BRUSHSTROKES … they are painted all over the canvas of my life! My favorite, of course, are the vivid, bright colors that catch the rays of the sun and add a zesty splash to the picture of the moment. Some of those snapshots you’d just love to capture and put in a bottle so that you could open it up at a future moment when you needed one of those captivating experiences all over again! I felt that way on Sunday afternoon when my husband and I enjoyed a very special lunch together in a small town some distance away. Deciding to be spontaneous, we drove around the town square a few times in search of a quaint, quiet, tucked away spot. And find it, we did! We entered through an old hotel, wound our steps up and down and around to a lower level, and made our way out into the fresh air and sunlight to the outdoor patio. Shaded by tall stately trees, gated by wrought iron with green foliage intertwined, sitting on heavy iron chairs on the stone floor … our view over the rushing river was both beautiful and peaceful. We drank in the joy of feeling like we had drawn away from all of our weekly demands and responsibilities to a place of retreat and renewal. We ordered from the surprisingly great-priced menu … and then sat back and talked and relaxed and just breathed in this picture-perfect day … the air, the sights, the sounds! I told my husband I would LOVE to pick up this place and set it at the back of our church when God provides the building and property for us someday soon! What a place for our people to come to escape the craziness of life for a few moments and find sweet rest and renewal in such a gorgeous safe haven! Like a taste of heaven – on earth! Perhaps in time, we’ll be able to create just such a place for the tired and the hurting to be revived in their bodies and souls! It reminded me of how I feel when I escape the craziness of our present lives, as I wind my way through so many responsibilities and deadlines, finally exiting all of that into the most amazing place I’ve ever been! I find the atmosphere both soothing and exhilarating. I close my eyes and my breath is caught away by the radiance and beauty of my Lord. Inviting chairs are set close together at a small table, and my eyes rove o’er all the depth of beauty tucked in this private place. It’s all perfect. Perfectly calm and serene. Perfectly assuring and comforting. Perfectly healing and energizing. Perfect love is speaking. And not a word from His lips has yet been spoken. All this … just because He IS. After all, He is “I AM.” That kind of encompasses everything all at once – wouldn’t you say? This time, there is no food. I am fed by His love and our fellowship, by His words and His smile. In these moments, I experience contentment like no one on earth can offer. And the refills are free! As satisfied as I am, longing to just stay in this place with my Jesus … I realize that I cannot. There is so much to be done on the other side of this intimate place. Re-tracing my steps back over the stones and up and down the steps, I step out into the heat of the day. There is Gerard, the 20-year old son of our friend, Kathy, from one of our previous ministries many years ago. She was just a young girl then, and now … her son is fighting stage 4 germ cell cancer. She’s standing by him through every step, every treatment, experiencing every emotion that a mom has. We’ve just found each other again on Face-book. There’s Larry, who has been on the road for fifty years telling people about Christ, he and his wife giving it their all, and now … he’s facing 2-3 months of recovery from neck and back surgery; his precious wife standing by making sure that he is safe in his walking therapy and in every head, neck and back movement that is critical to regaining his strength and mobility … their emotions stretched all the way from their passion to evangelize the lost to finding God’s rest in this unexpected place in their lives. There’s Jimmy and Kay and Roger, all battling cancer of different kinds, one while working on the job – the others living in the retirement season of their lives … all trusting God with their very lives. There’s Josh and Sarah and their two little boys serving Christ overseas, fighting off sickness in the winter season there … while committed to serving Christ wholeheartedly in their ongoing discipleship and outreach ministries. There’s Justin, far away from his three small children, serving in the unbearable heat of a war-torn country, defending us and others, but missing them. There’s you, and you, and you … facing a daily menu of stress and ill-health and financial lack. We are all in these kinds of places at one time or another. I just want to remind you that when we are IN these difficult places … our only choice for survival and overcoming victory is running to THAT PLACE where we are once again renewed and refreshed and revived! Without that time in the perfect presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, we cannot make it! It’s also in THAT PLACE that we know we must exit and re-enter the world we live in, emerging with all we need to make a difference in the lives of everyone we know … because of the ever-present presence of Christ! He HAS promised to be with us always, you know! (Matthew 28:20)
IN A NUTSHELL . . .
IN A NUTSHELL . . .
- PRAISE ALWAYS INVITES THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST … and each Lord’s Day it is our greatest joy to love on our Lord and lavish our praise on Him! Each week we are so excited to open His Word and hear the message God has laid on Pastor Doug’s heart. God continues to ignite our hearts in this present series and we are being stirred to more focused action on our part! What will God do next?! We at Elevation North want to be right in the middle of where He is at work!
- SPECIAL BIRTHDAY WISHES are in order for Merv, who will celebrate on August 5th! May your year to come be your best ever as you experience the richness of God’s blessings!
- LOOKING AHEAD . . .
- THIS SUNDAY, JULY 31ST: 10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP … your opportunity to worship freely with your Christian brothers and sisters, raising your voices with joy and humbling your hearts before the Lord Jesus Christ. Come expectantly, ready to receive from God as we hear part 5 of the “Two Words to Change the World” series – with scripture from II Samuel, chapter 11. Open your hearts to receive all God has for you this day!
- RE: FUEL YOUTH EVENT with lunch together following our worship time (bring your own money) … then on to the Adventure Greens for miniature golfing and Frisbee golfing after. Golfing tickets will be provided and you are encouraged to bring a friend along with you! In case of rain or stormy weather, we will opt for another event!
- NEXT SUNDAY, AUGUST 7TH: 10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP, focusing on part 6 of the continuing series on “Two Words to Change the World” – this message from the book of I Timothy. So far, we’ve learned about several “two-word” answers to this world’s dilemma, which all of us should attain to – but they are only a part of the ultimate answer! Make a list of who you can invite to come and worship with you – and together experience God!
- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .
- ANSWERS ARE COMING OUR WAY as we hear reports of God’s divine touch in many circumstances … and how grateful we are for His miraculous intervention in life after life! What power we have as we ask of God … so keep your prayers ongoing for the many that were listed last week – both in petition and in praise! Your prayers really do matter! All glory be to God!
- 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
