ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

FOR YEARS SOMEONE HAS BEEN WRITING A NEW SCRIPT for the Christmas Story.  And, believe me, they have not been using the Bible as their resource for factual material.  Rather, they have spun the story with lines that have covered the scriptural account of Jesus’ birth with total dollar signs at the bottom of every retail, commercialized scenario!  And they have diminished the Greatest Gift of all to a mere tsunami of wishes and whims that they will receive the greatest number of material gifts that “plastic money” can buy!  How tragic and empty this is!  Travel with me back to 1993 when I penned these words – which I have updated to reflect the time and place that we now find ourselves.  “ ‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house . . . “, yes, you may know it well – perhaps you even recited this rhyme as a child.  As I write tonight, I have given this tale a different twist.  Come with me to church on Sunday morning.  And as I look out across the congregation, this is how my story begins . . .

                                                ‘Twas just weeks before Christmas, when all through the church,

                                                Jesus came to visit . . . our hearts to search. 

                                                The cross was hung by the altar with care,

                                                But we all knew that our Lord wasn’t there!

                                                The people were seated all snug in the pews . . .

                                                Listening to the missionary, as if on cue.

                                                Daddy in his suit and tie – and me in my new dress,

                                                Had just settled in for a long sermon, we confess.

                                                Then out in the congregation there came such a hush,

                                                I sprang from my spot – but there was no rush.

                                                Back to my seat I went in a flash . . .

                                                No one had stirred or even moved – some looked aghast!

                                                The sun on the panes of stained window glass,

                                                Gave a ray of light that o’er the center aisle did pass.

                                                When Who to my amazement, should appear . . .

                                                But a tall, robed Man – He came so near.

                                                Dressed in shining white, with eyes of love,

                                                I knew in a moment it was my Lord from Above!

                                                Slowly He moved past you and past me,

                                                And He read our hearts . . .  and I knew He could see.

                                                “Now, Pastor Doug!  Now, Debbie!  Now, all of you within!

                                                On, you people of Elevation North – born in sin!

                                                To the Word of the Lord!  Fall on your knees and call!

                                                Now, pray away!  Pray away!  Pray away, all!

                                                As dry leaves that before the wild winds fly,

                                                Our weaknesses and hurts mount to the sky.

                                                So we bowed our heads low, knowing He knew all,

                                                With the Calvary load, we caused Him to fall.

                                                And then in a twinkling, I heard Him move,

                                                The fears He calmed and the guilt He removed.

                                                I pressed to get closer, and was turning around . . .

                                                He touched me and filled me; my life now abounds!

                                                He was dressed in flowing white, from His head to His feet,

                                                His clothes no more stained by the blood of our sins.

                                                A bundle of joys He had flung on His back . . .

                                                And His eyes were filled with glee, for the Gifts in His pack!

                                                His eyes . . . how they twinkled!  His words said, “Come!”

                                                His touch was so gentle – His power so awesome.

                                                Nail-scarred hands and feet mark the Father’s Gift,

                                                And now He’s come to see if we’ve gone adrift.

                                                In His pack was forgiveness, and He urged each one

                                                To unwrap all the Gifts – to leave none undone.

                                                A wink of His eye, and a nod of His head,

                                                Soon gave us reassurance that by His Spirit we’re led.

                                                He spoke not a word, but looked at those in the pew . . .

                                                And healed all the hearts and made them new.

                                                And reaching His arms toward Heaven, His Home,

                                                He reminded us never more to roam.

                                                He looked longingly into our souls – yours and mine – back and forth,

                                                Sometimes disappointed, sometimes pleased, by us at Elevation North.

                                                But I hear Him exclaim as He ascends Heavenward . . .

                                                “I am the Reason for the Season . . .

                                                Be ready for My Return –

                                                A Blessed Christmas to all,

                                                Pray away, pray away all!”

-       Adapted from “The Night Before Christmas”

By Clement C. Moore, into my own personal version,

Just for you this Christmas, (1993) and now (2014)

The words burned deep in my heart as I returned to reality:  the stark reality of God’s Gift of His Son in a manger – the One Who would hang on the Cross – gift-wrapped for you and me . . . the stark reality of the lost around the world who receive the Gift of the Gospel, that is, if someone is willing to go and present it to them . . . the stark reality of “us” sitting in the pew, listening to the “Gift” of God (His Word) week after week – and what do we do with that Gift?  Do we accept it and unwrap it and live it and share it?  How I pray we do!  In these days we live in, we can afford to do nothing less, my precious friends!  You know, God does visit us at Elevation North, every Sunday – just like in my story!

You can be sure that this year, the night before Christmas, Christ will come and visit you . . . whether at home, in church, or out for a winter’s evening stroll.  Invite Him to walk with you and talk with you.  If you already know Him, it will be a wondrous gift of intimate conversation!  If you’re still wandering and roaming, He will be asking if He can stop in and bring you His most special Gift ever – the Gift of Eternal Life.  Please accept it, unwrap it, live it and share it!  It’s a Life-Saver . . . packaged with your name on it.  Open it now – just in time for Christmas!

REMEMBER . . .

God’s Gift-Book (His Holy Word) tells us, “Be joyful always; pray continually, give thanks … “  
(I Thessalonians 5:16-18a)

And my Christmas wish for you is this:  “May God Himself, the God of peace, 
sanctify you through and through.

May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The One who calls you is faithful and He will do it.”  
(I Thessalonians 5:23-24)

And finally, my Christmas Story echoes these words:  “Pray away, pray away all!”

Serving Christ Joyfully . . . 

Pastor Doug and Debbie

ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

SOMETIMES MY HEART NEARLY BURSTS because I am a child of the Living God!  If I had the time I could write a book telling the world of the amazing journey it has been to call God “my Daddy!”  Every single occurrence in my life has been orchestrated by the God of the universe and yet He has been so approachable and so kind and loving that I have never had a doubt that He was also “my Daddy!”  Is it disrespectful to think of the Lord God of Israel as “our Daddy”?  No … on the contrary, His Word itself tells us this:  “ … those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.  For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.  And by him, we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’  The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.”  (Romans 8:14-16)  That makes Him “our Daddy.”  For those who have a close relationship to God, this phrase is expressive of their love and adoration and close connection and intimacy.  But for those who do not have this “Daddy/child” relationship, it is no wonder that they often feel distant from God, even disconnected – or they act as if they are “scared” of Him.  That’s so sad – because God wants to be approachable.  He wants us to show reverence and to honor His divinity, because after all, He is God!  But He does not want His supernatural nature to keep us at arm’s length or to frighten us off!  The relationship He has ordained for us is far beyond our comprehension and wildest imagination!  There are people who shiver and shake in the presence of presidents and world leaders - and these same people faint at the sight of a rock star or sports star.  And they don’t even know them personally!  How I love that we can know our God personally and so intimately that it becomes as natural as breathing to call Him, “Daddy!”  To try to grasp that He loved us so very much that He would even think of sending His only Son as the sacrifice for our sins, much less carry it out – is nearly impossible for our human minds.  And to pay such a great price only reinforces all the more what a great love He truly has for us!  When someone loves with such a perfect and magnificent love even though they know all our sins and failures and limitations – even our worst ugliness; that is a love that compels us to look beyond the love to the Lover … the Lover of our souls!  How can we not be in love with Him?  How can we not tell Him a million times a day that we love Him?  How can we not make Him a part of absolutely everything we think or say or do?  He already knows what we will think and say and do – but He wants us to make Him the biggest part of it as we plan to live out our next breath, our next hour, or day.  He came so we wouldn’t have to do things on our own.  Even His Name states that “He is WITH us!”  Emmanuel – means “God with us!”  Because we are bought with His blood, we are His!  Wouldn’t you love to know that you can have Him with you in every delightful and joyous celebration?  Wouldn’t you love to know that He is with you as you walk into the toughest circumstances and struggles?  Wouldn’t you love to know that in our deepest sadnesses and hurts, He is already there, waiting to put His arm around our shoulders and walk us through those crushing times?  Perhaps you already know this.  I hope so!  But, do you believe it?  What would happen to your life and how you are living it, if you were able to “see and feel and know and believe” that there is nothing you will ever encounter in any 24-hour period for the rest of your life – that God is not there … for YOU!  He’s got your back!  It says, also in His Word, “What, then, shall we say in response to this?  If God is for us, who can be against us?” These words in Romans 8:31, spill over into the verses that follow, and remind us that the same God who did not spare His Son for us, graciously gives us all things and intercedes for us!  We are told that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.  We just have to be convinced of that, dear ones!  We are on an amazing life-journey, from birth to eternity, and God wants us to live it filled with as much of His presence and power as we choose to invite and receive from Him.  How many days will you struggle through by yourself?  Better yet, how many days will you be convinced that God has your life in His control and that He and you can handle whatever comes your way?  All you have to do is call out to “your Daddy!”  He is listening and more than ready to live out your everyday life with you in supernatural ways!  That’s what I choose!  Will you join me?  You have a special invitation – from me, and more importantly, from God, “our Daddy!”  I hope you see Him that way today!  It will make your heart nearly burst!  With JOY!

REMEMBER . . .

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,

neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth,

nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God

that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

~ Romans 8:37-39   

Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

WHAT TIME IS IT?  The minutes are ticking away, and with Thanksgiving just around the corner, there is so much to be done!  And never enough time to do it in!  Or so it seems.  With all that has been a part of our lives these past weeks and months, God is ever reminding me that He will always provide the exact amount of time to accomplish ALL that HE wants us to do!  Most likely not everything on MY list – but HIS list!  There are times when He strengthens me as I “burn the midnight oil” – and there are times when He pushes me down the hall and into my bed!  Lesson learned:  schedules and lists are changeable … and my rested body is a much better vessel for God to use the next day.  God can more easily show His glory through a “rested me” than a “frazzled, frustrated me!”

What time is it?  It’s time to listen to God’s idea to thumb through hundreds of penned manuscripts from years ago and share something that resonates in my heart that He gave me back then.  Sometimes the intensity of recent days can leave my mind reeling.  So God, I give in.  You show me how to condense this writing from another time in my life and make it relevant for where we are in this place! 

What time is it?  It’s almost time to enjoy a bounteous Thanksgiving feast with family and friends … but first, it’s time to drink in.  It’s time to drink that precious spiritual water that flows from God’s Word.  And with God’s idea, I am going back in time to share what one of God’s chosen vessels challenged us with nearly twenty years ago at a conference in Grand Rapids. Michigan.  With God’s anointing on his lips, our evening speaker said. “It is time for God’s glory to be shown!”  Rev. John DeVries, President of Mission 21 in India, shared some challenging thoughts that I want to share with you!  He stated that if we look around us, we’re quickly reminded that every decade since the 1950’s, the natural disasters in our world have doubled.  That, in itself, brings heartache and discouragement and fear.  Challenge:  we need to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus – not on the devil!  Talking about circumstance and worship, DeVries said, “We don’t worship – or put God to the test – because things are so bad … but because the Father is so great!  God is standing there waiting for us to come to Him and say, ‘Daddy, we need You to fix things on our street.  We told everyone You could, because You’re so great!’”  What if … just what if … we would pray like that – because after all, we do believe it, right?  Or do we really?  If we do, then we need to act on it!  Our speaker continued to share that God’s instructions always come with a touch of irrationality.  After all, who else would have thought of spitting on the ground, making mud with the saliva, and then using it to heal the blind man’s eyes?  (John 9:1-7)  God doesn’t fit human logic!  God also doesn’t need spiritual marketing!  He wants His church to move by His Spirit, so the world will see that it is God’s church!  DeVries made the bold, but true statement that we in America don’t pray like we should.  We don’t pray like the Christians in persecuted nations around the world.  They pray in a deeper dimension of faithfulness, commitment, fervency, and expectancy.  And what we need to know is that when we pray – God works – and things change, people change, we change!  We don’t need big plans and strategies – we need to pray! 

What time is it?  It’s time to pray in our community, to realize that we are living stones for one purpose – to be cemented together in spiritual houses,  God’s glory will shine through us into our community!  Suddenly we will see lives changed and transformed.  We will see His wonders.  We can pray like those in persecuted countries, if we just will!  What time is it?  It’s time to start saying, “My Dad can fix it!  Let’s go tell Him.  Let’s let everybody on the street know how great He is!”

What time is it?  It’s time to go to the people!  Do we think just inviting someone to come to church or to come to God will fix it?  Dr. DeVries reminded us that Jesus didn’t invite us to Heaven, He came to earth to us!  He wore our flesh, our clothes.  He expects us to do the same; not to invite the people, but to go to them.  We must flip open the door, and let the gospel flow.  God will do the work if we focus and not flounder!  Lesson, re-stamped upon my heart:  “One of the greatest temptations of the devil is to tell us we are called to do the good God hasn’t called us to do, so we will be so busy – that we won’t have the time to do what God has called us to do”  God’s blueprint!  We need it before we can begin – our day, our work, our plans!  I challenge you as I was challenged:  “Go with power.  Go with dignity.  Make your spiritual walk continuous, not an event.  Continuous ministry in prayer!  Become a living stone – build a new house of prayer!”

What time is it?  It’s time!  Time to be a vessel built into a spiritual house – that shines forth the glory of God!

REMEMBER . . .

“As you come to Him, the living Stone – rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to Him –

you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood,

offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

For in Scripture it says: ‘See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone,

and the one who trusts in Him will never be put to shame.’”

~ I Peter 2:4-6

Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

FROM SURVIVAL TO REVIVAL!  Good catch-phrase, huh?  Oh, but wrong!  It is SO much more than that! It is a way of life that we all seek, because many times in our lives, we are definitely in survival mode!  People are just hanging on for dear life, trying to make it from one day to the next.  But dear ones, God has SO much more for us than that kind of bare-bones living.  God comes to pour some water on us and soak our roots down and revive us back to life.  He comes to carefully put us back together with some of His supernatural brand of God-glue.  He breathes life back into our dry and brittle and fragile emotions.  And He didn’t just come to give us life – but a revived life to help us live and flourish in joy and blessings and victory!  Every October, I consider it a spiritual highlight in my life when I am able to attend the Women of Faith Conference in St. Paul.  It’s difficult to describe – you have to experience it to understand the amazing blessings that come from God while there!  So picture this:  an arena packed with thousands and thousands of women who have been eagerly awaiting this time in the presence of Almighty God!  What I so love, is that God and God alone is exalted.  No one seeks glory of their own, and so God is glorified!  Speakers and musicians shared God-anointed messages and music, and worship is central to all that takes place!  Our hearts are lifted in praise and adoration to our God, and He is honored above all else!  Come curl up in a comfy chair and not an arena seat – and listen to some of what we heard and received into our spirits!  Pete Wilson, pastor from Cross Point Church in Nashville, posed a question to us in light of Genesis 37.  He asked, “What would you do if you were absolutely confident that God was with you?”  He reminded us that we have this illusion of control in our lives.  But … we cannot control our lives.  God can.  And does.  Take a look at the life of Joseph in that chapter:  it was a roller coaster of good news and bad news.  Most people relate this to God either being with them – or not being there.  But I love this poignant statement:  “God is MOST powerfully present even when it FEELS like He is apparently absent.”  You see, the Lord was WITH Joseph – and He is WITH us!  Even in the struggles!  Just because God is with us, doesn’t mean that our lives will turn out the way we think they will.  How do we respond when things turn out differently?  Do we feel like it’s more difficult to remain faithful to God – even when it seems like He’s not faithful to us and we feel abandoned by Him? We cry out to God so often not because we really want more of Him, but because of what we think He will give us.  What we should be saying is, “God, if You don’t give me one more thing – I still owe You everything!”  We think we see God’s pattern when something good happens.  Like in Genesis 40:14, when Joseph interpreted the dream for the chief butler while they were in prison together, and he begged him to remember him when he was released – to get him out!  But some verses later, here is the hurtling out-of-control part of the roller-coaster ride:  it says that the butler did not remember Joseph … he forgot him.  For some reason.  God could have done something.  But he didn’t.  In those moments, it’s the WHO in the WHY that counts.  In that moment when you are forgotten … in that moment when the pattern you saw and thought God was bringing to you crumbles into ashes … in that moment, can you still choose faith?  Can you still choose hope?  Is what you’re going through God’s will for your life?  Does our response to the situation make any difference?  MORE than you think!  And you know what?  We are not alone.  There are thousands like us!  You are not alone.  Your God is WITH you!  We must never forget that inside each of us – is belief and unbelief.  Inside each of us – is faith and doubt.  It’s up to us.  Which will we choose?  Your choice will simply and profoundly bring one of two results.  You choose unbelief and doubt – you will always be floundering just to survive.  You choose belief and faith – and you will always know that God is with you and He is working all things out for your good, for your revival and HIS glory!  More than anything at this moment, I challenge you to ask God to help you make the right choice!  A life of defeat – or a life positioned by God awaits!     

(notes taken from message at 2014 Women of Faith Conference)

REMEMBER . . .

“We are assured and know that (God being a partner in their labor) all things work together and are (fitting into a plan)

for good to and for those who love God and are called according to (His) design and purpose.”

~ Romans 8:28  

Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

GOD OF WONDERS … BEYOND OUR GALAXY!  Just a few nights ago as I stood outside looking up at the dark sky and the brilliant blood moon of October 8th, I was in complete awe at our Creator!  Seeing “God’s billboard in the sky” (as author, Pastor John Hagee has described the blood moons) just held me in pure amazement as I attempted to capture such a phenomenon in digital frames.  Having set my alarm at different times throughout the night, I would awaken and with camera in hand, step quietly through our house in the darkness so as not to disturb my sleeping husband!  The night was just warm enough so as not to be shivery, and my eyes would search the sky to see where the moon was hanging out.  Not having taken time to borrow a tripod for my camera, I would zero in on the most beautiful moon in all its different colors and stages of the lunar eclipse and hold my camera as still as I possibly could. The best images of the blood moon came into full clarity at 5:25 a.m. our time.  On one of my frequent visits out to the deck while it was still dark except for the light of the moon, I had scanned the sky and then set my eyes in focus – just transfixed on such a magnificent wonder planned by the God of the universe.  I stood there in the wondrous beauty of the night.  I stood there in the quietness of the hour.  And as I stood there amazed at this stunning sign in the sky … it was almost as if without thinking, I turned my body ever so slowly in a complete circle.  My head was tipped way back and my eyes suddenly drank in this panoramic view of heaven coming down to earth!  The backdrop of sky was velvety black with a translucence of moonbeams lighting up the view just enough to see the outlines of trees and rooftops.  But high up in the sky there was a heavenly dance going on that nearly took my breath away.  Every star that shone was larger than I’ve ever seen … they were hanging freestyle with a dazzling brilliance such as I’ve never seen … they looked as if they could just about pop out of the sky leaving just the darkness behind.  As I slowly circled around, my heart leaped within me at the intimate closeness of the presence of the living God!  His hand had already set this show in motion – this supernatural sign, and He did it up in a way that put any other counterfeit displays to shame!  As I moved around drinking in the sights, my camera hung on my shoulder unused.  My heart was burning with worship, and all I could speak were words of worship to my Creator.  I heard myself saying aloud in this most amazing sanctuary that I have ever been in:  “God of wonders – beyond our galaxy;  You are holy, holy.  The universe declares Your majesty and You are holy, holy.  Lord of heaven and earth; Lord of heaven and earth.”  These lyrics by Third Day begin with the verse that I have sung many times before:  “Lord of all creation, of water, earth and sky – The heavens are Your tabernacle. Glory to the Lord on high.”  And as I stood there in the silence of the night, there was an incredible sense that all of creation that night was worshiping right alongside me, declaring in total amazement:  “God of wonders – beyond our galaxy; You are holy, holy!”  I worshiped.  My heart sang.  My lips praised.  My eyes beheld.  I was enraptured.  I did not want to come back in the house.  I wanted to miss not a moment of this heavenly display.  And while the stars and moon and galaxies seemed to be in concert to the God of creation, I knew this was much more than a show.  And I am still studying and learning “why” this series of four blood moons that will appear in the space of a year and a half – from the first one we saw in April, 2014 to the final of the four that will appear in October of 2015 – has such astounding scriptural and prophetic meaning.  That, more than the beauty, is what compelled me to continue to make my way outdoors time and time again throughout the night.  I did not want to miss God’s billboard in the sky!  I knew He was trying to get our attention on this earth – that He was trying to tell us something.  Will we take notice and will we take time to study about what this means?  Of course, we can never begin to comprehend God’s infinite, mighty ways.  But we can watch for His signs.  We can search His Words and His ways.  And we can be listening for the sound of that trumpet when He comes to take us Home! 

REMEMBER . . .

“And there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars; and upon the earth (there will be) distress

(trouble and anguish) of nations in bewilderment and perplexity (without resources, left wanting, 

embarrassed, in doubt,

not knowing which way to turn) at the roaring (the echo) of the tossing of the sea,

men swooning away or expiring with fear and dread and apprehension and expectation of the things that are coming

on the world; for the (very) powers of the heavens will be shaken and caused to totter.

And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with great (transcendent and overwhelming) power

and (all His kingly) glory (majesty and splendor).

Now when these things begin to occur, look up and lift up your heads,

because your redemption (deliverance) is drawing near.”

~ Luke 21:25-28   

Serving Christ Joyfully .  . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

WHILE WE CANNOT FORETELL THE FUTURE – we definitely can proclaim the past!  While growing up as a little girl in North Dakota, I remember my mom stitching pretty designs on dishtowels.  A variety of colored threads joined together would bring the printed pattern on the cloth to life.  One chosen color of thread, though, would connect and define each separate part of the overall design until it became complete.  She would stitch the outline of a leaf or a flower or perhaps around a pretty cup and saucer – and when it was finished, the threads that ran through the fabric transformed a rather dull, white towel into a thing of beauty!  I know, I am r-e-a-l-l-y dating myself now, but that’s alright!  This story will help me make a point!  Today, decades later, God has shown me the beauty of another design imprinted not on fabric, but on many hearts over these past six years.  Then, it was my mom stamping the pattern on with heat.  Now, it has been God imprinting His divine design on Elevation North and our people.  Yes, sometimes with heat!  I cannot help but reminisce and remember the variety of colored threads He has stitched our past with when I think of the places He has taken us to.  Each place has been a different design and each time He has chosen just the right color of threads to stitch new people into His Kingdom pattern.  Looking back, as we’ve been moved through the wilderness from location to location, I can see the thread that God’s hand stitched with to hold us together.  We could so easily have unraveled at any point, especially when the changing of patterns became more costly.  We could so easily have given up when occasionally we had to allow God to rip out some of “our” stitches – so HIS design could remain intact.  We could so easily have decided that with the smaller numbers of our church family – we just couldn’t go on.  We could so easily have given in to the long, hard struggle to overcome circumstances that appeared to be insurmountable.  But there was that thread holding us together for the greater design that God saw when He took the very first stitch that created Elevation North out of nothing.  Our nothing!  God already saw the complete pattern and finished design.  For these past six years, we have been experiencing a multitude of stitches, and they are bringing to pass something so very beautiful!  I love the concept of seeing our God stitch – because no one can do it better than He can!  You see, He stitches with great love, and I fully believe that the color of the thread that has held us together is RED!  That’s the color of the blood of His precious Son, given for each one of us!  He has used that color abundantly, more than all the rest.  He has used the needle with the never-ending red thread to stitch up broken hearts and damaged lives.  He has washed our black threads of sin and rebellion and self-centeredness … and then when pulled through the eye of His needle, they stitched the word - “transformed!”  He used that red thread to stitch into the fallen and lost – redemption.  He used the red to stitch into the down and out – restoration.  He stitched red to remind the unloved – that He is the Lover of their souls.  He pulled His needle of red thread through those who were weak – to make them strong.  To the sick, the red thread gave stitches of healing.  To those chained in addictions, the red thread of His blood – brought total deliverance.  To those in despair - the stitches of red became their gift of hope.  Are you seeing the beautiful picture of the thread that runs through the very existence of Elevation North?  Are you getting a glimpse that each of us is stitched into this plan and design?  But, dear ones, it is not finished yet!  God still wants us to bring to Him as many as possible so that He can continue to stitch them into the fabric of His Kingdom for eternity!  There is power in the blood of the Lamb – and there is power in the thread of that blood that has kept Elevation North focused on Christ and His work on this earth!  Friends, WE get to be part of this exciting end-time revival that will bring in a harvest of souls!  After our long summer journey going from place to place, God’s thread of faithfulness is bringing us to this destination at 2002 Austin Road in the next few weeks.  Even as it is being prepared for worship, we sense the Spirit of God filling this place!  He has more for us to do!  May His love, His presence, and His power ever flow from our hearts – as He uses us and this place for His glory until He comes!

REMEMBER . . .

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins,

in accordance with the riches of God’s grace

that He lavished on us

with all wisdom and understanding.”

~ Ephesians 1:7-8 

Joyfully Serving Christ . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

GOD’S PLAN TO REACH THE WORLD!  Simple … or complicated?  Well, it’s much simpler for us when He uses us – than it was for Him when He sent His Son to die for a world lost in sin.  There is no comparison at all – not even one tiny iota of similarity.  God did His part, as did Jesus – a very long time ago.  They gave their all!  Now we get to be a part of His plan to reach the world.  And what do we do?  What part of us do we give?  In most scenarios, whatever we do, we tend to make His outreach plan way too difficult!  It should be as natural as breathing.  It should be as enjoyable as eating.  And it should be as comfortable as sharing the most exciting news ever … with whoever will listen!  God has always had a plan to reach the world.  That has never changed.  It’s just that the world has changed.  Immensely!  Our world is not the world our parents knew.  And our children’s world is definitely not the world we knew.  And their children now know a world that is literally spinning out of control with an overdose of violence, hatred, and warped values.  More children than we can imagine have never experienced real love in any of their relationships – be it from parents or peers.  Living on bare essentials and survival of the fittest – has become the name of the game.  Pretty dark picture of this old world that I’m painting, right?  But it doesn’t have to be that way … for that’s where Jesus comes in!  Remember where you were at the exact moments the Twin Towers were collapsing thirteen years ago on the 11^th of this month?  It was a dark, dark day in our nation and around the world.  But out of the ashes emerged the light of God’s love.  Rescuers acted with heroic love in action.  Many in the rubble found themselves spared – some by divine, supernatural miracles from the hand of God.  There was no other explanation.  Remember the cross of shattered metal beams that stood out tall above every other piece of mangled iron in the debris and the dust?  It was a beautiful symbol of Light piercing through the sad haze of terrorism, destruction and death.  At times like this, all that gives mankind the ability to continue on is the hope that Christ brings.  And that day, hope took shape in the form of a cross unlike any other we’d ever seen.  No, it wasn’t wooden.  And no, it wasn’t beautiful and new.  But it gave hope that day as it emerged out of hopelessness and despair and grief.  We had never seen broken, twisted metal look so beautiful and strong.  But that day – it did.  What the enemy of our souls and the enemies of our land intended for harm, God used for good!  Our nation and people united with one heart and engaged in survival and rescue mode.  Our nation and people turned their hearts to God and filled the churches – many that had been nearly empty before 9/11.  America wept and prayed.  Americans drew from deep within and forgot about political correctness.  We became a team united to rescue the perishing and help those in need.  Nothing else mattered.  We had a mission and we were one in spirit.  How said that it takes such tragedy for us to “see” the hurting and the dying.  Elevation North has such a mission today – because there are 9/11’s happening all around us.  Next door.  Overseas.  Down the street.  At our jobs.  In our churches.  Satan is ramping up the level of his terrorism – attacking the believers and lulling the sinners into a false sense of security.  Where, oh where are those who will put on the armor of God and plunge into the darkness and danger … and rescue the perishing?  Oh we see some of you!  We see your willingness to sacrifice of your time and possessions to bring hope to those without hope.  We see you using your gifts to reach out to those who still have an open heart.  We see you stepping out into the darkness and shining your light – the Light of the world that lives in you.  We see – and we are inspired and blessed.  Because we know that it is going to take each of us – ALL of us - uniting in the mission to make each day a rescue operation – right where we live.  And beyond … if that’s what God calls us to.  It’s time to quit peeking carefully and safely through our windows at the mass of lost humanity.  It is time, dear people of God, to dress up in our God-given armor and run towards the crumbled, burning rubble of lost souls searching for something real.  It’s time to bring the Light to those who are trapped beneath the crushing load of sin and heading to the smoking inferno of Hell.  Don’t YOU want to be a part of God’s rescue team?  You are needed today more than ever before in the history of our world.  Please get prepared and ready to head out wherever God calls you to go!  And whatever you do … do it all in love … Christ’s love.  Anything less will leave you trapped in the rubble with the lost.  God has more for us – and for them … if we will just set aside our reserved ways and allow God’s ways to be unleashed in us – and through us!  Watch out, world!  Rescuers are on the way!!!

REMEMBER . . .

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,

that whosover believes in Him shall not perish,

but have everlasting life!”

