SOMETIMES LIFE IS LIKE A SEE-SAW! Or a merry-go-round! Or a slide! Don’t we all just love the times in our lives when we feel like we’re sitting on top of the slide looking down – anticipating that fun, fast swoosh to the bottom?! But … most of our downward swooshes are not fun or even very pleasant at all. All we can concentrate on are the abrupt, hard landings at the bottom – and we lie there with the wind knocked out of us! Sometimes we feel like we’ve been thrust into one sand-pile after another. We even feel like we’ve been hurled at top-notch speed and then flung out onto the rocks. Right? Now if we focused only on being at the bottom and fighting to catch our breath so we can get back up again – we wouldn’t feel very hopeful, would we? What can we tell ourselves when we’re lying in a heap at the bottom? And does it even make any difference what’s going through our minds at those miserable moments? Yup, you guessed right, it does! It’s called “the power of the spoken word”! Especially the power of the spoken Word! We can just lie there flat on our backs in the dirt and sand and tell ourselves, “Well, that’s it … I’m all done for! I just can’t go on anymore – it’s too hard to do this over and over!” Those words are powerful. What we say we usually believe. And what we believe usually takes shape in our actions. So there we sit. Unless … we decide to unleash the power of Christ within us and speak His Words back to Him! “Lord God, Your Word says You are Faithful and True. It’s says You are All-Knowing. Your Word says You are Love and that You will always be with us! It’s like this past Sunday at Elevation North. We had planned for this Sunday to be overflowing in celebration as we were introduced to the surrounding communities in a more public way. One local newspaper printed an outstanding article about who Elevation North is and what we are all about. Another one – well, somehow what was supposed to run on Saturday – never even made it to publication. And so, our attendance was not at all what we were expecting for such a special day. We felt ourselves slipping down the slide. But … God in His amazing ways drew a young lady to church with her small children. They walked through the doors – even though she had never entered them before. Her husband had, though, a few weeks earlier along with their young sons. He had told us that she said she was going to come, too. But … we erroneously assumed she would wait to come with him after he returned from a three week job commitment out of state. After all, she would not know a soul. Were we wrong! She came on her own with her children, and she entered right in. We welcomed her with open arms – and we hope she saw the love of Jesus in us. She said she’d be back! As we had spoken His Word and offered Him praise and worship, He proved that He is indeed, faithful! Then, another surprise! We crossed paths at lunch-time with this young lady and her children and were blessed with the opportunity to meet her mom, who is deaf. She said her mom is looking for a church closer to where she lives, and she could come next Sunday. She would interpret the service for her mom with sign language, since she grew up doing that to communicate with her. We were so excited! Doug’s brother and wife had traveled from out of state to attend this special service, and they were with us for lunch when we met the young lady’s mother. Then they really got excited, because our sister-in-law also knows sign language, having grown up with a deaf and blind brother. Now who could orchestrate such a “coming together” of hearts – except for God Himself? Like our family said, “Who knows but that God is planning an extension of our ministry at Elevation North to include the deaf in our surrounding communities?!” And they want to be a part of that! They can hardly wait for their house to sell so they can move here and begin ministering with us. I believe God is revealing more of His plan as the weeks and months unfold! You see, what God put in our hearts last Sunday afternoon, is that the special celebration was never about being in our new location … but the celebration is what God is putting together – in us and through us! For today, tomorrow, and all the days to come! After all, the church is US! Elevation North is US! The church is US being used by God … His power within us UNLEASHED in the world around us!!! The celebration is that God is opening doors for us to minister not as much within the walls of the church – as outside of it! Like in that restaurant when we saw those two little boys and had to search out their mommy and little sister. And out of that came the introduction to the grandmother who we will be privileged to minister to in days to come! You see, that’s what it’s all about … getting to the bottom of the slide and being able to look up and see miracles all around us! They are there for the asking … for the taking … for the increase of God’s Kingdom! Lord, continue to give us great rebounds when we swoosh into some rough landings now and then. May we always choose to pick ourselves up and “see” what incredible gifts are awaiting us just around the corner! And may we always point the glory to YOU!
IN A NUTSHELL . . .
IN A NUTSHELL . . .
- WHAT A JOY it was to drink in the presence of Christ throughout the entire morning as we celebrated the Lord Jesus Christ! Pastor Doug shared a powerful message on the two choices the church has … “Fight or Fish”. We have decided at Elevation North that we will fish continually for souls to be brought into God’s Kingdom! That is much more exciting and productive than fighting, wouldn’t you agree?!
- A SPECIAL WELOME to Kayla and Sky who came to worship with us for the first time this past Sunday! We pray God’s wondrous blessings upon you and your entire family! We look forward to seeing you again!
- OUR SPECIAL THANKS to: everyone who helped with the senior citizen yard project, to Wayne and Verla for donated items for our church, to each of our supporters and each of our church families! How very grateful we are for your gifts of time, work, supplies, & finances to advance our ministry outreach!
- BIRTHDAY WISHES are being sent to Ernie on the 13th and Laura on the 17th … may this be a truly blessed year for both of you!
- CONGRATS to Dani Haley on her incredible awards and achievements in her college volleyball career at Augustana – especially this past weekend! We are so proud of you, Dani!
- LOOKING AHEAD . . .
- THIS SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13TH: 10:00 A.M. – WORSHIP & PRAISE in our new location at 217 N. Main Street in Medford! You will want to join us for Pastor Doug’s exciting message on “Growing Your Faith” from James chapter 1. Let’s get really excited about our faith as we seek to expand it more and more!!!
- 11:15 A.M. – KINGDOM CONNECTION SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES for everyone! Kids, you’ll the Puppet Ministry with Marty & Kelly ~ and teens and adults, check out how to be “not a fan – but a follower” of Jesus!
- WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16TH: 6:30 P.M. – FELLOWSHIP & FUN WORK-NIGHT at the church … come help us out and get to know others better in the process!
- NEXT SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20TH: 10:00 A.M. – SPECIAL THANKSGIVING SERVICE centered on “Gratitude” based on God’s Word! Let’s offer thanksgiving and appreciation for all our blessings!
- 12:00 NOON – THANKSGIVING LUNCHEON at church following worship – for EVERYONE! Please take time to add your name to the sign-up sheet and indicate what yummy food dishes you will be sharing for the meal!
- LET’S ADD “GIVING” to our “Thanksgiving” – and remember our sponsored children, Tarike and Daouda with an offering to help bring them some hope in their hopeless situations! Let’s make a difference in their lives!!!
- OUR PRAYERS CHANGE THINGS … because our Lord hears and answers prayer! We cannot begin to tell you how much your prayers mean to those who need them, like: Shirley, Elsie, Gerard, Jimmy, Johnny & Cherry, Larry & Gloria, Lowell & Connie, Josh, Sarah, & sons, our church family, our military, our leaders, & our nation!
- REMEMBER . . . “We have instant access to our God – anytime of the day or night! He’s available and waiting to hear from us!” ~ Debbie Jones
Serving Christ Joyfully . . .
Pastor Doug and Debbie
