WE THANK GOD … FOR YET ANOTHER BLESSING!!! For 40 years of marriage (on this Sunday, June 5th!) … our God has paved the way! Up lots of mountains and through lots of valleys (we could write a book!) – He’s never left us alone on the path! He’s walked ahead of us into unmarked, unknown-to-us territory … leading the way and clearing the path, as our Guide and Trail-blazer. He’s walked beside us through 14,600 new days, not a one alike, over hundreds and thousands of miles in lots of different places, as our Friend and Companion. He’s walked behind us, flanking us on the rear, watching for the enemy and protecting us from dangers of every kind (He didn’t have to be in front to see what might cause us to trip and fall or be harmed – He can see right through us!), what a Defender and Battlefield Commando He has been! Most of all He has been our God, our Father. He has been closer than a brother, as Jesus, God’s Son. He has been present in every aspect of our lives as the Holy Spirit, revealing more than we can put into mere words. Can you tell how much we love Him? Can you tell how much we need Him? Can you tell how much we depend on Him? And never once has He let us down! While our boat has been rocked nearly to the point of despair during many a storm in our lives … God has been with us in every single storm! We could talk for hours of the miracles He has worked in our family’s lives! How very faithful He has been! God has led us every step of the way through nearly 40 years of ministry in six churches … two of them accounting for nearly 30 of those years! God has held the two of us close to each other, through a precious, close relationship that has weathered its own storms. Yet, in spite of our own human weaknesses, He has kept us true to Him and to each other. Today, I can truly say, “Honey, I love you more than I did forty years ago on our wedding day … in fact, I love you more today than I loved you yesterday!” Together we’ve experienced God at work in our lives in divine, supernatural ways. Our lives have always been dramatic, filled with extreme, over-the-top happenings. A friend once said, “Your lives are definitely not boring. Whenever something happens, it’s always dramatic and almost unbelievable!” I guess we’d have to agree. (Hang in there with us, and maybe someday you’ll get to read that book! You won’t be able to put it down!) God held us close when our baby grandson nearly died in a military hospital. He held us close when our son was in the bombing in Saudi Arabia, and we didn’t know we nearly 8 hours if he was dead or alive. He held us close when our son’s fingers were nearly severed in an accident with a power tool. He held us close when we felt totally displaced in ministry, once being homeless and totally at the mercy of friends and family … and again, finally having our first home ever but with job and salary being stripped away without warning. He held us close when our children went through deep struggles and we knew God would be the only answer. He held us close and healed and provided and comforted. He embraced us and nurtured and taught us as a Father does. He carved away in us so much of what hasn’t looked like Him – and hopefully we are now a clearer reflection of Him. But He’s still working on us, carving away yet more in order to bring about a better likeness of Him. He held us close when the miracles and joys came, when the fun and laughter decorated our lives, when the blessings rained down. You see, in our 40 years of marriage, we cannot pen a love story without writing about Him. Who we are as a couple is all about Him; what we share that is so wonderful, is all because of Him! How I thank God for the gift of an incredible man who is a precious, devoted, loving husband! Honey, I am so blessed in countless ways each new day by your love and your life! I love seeing how God uses you to touch others. I love seeing how He anoints your gifts to make a difference in the lives of so many people. I love how you depend on God for the strength you need as you work so hard. I love it that while your heart is longing to return to full-time ministry, you faithfully care for scores of tenants … repairing and painting and cleaning, mowing and trimming and landscaping … even cleaning toilets. There you have it. My husband truly has a servant’s heart … he’ll do whatever it takes to make something work. And in this unique chapter of our lives, he’s doing things that he never thought he was called to do. Yet he does it, and he does it well, as unto the Lord! Doug, you are amazing! I love seeing you sit with the Bible in your lap as you read and study and taste of God’s Word. I love hearing you preach with passion and power and the anointing of the Holy Spirit. I love seeing you get down on your knees to be eye-level with the little ones in church; I love seeing you get crazy with the youth; I love seeing you share your heart with singles, couples, and families; and I love seeing you stand at the hospital bedside of the elderly as they breathe their last breath and are ushered into the presence of the Lord. I love it that you care about people’s souls … whether rich or poor, powerful or down-and-out, fashionable or wearing rags. It’s their heart that matters to you, and for that reason and a million more … I love you with all my heart! You can count on me standing with you and loving you for as many more years as God gives us together, honey! Happy 40th Anniversary to the love of my life!!!
IN A NUTSHELL . . .
IN A NUTSHELL . . .
- EXCITING TIMES ARE UPON US … not just on the stage of the world as we see Christ’s return approaching … but also here at Elevation North! God is bringing in a supernatural financial harvest as we see our new location approaching – He is laying all the groundwork in ways far beyond what we can even imagine! We are accepting His leading by faith – detours and all! What a sweet time we experienced in God’s presence this past Sunday!
- A SPECIAL WELCOME to Kristen as we joined us for praise and worship on Sunday for the first time; we pray that you were blessed and uplifted and that you will come again soon! May God bless you!
- LOVING ANNIVERSARY WISHES are sent to our son, Dana and his wife, Stacey, as they celebrate their 20th Anniversary on Tuesday, June 7th! May you experience God’s continued blessing and favor upon your lives and the love you share!!! We love you both so very much!
- LOOKING AHEAD . . .
- THIS SUNDAY, JUNE 5TH: 10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP, with a message from Pastor Doug that will have you following along in your Bibles … titled, “Following Christ in Baptism.” See what God’s Word has to say, and join in on the joyful singing and warm fellowship! Exalt the Lord with us as we seek to draw closer to Him!
- 11:15 A.M. – KINGDOM CONNECTION TIME … don’t miss out on this rich family time as a body of believers!
- NEXT SUNDAY, JUNE 12TH: 10:00 A.M. – CHILDREN’S SUNDAY with the service being planned especially for our kids … but aren’t we all a kid at heart? Be in prayer even now about who your child can invite, or who you would like to bring (age 3 through 5th grade), to be a part of a great time in God’s House, with McDonald’s lunch to follow, and swimming after that! We will be announcing the final details this Sunday!
- MORE TO COME: FATHER’S DAY SERVICE, WOMEN OF FAITH PLANNING, SUMMER PICNIC, SPECIAL MINISTRY OUTREACHES, and so much more! Be a part by helping coordinate these events!
- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .
- GOD IS DEFINITELY ON HIS THRONE! God is continuing to answer prayer in so many ways: Julia is doing much better, as is her brother who was in need of the liver transplant; Sean received a great report from the specialist following his brain surgery; and Shirley is making great improvement with her knee replacement! This week we have the privilege of praying for Tina’s mom who has leakage in a heart valve and may need surgery later; for Julia’s daughter, Tammy, with liver problems and possible diabetes; for Stacey’s dad, Mark, with a lesion on his kidney; and for several unspoken requests; as well as our upcoming re-location as a church in this community! May God’s perfect will be accomplished in all these things, that He might be glorified!
- REMEMBER . . . “There’s a song that says, ‘The longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows’. We hope you feel like that in your walk with God! It just keeps getting better and better!”
Serving Christ Joyfully . . .
Pastor Doug and Debbie
