Friday, May 15, 2015

ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!


JUST WHEN OUR HALLELUJAHS got a little tired … GOD GAVE US a new song!  This is my personalized version of an awesome quote I read today.  It seemed to be the perfect description of our most recent journey through these past 12 months, so my heart is thankful to the anonymous author!!  On one amazing Sunday morning, Elevation North was birthed, and a new journey began.  Someday we need to write a book about all the stepping stones we’ve walked on over the past years.  First, a bit timidly.  Then, a lot boldly.  Mostly, with excitement and passion.  Only a few times did we glance in the direction of disappointment and despair.  That’s when our hallelujahs got a little tired.  Then God grabbed us by the hand, picked us up and set us down on solid rock and prompted us to sing His tune.  It was a song of praise and victory!  He reminded us that HE is the Solid Rock!   Re-energized, we just could not help but keep on humming it over and over.  Sometimes softly, but mostly we wanted the whole world to hear! Worship and gratitude definitely lifted us above the changes as we got bounced around from here to there, and God helped us sing our way to each new place.  And just when there was seemingly NO place for our church to go to, God presented us with a building to rent that came with an opportunity for purchase.  What a daunting word for a church still small.  Could it be possible?  To human eyes, it looked like it could never be a reality.  But, when you KNOW the call that God has placed in your heart – you know you should not look at God-things through your own eyes.  You make your way closer to Him until you can see through HIS eyes.  It is then that you begin to see the reality of what your heart knows but until now has only been a dream.  And a far-away one, at that!  This is when divine reversal begins to take place.  Instead of living like “seeing is believing” – God helps you understand that “believing is seeing!”  First, we had to BELIEVE.  And when we finally did that, putting our belief into action as led by God, our faith became more child-like than ever before.  And we could finally see what God was seeing.  We just simply believed what God was placing in our hearts:  THIS WAS THE TIME!  THIS was the time for COMPLETION!  We took God at His Word.  We believed that every Word He said is true.  We declared His Word over the purchase process. We received every amazing gift of funds and encouragement that He brought to us out of precious sources that we would not have anticipated – with humble, grateful hearts.  We began putting into practice the spiritual authority God has told us is ours.  We began putting Satan in his rightful place:  the position of defeat.  And we moved forward.  What had taken such a long, long time (nearly a year and three banks later who jumped on board to help and then just as abruptly pulled the pending loan out from under us) . . . SUDDENLY began to turn around and take shape!  God sent a knowledgeable man of God our way on March 9th and for the first time, we experienced real hope again.  We knew this man was sent from God as an unmistakable answer.  This man became the connection between us and a new bank on our scene – and somehow we knew this was “the one”!  It was just a matter of time now.  Oh yes, more hurdles were flung in front of us, but we took authority over each one and told Satan we meant business and we would no longer receive anything he would try to bring to us in any way, shape, or form.  We’d had enough of his strongholds and heartlocks.  He would not be allowed to run interference any longer.  On Sunday, May 3rd, we claimed 2002 Austin Road in Owatonna, MN as GOD’S PROPERTY and the upcoming bank closing as GOD’S COMPLETION!  With ongoing prayer and fasting and moving in the authority that is ours, the long-awaited day came!  Thursday, May 7th, on the National Day of Prayer, a few of us sat around a large table in a large bank conference room.  We did not really need all that space, but I am convinced that God wanted us to experience an abundant measure of His peace and His power that day.  And believe me, that room was FILLED with an unshakable sense of God’s presence and His peace as we signed all the necessary documents to make 2002 Austin Road a permanent place of worship for Elevation North!  No more moving, no more searching for a church home, no more tired hallelujahs!  We will move or build only when God bursts us at the seams and we can hold no more of His blessings there and have to make room for more!!!  The day is fast approaching when we will no longer be able to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.  And only what is done for Christ will last!  This transaction was necessary.  God did His part to make it a reality.  Now we ask each of you the question that we’ve already asked ourselves:  “What will we do now?”  Don’t answer anything little or small.  Answer large with much faith!  God’s Word says that He uses the weak to confound the wise, and I believe that if we will choose to see through the eyes of Christ, we will stand in awe at what God has in store for Elevation North!  Use us, dear Lord; use us, we pray!  For YOUR honor and for YOUR glory!  Now let’s give God the million or so  thank you’s that He so deserves!  Thank You, Lord, for getting us in the right place before You in order for us to receive Your miracle!  May we never forget what YOU have done IN THIS PLACE … IN THIS TIME!  We join our voices in proclaiming loudly a most beautiful HALLELUJAH SONG sent straight to the Throne of God!  Truly, there is no one like OUR God!

REMEMBER . . .
“Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever.   Amen!”
~ Revelation 7:12  

Joyfully Serving Our God . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

YOU ARE INVITED!!!


LARRY & GLORIA LUNDSTROM
will be at ELEVATION NORTH
this Sunday, May 17, 2015
at 10:00 a.m.
(2002 Austin Road in Owatonna, MN)

Larry and Gloria, of Sisseton, SD, have traveled the U.S. and Canada
for over 40 years.  Together, they share a heart for families -
and especially, families in crisis. 

Their inspiring, yet transparent message is life-changing,
and brings hope for everyone listening.

Larry's and Gloria's unique style of music, humor, and down-to-earth ministry, 
make their presentation of the Gospel very real and powerful
 in today's world of uncertainty and brokenness.

Make plans now to attend and bring a friend with you
so that their life might be touched as well!

A freewill offering will be taken,
and ministry resource materials will be available.

SEE YOU THERE!!!











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