Thursday, June 7, 2012

ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

HOW I LOVE IT WHEN GOD DOES THE SCHEDULING!  You might have noticed that there was not a new blog post last week.  That’s because I didn’t write one ~ and guess what?  The world is still in orbit!  Amazing, huh?!  As hard as we push ourselves to live life to the utmost, I love that we are learning to kick back and relax a little and take a bit of time for ourselves, too!  We had planned a mini-break over Memorial Day weekend with my husband’s brother and wife, to be with our grandson, Wade, who was graduating from high school, celebrate at his open house and spend a few days with the entire family.  But last minute, God penciled in some extra, extended stops on the calendar, and soon we knew it was going to be a 9-day jaunt to see as many of our family as we could!  Looking back on those days, we see God’s hand in it all!  For there was time with two of our three sons and their wives, time with five of our six grandsons and with one of our two granddaughters.  God’s prompting allowed me to make the circle complete when the other three of my siblings and spouses came together to spend time with our 88-year old mom!  What a treasured time … especially if that should be our last time all together on this side of Heaven!  We enjoyed walks and talks, old, old photos – and even some new ones, lots of great meals, a trip to the local zoo, fun-fashion-shopping with our granddaughter, meeting our older grandsons’ girlfriends, an accidental knock-out punch by grandson #4 that about took me to my knees!, celebrating belated birthdays, kindergarten, high school, and college graduations, going to the little boys’ t-ball game, even helping our 88-year old mom deliver 31 dozen eggs to her customers in town!!!  We’ll never forget that!  And … my husband and I made stops at our dads’ respective graves to decorate them and reflect over cherished memories!  I know … I know!  You may not have met any of our family that we are talking about, but they are as important to us as your family is to you.  Several sad life-stories occurred while we were gone, reminding us how very fragile life is and how priceless are these shared times!  We want lives filled with expressed love and the gift of time invested in those we hold dear to our hearts – so there will be no regrets!  Just a wealth of memories that can be captured better on the heart than on photograph paper or memory cards!  The saying goes that married couples, after living together for many years, begin to look like each other.  I don’t know if that is always the case, but I’ve seen enough resemblances - that there could be some truth to that!  There is a recent study that states “you are what you read.”  It goes on to explain that “research says when you lose yourself in fiction, you may begin to resemble the characters you love.”  I’d like to add my statement to that study and say that “I believe when we lose ourselves in God’s Word, we will begin to resemble the character of Christ who we will fall deeper and deeper in love with, the more we read of Him!”  And I believe that extends to our families.  Little ones trace our steps, mimic our words, and watch our ways.  What are they becoming as they begin to resemble us?  Thought-provoking question!  We loved seeing what our children and grandchildren are becoming … hopefully in part because they saw some of Jesus in us – even in the unexpected times that God has scheduled for us now and then!

IN A NUTSHELL . . .
BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS to Kavin on June 2nd and to Aleana on June 7th; and LOVING ANNIVERSARY WISHES to my husband, Doug, on June 5th, and to our son, Dana and his wife, Stacey, on June 7th!  God’s blessings to all!
 SUN, JUN 10:  10:00 A.M. – WORSHIP & PRAISE / don’t miss the message on “The Power of the Holy Spirit!” 
SUN, JUN 10:  12:00 NOON – ELEVATE KIDZ EVENT w/pizza at church and swimming at “Serengetti”/$5.00 cost
SUN, JUN 17:  10:00 A.M. – WORSHIP & PRAISE / message for “Godly, Courageous Fathers” from God’s Word!
FRI/SAT, JUN 22/23: MEDFORD CITY-WIDE GARAGE SALE, including Elevation North; can you help?
SAT, JUN 23:   4:30 P.M. – MEDFORD PARADE – w/a fantastic Elevation North church float – come and be a part!
 PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES … Seykora’s ministry huddles, urgent unspoken request, family situations, opportunities!
 REMEMBER . . . “God gives His gifts where He finds the vessel empty enough to receive them.”  C. S. Lewis


Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

                                                           


                                                           






                                                           


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