Friday, September 28, 2012

ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

“ONE DAY YOUR LIFE WILL FLASH BEFORE YOUR EYES.  Make sure it’s worth watching!”  When I heard that some time ago, I knew I needed to write that down.  I didn’t want to forget it – I wanted to live it.  And might I add to that quote … “Make sure it’s worth being remembered by others!”  That sounds good, in all essence … but how do we live a life that we would feel was worth watching?  Well, how about giving it to God to use?  We can attempt to do all kinds of things with our lives, and some of it might end up worth our time to view.  But … if we literally give our lives to God to use – daily … God’s real-life-movie rating system proves out that it WILL be worth watching!  Part of living like this shouts out in how we respond to those tests and trials we talked about last week.  We can be at rock-bottom, but it’s how we pull through that matters.  We can feel distraught, but it’s how we choose to handle those emotions that make the difference.  Let’s turn up the sound on someone’s conversation with God in the wee hours of the morning.  It could be your talk with God; it could be mine.  Let’s listen in.  “Papa.  Daddy.  Father God.  I don’t know what’s happening!  I just have to talk to You.  And yes, I promise to listen, too.  I want to listen to Your voice.  It’s just that right now I have a torrential downpour of questions, and I know that no one has the answers but You!  I have prayed, I have sought Your face, I have done all I know how to do.  And I truly don’t understand what’s going on right now, Lord.  Part of this test feels like a spiritual onslaught.  Part of it feels like rejection, being forsaken.  It would be so easy to throw up my arms and say “I quit!  I’ve done all I can … and still it doesn’t seem to be enough!"  But you know what?  Those words just won’t come out of my mouth.  Because … well, because this really isn’t about me – or you.  It’s about God and His work in us.  It’s about turning ashes into beauty.  About transforming trials into triumph.  About NEVER giving up!  About fighting battles in the heavenly realms – and coming out the conquerors!  Disappointments come.  And they can go, in Jesus’ Name!  I believe this is about setting all else aside and taking a good hard look at the nitty-gritty of faith and trust.  Will we throw in the towel when all else seems to be coming apart at the seams?  Or will we take a full body-heart-n-soul plunge and follow our Lord God at all costs?  Even when it doesn’t make sense to us!  Yes!  Help us to remember, Lord, that our trials and tests contain our most longed-for treasures.  Help us to pursue them with passion and fervor, running towards them, clothed in the complete head-to-toe armor of God!  Will this pursuit of following God’s ways through the thick and thin be worth it all in the end?  Of course it will.  But how we need God’s empowering and strength to stand in the gap and not grow weary.  Sometimes we ask, ‘What do You want from me, Lord?  Where do You want me to go?  You know our hearts.  We’re just asking You to show us.  You’ve never, ever failed us … why would we think You would fail us now?’  We thought we were depending on You, God.  But if You thought we were depending on others or things – and You’ve chosen to strip that all away, then by Your grace and Your mercy we beseech You to help us see things like You see them.  We ever, only, and always want YOU to be glorified in our lives.  Though imperfect and lacking, yet we choose to exalt You above all else.  What else can I say, Lord?  Help me to just sit back and be quiet – and listen to what You are telling me.  Help us to realize, Father, that we can trust You to be God, even when we don’t understand.  We will listen.  We will declare Your Word and we will stand on Your promises.  We will stand firmly and resolutely in the place You have called us to.  With Your help, we will not waver.  We will … ‘Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all (manner of) prayer and entreaty.  To that end (we will) keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated people).’  Ephesians 6:18.  So now, we will rest in You.  We know you have it all in control!  We are Yours … to do with as You wish!  Use us, Lord!”  Someone else?  Or me?  God answers all of us!!!
 
IN A NUTSHELL . . .
 
WE WELCOME Maria and Lori who came to visit and worship with us recently.  May God bless you both, we pray!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY WISHES to our granddaughter, Lindsay, on her 12th birthday on October 3rd!  We love you and pray for God’s best in your life always!  And special birthday wishes to little Emilynn on October 6th!  God bless you!
 
SUN, SEP 30:  10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP with a message about “Victorious Living – Can we have it?”
SUN SEP 30:   11:15 A.M. – KINGDOM CONNECTION CLASSES & CHILDREN’S PUPPET MINISTRY!
WED, OCT 03:  7:00 P.M. – MID-WEEK BIBLE STUDY in the book of James / 905 EL Dorado St SE in Owatonna
SUN, OCT 07:  10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP / 11:15 A.M. – KINGDOM CONNECTION CLASSES for all ages!
 
PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . . Johnnie & Cherry, Jimmy & Nancy, Julia, Tina, Kay, Shirley, our church family, Lundstroms, Seykoras, our nation, our military personnel, our students, for righteousness in each of us!
REMEMBER . . . “We have a God who delights in impossibilities.”  (unknown)  “When all else is gone, God is left and nothing changes Him.”  ~ Hannah Whitall Smith
 
 
Serving Christ Joyfully,
 
 
Pastor Doug and Debbie

 

 

  

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