TODAY I WITNESSED THRONGS OF PEOPLE. In the middle of the night, we got ready to head to the airport to take our grandson for his flight back to Michigan. Parting truly is such sweet sorrow … last bits of early morning conversation in the darkness as we drove, holding hands and praying for him, and lots of hugs and “I love yous” … until he was out of sight and on his way! Backtrack to the throngs now. My husband had walked with Dylan to his boarding gate, and I had to remain back at the security area and wait for him to return. And so I sat there praying … and people watching. I was amazed at the throngs of milling people, already in full-paced motion and it was not yet even 5 a.m.! Where in the world were all these people coming from and going at such an early hour? My heart leaped with spiritual vision – and I really wanted to know how many were truly free as they moved through the throngs. I really wanted to know how many were lost and bound up with all the blows that life has dealt to them. I really wanted to know how many were hurting and felt so all alone – even in the midst of the throngs. And I just wanted all of them to know that Someone actually cares. Genuinely. A part of me wanted to find a master loudspeaker that would encompass all of the airport – every terminal … and give them the Good News that Jesus knows them by name and loves them and wants them to be free! I wanted them to know that they could form a line and come to a certain place where their lives would be forever changed, and they could feel every chain drop off and claim their new freedom. I wanted them to know that just as the precious blood of countless soldiers have bought our nation’s freedom – so the precious shed blood of Jesus on Calvary so long ago bought their freedom. I wanted them to know that on bended knee they would find the strength to stand strong and come through with flying colors, so to speak. I wanted them to know that whatever “soul baggage” they walked into that international airport carrying … they could leave it all behind. Never to have to drag it around again. Never to have to be reminded again of all the junk that life throws in our direction. Not having to be stuck in despair or fear – ever again. More than the destination on their ticket, I wanted them to see a new destination awaiting them, one unlike any place they’ve ever seen or been. The tender for this ticket is not American Express or Visa or MasterCard, or even Discover … it’s far too costly for us to pay. That’s why it’s free to us. Yet it cost Jesus His very life and His precious blood, a price great enough to gift every living man, woman, and child with freedom in Christ and a forever life in Heaven! Our part? Just to say … “yes”. Yes, be my Savior and my Lord. Take my life and use it however it best pleases You! And in that moment we see those outstretched nail-scarred hands holding the ticket that will secure our mansion in Heaven. Our name is written boldly on it, and there’s no expiration date … it’s good for ALL of Eternity! Wow! People in the airport, do you hear? Do you understand? Don’t you want to leave your scars and rejection behind? Your shackles of sin that torment you day and night? Your failures and your emptiness? Your absence of purpose? Your misguided direction? Your lack of joy? People in the marketplace, I ask you the same questions. People in the church, I ask you the same questions, as well. Who would opt for a life that is hindered and enslaved? Who would choose a life filled with negativity? Who would purposely settle for the deception and lies and sadness that never seems to go away? Yet, out of those throngs of people that I saw … I’m sure that many more live in bondage than live in freedom! And that’s heartbreaking. What are we, as believers, here for? What is the church here for? We need to be jumping on board God’s daily plan to seek and save the lost … we need to be hunting down that microphone … we need to be boldly sharing Christ and offering the life-solutions that He brings for all of us! The throngs remain before my face, and my heart screams, “I don’t want to go to Heaven without all of you! I want to take you WITH me!” Head bowed with the magnitude of such a prayer, I humbly ask, “God, WHAT do you want me to DO?” Show me, please SHOW me! I want to know. I need to KNOW! Time is short and we … you and me, we need to make every minute count! We need to be on a continual, everlasting mission to take as many people to Heaven with us as we can. We need to be about the Father’s business: filling Heaven with the throngs. We need to be engaged in the spiritual strategy of leaving hell as empty as we can. Let’s put on our spiritual armor and start marching. Let’s win the throngs … one person at a time. All we have to do is open our mouth with the confidence that we win the final battle of all time … our God will do the rest! He will bring the freedom they are longing for!
IN A NUTSHELL . . .
IN A NUTSHELL . . .
- COMMUNING WITH GOD was truly precious as we took time to remember all He did for us on the cross … and still does, every day. As a church family, we were so blessed as well, by the gift of the new Communion table that one of our families had hand-made for our church! May God bless you, we pray!
- OUR SPECIAL BIRTHDAY WISHES go out to LaFawn who will be celebrating on July 8th! May you be blessed to overflowing this coming year!
- LOOKING AHEAD . . .
- THIS SUNDAY, JULY 3RD: 10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP, celebrating America and the freedoms we hold so dear, paid for with an extreme price … and celebrating the freedom that comes from knowing Christ and remembering the extreme price He paid for us! Remember the new sermon series that Pastor Doug will be starting on “Two Words to Change the World” … we will be digging into scriptures from Joshua 10 this week - and into history along with God’s Word over the next several weeks. Don’t miss a single week – and plan to bring some people with you!
- 11:15 A.M. – KINGDOM CONNECTION – A time for our church family as we grow stronger together in Christ!
- MONDAY, JULY 4TH: HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY … enjoy celebrating our nation’s freedoms with family and friends!
- NEXT SUNDAY, JULY 10TH: 10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP, with Part 2 of the sermon series, “Two Words to Change the World”. Pastor Doug will be preaching from the book of Job … will you accept the challenge to see what God has in mind for His children in this day and age?
- KINGDOM CONNECTION – Be a participator in the life of our church and be encouraged by this time of fellowship and spiritual nurturing!
- ADDITIONAL MINISTRIES & EVENTS are just around the corner … make a list of who you can invite!
- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .
- THERE IS NO GREATER THRILL than witnessing the hand of God at work – and being called to be a part of that work! Over and over we see God manifesting His answers on our behalf! This week we especially think of several in our church family who are experiencing deep trials and would love for you to pray for and with them over these unspoken requests. Let’s continue to pray for Johnny and Cherry, for Jimmy, for Julia, for Wayne, for the Landons’ in their upcoming move, for Larry w/his upcoming surgery, for Lundstroms, for Seykoras’, for our nation, our leaders, our military, & for God’s leading us to the place of His perfect choice for us to house Elevation North!
- REMEMBER . . . “The value of a person is not measured on an applause meter; it is measured in the heart and mind of God.” ~ John Fischer
Serving Christ Joyfully . . .
Pastor Doug and Debbie
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