Elevation North has News for YOU!

THREADS OF HOPE. Sometimes I just want to lace up the lives of hurting people with threads of hope … I want to stitch up their cuts and tie up their brokenness. I want to bind up their wounds and pull together the shredded ribbons of their discarded dreams into one big beautiful bow. Tonight I listened to the words of a young man who sounded as if he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. It was easy to sympathize and feel compassion … for he was only verbalizing what most of the teens in this world feel. He could be their mouthpiece. We would expect to shoulder these responsibilities on our adult shoulders, but not expect one yet so young to be weighted down with such major cares. Whatever has happened to living carefree in a simpler lifestyle? Has it really become obsolete? A thing of the past? Does life have to be so complicated? When did time come to be something that we never seem to have enough of? When did money come to be in such short supply, though all everyone seems to do is work? When did sleep become a luxury? And when did hope seem to run out? Simply put … because at some point we started to believe the lies of the world. We need this. We want that. We deserve it. So we got it. Then began the ensnaring trap of the enemy, weaving around us a choking web of debt and work and fatigue. The all-too-easy credit game enlarged the web until it held captive those who were deceived by it. With the credit lines came the media blitzes that advertised everything from A to Z that would make us bold and beautiful and rich and powerful. Oh yes, and happy, they said. The web became a noose that nearly sucked the life out of many a victim. One generation struggled to break free from the stronghold of debt once they saw the revealing truth … but before they managed to return to the simpler way of living debt-free – the hold had trickled down to the next generation. And while many of them realized their weaknesses with spending everything they earned, they didn’t know what to do about it. Some saw their parents’ lives unravel at the seams. That left them wishing for a better life, but fraying thin at their own seams. Spiraling out of control, there is only one way to fix it all. There is no time like the present for jumping off the bandwagon of jaded living … and getting on board with God’s plan for usto live happy and free. Making sacrifices now will enable us in the future to live like we’ve always hoped to. Simply, responsibly, happily … and debt-free! And yes, it is possible. Hundreds, even thousands have accomplished this worth-while feat in God-honoring ways. There IS hope! And there IS help! And you know what the best part of living free of debt and stress as God’s people is? We will have the time and resources to do even greater things for God’s Kingdom!!! I really believe that God’s wants US as His children to be the lenders … not the borrowers! After all, our Father in Heaven has the riches of this world at His disposal, so why should we be enslaved by the indebtedness of this old world?? Young and old alike … there IS hope for yoursituation – don’t EVER give up!!! Start your new way of living TODAY … and your tomorrows will be threaded with HOPE!

A SPECIAL WELCOME to Amanda who has joined us in worship for the first time these past few weeks!
BELATED BIRTHDAY WISHES to Rogelio who celebrated on February 13th!

SUN, FEB 19: 10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP – MESSAGE – “Commitment After the Call!”
SUN, FEB 19: 11:15 A.M. – KINGDOM CONNECTION / Sunday School Classes & Puppet Ministry!
SUN, FEB 19: SPECIAL FUNDRAISER for little Kira Taylor who has leukemia; Pancake Breakfast until 1:00 p.m.
WED, FEB 22: 6:30 P.M. – ASH WEDNESDAY beginning a 7-week study of “Christ’s Final Words on the Cross”
SAT, FEB 25: 5:00 P.M. – COUPLES DINNER OUT @ Porterhouse Steakhouse; meet at church to car-pool
SUN, FEB 26: 10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP – MESSAGE – “Choices of Maturity!”

PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . . Hazel, Justin, Kira, Gerard, Lundstroms, Seykora’s, and a passion to reach the lost
REMEMBER . . . “To hope means hoping when things are hopeless, or it is no virtue at all.” ~ G. R. Chesterton

Joyfully Serving Christ,

Pastor Doug and Debbie