Wednesday, June 26, 2013

ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

 
THE KINGDOM DREAM!  Have you ever heard of it?  Or do you know what it is?  Well, how about the American dream?  I know you’ve heard of that!  You probably would say that the American dream is to own your own home, have a job or a business that pays your bills, and allows you to enjoy some family trips or outings now and then.  Sounds good, right?  Not asking too much out of life, right?  But because somewhere in the past decades, the definition of the American dream got changed, it’s difficult to even realize the first dream that was set in people’s hearts.  For years now, when the dream was elusive or took too much work to see it become a reality … the financial institutions tempted everyone with the credit carrot at the end of the stick – hoping we’d reach out and grab it!  And did we … most every American has at one time or another become prey to the destruction that abuse of credit employs.  Deception will never bring dreams to reality.  Americans began to believe the lies of media and advertising, buying up everything in sight that they were told would bring happiness and success.  We know how that story ends.  And so we Americans keep on striving and struggling, until out of sheer fatigue and disillusionment, we join King Solomon in repeating his favorite phrase in the book of Ecclesiastes.  “Meaningless!  Meaningless! Utterly meaningless!  Everything is meaningless.”  Why do you suppose that describes the emotional state of so many today?  Because enough is never enough.  And in the crazy pursuit of “more” – at some point it all just becomes empty and futile, fleeting and worthless.  You see, there is only meaning and purpose to what we do or what we obtain, if it is connected to God and His Kingdom dream for us.  Chasing dreams apart from God will only leave us feeling out of breath – physically, mentally, and emotionally – and most of all, spiritually.  The most valuable and necessary part of the equation for attaining any dream is making God number one on the list.  It’s making Him our highest priority.  Our Business Partner.  Our Financial Broker.  Our Relationship Counselor.  Our Advisor.  Our Mentor.  Our Agenda Scheduler and Family-Trip Planner.  Our “go-to” Person for everything we do.  Only when we make God our Lord in every area of our lives, do we see our dreams growing into more than just a dream.  So when these Kingdom dreams take shape, just what do they look like?  Well, perhaps something like this!  The foundation of the Dream is our decision to invite Christ to be our personal Savior and Lord.  That allows us to build solid life principles on a foundation that cannot be shaken – even in today’s messed up economy!  After all, we live in God’s economy, you know, so we can stop worrying!  Has He ever stopped taking care of us or providing for us?  Even when we were down to our last penny?  Here we are, after all … which proves His unfathomable faithfulness!  HE is our safety deposit box!  God’s purpose for us is another part of the dream:  “that we will be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that we may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that we may know the mystery of God namely, Christ, in whom are hidden the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”  (Colossians 2:2-3)  All we need now or ever will need is in Christ – if we will only pursue Him and seek His heart.  Part of the dream is that we will “live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as we were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”  (Colossians 2:7)  The Kingdom dream is that we will not be timid or weak or fear-filled; but rather bold and strong and confident.  Our freedom from things that enslave us are part of the dream, as well:  “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”  (2 Corinthians 3:17)  Is our happiness part of God’s Kingdom dream?  Listen to this:  “But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful.”  (Psalm 68:3)  I’d say that the Kingdom dream far surpasses the American dream – even the good old-fashioned one!  The dream even carries with it the bonus of hope for eternity because our “citizenship is in Heaven” (Philippians 3:20), and “having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:7) The writer, C.S. Lewis penned these poignant words, which I will use to help wrap up my thoughts on God’s Kingdom dream for us:  “If there is some deep longing within that nothing on earth can satisfy, it’s because we were made for a different world:  HEAVEN!”  I say a whole-hearted “AMEN” to that!!! 
 
 
 
IN A NUTSHELL . . .
 
A SPECIAL WELCOME to Doug who worshipped with us for the first time this past Sunday!  May God bless you!
 
 
SUN, JUN 30:
10:30 A.M. - PRAISE & WORSHIP
10:30 A.M. - KIDZONE CHURCH
THU, JUL 04:
A BLESSED INDEPENDENCE DAY TO ALL!
Enjoy the day with family and friends, and be sure to thank those you know who have protected our freedoms through their military service!
NEXT SUNDAY, JUL 07:
10:00 A.M. - PRAISE & WORSHIP with Communion
10:30 A.M. - KIDZONE CHURCH
 
 
ELEVATION NORTH SPOTLIGHT!
This week we want to highlight God’s faithfulness to us as a church!  We have seen God’s hand of leading and blessing upon us as a church family from the very start … though each new chapter has been a huge leap of faith for us!  The great part about that is that we will never be able to take credit for what is accomplished through the ministry of Elevation North!  It’s definitely ALL because of our God!  As we again have stepped out in faith to do what we sensed God leading us to do in this recent expansion, we encourage you to prayerfully seek God to see what He enables you to do to help us meet these added expenses!  What a privilege to be able to be a part of such an exciting opportunity to minister to each person that God brings to us! 
 
REMEMBER . . . “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.” ~ Matthew 6:33  
 
 
 Serving Christ Joyfully . . .
 
 
Pastor Doug and Debbie
 

 

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