Saturday, July 14, 2012

ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

THE BIRDS ARE SINGING a heavenly, but jazzy melody and all of nature seems to be dancing to their tunes!  I’ve thrown open the window to the deck (that is not built yet!) and the fresh, early morning air is streaming in through the screen.  Blue soft sky with wispy white clouds, sunshine to greet the day … and there sits a fresh sliced half of grapefruit and a steaming cup of freshly brewed coffee.  Does it get any better than this?!  Oh … yes it does, Lord!  You reminded me of that yesterday!  How I LOVE it when your Presence fills a room.  I mean, F-I-L-L-S a room!!!  Due to this exciting journey God has had us on for several years now, we have had no health insurance for most of those years.  I remember on “day 1” … when everything changed.  I literally told God (sorry God, I guess I didn’t even ask – I just made a blanket statement, speaking with every ounce of faith I had!) . . . “Well God, You will be our doctor now, and we’re going to trust You to take care of every part of us – body, soul, and mind!  Today we cancel our health insurance because we no longer can afford it.”  That was almost 5 years ago.  I know what I know.  And what I know is that God has done a great job of taking care of us … but I absolutely love it when medical doctors prove out what I know by their examinations and ensuing results!  Part of having no health insurance meant I had no funds for new glasses.  But I had no issues with my eyes, I could see great, and I never got headaches!  All was well, right?  Well, in my heart and soul, I knew so.  So after twelve years with the same prescription lenses, and after saving up money for quite a long time now, I finally walked into the exam room of the optometrist.  The assistant had me cover one eye and read the letters.  I was amazed at how well I did.  Then she had me cover the other eye and I read again.  I could tell she was amazed.  We had a great visit as I sat in that chair.  I was as excited as a little girl on my birthday!  More fine-tuning of clarity of vision, eye drops, and then the dilation of my eyes.  Soon I was ready to see the optometrist.  I think he almost fell out of his chair when he saw on the chart that I had not had my eyes checked in twelve years.  He began talking about looking into my eyes under the bright lights and how he would be able to see into my body for all kinds of health issues.  He said, “You know in the past two or three years, I have diagnosed people with melanoma, diabetes, cholesterol, brain tumors, and more … all through what I see in their eyes.”  For a split-second, the thought raced through me, “What will he see when he looks in my eyes?”  And the split-second following, my thought was, “God has been my doctor … I am just fine!”  He looked and peered, and those lights got REALLY bright!!  This Presence permeated the room with me, and I felt no apprehension at what he would find as he looked.  I knew the doctor would soon know what I knew.  All was well, he finally said, except to have my cholesterol check updated.  Any change in medications, he asked?  I said, “I’m on no medications!”  Then I told him my story of having no insurance and how God has been my doctor all these years, and what a great job He has done!  He smiled and agreed.  How could he not??  I walked out of that office feeling like the most blessed woman in the world!  There I had it … proof for whoever wants to know:  my God reigns and He’s kept me healthy for all of the missions He has me here for.  Perhaps my mission this day was to share God’s keeping power with that doctor … and it took twelve years of waiting to do so!  Now … I am singing!!!


IN A NUTSHELL . . .

BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS to our daughter-in-love, Stacey on July 16th and to David on July 17th; and HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to Matthias & Liz on July 20th!  May you delight in God’s best for you!

SUN, JUL 15:  10:00 A.M. – WORSHIP & PRAISE, w/message shared by Wayne on “God’s Peace:  Do You Have It?”
SUN, JUL 15:  11:15 A.M. -  KINGDOM CONNECTION CLASSES and PUPPET MINISTRY for the children!
WED, JUL 18:   7:00 P.M. – BIBLE STUDY/FELLOWSHIP on the book of James at Pastor Doug’s & Debbie’s home
FRI, JUL 20:    7:00 P.M. –  LADIES’ NIGHT OUT at the church!  Plan to bring a “white elephant” gift and a snack!
SUN, JUL 22:  10;00 A.M. – WORSHIP & PRAISE / 11:15 A.M. – KINGDOM CONNECTION classes/Puppet Ministry
SUN, JUL 29:  10:00 A.M. – SUNDAY MORNING RALLY with Larry & Gloria Lundstrom; invite everyone you know for this anointed and lively time of powerful preaching and awesome music ~ plus a dose of humor and fun!!!

PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . . Verla, Cherry, Julia, Tarike, Daouda, our church ministries, our youth and children!

REMEMBER . . . “God will not send us out on any journey for which He does not equip us well.”  ~ A. Maclaren


Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie




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