful ways that dads can be catalysts in the lives of their children … is to let them know that they have time for them – that they are available. After all, isn’t that what God, the Father, is telling us when He invites us to “come to Him”? He’s saying, “I’m inviting you to come and sit with Me, spend time with Me, talk with Me, feel free to ask of Me, eat with Me, rest in Me, become one with Me.” Don’t all of us love it when we feel like someone we look up to has time for us? That we have a place in their lives? That we’re more important to our dad than the scores of other screaming demands that are vying for his time? While gifts are fun and can be an expression of our love for our children, perhaps had more dads followed the lead of one dad – there would be more young adults with a sense of belonging, who hold up morals and values, who live with integrity, who exhibit confidence and wisdom … all because of “the gift”. What was the gift? The dad was a wealthy businessman who had his head on straight, and when faced with the choice of what he should or could give his son that Christmas, he opted for something out of the ordinary. He took a small piece of paper and lovingly penned these words: “Son, this Christmas I give to you the gift of my time. Every day for the next 365 days, I give you one hour of my time. Unreservedly. Undivided. Totally focused. Just you and me, son. It will be our time together. It’s my gift to you. Love, Dad”. As you can imagine, that gift became the most precious, priceless gift that the son had ever received from his dad! The dad had become a catalyst in his son’s life; those hours became powerfully influential and powerfully bonding, In years to come, that son would say that he would have traded ALL of his expensive gifts over the years for that one gift – that gift of time. It was a gift that money could not buy. The son became, in large part, who he is now – because of that time shared with his father. I could write many stories about the catalyst that my dad was in my life … as well as my husband’s dad, who became “dad” to me after my dad died when I was sixteen. And I have! But today I flash back to when our sons were small. I remember hearing their daddy tell them, “You know that Daddy is over at the church a lot, but Daddy wants you to know that you can come to see me anytime at my office. Even if my door is closed and I have someone with me, all you have to do is knock and I will open the door so you can come in and see me.” Total availability. That’s what being a catalyst is all about. That gift of availability from my husband to our sons was foundational in them becoming dads who love to spend time with their children and who also invite that openness in the relationship that they share. Catalysts give birth to powerful results. Catalysts give wings to dreams. And as Elevation North celebrates our second anniversary of ministry … our challenge to our church family is that each of us raise the standard and become catalysts for the cause of Christ in our community, catalysts in our homes, in our marriages, in our families, at work, and beyond. If we can give the gift of time to our children, and God tells us that He has time for us, then should we not be actively giving back to Him the best of our time? After all, Elevation North was birthed out of a desire to be used of God to effect change and bring about results in unique, out-of-the-box ways! The results will be PROFOUND! ETERNAL!
IN A NUTSHELL . . .
IN A NUTSHELL . . .
- CHILDREN’S SUNDAY last week was a hit with everyone, but especially the little ones ~ with hearing about the power of Jesus from the story in the Bible how God delivered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the fiery furnace (Daniel 3), singing lots of their favorite songs, gathering up a deluge of candy that “rained” down at their feet, having lunch at McDonald’s, and swimming & playing in the water at The Serengeti Park! How we love our “kidz” at Elevation North … and how priceless they are to Jesus!!!
- HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to Merv & Kathy on June 21st; may God bless you on your special day!
- SPECIAL THANKS to Laura and to Kathy for helping us with the little ones; what a great turn-out! And welcome back, Isaiah and Nelson! We loved having you be a part of our fun celebration!
- UPDATE! We praise God for everyone who had a part in Elevation North being able to contribute $224 each to the ministries of the Lundstroms & the Seykoras! That’s what teamwork and a passion for the lost can do!
- LOOKING AHEAD . . .
- THIS SUNDAY, JUNE 20TH: HAPPY FATHER’S DAY to all the dads we know and love!
- 10:00 A.M. - SPECIAL FATHER’S DAY SERVICE that will prove to be a huge blessing to all the dads! Don’t miss this extraordinary time of worship and praise that exalts our Father in Heaven and lifts the spirits of everyone in attendance! There will be a gift for each of the dads to take home!
- 11:15 A.M. – SUNDAY SCHOOL – with teachers who love sharing the Word of God and digging deeper for the interesting and challenging facts that God wants us to know! All ages will enjoy a great time in class!!
- JUL 16/17 – RELAY FOR LIFE … there are SO many ways you can be involved in this awesome event that honors those who have lost their fight with cancer, and continues fighting for the survival of those presently on this journey! Chat with Sean or Tina, and if you can help in leadership roles, let Tina know asap!
- THIS SUMMER – A Sunday with Josh & Sarah Seykora sharing their YWAM ministry with us!
- AUG 14 – FATHER/SON OUTING/TWIN’S GAME in the Cities … make plans to attend now!
- MID-OCTOBER – WOMEN OF FAITH … begin putting aside some funds each week! See Tina or Debbie!
- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .
- When you sit in the presence of God, whether in the still and dark of the night – or in the bright sun of the day – it’s a place so wondrous you don’t want to leave it! In those places, please join us in praying for some of our families who are leaving on vacation, for wisdom for Dan in making upcoming decisions, for healing and recovery for Stephen, for anointing on Seykoras as they minister in other countries, for provision and blessing to rest upon our church family as we individually and corporately reach out to those around us and beyond with the gospel of Christ, for a place for Elevation North to call “home” that will further the cause of Christ in our community, and for all of the dads in our lives and around the world that God will continue to bless and use them for His glory!
- THIS WEEK … Remember, “The love of the Father is like a sudden rain shower that will pour forth when you least expect it, catching you up into wonder and praise.” ~ Richard J. Foster
Serving Christ Joyfully . . .
Pastor Doug and Debbie
