“WHAT THE
CATERPILLAR CALLS THE END OF THE WORLD, THE MASTER CALLS A BUTTERFLY!” (unknown)
I love that quote, because so frequently when changes come – we feel
like our lives are being unraveled at the seams. I shared with our church family this past
Sunday another quote that speaks deeply to all of us who have ever had those
trying, tugging at, stretching-you-almost-past-your-limit-days! Sometimes the days turn into weeks or months
when situations just about sink us, and we almost-forget-to-turn-to-God when
we’re trying to figure out where to turn next!
I figured with some changes coming our way as a church in the next few
weeks (good changes – just presently unsettled!), that we could use a refresher
course on how to look at change. So
here’s the quote: “Maybe one day we’ll
see that the greatest setbacks in our lives were actually the greatest setups
to seeing God’s glory in places we didn’t even know to look!” (unknown)
When you think about the caterpillar before it becomes a butterfly,
there’s a whole uncomfortable thing going on.
What has become the norm is just about to fall away, and what was
somewhat comfortable is getting left behind.
There’s an ensuing struggle to get out of that cocoon wrapping that has
held it intact for a while now. But it
cannot stay in that spot any longer, or it will die. Its wings-to-be will never develop without
the struggle. Without the wriggling and
squirming and twisting and turning and pushing … the butterfly will never be a
full-fledged creature with beautiful, functioning wings. It will fall to the ground motionless, unable
to rise to its dance in the skies … and will die. So, let me ask you this: was the struggle really the end of the world
– just because it seemed that way, or felt that way? Or was it really the birthing of something
brand new and freedom-filled, with more functional potential than ever
before? You see, the Master can call the
caterpillar a butterfly, because He designed it to be that way – transformed
through change. Empowered because of the
struggle that took place during the change.
There’s the very beginning, the egg stage – which is the start of a new
life. Then comes the caterpillar – and
there’s a time of growth. Soon the
chrysalis or cocoon is spun – and a time of change takes place. In time, emerges the most wondrous butterfly
– the time for fruition and rebirth!
Each stage is necessary for there to be a butterfly. And in our church, I see the changes and
transformations emerging – one by one.
At the start, Elevation North was birthed out of the seed (egg) that God
planted in our hearts. Then came the slight
changes as we grew from home to garage to parks to motel meeting rooms to town
hall and finally to our present roomy space.
But circumstances have spun themselves around us like an ever-tightening
cocoon, until NOW is the time for the emergence to take place as we struggle
out of the chrysalis surroundings we’ve been in for a while. It’s almost time for the butterfly God
intended us to be to finally emerge with strong, breathtakingly beautiful wings
… strong because of the struggles, and ready to take flight – to take our place
in this world, just as God intended all along!
Are you ready for the metamorphosis?
We are! We are ready to take off
into the place – yet unknown, where God wants us to land, and be the
full-fledged creatures He intended us to be … beautiful in His sight and fully
functioning as we continue to make ourselves totally available to Him for His
intended use! Pray with us – that as
God’s church … “we who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are
being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes
from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (II
Corinthians 3:18) Hang on, dear people
of Elevation North, we’re about to go on the flight of our lives!
IN A NUTSHELL . . .
HAPPY BIRTHDAY WISHES to Lyndel and
to Chuck, who will both celebrate on October 12th; may God’s best be
yours!
SUN, OCT 07: 10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP focusing on
“Living Victoriously!” – part 3 / with COMMUNION
SUN, OCT 07: 10:30 A.M. – KIDZONE CHILDREN’S CHURCH with Verla ~ don’t miss out on this fun time
of learning!!!
WED, OCT 10: 7:00 P.M. – MID-WEEK BIBLE STUDY in the book of James / at
905 El Dorado St SE in Owatonna
THU, OCT 11: 7:00 P.M. – MID-WEEK BIBLE STUDY in the book of James / at
165 24th Place NW in Owatonna
SUN, OCT 14: 10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP – with a
special service being planned! More
details next week!
FRI, OCT 19-SAT, OCT 20: WOMEN OF FAITH CONFERENCE in St. Paul / ”Celebrate
what Matters … God Loves You!”
FRI, OCT 26: 7:00 P.M. - LADIES NIGHT OUT / Comedy Night with movie
snacks – bring a girlfriend or two or three!
PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . . Kelly,
Spence, Johnny, Jimmy, Maria, Julia, Shirley, Tina, Randy, our families, our
children and youth, our college students, wisdom for the upcoming election
decisions, our nation, our military, Seykoras, Lundstroms, unspoken needs,
revival in each of us and corporately in our church, and a new location for our
church home! We praise God for answers!
REMEMBER . . . “If I have inside me
the stuff to make a cocoon, maybe the stuff of butterflies is there, too!” ~ Trina Paulus
“May you grow to be as beautiful as
God meant you to be when He first thought of you!” ~ unknown
Serving Christ Joyfully . . .
Pastor Doug and Debbie
