“LET GOD BE GOD!” A few months ago a wonderful friend of mine gave me a new CD that I didn’t have, by three pastors: Phillips, Craig, and Dean. And I absolutely LOVE their music! What would life be like without music and all its melodies and messages??? Maybe I love their music so much because I know they truly understand ministry and the desire to be there for the people you shepherd and nurture and want to encourage. At any rate, this is a first-rate CD – not a song to dislike on the entire album. It would be hard to say which song I like the most. In fact, when I was chatting with my brother the other evening, I just had to share one of the songs that could have been written for him to sing. So I read him the lyrics over the phone. Yesterday something occurred that kind of shook the ground under our feet – at least for awhile. It’s one of those personal quakes that slam the uncertainty of life straight into your face. You shiver and shake for a bit … and then you’ve got to get a hold of yourself and decide where your trust lies. Of course, in that split-second, we affirmed that our trust lies in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ – and nothing or no one can ever be more deserving of our trust than He is. And so you trust … and wait … to see if present foundations will crumble, or if the rumbling and shaking will settle down - and life as you know it will resume. In some of those first quaking moments, God reminded me of one of the songs on the CD that I’ve just mentioned; and of all of the titles, the one He brought to mind was “LET GOD BE GOD!” I had to smile and that kind of peace that you just cannot describe to anyone else, came flowing o’er my entire being and flooding my soul. Without knowing what the final outcome would be … somehow I could say in my heart, “All is well … it is well with my soul!” If you’ve never heard this song, then I’d love to share the profound message in it as written by Dan Dean and Bernie Herms: “You said ‘lights on’ / And a blindin’ sea of stars began to shine / You said ‘birds sing’ / And a million melodies filled up the sky / You said ‘this world, spinning through a crowded milky way’ / Well the sun comes up and the sun goes down / God doesn’t seem to need my help / But the one who holds the sea in place / Is watchin’ out for every step I take // Chorus: I think I’ll let God be God / Givin’ up control / Think I’ll relax, step back / It’s time for letting go / If You kept the universe in sync / A million years or so / Since the Keeper of creation knows / I think I’ll let God be God // You clapped Your hands / The thunder rose and lightning filled the sky / You bring new life / A tiny newborn baby starts to cry / Time rolls in and it rolls back out / Never has God needed me to help / The One who sees the sparrow fall / What I need before I even call // Chorus: I think I’ll let God be God / Givin’ up control / Think I’ll relax, step back / It’s time for letting go / If You kept the universe in sync / A million years or so / Since the Keeper of creation knows / I think I’ll let God be God // Yeah, nothin’ takes You by surprise / Never late, always on time / The One who holds the sea in place / Is watchin’ out for every step I take // Chorus //”. Read those words again … run out and buy the CD and play that song over and over again until you believe those words, can say those words and mean them, and can live by them! What a powerful message put to music! I know God anoints song-writers to put words to music that minister to us at just the exact point and time that we need it! And you know what else? Before the day ended … as I finished work late at night and drove into our garage, I saw sitting off to the side a huge box. I could tell it had been opened and there was lots of foam stuffing in it. I didn’t have a clue as to what could have come in that box – we were not expecting anything. Coming inside and up the steps, I walked in to the living room only to see a large, incredibly stunning cross and fish symbol intertwined. It was beautifully hewn on a base with words inscribed up and down on the beautiful shape. This is what I read: “Whoever believes in Him shall have eternal life.” I was speechless and couldn’t wait to find my husband to see who it had come from! But those words … echoed in my heart – and were the conclusion of the first part of the message I had received earlier in the day. So, putting it all together, it was as if God was reassuring us and saying, “Let God be God, for whoever believes in Him shall have eternal life!” What more could we ask for? Whatever comes our way, our God can handle! And whatever shakes us at the core, cannot strip away the life we have even into eternity!!! My heart danced, and when I was told who gave it to us … tears rose in my eyes. Who could have known what we would need on a day like this ~ except God? I think we’ll definitely LET GOD BE GOD!!! Back to dancing!
- IN A NUTSHELL . . .
- OUR GOD IS AMAZING! His Word is true … and each week we come together and by His Spirit we listen and learn and grow in Him! This has been a great series from the book of I John for these days that we are living in! It just goes to prove that God’s Word is never out of date – but always timely for every season and situation! - SPECIAL CONGRATULATIONS to Sharon, who participated in and won the consolation bracket with her team in the State Basketball competition this past week! We are so proud of you, Sharon! - BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS to Jimmy who will be celebrating on April 5th! May God bless you with all His good gifts on your birthday and all year long!
- LOOKING AHEAD . . .
- THIS SUNDAY, APRIL 3RD: 10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP & COMMUNION as we exalt our Lord Jesus Christ together with all that is within us! The concluding message in the I John series stretched one more week to this Sunday, and Pastor Doug will be preaching from I John, chapter 4. Join us in discovering how we can work right alongside God in our world by allowing Him to use us! - 11:15 A.M. – KINGDOM CONNECTION/FELLOWSHIP TIME – How we love to see God’s love being practiced among all of you in this interaction time! Continue to seek God to see how He can use YOU to touch others! - WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6TH: 7:00 – 8:00 P.M. – “LEARN THE BIBLE IN 24 HOURS” STUDY! This is the perfect time to set aside everything else and just focus on what a wealth of information God has tucked inside His Word! Join us at the home of Pastor Doug and Debbie ~ they’ll be waiting for YOU! - NEXT SUNDAY, APRIL 10TH: 10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP with the entire service centered around a pre-Easter series that will lead us to take a lingering look at the cross and what Christ did for us there – and beyond! - STILL TO COME: Spaghetti Feed for the family, Easter Celebration Services, Mother/Daughter Tea with “Heirborne” in concert, Women of Faith in the fall, and more events and ministries in the works! Be watching!
- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .
- SOMETIMES WE FORGET that our needs are only opportunities for God to provide His answers and His miracles! And along with that, these needs bring to each of us the opportunity to stand in the gap for each other! This week is no exception as we lift up: Sean in surgery, Wayne for healing of a blood clot, Eva and Megan, Josh & Sarah & family, Julia, Shirley, Merv & Kathy, Johnny & Cherry & family, Hazel’s nieces, Chuck, Pam’s dad, Jimmy’s healing, Isaac, Mary, and many unspoken, urgent needs that God knows all about! How we praise God that He is EVERYTHING that we can ever need! Let’s remember to pray for others outside of our church family, and for God to continue to use Elevation North as a lighthouse and safe haven in this community ~ for HIS GLORY!
- REMEMBER . . . “My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken.” Psalm 62:1-2
Serving Christ Joyfully . . .
Pastor Doug and Debbie
