Elevation North has News for YOU!

WHERE, OH WHERE, DO I START? Having arrived home this evening from the Women of Faith Conference with our church ladies and other gals from the community – I feel like I’ve been “feasting” at a most incredible buffet of “food” all weekend! My spiritual taste buds were blessed with an array of messages, music, drama, and more! We just kept filling our “plates” because we didn’t want to miss even one serving – it was all so amazing! The worship team led us to the feet of Jesus in beautiful worship at the beginning of each session, and our hearts (and lips!) sang along with them! Oh, and yes … our toes tapped along as our hands clapped in rhythm! There’s nothing like worship that exalts the King of kings and Lord of lords! What I love so much is how God prepares the messages in each of the speaker’s hearts so that each one of us will be personally ministered to! We find ourselves laughing, then crying, and then laughing again! The laughter and the tears blend to become a healing balm from the hand of God as we find ourselves being restored, renewed, and reactivated to a new place in Christ. Sheila Walsh reminded us that “God’s Word makes us more beautiful than any Botox treatments – and did we know that there are over 3000 promises in His Word? Finding it sometimes difficult to rest in God’s promises, we can alleviate that by striving to live in a relationship with God that is based on nothing that we’ve brought to the table – but based only on HIS love! No woman in the crowd who feels overlooked or unclean or inadequate is ever missed by God. He knows our entire story – but He loves to hear it anyway. He listens and then with that limitless love showing from those kind eyes, Jesus says, “Daughter, go in peace!” That’s us … US! “And He’s got us covered”, she told us in another message later in the conference. “According to Psalm 91, God will cover us with His feathers!” She went on to share some of her gripping personal testimony, sharing how during one of her lowest times, an angel appeared to her and told her, “The Shepherd knows where to find you!” “So,” she related, “no matter if you are the good sheep, the black sheep, or the ‘bummer’ sheep, it’s not up to us to get home on our own … He will get us home!” And just like Sheila had a story that kept us on the edge of our seats, so in that arena of thousands of women were there countless stories that could have been told, by each one of us – one at a time. But remember, “the Shepherd knows where to find us ~ and He never takes His eyes off of us!” Another delightful, intriguing woman whose adventures make us crack up is none other than Luci Swindoll. And in her celebration of 79 years of living, she stood on that platform speaking to us as one who now can look at life from a certain vantage point that most of us have not arrived at yet. With her years of wisdom wrapped in a zest for living, Luci passionately spoke these words: “Live every moment to the fullest! That’s how to not miss life by wishing for something else. Learn to be happy where you are! Only you can determine that happiness. What feeds your soul?” She then challenged us to make a list of things that make our soul come alive with joy! Her mom once told her, “A day is wasted without you falling on the ground in a heap of laughter!” And Luci conveyed a quote from someone else, “My dilemma in the morning when I awaken: to improve the day or enjoy the day?” Luci’s answer was perfectly wonderful and poignant: “Enjoy the day – and you’ll improve the world!” I agree wholeheartedly! We could have sat and listened to her share stories for hours … her love for God just oozed out of her! She related the story of a lady who invited her to jump in her car and go with her for a treasure hunt to get a nativity set for her church. Luci assumed they were going to a discount store. The wild little adventure ended up with them stopping at a trash dumpster and the two of them pulling and tugging at several large pieces of cardboard which ultimately rode home strapped to the top of the lady’s little car called “The Green Bean”! When Luci asked what she was going to do with the cardboard, the lady answered, “That’s the nativity set!” Luci, with a confused look, questioned, “Where?” The lady pointed to her head and said, “In here!” Some hours and a few days later, an entire nativity set had been created and was ready for the children at the church. In amazement, Luci said breathlessly, “How did you do that?” The lady simply replied, “Because nobody told me I couldn’t!” Before exiting the stage, Luci reiterated for us that “every day on a full sea of opportunity, there’s an occasion to take a risk to do something difficult … giving your life away … being fully alive.” She urged the women in the arena, “Don’t wait! This is it! This is great! This is life!” So she said, “Live it … love it … give it … don’t miss it! We’ve been given that choice ~ and we can do anything with the Savior!” Great words, Luci! Here at Elevation North, we will take them to heart!

- IN A NUTSHELL . . .

- GOD KEEPS MOVING US FORWARD, one step at a time! He’s moving us toward Himself, changing us in our worship of Him each week as we gather with one undivided focus: to lift Him up and glorify His Name!
- A SPECIAL WELCOME to Denny, Jr. and his three young sons who all came to worship with us this past Sunday; we were so blessed to have you in our midst! May God’s best be experienced in your lives this week!
- THIS WEEKEND WAS FILLED with an overflow of God’s generous blessings upon our women as we attended the Women of Faith Conference in St. Paul! We were blessed beyond words and came home impacted greatly by the anointing of God upon His servants who poured their lives into ours! A special thanks to Sonya, our group leader, and to Mary and Tina for driving; you are appreciated!
- ASK THE GUYS about their “abundant steak portions” at the Steak Fry this weekend … and the great fellowship they shared together as they gave input for future plans for Elevation North!

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .

- THIS SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23RD: 10:00 A.M. – WORSHIP & PRAISE with Pastor Doug preaching from God’s Word on the topic, “A Nation in the Hands of an Angry God.” Come and see what God’s Word reveals about God’s plan to keep His people on track with Him!
- NEXT SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30TH: 10:00 A.M. – WORSHIP & PRAISE – check on our location! The new sermon series will build on a call to spiritual action that can change our homes and our community in ways we can only now imagine – with God’s help!
- LOTS OF NEW MINISTRY PLANS are on the horizon and about to be announced – be watching!

- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .

- THE POWER OF PRAYER TODAY is as great as it was in the days when Jesus walked on earth … because He still walks on earth – in us! Please join us in special prayer for Jimmy, Gerard, Elsie, Pam’s dad, Lynn, Larry and Gloria, Lowell and Connie, Josh and Sarah, Cherry and Johnny, our young people, our servicemen and women, and others! Our praise to God – from whom all blessings flow!

- REMEMBER . . . The Apostle Paul tells us in I Timothy 6:17 “ … to put our hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.”




Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie