Elevation North has News for YOU!

STAMP OF APPROVAL! Hey, don’t we all LOVE having someone put their stamp of approval on what we do, or say, or plan? It’s a great feeling to know that someone else is “with us” on a specific thing – be it what we’re thinking or what we’re working on or what we’re brainstorming about. We love having someone “on our team” or “in our court”! You don’t feel so all alone. You know someone else believes in you and in what you’re doing. Sometimes God allows a “bomb” to drop right smack dab in the middle of our lives that changes everything ~ and we’re not quite sure what to do with what we see as the scattered debris. We question. We wonder. It’s hard to make sense out of turmoil sometimes. Seeing revealing photographs of what the flood has left in its wake pulls at my heartstrings as I ache for those who have experienced the “bombshell" effect this past week. Thank God no lives were lost … what was most important was saved. And yes, things are just things. But as humans, we have a certain fond attachment for the things God has blessed us with. Their house was “home” until the flood waters rendered them “homeless”. I’m sure they never thought that word would describe them! What was most precious, like photos and family keepsakes and treasures, have been lost or have had to be left behind because of the danger of going back in. And yes, some things can be replaced – but we leave a part of our heart in places of our lives that we can never go back to. I guess that’s called memories, huh?! Then comes the “turn-around” ~ that distinct moment when the decision is made to surge forward in spite of the changes. I think it’s called “bittersweet”. You know you can no longer hold on to the past – and you embrace the future. But that should actually be a daily occurrence in our lives, you know. With each day’s dawning, we fondly remember yesterday but we move beyond it to the new day and whatever God has for us to embrace in those hours! This morning I was thinking about another type of struggle. And I had to wonder what kind of a struggle it was. Are there struggles even in the heavenlies? I was really wondering what God the Father was feeling when He knew that He had to give up His only Son for all of mankind … some who would reject Him in the most spiteful, hurtful ways. And what was Jesus feeling when He knew He was going to die a death of crucifixion – even be spit on, for a world that in great part did not recognize Him for Who He was, and actually preferred to leave it that way. I cannot imagine. I know how deep my emotions are when I struggle through turmoils that almost take me to my limits. And I know that mine are nothing in comparison to what was going on in the heavenly realms. It’s these spiritual struggles that ultimately cause us to decide where our heart really lies … that will decide what stuff we’re really made of. Bottom-line, what is most important to us. From time to time, God takes things from us because He knows what’s best. Other times, He asks us to give up things voluntarily to see if we are willing to lay everything down for Him. We’ve been in that place several times. He has never taken or asked for everything, but there have been moments when we’ve felt completely stripped. In those places, the very best thing to do is to praise Him. Of course, that’s after the human tears, the battling, the freaking out, etc., etc.!!! Yes, we’re all human, aren’t we?! You see, when God finally breaks through our thoughts and our will and we obey Him ~ then He is pleased and He puts His stamp of approval on us. As ugly as the struggles were, the peace and victory that comes now is even greater. It’s hard to explain. It’s hard to go through … you know. You, with the devastating news of your husband’s cancer; you with the diagnosis of your own colon cancer; you with the loss of your job and needed income; you with waning strength; you with the greatest struggle you’ve ever faced; you with the loss of a loved one; you with impending surgery just around the corner; you with a decision needing to be made that is critically impacting; and you can fill in the blanks from here. You know. You know exactly what I’m talking about. But I hope you also know that you can experience peace that completely pulls together the scattered debris of your life, your health, your struggle, and your situation. Nothing happens in our lives that our God is not aware of. There is no emotion we feel that God is not privy to. Nothing in our lives is a secret kept from God. Thankfully, He sees all. And He knows all. And praise God, He will keep us all! And we’ll know we’ve gotten it right when God purposely turns and stamps His approval on us! There’s no better accolades we can receive than that! Lord, bring breakthrough to our hearts so that we can be stamped by Your affirmation!

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

- EXCITEMENT WAS IN THE AIR as our church family worshipped together, ate together, shared together, and played together last Sunday! Everything we experienced together was bountiful, including the very presence of Christ! We ended up in the outdoors on a picture-perfect day that was God’s special gift to us … out in the corn maze, the pumpkin patch, the leaf piles, the play area, around the fire-pit, etc., etc., ~ drinking in the sunshine, the relaxation, the fellowship and fun! Again, our heartfelt gratitude to the generous heart who provided the funds to make this a reality! What an incredible blessing it was to all!
- LOVING BIRTHDAY WISHES to our youngest granddaughter, Lindsay, who is celebrating her 10th birthday on Sunday, October 3rd! We hope you know how much we love you ~ and that Jesus loves you even more!
- BELATED BIRTHDAY WISHES go out to Matthias, who celebrated his birthday recently on September 25th! May God bless you in new, fresh ways!

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .

- THIS SUNDAY, OCTOBER 3RD: 10:00 A.M. – WORSHIP & PRAISE / COMMUNION SERVICE centering on all Christ has done for us on Calvary – and every day since that priceless sacrifice! Come and participate in this meaningful time at the altar as Pastor Doug leads us to remember and celebrate the forgiveness that is ours through the shed blood of Jesus! NEXT SUNDAY: Message - “He Calms My Storms” – the 8th fingerprint of God! - THIS WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6TH: 7:00-8:00 P.M. – “LEARN THE BIBLE IN 24 HOURS” STUDY at Pastor Doug’s and Debbie’s home! We will be continuing part 2 of the overview of the books of the Bible. Be sure to bring your Bibles and notebooks. New notebooks will be provided if you were not with us last week.
- SPECIAL FELLOWSHIP EVENTS are being planned for the next several months! Be looking for news of a monthly gathering that will be something to look forward to – each one will be something different!
- OCTOBER 22/23: WOMEN OF FAITH CONFERENCE at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul! This week we registered 11 women who will be attending. If you need further details, please call Tina or Debbie.
- OCTOBER 22nd: ALL ABOUT GUYS STEAK-FRY at Pastor D’s house; more details to come!
- RE: FUEL YOUTH ACTIVITY is being planned for a laser tag outing to Mankato later this month!

- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .

- PRAISE BE TO GOD FOR HIS WONDROUS WORKS!! God’s miracles have been evident amongst our church family this week; how grateful we are! And how we thank God for our faithful supporters from out-of-state who stand with us prayerfully & financially! Let’s remember to pray for LaFawn, Cherry, Tina, Mary’s dad, Julia, Roger, Kay, and those who are dealing with the after-flood effects. May we trust God with child-like faith!

- REMEMBER, “We can put our minds at ease because God’s mind is on us.” ~ unknown


Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

Elevation North has News for YOU!

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 . . .

- 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