ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

 

“WHEN GOD PUSHES YOU TO THE EDGE of difficulty, trust Him fully, because two things can happen.  Either He’ll catch you when you fall, or He will teach you how to fly.”  (Unknown quote)  I know that if I offered to sit down and listen to whoever crossed my path in one 24-hour period of time, I would most likely hear the words, “Yeah, there’s times I feel like I’m just about to go over the edge – and today is one of those times!”  You know what? I think because we are human, it’s easy for us to see only the difficulty.  Often our trials and tests can nearly engulf us, sweep us away, or pull us down.  They are the only thing on our mind.  Our vision cannot see beyond what’s coming at us full steam ahead.  And so often then, we feel defeated, or even worse, we are. But I have great news!  These difficulties will still come, whether God is pushing us – either to rescue us or stretch us, or whether they are the result of our own making.  Oops … that isn’t the great news – THIS is!  Thanksgiving Day is just around the corner, and while we celebrate it officially but one day a year, we CAN live in that attitude every day if we choose to.  And choosing to live a life of gratitude will allow our vision to zoom right past the edge of difficulty to seeing ourselves being caught on the way down – or seeing ourselves free-falling and then feeling the wind beneath our wings and soaring upward once again, flying above the difficulties!  We will concentrate on the inevitable positive outcome!   What was that?  Yes, I said exactly what I meant!  Inevitable positive outcome!  There’s a new twist for you.  Usually we think we can just about be guaranteed that nothing good is ever going to happen to us, and that if something bad is going to happen, it’s going to come our way.  So how can we rise above that way of thinking?  Well, I have more than just one solution for you … and actually they all end up being intertwined … and they come straight from God’s Word.  I’ve mentioned this before, but perhaps not recent enough that you’ve heard me talk about it.  But I so want to gift you with the once-and-for-all answer to KNOWING without a shadow of a doubt that when the tough times come, you can be fully assured that if you fall, you will be caught by the One that loves you more than you love yourself.  I so want you to never doubt when you feel yourself spiraling downward in an out-of-control fall, that God Himself will be there to swoop you up and teach you how to fly!  If you give yourself only those two options, how can you lose?  What’s the worst that could happen?  I’ll take those options any day – every day!  But … you say, “I’ve heard stuff like this before, and I just can’t do it.  I can’t think that way all the time.  I’m too much of a realist.  I see things as they are.”  Well then, still be a realist – but change what you’re looking at!  Look at the proof-positive options you’ve never looked at before.  They will be there whether you want to see them or not.  They will be available to you whether you want to take them or not.  Need more proof of how to be able to choose the best option when stuck between a rock and a hard place?  Listen up!  “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world.  On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.  We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”  (II Corinthians 10:4-5)  Did you catch that?  WE demolish arguments (between defeat and victory) and WE take captive every one of our thoughts (our negative thoughts, casting them down so they have to come into obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ!)  WE make the choice.  How’s that for a powerful option?!   God’s Word even tells us what to think about:  “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.”  (Philippians 4:8)  If we do this, THEN what happens?  Well, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”  (Romans 12:2a)  And of course, we know that a renewed mind creates a changed life!  You see our words in Christ create our lives!  It’s true … mull that over and see how that fits in with all of the scripture I’ve just shared with you!  I am so very thankful that as God’s children, we can “see” as He sees, and live above the struggles, with choices and options that allow us to live wholly transformed lives – rewarding beyond our wildest dreams … all for God’s glory! 

 

 

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

 

BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS are sent to Mary on the 21^st of this month, to Tina on the 23^rd, and to Connie on the 24^th!

 

SUN, NOV 18:  10:00 A.M. – SPECIAL THANKSGIVING PRAISE & WORSHIP w/potluck luncheon to follow!

SUN, NOV 18:  10:30 A.M. – KIDZONE CHILDREN’S CHURCH with Verla & Kelly/a time our kids don’t want to miss!

THU, NOV 22:  A BLESSED THANKSGIVING DAY to each of you and your families, from Pastor Doug and Debbie!  We are so grateful to God for YOU!

 

PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . . Marty & Kelly, Julie, Tina, Julia, Isaac, several unspoken needs, our nation, president and leaders, Lundstroms & Seykoras, and praises to God for new jobs for Randy and Jimmy! 

REMEMBER . . . “If we learn how to give of ourselves, to forgive others, and to live with thanksgiving, we need not seek happiness.  It will seek us.”  (Unknown)

 

 

Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

 

 

Pastor Doug and Debbie