DOES GOD SPEAK TO YOU? How real is your faith? Do you just believe it … or do you KNOW it! Believing God can do something – or – KNOWING that He WILL do it … are two vastly different things. Stop and think about that for a moment. We can read in God’s Word how He did such great and mighty things – and we can even believe it. But when we KNOW that God will do those same things for us, in our lives – and we experience them firsthand … wow, it’s amazing! Truly amazing! It’s the “knowing” that makes the difference. Our faith is activated and things begin to happen! God just reminded me of how strongly He spoke to us this past Christmas. Let me do a rewind to two Christmases ago, actually. Sharing what I am going to share opens up some very private and deep emotions. But if God can use our experiences to help someone else, then it is worth it. Two years ago, we had continued on our journey of intense work weeks mixed with as much ministry as God gave us divine strength and anointing for. We sought to put Him first in everything, and He provided. Our needs were met, not only through our paychecks, but through gifts from people who obediently gave when God put our names in their hearts. Soon, it was time to plan Christmas gifts for our family, and we were trusting God for the funds to be able to share with those we love so much. December 9th rolled around, and out of what we thought was a routine check-up on our vehicle, came a $2,800+ repair bill. Where would that come from? Well, from a variety of resources at our disposal, we were able to pay the repair company, but our family told us that we should absolutely NOT give them Christmas gifts that year, and they assured us that they understood. Totally. What a gift our children are to us! But it broke our hearts to not be able to do what comes so naturally to us … to give! The one recipient we kept intact was: Jesus. After all, it was His birthday – and no matter what our circumstances, we refused to not honor Him. God provided miraculously for what He laid on our hearts to do. You might wonder, why would we give gifts to Jesus for His birthday – when we couldn’t give to our own children and grandchildren? Well, we’ve always taught our family what we find in God’s Word: that we are to love Him first and foremost, and from that foundational priority in our lives, everything else will be built on and multiplied from. And so, for Christmas, 2009, we honored our Lord and followed our children’s request. When 2010 arrived, we continued to work the long, intense hours, even adding some to the existing schedule as God opened doors for more provision. God blessed, and out of those blessings, we were able to bless Him back more. Fast forward the twelve months to Christmas, 2010 … and while God had definitely provided all we needed throughout the year, Christmas giving was still under the “trusting God for” category. It was almost exactly a year later, to the day, from when we had been “surprised” with that huge repair bill on our vehicle. And now in early December, 2010, a man appeared at our doorstep on a morning when I am usually at work. But I “just happened” to be at home. He hand-delivered a Christmas card for my husband and I. But because he was one of my husband’s employers, I waited to open it until Doug returned home from taking someone to the airport. When he returned and I showed him the envelope, he proceeded to open it, and much to our surprise, a bonus check fell out that was double what we had been given the year before. Just a few feet from us stood a young man in our home who had stopped by with my husband, and we knew he was going through a tough time financially – and had no money to buy Christmas gifts for his three small children. Doug and I looked at each other, and both of us heard God speak this young man’s name to us. As we wrote out a check for a portion of that bonus and gave it to him, it was as if God placed in our hearts the realization that He was calling us to give everything away that He would be giving to us monetarily this Christmas. More bonuses came, and God would speak a name to us, and we would give it away. Another card would come with money in it, and God would impress on our hearts someone with a need. We would pass it on to them. When the first bonus came, we knew it was God providing for Christmas gifts for our moms and children and grandchildren – after the young man’s gift. What we could not do last year, God provided wonderfully for this year. And as He brought face after face, and name after name before us all season – it became our great joy to gift others with His divine provision! And of course, the greatest joy of all was to present His birthday gifts to Him … more than the year before! “Why” we experienced what we did in 2009 ~ and the turnaround in 2010 … we may never know. But we DO KNOW that God does speak … and He speaks all year long if we get our hearts attuned to His voice … and we just LISTEN and OBEY! There are yet many opportunities for all of us to hear God speaking throughout 2011 … what will He say to us? And will we get on board with what He wants to do through us? I hope so! I really hope so!
IN A NUTSHELL . . .
IN A NUTSHELL . . .
- COMING TOGETHER TO WORSHIP GOD … is the best part of the week! There’s no place we’d rather be! And no matter what we’re going through, God never disappoints us! He meets with us and gifts us with His presence and His power ~ and we leave church different than when we came! We’ve been touched by the Spirit of God! And this past Sunday was no exception! God was in our midst!
- OUR SPECIAL THANKS to Hazel for arranging for the post-Valentine’s luncheon decorations and being the one behind the scenes that helped make it all happen! What a lovely atmosphere for our celebration and what a great menu we all enjoyed! Thanks to everyone who brought such delicious salads and for helping with the set-up and take-down! We are so blessed by our church family!
- SPECIAL BIRTHDAY WISHES are sent to Nancy who will be celebrating on March 15th! May God bless you, Nancy, with an incredible day and entire year, is our prayer!
- LOOKING AHEAD . . .
-THIS SUNDAY, MARCH 13TH: 10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP with another of Pastor Doug’s messages in the Love Series on “Demonstrating God’s Love to Each Other!” Come with your Bibles, expecting to hear God’s heart for us, His people!
- 11:15 A.M. – KINGDOM CONNECTION/FELLOWSHIP TIME with your church family and new visitors! Let’s grow together!
- NEXT SUNDAY, MARCH 20TH: 10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP, with another practical, challenging message in the Love Series from God’s Word on: “Putting God’s Love into Action!” Don’t miss it!
- WATCH FOR COMING MINISTRIES/EVENTS: Spaghetti Feed/with a movie and make your own sundaes … Easter Services, including a Sunrise Celebration and Easter Egg Hunt … Mother/Daughter Tea w/gourmet refreshments and a concert … Women of Faith Conference in the fall … and many more exciting things in the works!
- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .
- WE NEVER RUN OUT OF THINGS to bring before our Father in Heaven! Hopefully, we always remember to THANK Him and express our gratitude for all He is – and all He has already done! And yes, there are always people and circumstances to lift before the Lord each new day! As a church family, let’s continue to be on our knees for: miracles for Johnny, Cherry, and family; for healing for Sean and Wayne; for leading for Landon’s and Rogers’ as they plan their upcoming moves; for the ministries of the Lundstroms and the Seykoras, and for God’s mighty works to be done as He expands the outreach of Elevation North! What a privilege we have in prayer!
- REMEMBER . . . “Hope is faith holding out its hands in the dark.” ~ George Iles
Serving Christ Joyfully . . .
Pastor Doug and Debbie
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