Elevation North has News for YOU!

SOUNDS OF LAUGHTER echo through the autumn breezes on this sunny afternoon. It may very well be one of the last few balmy days that we’ll be gifted with until the chill of the cold winter temps moves in and takes over. As I am home on a rare afternoon off from work, I throw open the blinds and let the sunshine stream in and allow my eyes and ears to drink in the stimulating, yet enjoyable sights and sounds of the season! The laughter … prods me to pose the question: “Why don’t we do more of it?” Possibly it’s because through the recent years there is less and less to laugh about. We find ourselves on the brink of stress and tears much more often than we used to – yes, even believers will have to admit to that. But that’s really sad, because that isn’t at all how God meant for us to live! He is, after all, the Creator of laughter, and the Giver of the moments and circumstances that cause us to laugh and smile! Don’t you long to find laughter again? There’s something to be said for all it brings to our lives … it’s proof of good times and the outward expression of humorous antics or words … it’s a physical release for stress and sadness … it’s a medicine that’s packaged inside of us, with no bar code to scan for the cost, and it definitely is not generic! It’s unique and priceless and healing! Talking about smiles ~ I absolutely love how God ministers to me through music, time and time again! This morning, two songs rang out and right into my soul … and I found myself smiling. Sometimes I even break out into laughter – because my spirits are so lifted and I’m so reminded of what I perhaps already knew – but just needed to hear again, or in a different way! The first song was so worshipful and I was drawn into worship as I heard the lyrics … “The best of life for me is at Your feet!” Yes, Lord, those moments are definitely the best of all, but I yearn for those times to increase in length and in frequency. I long for more and more of the “best” – which comes when I spend time at Your feet, I know. And out of those times will come the foundation for changes within and without - that will bring a new stream of laughter into my life. The same is true for you! The next song grabbed me and held me at attention … and I ran for pen and paper. Some of the words I scribbled down were, “When all these things come into our lives, the Master is saying, ‘GET UP’! The Holy Ghost is saying, ‘enough is enough’! You’ve been down long enough ~ GET UP!” I felt the message resonate in my spirit, and I hope you will, too! When I heard those two words, GET UP, I knew it would be a part of what I would be sharing with you today. Jesus said those words many times throughout the course of meeting people’s needs and doing miracles as recorded in the New Testament. In Matthew 9, Jesus takes Jairus’ dead daughter by the hand and she GETS UP! In Acts 9, Jesus turns toward the dead woman, and says, “Tabitha, GET UP!” She opened her eyes and sat up! Could there be a personal message in those two words for each of us? I believe there is. I believe wholeheartedly, that in the midst of sickness and suffering, instead of just accepting it, our Lord is telling us to GET UP, for He is the Healer! I believe that in the midst of financial struggles, instead of pulling back and giving up, God is telling us to GET UP, for He is the Provider! I believe that in the midst of sadness and loneliness, instead of assuming no one cares, our God is telling us to GET UP, for He is the Comforter! I believe that in the hour of confusion and indecision, instead of working ourselves into a frenzy, God is telling us to GET UP, for He is our GPS (God Positioning System)! You get the idea?! Just last week, my husband and I found ourselves finally getting to redeem our incredible gift from our children and grandchildren … for a hot air balloon ride! There was a process to GETTING UP in the air, but once there … what a spectacular experience!!! The view was a panoramic 360 degree feast for the eyes from 700 feet in the air spanning fifty miles in every direction. It was incredible … the sights and sounds made us smile and laugh AND thank our Creator for the amazing beauties of this earth! High above, or skimming low just above tree branches and lower yet over lakes with our reflection in the water, everywhere we turned there was something to “ooh and aah” over! The Artist’s palette of autumn colored trees, the vivid greens to dull tans of grasses, the blues and whites of the sky we were floating through, the translucent deep blues of the calm waters below, the sounds of happy voices and laughter on the ground wafting through the air straight to our listening ears, the scurrying of wildlife into the cover of the brush, and so much more ~ brought to us a sense of BEING UP ABOVE the craziness of this world … and all was at peace! We could feel God speaking to our spirits to GET UP in every arena of our lives, for He is the Orchestrator of all of life and He definitely wants us to hear His music of hope for every new day that dawns! People, let’s GET UP above the junk of life and experience the best our God has to offer … at His feet … and up above our circumstances!

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

- HOW WE LOVE TO WORSHIP OUR GOD as we express in our own ways what is in our hearts! It’s hard to explain being in the presence of the Living God, but there is nothing that compares! Though still a small church family, God’s presence is with us just as real as it is in any mega-church, because we’ve invited Him to be with us!
- A SPECIAL WELCOME to Ernie. Audrey, and Sharon who worshipped with us for the first time this past Sunday; our prayer is that you experienced God’s Spirit and our love! We hope to see you again soon!

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .

- THIS SUNDAY, OCTOBER 24th: 10:00 A.M. – WORSHIP & PRAISE, with the completion of the series on the “Ten Fingerprints of God” – this one from Psalm 100:2 and other scriptures on “Serving with Gladness … and Leaving His Fingerprints on Your World”. Don’t miss this powerful conclusion! And continue forward with the “10.10.10” Spiritual Challenge that Pastor Doug gave to us on October 10th; we’re believing for God’s mighty work in our midst!

- 11:15 A.M. – SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES for everyone from young to the young at heart … come & study with us!
- THIS WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27th: 7:00-8:00 P.M. – ‘LEARN THE BIBLE IN 24 HOURS” STUDY at the home of Pastor Doug and Debbie. We’re learning lots and having great discussions, so plan to come and join in!
- SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21ST: 5:30 P.M. – THANKSGIVING FEAST & FELLOWSHIP for the entire family!
- SUNDAY, DECEMBER 5TH: 5 P.M. - CHRISTMAS CAROLING CHURCH PARTY w/snacks & a Christmas movie!
- SUNDAY, DECEMBER 12TH: 4 P.M. – CAROLING TO THE COMMUNITY w/Chili & crackers & Christmas treats!
- SUNDAY, DECEMBER 19TH: 10 A.M. – SPECIAL CHRISTMAS SERVICE is being planned!
- SUNDAY, DECEMBER 26TH: 10 A.M. – END-OF-YEAR CHALLENGE/CELEBRATION SERVICE!
- FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31ST: NEW YEAR’S EVE GATHERING w/games, a movie, and breakfast!

- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .

- WHAT GRATITUDE IS DUE OUR GOD! We pray in faith believing, and He answers in miraculous ways – over and over! How we thank God for His wondrous works! Continue to lift up Julia, Tina, LaFawn, Cherry, Jimmy, Roger, Kay; remember our students locally and away at college; pray for our military, our nation’s leaders, and for wisdom in voting for godly people; for our missionaries and evangelists; for the lost and unreached; for unspoken requests; and for God’s provision in all things for Elevation North!!!

- REMEMBER . . . “You are valuable just because you exist. Not because of what you do or what you have done, but simply because you are.” ~ Max Lucado


Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie