Thursday, August 29, 2013

ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

 
REFLECTIONS!  The passing of time somehow motivates one to reflect on yesterdays, today, and yes, even our tomorrows.  Within days – a flip of the daily calendar page will burst into a celebratory tune announcing to me that I am a year older.  I will happily retort back and say that I am really just one day older!  At the moment I am running an instant replay of our summer months because they’ve just about filled the DVD of memories – there is only a tiny bit of blank recording space remaining.  I thought it would be good to take a sneak peek review of what filled the time on that disc.  Sometimes we feel like we could summarize it all in a few words, such as:  we worked, we ate, we slept.  That, of course, would not be very interesting.  The truth is that God has infused an abundance of living into these summer days of ours.  Lest I confuse anyone with a mere rattling off of events and happenings, I am underlining the fact that a thread of God’s love and faithfulness is stitched in a continuous line through each moment of each day.  We could not have … would not have wanted to live these days without His blessings and favor and injected joy!  As the last few days of wintery spring hung on with a vengeance, we were filled with great anticipation of less hectic, more relaxed days to come, and I remember asking something of God.  “Lord, our hearts long for more ministry.  I know we have all these jobs to help support ourselves, but Lord, just bring more ministry to us.  Use us more than ever before!”  Asking, I had no idea how God would answer.  Our days were already filled with work and ministry and keeping connected with our long-distance families.  We would write-in time with each other and with God, knowing that if we did not purposely commit to those sacred times they would cease to exist.  And then the most important things in God’s plan for us would become just a distant memory.  And so, we leaped into the dawning of summer with excitement and expectation!  What did God bring to us?  More than we could have imagined or hoped for!  Without a clue that it was coming, suddenly God poured into both of our lives requests for one-on-one counseling, and we embarked on a rich time of leaning on God for needed wisdom and discernment.  What we had hoped to sow into the lives of those who came to us, turned around and blessed the socks off of us.  Those times of prayer and study and research birthed transformations that not only brought godly change in the lives of those who came, but in our own lives!  We could hardly wait for the next session!  Then there was a morning that God placed a distraught man in front of us.  He stated that he was going to take his life and described exactly how he was going to do it.  Pleading with him to give us a chance to help, offering him the kind of real hope that comes from a loving Father in Heaven … we began bringing others on board to help him see that he did have a future.  It has taken all summer, but tomorrow he will begin living “day one” as a free man – literally.  The beauty of it is that though he has lived behind locked doors for years now, transformation came the moment we re-introduced him to the Jesus he had known as a child at the feet of a godly mother.  Suddenly he could see that God had actually carried him all these years … that God walked him down the hallway to the place where his destructive plan of suicide was intercepted.  Saved, not just physically, but spiritually – for eternity!  Yes, we could write a book about the people God has allowed to cross our paths this summer.  We have even been blessed to open our home to several delightful, precious people who needed a place to stay – for a night … or a week … or a weekend.  I think God frequently recalls that once upon a time we told Him that our house was really HIS house, and we wanted to use it and share it for His purposes.  He loves ringing our front desk and letting us know that someone will be coming to check in.  Again, I think we are more blessed than those who come to stay – because Jesus is always a part of the visit!  And summer would not be complete without the fun visits with our own children and grandchildren – times to cherish and hold close to our hearts.  We pack the hours with everything we can think of – including those times of infectious laughter, childhood stories, and the quieter, sitting around moments, and finally tucking the little ones in with bedtime stories and prayers to Jesus. We speak love and affirmation into each other’s lives, and love seeing how God is using these next generations to follow.  There is much to praise our Heavenly Father for as we listen and share our hearts.  Stories of divine leading, incredible favor, special protection – and more, remind us that we are not only family – but we are a family in Christ, and God continues to be at work in each of us!  Reflecting on what God has done this summer is a powerful springboard that propels us into this next season and year to come!  Struggles – did we have any struggles?  Oh yes, some crazy, super difficult ones!  But that thread of faithfulness ran right through those dark times to victory – because we refused to accept and hang on to hurt and anger and defeat.  We’ve gotten a glimpse of how God sees our times … and that’s how we want to live them out!  Hey, go get a pen and paper – and start reflecting on what God has done in you, for you, and through you this summer!
 
 
 
IN A NUTSHELL . . .
 
 A SPECIAL WELCOME to Jessica and family, and to Michael – who worshipped with us for the first time this past Sunday!  God bless you!
 
 
THIS SUNDAY, SEP 01:
10:00 A.M. - PRAISE & WORSHIP
10:30 A.M. - KIDZONE CHURCH
 
NEXT SUNDAY, SEP 08:
10:00 A.M. - PRAISE & WORSHIP / COMMUNION
10:30 A.M. - KIDZONE CHURCH
11:30 A.M. - CHURCH LUNCHEON/MEETING to follow service . . .
Invite someone to come and share the morning in church with you ...
they might just find Elevation North to be the church home they have been searching for!
 
 ELEVATION NORTH SPOTLIGHT!
 MARK NEXT SUNDAY on your calendar!  September 8th will be our FALL MINISTRY KICK-OFF as we highlight the ministries for the upcoming 2013-2014 fall/winter/spring schedule!  God is growing us in every way, and we long to go deeper with Him.  Our heartbeat is to be the church that God has planned for us to be – so be in prayer about how He would want you to be involved this coming year!  How can you serve Him?  Plan to join us for praise and worship, for the church luncheon that follows (see sign-up sheet for the food list), and for the short, informative meeting that will take place during the meal-time.  Each of you are important to God … and to the life of Elevation North!  We are excited about what God is doing!  See you there!
 
REMEMBER . . .”And 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.”  2 Corinthians 3:18 
 
 
Serving Christ Joyfully . . .
 
 
Pastor Doug and Debbie
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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