John 3:16  

Joyfully Serving  Christ . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

WHERE DOES OUR STRENGTH LIE?  Sometimes our strength comes not only from adding more mass to our muscle; it emerges when we have purged the excess body fat and the unnecessary intake that is making us weak.  How do we do this?  Bookstore shelves are spilling over with an overflow of manuals on body-building so we can look as if we are bulging with strength!  They are equally crowded with an array of the perfect diet books and how-to-books on detoxing and cleansing.  The exercise books designed to strategically shape and slim and firm are all updated to fast-paced dvd’s that coach us through sweat, blood, and tears to that perfect body status.  Knowing that so many unhealthy food products are entering our bodies even when we attempt to eat as healthy as possible, I recently made a homemade detox beverage. The water, sliced lemons, sliced cucumbers, and fresh mint leaves were fused overnight and it tasted refreshingly healthy and pleasant.  It definitely had detox properties and lived up to its cleansing claims.  After getting past the first day of a few hunger pangs, I began to feel really wonderful and even energized!  Why?  Because I was putting good things in – and purging the bad out.  I began to think about all the physical sacrifices and commitments we make for the sake of healthy, strong bodies.  And I couldn’t help but ask myself what would happen if we would get serious about doing the same for the sake of healthy, strong souls.  Why can we not make spiritual sacrifices and commitments to empower our Christian muscle with added strength and stamina?  With the news in the headlines showing ever more despair and hatred and killings, we had better be putting in some extra work-out time in the gymnasium where God is Coach.  Where the sought-after book is the Bible.  Where the exercise program shows us how to get on our knees – and stay there until we have sweated off the ways of the world and ever-so-prevalent nonchalance of our everyday lives.  Where we get off our knees and choose real-life encounters with real flesh and blood people over being addicted to all the social media sites that steal our time away from what is really important.  Oops – don’t misinterpret what I am saying.  I believe that a small, set amount of time on social media sites can be an additional way to keep connected to loved ones – especially those who are far away.  I know these sites can be used to share scripture and inspiration and encouragement.  They can put out pleas for almost instant prayer response in times of need.  But like everything else in our lives, we must control our amount of time spent engaged in those activities – or that time spent will control us in not-so-healthy ways.  Now as the days of summer ebb away to make way for the school season and fall schedules at churches, it is a good time to be reminded about renewed commitments to the things that God tells us really matter.  The other day I came across a few quotes in a newsletter we had received a few months ago, and as I took time to re-read it, I knew I needed to clip this page and save it for present and future reference.  No, for more than that:  for ACTION!  How do we prepare for our day?  How we do exercise our hearts and minds and souls before we walk into a new day?  See if these quotes make as much sense to you as they did to me!  “I ought to pray before meeting anyone.  Often when I sleep long or meet with others early, it is 11 or 12 o’clock before I begin secret prayer.  This is a wretched system.  It is unscriptural.  Christ arose before day and went into a solitary place to pray.  David says, ‘Early will I seek Thee … my voice shalt Thou hear in the morning.’  The conscience feels guilty, the soul unfed, the lamp not trimmed.  I feel it is far better to begin with God – to see Him first, to get my soul near to Him before it is near another.”  (Robert Murray McCheyne)  Then, these words shared by E.M Bounds:  “The men who have done the most for God in this world have been early on their knees.  He who fritters away the early morning, its opportunity and freshness, without seeking God will make poor headway in seeking Him the rest of the day . . . Our laziness after God is our crying sin.  The children of the world are far wiser.  They are at it early and late.  No soul follows hard after God who is not after Him in early morn.”  Alright, so just interpret the “Thee’s and Thou’s” into your own words, and soak in the meaning.  Powerful, isn’t it?  It’s true, isn’t it?  So what will we do with this coaching to strengthen our souls in preparation for what God is lining up for us to do in these days and weeks to come?  The days are going to pass by either way.  We can waste them by being spiritually flabby – or we can commit to a time of spiritual detox, cleansing, and exercise before the Lord God Almighty, inviting Him to coach us early every morning as we sacrifice a bit of extra sleep to follow hard after Him.  With God, we get results!  Do nothing, and we get nothing.  Neither does anyone else who God wants to use us to touch, if we are not prepared and fit!  God is asking me to sign up for His “Follow Hard After God” class … do you want to join me?  Grab your pen right now!   

REMEMBER . . .

“Run in such a way as to get the prize.

 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training.

They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.”

~ I Corinthians 9:24b-25  

Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie