SINCE I CANNOT SWIM … well, I’m not too crazy about the thought of being submerged! Or more truthfully said, I’m actually more than a little terrified of deep water. Amazingly, I love being on the water – as long as I feel safe! I can be in a boat, on a ship, or wading in the water … so long as I know I will not fall overboard or drop off a ledge into deep water over my head! I wish I knew how to swim! (I guess I would need private lessons, because while I’m not a baby at anything else, I might be a lot shy when it comes to doing what the lessons require the student to do – be submerged under the water!) Someday! Today I was thinking about the many beautiful, breathtaking beaches and shorelines we’ve walked on … and I did a mental water tour! I was thinking of being in the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans, walking barefoot along the coastlines along California and Oregon – as well as the New England coastlines of New Jersey and Massachusetts and North Carolina, all the way down to the southern Florida coast. There have been the Great Lakes that stretch unendingly as far as the eye can see, and I’ve enjoyed standing at the piers, taking it all in! I was remembering the most translucent blues of the Alaskan waters and the inviting warmth of the breathtaking sunsets oe’r Waikiki Beach in Hawaii as I dug my toes into the refreshing feel of the wet sand there. A long time ago, I dipped my hands into the Dead Sea in Israel and felt the pure saltiness stick to my skin until I could get it washed off … no one thought about swimming there! I stood transfixed at the Sea of Galilee where Jesus had been so long ago, and I could almost see Him and His disciples in the boat on the water! I loved the adventure of standing up on the top deck overlooking the night lights of the city of Tel Aviv as we made our way along the coast of Israel, anticipating all the sites we would see where Jesus once walked – not just on land … but on water! I’ll never forget the boat that a few of us boarded with life jackets as we braved the ocean waters of Tasmania and saw scenery that we would never have experienced as close up any other way. Then our guide told us about the drop from the Pacific Ocean to the Indian Ocean, and we literally saw and felt the twelve-inch drop at the point where the bodies of water merged! Incredible, to say the least! The beautiful, but rough waters of the New Zealand fjords nearly threw us out of bed as our huge ship endured the crashing of high waves throughout the night. Coming into the harbor at Sydney, Australia was spectacular and while walking up to higher points in the city, looking down and over the sparkling blue water, it seemed to beckon us to return. For what? A swim? A dip? Or just to glide over it in the magnificent cruise ship? We chose the latter! I heard a song today that spoke volumes to my soul. I listened and I drank in. Perhaps one of the reasons I loved it so much is that it was taken from scripture – and God’s words always minister to my spirit! Psalm 46:4 talks about a river … a “river” that is equated to “the continual outpouring of the sustaining and refreshing blessings of God”. (NIV footnotes) The song encourages us to “come to the river – it shall not run dry!” As I heard the song being sung, God’s anointing on the singer was so strong I just had to stop and drink in the message and worship. Suddenly I realized that I just wanted to “jump in” and get completely submerged! I couldn’t think of one reason that would deter me from holding back. I didn’t want to just barely get wet with the knowledge and the blessings of God … I wanted to do a “cannonball” splash and go completely under … submerged and soaked … and then coming up out of the water refreshed and renewed and revived!!! There’s a sound to the movement of water. You’ve heard it – there’s actually many sounds of water: dripping, trickling, rippling, gushing, drenching, flowing, rushing, spilling, thundering. You add your descriptive word to the list! Once we’re in with more than our bare toes and we are completely submerged – then we can emerge with the desire and ability to let the river of God flow from us. And as flowing water makes sounds, so we as followers of Christ need to be identified as His children because of the sound of our words and the demeanor we place them into. Flow, river, flow! May we be vessels God can use to flow His river through - out to the world around us! The flowing will change others … but especially, we will be changed! So, do not be terrified of the river of God … plunge in. All the way in! Only then will you see and experience things up close that you could not have any other way! Happy swimming, dear people of God!
IN A NUTSHELL . . .
IN A NUTSHELL . . .
- WITH EACH PASSING WEEK, we are anticipating more eagerly the message from God’s Word as we are building towards the final message of this incredible series on “Two Words to Change the Word.” And how blessed we were again as Pastor Doug preached last Sunday from II Samuel, chapter 11. Our hearts are being stirred and moved to action!
- SPECIAL CONGRATULATIONS to our son, Dustin, and his wife, Becky, on their 6th wedding anniversary on August 15th! May God continue to bless your lives and your marriage with His loving favor, we pray! We love you! and appreciate all your love and support!
- OUR HEARTFELT THANKS to Wayne and Verla for the provision of their keyboard – borrowed to us for these past few years! What an incredible blessing it has been to all of us at Elevation North as we have worshipped Sunday after Sunday and lifted our voices in praise to our God! Now that they need their own keyboard back, they have provided the greatest share of finances needed for a brand new Yamaha CP33 digital stage piano with full-size keyboard, along with another very special family member who gave generously, leaving only a small balance for our church to pay for. We believe God led us to the perfect piano for our church at this time, and what a beautiful acoustic grand piano sound it has, along with sounds of virtually every instrument type! Our prayer is that God will use it for His glory always, as we dedicate it to Him! May God bless you, dear family, as only He can!
- LOOKING AHEAD . . .
- THIS SUNDAY, AUGUST 14TH: 10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP, with the culmination of the compelling series, “Two Words to Change the World!” Do you think you’ve come up with the two words? Plan to be in God’s House to magnify and honor and bless Him … and together we will dig into His Word in I Corinthians 12 and uncover the treasure of these two words! Are you inviting someone to come with you and share in the time of worship and fellowship? Let this be your outreach this week!
- NEXT SUNDAY, AUGUST 21ST: 10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP, with a special service focusing on the return of Christ! You won’t want to miss this exciting and challenging message!
- THE CHURCH FAMILY PICNIC, WOMEN OF FAITH, and more is around the corner … dates should be ready for you next week so you can mark your calendars!
- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .
- ONE OF THE GREATEST JOYS IN LIFE is to lift others up to the Lord in prayer, standing with them and encouraging them with God’s promises! This week let’s be faithful in doing just that – and continue to intercede on behalf of our brothers and sisters in Christ, for healing and provision and direction and blessing! See what our God will do!
- REMEMBER . . . “Make yourself totally, unreservedly available to God for wherever and however He wishes to use you to make a difference in the world!” ~ Debbie Jones
Serving Christ Joyfully . . .
Pastor Doug and Debbie
