RADICAL COMMITMENT! To what? To whom? These days it seems like our commitment gets sliced up into a pie with many more slices than we can even think of eating! Each slice has a name on it – like … work, eat, sleep. But that’s only three slices of the pie, and often it seems like that’s the only kind of pie we get to eat! When that’s all there is, it can get pretty boring or tasteless, if we let it. But most often, it gets a little (or a lot!) tiring! Thank God, our multi-faceted work is never boring, it is definitely flavored, and most of the time we are so aware that we are being held up by God’s righteous right hand! But there ARE those moments when we look at our circumstances (our first mistake!) – and we find ourselves longing so deeply for a reprieve in our schedule! Now that’s not all bad. You see, God Himself placed rest and relaxation as a very high priority; in fact, He set aside the first day of the week, Sunday, as HIS day, and He rested. Oh, that all of us who are His kids would do the same. How very essential it is that we give His day back to Him and honor Him in worship and in praise. And how we need to pull back from all of the demands in our lives for a period of time, where it’s just Jesus and us. How necessary it is, as well, that we set everything else aside for a time and just spend time with our spouse, our children, and our grandchildren. And beyond that, it is of utmost importance that we gift ourselves with some rare, precious moments of solitude and peace, and yes, laughter! All of these things are crucial for our well-being: physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. When we get it right with how we slice our pie and what “names” we place on each piece, we will find our lives so much healthier in every way! Our demeanor, our clarity, our productivity, and especially, our priorities will all come to the forefront – and we’ll begin to love living all over again! Living life should never get lost in the shuffle of the craziness that our world heaves upon us – yet often it does. The one life God gives each of us here on this earth is way too precious to waste with the toxicity of stress and despair and fatigue. God meant for the life He has given us to be so much more than that! He wants us to be able to live in extreme joy – in spite of the challenges that come. Oh, we’ll experience the initial sadness, anger, and hopelessness that comes attached to our struggles … but because of the radical commitment we can have to our Lord, we can rise above each emotion that washes over us. Over the past three plus years, my husband and I have left our home early in the morning and have not come home until evening – sometimes very late. Day after day after day. That’s why Sundays are so meaningful for us! We get to literally set everything else aside and join with other believers and together lift up the Name of Jesus! Together we get to experience the powerful anointing of God as His Spirit falls upon our congregation! We enjoy a peaceful, leisurely noon meal – often with others … what sweet, fun fellowship! And then as we come home … HOME … we feel like little children all excited about getting to open a present! We get to sit back within our four walls and relax … and rest … and chat with family on the phone … and perhaps even take a rare, short nap! (That’s rest!!!) That’s getting our head back on straight – and our heart ready – for the ensuing deluge of work for the coming week! We find a few moments here and there to catch up on a phone call to a friend that we haven’t talked to in months and months. We carve out a few more moments to write a very belated thank you note that’s been in our hearts but never gotten onto paper. We choose to look at our pathway to freedom from debt – to make sure we’re on target. And of course, we never want to lose sight of our giving to God … of our devotion, our time, our money, our very lives. That is foundational to all else that we ever hope to accomplish! We choose to ask ourselves some pointed questions: God, do we look like You? Do we reflect You? Do we act like You? Do we talk like You? Do we carry the very fragrance of Christ? And when we don’t … we cry out for His immediate help! After all, He promises to be our ever present help in time of trouble. And when we’re not radically committed to Him – we’re in trouble! Right now we’re in a season of taking time to stop and smell the roses. Though the scented moments may be brief, we’re radically committed to enjoying ALL that God has for us in the midst of this intense journey we’re still on. But … we’re beginning to see a tiny ray of light at the end of the tunnel ~ and it’s getting brighter and stronger with each passing day! We can hardly wait to experience the transition to whatever changes God has in store just up ahead as we continue to engage in His Kingdom work on this earth! Will you join us in this radical commitment to allow God to “spend” us for His glory?! Yes, that’s “you” and “us”!!!
IN A NUTSHELL . . .
IN A NUTSHELL . . .
- WHAT AN INCREDIBLE LORD’S DAY at Elevation North this past Sunday! The power of God descended in our midst, and when we left, we knew that we had been with Jesus! How we love coming to meet with our Lord and to lavish our love on Him! He’s so deserving!
- OUR SPECIAL WELCOME to friends and family who came with Harold and LaFawn this past Sunday … our prayer is that you experienced God’s blessings anew! And WELCOME BACK to Carianne and Isaiah, Elyse, and Kaitlyn! It was great having you in God’s House with us again! May God bless each of you!
- LOOKING AHEAD . . .
- THIS SUNDAY, MARCH 6TH: 10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP with our service being centered around “The Sacrificial Love of Christ”, in message, in song, and partaking of Communion together. If you are longing for precious, priceless love that gives its all … God’s love will not disappoint you! Come and worship with us!
- 11:15 A.M. – POST-VALENTINE’S LUNCHEON CELEBRATION – finally, as our weather cooperates so we can enjoy a scrumptious noon meal in an atmosphere of love, with beautiful décor to match! Remember to bring your assorted salads to complement the Baked Ham w/Cherry Sauce entrée, finishing up w/Black Forest Cheesecake!
- ALL YOUTH are invited to a RE: FUEL event with Pastor D and Debbie ~ attending a fun movie following the noon meal. Ticket monies will be provided … please bring your own snack money! Invite some friends to join us!!
- NEXT SUNDAY, MARCH 13TH: 10:00 A.M. – WORSHIP & PRAISE continuing with the Love Series … this week preaching on “Demonstrating God’s Love to Each Other”! It’s a love that too great to keep to ourselves – it must be shared! DON’T FORGET TO TURN YOUR CLOCKS AHEAD ONE HOUR ON SATURDAY NIGHT for Daylight Savings Time!
- FUTURE MINISTRIES/EVENTS: Spaghetti Feed w/a movie and sundaes … Easter Services, including Sunrise Celebration and Easter Egg Hunt … Mother/Daughter Tea w/gourmet refreshments and a concert … Women of Faith Conference in the fall … and much more!
- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .
- ALWAYS THERE IS MUCH to thank God for … and much to ask Him for! Let’s do both this week! This week let’s pray for Johnny and Cherry and all the family, for the Rogers family, for Hazel’s sister in the hospital, for Julia, for several unspoken needs, for relationships, for revival in our land, for God’s leading and provision of miracles for our church! All in the powerful and marvelous Name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior! Watch … and see what God will do!
- REMEMBER . . . “You pay God a compliment by asking great things of Him.” ~ Teresa of Avila
Serving Christ Joyfully . . .
Pastor Doug and Debbie
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