MOTHERS! Is there any other word that evokes such images and feelings of beauty and love and devotion? Is there any other word that draws from us such a depth of undying gratitude for her unwavering faithfulness and untiring dedication to her cherished role? She’s like the Energizer Bunny … she just goes and goes and goes. She never stops. Once a mother, there is never a time when you are not a mother. Someone has said, “The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new.” (Rajneesh) And from that moment on, she embraces her new God-given role in life … and she pours herself into the lives of her children … from their very first cry – to her very last breath! There is never a single moment when she no longer looks at things through a mother’s eyes – or when she no longer responds with a mother’s heart. She can be a hundred years old, and her children can be eighty … but she’ll still be their mom, and they’ll forever be “her kids”! And what a bond is cemented between a mother and her children. Each stage, each chapter, each happening … every hour, every day, every memory ~ all gets stitched together to create the on-going job of being a mom. It’s a job that can boast of on-the-job training, surprises and unexpected adventures, lack of boredom, and delightful blessings at the most-needed moments! A woman named Mildred B. Vermont once stated, “Being a full-time mother is one of the highest salaried jobs in my field, since the payment is pure love.” And did she ever get it right! Do you know the “pure love payments” I treasure the most? It’s when without saying it first, my sons tell me, “I love you, Mom!” It’s when our sons call us, and they ask me, “Mom, will you pray with me about this?” When they ask me to pray, it’s the highest form of love they can give me. Mt heart jumps for joy at being invited to participate in such a great privilege – that of praying for our children – and with them! I hope they NEVER stop asking! And then, when the answers come – we get to share in the celebration of praising our Almighty God for His wondrous works! I believe that moms who live out Christ before her children can give them both roots and wings. She can lay their steady foundation by leading them to know Christ early in their lives, and upon that unwavering personal faith, they can build and put wings to their own God-given dreams. If only every mom could grasp how far-reaching her influence really is. Do you think George Washington’s and Abraham Lincoln’s mothers ever comprehended just how far-reaching their motherly influence would be when they were teaching and training those normal, sometimes naughty little boys? I’m sure the last thing to come to their mind was that George or Abraham who they just spanked – or kissed good-night, would someday serve as President of the United States of America and help birth the destiny of this great nation. But every morning as they awakened and lived out their lives and their beliefs so consistently all day long, their sons were being shaped and gifts and talents were being nurtured. Every scripture they had read to them before they could read themselves … every prayer they heard prayed by their moms from little boy to grown-up man …made a significant difference in their personal lives and who they became as leaders of this incredible nation. Look at your own children. The greatest successes you see being achieved in their lives, can in great part be pointed back to the times you’ve been on your knees – to the promises in God’s Word that you’ve claimed on their behalf – to the late-night prayers, the day-time prayers, and the many, any-time prayers that rolled from your lips and ascended heavenward. I fully believe that God takes those “mother prayers” and mixes them with the God-given gifts of our children and their own passions and dreams – their own initiative and drive … and turns it all into amazing results in every facet of their lives! So a heartfelt thanks to our own godly moms who have faithfully taught us through the years and still teach us … to our sons who have given me the precious privilege of both teaching them and learning from them … and to our daughters-in-love who are so ably and wonderfully teaching our grandchildren! We thank God for each of you ~ and we love you all! Happy Mother’s Day!
IN A NUTSHELL . . .
IN A NUTSHELL . . .
- WE ARE LIVING IN EXCITING TIMES … and some of the most exciting experiences are being together in the presence of the Lord on Sunday mornings in His House! We thank God for each of you who are so faithful to Him and to our fellowship together at Elevation North. Together we can do everything He has called us to do in this community! It was exciting to go and look at a possible facility for our church, so please continue to pray with us that God will show us clearly what His perfect plan is! We want nothing less than what HE wants!
- FUN BIRTHDAY WISHES go out to AJ, who will be celebrating his 7th birthday on May 10th; God bless you, AJ!!!
- A BIG THANK YOU to the adults and youth who volunteered their time and efforts to help clean the yards of some senior citizens in the Medford Community on Saturday morning! We know your hard work was appreciated!
- RE: FUEL YOUTH enjoyed a fun outing to the Grand Slam Recreational Center in the Cities with Pastor D following the yard work!
- LOOKING AHEAD . . .
- THIS SUNDAY, MAY 8TH: SPECIAL MOTHER’S DAY WISHES are shared with all of our mothers … how we thank God for each of you! May you enjoy this day as we honor you and lift you up in prayer!
- 10:00 A.M. – WORSHIP & PRAISE – with a special message for our moms! This is a great time to invite a friend or family to come with you and experience the Word of God, worship from the heart, and warm, genuine fellowship!
- 11:15 A.M. – KINGDOM CONNECTION TIME – your opportunity to reach out to others and make a difference in someone’s life!
- NEXT SUNDAY, MAY 15TH: 10:00 A.M. – WORSHIP & PRAISE
- 11:15 A.M. – SHORT MEETING following worship to discuss more details of the building we are looking at for Elevation North. We desire your prayers and your input!
- WOMEN OF FAITH CONFERENCE – to be held in October in St. Paul … if you can help us reach our first goal of 20 of the 50 tickets in the next few weeks, each person will receive a free Women of Faith CD! See Debbie for more details!
- WATCH FOR SUMMER MINISTRIES/EVENTS that are being planned now - more information to come!
- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .
- IT IS SUCH A JOY to pray for others, isn’t it? This week, pray joyfully with expectation of God’s work and His results! Remember to pray for Julia, Tina, Sean, Wayne & Verla, Hazel’s sister, Megan’s grandpa, Johnny, Harold & LaFawn in their recent move, our college students finishing exams, including Cierra, Shirley’s knee recovery, several unspoken needs, for Seykora’s in Australia, for Lundstrom’s in rallies, and for our nation & world in its need of God!
- REMEMBER . . . “Among God’s best gifts to us are the people who love us!” ~ Unknown
Serving Christ Joyfully . . .
Pastor Doug and Debbie
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