ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

FROM ABANDONED TO ECSTATIC!  From the most unimaginable feeling of being totally forsaken … to the most unimaginable feeling of total triumph and indescribable joy.  That must be what Jesus felt.  Yes, before the cross – and every excruciating moment He hung there.  And yes, after the cross – sensing the lifeblood pulse through His veins once again and walking out of that tomb.  Leaving it empty behind Him.  Facing a world that would never, ever be the same because He arose from a death that could not keep Him.  What an amazing experience that would spill out of that joyous, victorious moment down through the ages, from century to century, and beyond time as we know it … even into Eternity!  Experiences I cannot begin to fathom, hard as I try.  My mind and my heart just cannot wrap themselves around such excruciating and such ecstatic emotions.  The span is so extreme from one to the other.  Try as I might, it’s impossible to comprehend a love that would willingly take on the pain and suffering that He did – for me.  What did He see in me that would cause Him to submit to such horrific sorrow and pain?  In moments of doubt and questions, I can’t help but understand that there must be something of priceless value in me that would compel Him to give His very lifeblood to rescue me and save me!  Hosanna!  Hallelujah!  What I can grasp is that He would not have wasted His very life.  He knew that giving it for me … and for you, was worth every drop of blood.  My mind begins to spin again with a million “whys” and “whats” – just what did You see in us that would make you bear the beating, carry the cross, stumble up the hill, endure the humiliation, let the soldiers nail You to that splintered cross, sweat drops of blood, and breathe Your last breath?  Why?  What for?  I know You knew that we could never be good enough or get it right enough times to pay for a ticket to heaven.  Suddenly I catch a glimpse of that sparkle in Your beautiful eyes that looked on a redeemed mankind as you walked out of that grave on that third day.  Your eyes are creasing wider as a smile breaks forth on Your face … for you see the Hope you have brought to us!  And there’s no feeling like that of saving Your children and knowing that Your life would bring us the Gift of all gifts – a life with You forever in our heavenly home!   You must have shone with an almost-blinding radiance as You exited that place of cold and darkness … knowing that death no longer held any power over You, or over us as Your children, for that matter!  Did You skip down the garden path with a heart of celebration and praise to Your Father?  Your sacrifice was complete and heaven resounded with a multitude of angels singing a new song of victory that could not be debuted before this moment in time!  You peered into the future and saw us celebrating, too!  You saw that we finally get it … we live because You live.  We win because You won the battle over sin and sickness and death.  We can be victorious because You’ve already taken on Satan – and came out of hell victorious.  We will never be alone – because You’ve already spent time in that state of being forsaken so we wouldn’t have to.  The joys of that first Resurrection Sunday morning are ours on this Resurrection morn if we will accept them, experience them, and share in the ecstasy that our Lord is Risen!  He is Risen, indeed!  Walk with Him, your hand in His nail-scarred hand.  Walk in celebration and gratitude and victory.  Redemption is ours!

 

 

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

 

A SPECIAL WELCOME to Brian & Diane and to Mary, who worshipped with us for the first time this past Sunday!  God bless!

 

SUN, MAR 31^ST:                                                        

10:00 A.M. – RESURRECTION SUNDAY                                      

CELEBRATION w/fellowship to follow!                                        

No KIDZONE this week – will resume next week.                         

MON, APR 1^ST:                                                       

6:30 P.M. – RE:FUEL YOUTH                                                      

WED/THU, APR 3^RD/4^TH:                                              

7:00 P.M. – MID-WEEK BIBLE STUDIES                                   

See church calendar for locations!                                                         

SUN, APR 07:                                                           

10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP                                              

10:30 A.M. – KIDZONE CHURCH 


ELEVATION NORTH SPOTLIGHT! 
Our VINTAGE TEA for all ladies and girls is being planned for Saturday, April 27th, at 2:00 p.m. here at the church!  The entire event promises to lift your spirits and bring a smile to your face!  You are in for a true, vintage treat ... including Hazel's gourmet foods and refreshments, a powerful program starring a gifted dramatist and music that will cause your hearts to soar!  Please, please ... plan to invite family and friends that you want to see blessed and encouraged!  There will also be fun prizes and a generous dose of fellowship and laughter.  This event is free - no charge!


REMEMBER . . . “You are infinitely dear to the Father, unspeakably precious to Him.  You are never, not for one second, alone.” ~ Norman F. Dowty

 

“HOW GREAT IS THE LOVE THE FATHER HAS LAVISHED ON US THAT WE SHOULD BE CALLED CHILDREN OF GOD. AND THAT IS WHAT WE ARE!” ~ I John 3:1         

 

 

 

Serving Christ Joyfully . . .   

 

 

Pastor Doug and Debbie