ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

HOPES DASHED.  HOPES RESURRECTED! What’s the difference between the two?  We would all agree that in certain circumstances, we near the end of the old year and eagerly await the arrival of the new one!  But really, in all reality and essence, what difference does the number of the year make?  Or just a few seconds in time?  Or that famous countdown of the clock in the time zone we find ourselves in as we bid farewell to the year past and greet the opening moments of the new one?  One would almost think there is something magical about it!  There’s enough happy noise and excited hoopla embracing the transition, that’s for sure!  And yet just today, even as we were saying “Happy New Year” to those we did not get to see on New Year’s Day, we encountered the stark opposite of happy faces in the midst of festive celebrations.  Chatting with two people, I saw faces that indicated there was nothing hopeful coming their way in these first few days of 2014.  One said, “I am just devastated.  I don’t know what to do.”  The other one just sat in her chair with slumped posture staring at the text on her phone that brought to her more challenges piled on top of the ones she already knew about.  Compassion stirred deep within me and I just wanted to be their answer!  If only I could be … but wishful thinking was never intended to get the job done and bring about solutions and the realization of dreams and desires.  Hopes dashed.  Yes, that’s exactly what I witnessed today.  My heart could feel theirs sinking.  “God, what do you want me to do?” – I nearly shouted at Him.  “These people are feeling desperate and hopelessness is setting in.  How can I bring some hope to them?  I’m trying – but it seems circumstances for them are pulling them down fast and hard.”  My heart’s cry on their behalf came in the form of a question that I knew THEY needed to ask:  “Lord, what is YOUR answer?”  I could not ask it for them, or be their answer.  For them to have any of their hopes resurrected, it was going to take more than a leadership idea – or an instant change in their financial status.  It all is centered in the undeniable fact that only God can bring to life what is dying or dead.  And often that’s what has happened to our dreams and our desires.  They are without life because WE have tried to be our own answer with our limited abilities and knowledge, resources and connections.  We run into dead ends at every turn we take.  We find ourselves repeating past mistakes.  We think it will be different this time around.  We wish for things to be better – somehow.  But, amazingly enough, none of our circumstances can change without God-changes within us!  At best when WE try to change things by ourselves, the change goes away more quickly than it came.  So the only answer for resurrected hopes and lasting change is seeking the Giver of those sought-after, oft elusive longings.  Do you want to continue living a life of, “If only … “ – or – “I just wish …”?  Or do you want to make the decision to enlist God as the CEO of your life so you can know that things will turn out alright?  There lies our two choices:  we run things the way we have been – or we ask God to take over!  Believe me, the second choice is one you will never regret because it will be the best choice you ever made!  The interesting part of making this choice is that God wants us to be actively involved in the process.  We are instructed in God’s Word to: “Rejoice and exult in hope; be steadfast and patient in suffering and tribulation; be constant in prayer.”  (Romans 12:12)  When we choose to believe that God will do what is best, we can get excited about the outcome … listen:  “May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing (through the experience of your faith) that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope.”  (Romans 15:13)  See, just because we may feel like our hopes are diminishing – or even dead, that doesn’t mean they are!  When you choose to rejoice and believe that God is the Changer of what needs to be changed, then your hopes and dreams will be resurrected!  Look UP … get a NEW VIEW of the New Year … see GOD AS THE CEO OF YOUR LIFE!  Promote Him from the position you’ve formerly given Him in your life ~ and be amazed as you watch and see what He will do!

REMEMBER . . . There’s a good reason why everything does not always go our way!  Read on!

“However, we possess this precious treasure (the Divine Light of the Gospel) 
in (frail, human) vessels of earth,

that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power 
may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves . . .”

~ II Corinthians 4:7 ~ (WOW!  It’s NOT about us ~ it’s about HIM!)  

Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

Coming Up!  Our Annual Church Visionary Meeting

on Sunday, January 19th, following morning praise and worship & church luncheon!

Plan to attend and participate in what God is doing!