Elevation North has News for YOU!

NO MORE GOOD-BYES! That will be one of the best parts of Heaven … no more good-byes! Living so far away from our families, good-byes are never easy – whether it’s your three little grandsons or your grown children. Whether it’s your eighty-seven year old mother or your siblings, it’s hard to say “good-bye”! You wait and wait for that first glance of them as you approach their house. Coming down the final stretch after hundreds of miles … something catches our eyes … and there they were! Our youngest son standing there at the edge of the road near their house … with our little grandsons eagerly watching for our coming – they had BIG smiles as we pulled into the driveway! Within a few seconds and a few leaps of their little legs, they were on our laps and riding with us the few remaining yards to their front door! There we were greeted by their mommy and baby brother! And so began the adventure of three fast-flying days that provided lots of love and lots of fun and lots of very special moments! The great talks, the yummy food around the table, the fishing off the dock, the blasting off of a high-soaring rocket and then searching for it in the tall grass with four-wheelers at dusk, reading stories and playing games, the morning send-off to kindergarten for Isaiah on his very first day, Miles wanting to pack his little suit-case and come home with us, and the ever happy smiles and baby talk of little Luke as he reached out his chubby arms to be held! There’s something so incredible about being loved and wanted; there’s no feeling quite like it. When someone you love so much wants to spend time with you … you cannot describe that feeling to anyone else – it just has to be experienced! Likewise, it’s an honor to have the God of the universe request OUR time! Sometimes we travel long distances of time throughout the course of our night or day to get to the Father’s drive-way. Finally, we near the turn to His House. And, there He stands … waiting. The Father, with His Son. Just inside, the Holy Spirit greets us. They are so excited that we have come! It wouldn’t have taken us this long to “arrive”, after all we only need speak their names, and they come to us. But, the Father has invited us time and time again to come and to enjoy His presence. So here we are! And we plan to stay for awhile! They know we are hungry, and the table is set. Jesus speaks now and reminds me of what He had said earlier: “If you hear Me call and open the door, I’ll come right in and sit down to supper with you.” (Revelation 3:20) It matters not whether He comes to my place, or I go to His. We eat together, and I am fed and filled. The look in His eyes tells me that He is so excited to have me here with Him! We talk and laugh. I talk - and He listens to every thought I voice. He talks - and I sit enthralled at His every syllable! Then, He tells me, “Come to Me!” I move closer so as not to miss a single word. He emphasizes again, “Come to Me!” And He continues with this invitation and instruction: “Get away with Me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with Me and work with Me – watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with Me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (Matthew 11:28) Wow! He didn’t need to invite me twice. What a perfect ending to our get-away to see family. Returning to a deluge of schedules and work, I will remember with great delight, not only our newly-made memories with those we love so much, but the time spent with the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit! Just like our children, they are wonderful hosts, and I found myself not wanting to say “good-bye”. Suddenly, I realized that I didn’t have to say “good-bye”. EVER. That’s MY story … what’s YOURS? If saying “good-byes” are difficult for you, and you have no assurance that you will ever see Heaven or your loved ones again – then today … NOW … is the time to bow your head and call out to God for His help and forgiveness and salvation. Today is the day to begin a new life with Him by your side! You will never regret praying this prayer of surrender and empowerment … and the bonus is that you will truly never, ever have to say “good-bye”! Because for all of us who know the Lord Jesus Christ personally … for us, it’s “we’ll see you later!”

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

- WHAT A BLESSING to experience God’s anointing and His presence in our midst each Lord’s Day! It is so awesome to come to His House carrying whatever heavy load we may have, and leave – knowing that He has lifted it from our shoulders and His answer is on the way! When we “do something” … God can take our action and do something even greater with it! We dare not be passive – we must be positively active about God’s Kingdom work!
- WELCOME BACK to Marty and Kelly and A SPECIAL WELCOME to their son, Spencer, who worshipped with us for the first time last Sunday! May God’s blessings rest upon each of you, is our prayer!

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .

- THIS SUNDAY, AUGUST 21ST: 10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP, with the beginning of a two-week series on “The 21 Gifts of the Spirit”. Bring your Bibles so you can follow along and glean the blessings from I Corinthians chapter 12. Pastor Doug will be sharing from God’s Word and encouraging each of us to seek God’s gifts for us and then to use them for His glory! Bring a friend or two to church with you!
- NEXT SUNDAY, AUGUST 28TH: 10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP, continuing with part two of “The 21 Gifts of the Spirit”, with Pastor Doug preaching from Titus, I & II Timothy, and several other texts.
- CHURCH VISIONARY MEETING following the service – as we discuss the plans and feasibility of new location possibilities for our church. Plan to be in attendance and participate as we pray and seek God for His perfect will!
- ALL CHURCH PICNIC IN THE PARK at noon-time: Please bring a dish of food to share, and your own table service. The meat and beverages will be provided. Plan on some great food and fellowship and fun … and there will be games for the children! The location of the park will be announced.
- SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11TH: KICK-OFF OF FALL MINISTRIES … including a CHILDREN’S FRIEND EVENT with pizza at the church following the service, an exciting Bible lesson, and then on to swimming at the Serengetti Park at Holiday Inn. This event is for all children who are potty-trained through 5th grade. Who can YOU invite?! The swimming tickets will be provided, as well as the pizza for lunch.
- SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18TH: SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES begin again for all ages … we will provide them the best we can in our present facility, looking towards our new building as God provides needed classrooms for the KIDZ of Elevation North!
- WOMEN OF FAITH CONFERENCE, “IMAGINE”, on October 21-22 in St. Paul … check out the sign-up sheet and each one is encouraged to reach another woman and have her sign up, as well! See Debbie for more details!
- ALL CHURCH MEN’S STEAK FRY with special guests on October 21st … full details to come! Each guy is encouraged to invite their sons and several friends for this awesome event!

- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .

- WE OFTEN LIMIT GOD or lack faith to expect all that God is capable of and willing to do on our behalf! Let’s not buy into those tricks of Satan – let’s claim every good and perfect gift from above for those who are sick and needy and homeless and lost without Christ. Let’s claim God’s best for each other, as well! He is ABLE!!!

- REMEMBER . . . “The light of God surrounds me, the love of God enfolds me, the presence of God protects me, God is always with me.”~ unknown

Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie