ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

“AWAKE!  ARISE!  SHINE! ~ in 2-0-1-9!”  With the New Year just around the corner, this is the theme God has placed in our hearts as we look forward to what God has in store for all who are His people.  It is our heart’s cry as we echo what we feel He is saying to us individually, and to us as His church here at Elevation North!  With the birthing of this new year, we do not want to be found sleeping and slacking and looking like we’ve lost our spiritual luster.  We want to leap forth in obedience to what God is stirring into action amongst His children!  He is doing more than just encouraging us; He is urging us and prodding us to make HIM known right where we are.  Today.  There is no more waiting around for the perfect time.  No more excuses about waiting for a more convenient time.  No, a thousand times NO!  God is pushing us into our destiny!  It is TIME to become engaged in the battle for souls for His Kingdom!  Time for us to become the victors in the daily battles that come at us like a deluge!  Time for us to awaken and draw a line in the sand, to take a stand on our feet because of what is in our souls, and to live out our faith in Christ with such authenticity and joy that God’s love will shine through us, radiating the beauty and truth and power of who we are stepping up to be IN CHRIST!  The Holy Spirit empowers us when we depend on Him … but that power never gets put to use if we just sit on it.  It is when we move out of our comfort zone and into God’s battle zone that the Holy Spirit activates all that we need to make the needed difference in our world around us.  When we do our part … God does His!  The world sees enough darkness daily to last a life-time – but that dose goes on day after day.  What this world needs to see is JESUS for real – shining through His people who dare take a stand and who are willing to make a lasting, godly mark on our culture, whatever the cost might be!  As the clock ticks down on 2018 and strikes up the first few seconds of 2019, that calendar transition is going to happen, no matter what.  And so is the hideous plan of the enemy to deepen the darkness and spew more evil than ever before . . . UNLESS we AWAKE!  ARISE!  and SHINE!  NOW!!  What do you say?  Are YOU willing to be counted on God’s side?  Are you ready to do whatever it takes to deepen your faith and be drawn closer to the God who already loves you so much that He cannot love you any more?  Are you moving even now to join up along side wherever God is working?  Just let Him know you are ready to sign up and get your assignment.  He will not only show you what that is … but He will train you, lead you, and transform you into the hero of faith that you’ve always longed to be!  Not in a prideful sort of way, but in a faithful servant sort of way that God can call on to use at any given time!!

Today my heart is nearly bursting with the anticipation of what God already knows about 2019 that we do not know!  Are there things that we would rather not know ahead of time?  Of course, and that is exactly why God only reveals things to us in His timing, which is impeccably perfect!  And then, there are the things that we all too often only dream of, rather than believe for.  Because these things will only come to pass through God’s supernatural ways, we tend to shy away from them, thinking that we will only be disappointed if they do not happen.  But look!  Our Father God is looking at us with His eyes of love and saying, “O you of little faith, why are you so afraid?”  “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”  (Matthew 8:26 and Matthew 14:31)  You see, when God tells us something, He means it.  If He did not intend to keep His Word and His promises, He would not have spoken them to us!  Our God is GOD … over all, above all … and He cannot lie.  He never has and He never will!  So in all actuality, whatever all occurs in 2019, we have no need to fear or doubt that God will keep us, even when He stretches us to step out in faith in new places and situations we’ve never been before.  May we embrace the birth of this New Year with hearts ready to receive ALL that God has in store for us as He desires to use us for HIS glory!  Dear ones, do not hold back!  AWAKE!  ARISE!  SHINE!  Open your eyes, your heart, and your life to see all that God will do in you and through you … in 2019!

REMEMBER . . .

"Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.  
See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, 
but the LORD rises upon you and His glory appears over you.

Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.”

~ Isaiah 60:1-3  

Joyfully Serving Christ . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

YOU ARE SO BEAUTIFUL!   That sounds like the words to a love song, doesn’t it?  Well, it is ~ really!  It was written by Billy Preston and Bruce Fisher in the early 1970’s.  Everyone thought it was a love song … and it was, but it was written to the Lord Jesus Christ!  Tell me, who is more deserving of those accolades than our Lord?  He IS so beautiful, and we need to tell Him that … all the time!  If you have not heard that song recently, look it up on YouTube and listen to it; you will find yourself worshiping and singing along as your love song to Jesus!!  My favorite version is the one sung by Phil Driscoll, and then at the end he picks up his trumpet and plays sounds that are so amazing and heavenly, you feel as if you can close your eyes and think you are already there!

And now at this time of year as we celebrate the birth of Christ, how can we not break out in song with praise and adoration:  YOU ARE SO BEAUTIFUL, LORD JESUS … YOU CAME TO US … TO US!!!  This should be our theme song every day of the year, not just during this beautiful season.  Awakened in the middle of the night, these are the words that God gave to me.

YOU ARE SO BEAUTIFUL!

Born in a stable, wrapped in swaddling cloths, placed in a manger …

You came to us – to be with us.

Wrapped in swaddling cloths, You were Divinity clothed in humanity,

coming to us – in our earthly journey.

Newborn Child of God, made flesh for your Father’s assignments,

to carry out His plan to be poured out as redemption for Your people.

In Your tiny form nestled snugly in the manger’s straw,

was the essence and purpose of Salvation for all mankind.

Within Your newborn flesh, seeds of Greatness were sown,

for You would become King of Heaven and of earth.

Your small, beating heart contained all the hope and healing

we would ever need down through the ages of time.

But it would take the piercing of that very heart on Calvary

to release the fullness of Your Father’s plan.

Your Coronation came with a Crown of Thorns, and a Cross on which to hang,

Your blood spilled out for us … Your ultimate sacrifice.

Once again Your body wrapped – this time in linens, and laid in a Tomb.

born to die … You died to live … You came to give Life for us all.

The Cross could not keep You – neither could the Tomb,

all that was within You came bursting forth in fragrant Life and Love.

Giver of gifts ~ You came as a Gift … The Greatest Gift ever given,

our part is simply to repent, to receive You, to live in You while You live in us,

so we can be one with You!

Your purpose for us, our very destiny, was wrapped up with You in those swaddling cloths,

just waiting for the time of our birth!  Oh, what a plan, Father God!  What a plan!

What an amazing plan You had then ~ and have for us now!

The greatest gift we can offer back to You is to open our hearts to Your Son,

wrapped in obedience and submission to Your desire and Your will!

You are so beautiful … thank You for coming to us, Lord Jesus!

REMEMBER . . .

The announcement of the angels still rings true for mankind today:

“I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today in the town of David

a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.”  ~ Luke 2:10-11  

Joyfully Serving Christ . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

WHAT COMPELS YOU TO BE THANKFUL?  In today’s world, if you look in the stores, the Thanksgiving holiday gets run-over and over-shadowed by the other holidays so much so that any reminder of being thankful and grateful is almost non-existent.  And yet, God’s Word is rich in reminders to us to be thankful to our God, to live in gratitude, to let the praises in our hearts roll from our lips, and to walk in worship of the One who is worthy of our thankfulness and praise!  And yet, how much of this do you see and hear when you are out on the streets or in the stores, in public meetings, or even in private gatherings?  Our challenge to you in these weeks prior to Thanksgiving Day is that you will begin writing words of gratitude on a clean sheet of paper … each time you are aware of something that we should be grateful to God for!  There’s one necessity for this to work:  we must open our eyes and our hearts so that we will truly recognize the countless things in our lives that we should be thankful for … that we all too often just take for granted.  What if those gifts and blessings from the hand of God were no longer present in our lives?  Just what would that look like?  After your list is made, make a copy of it and on that copy just take a big black marker and place a big black X across the entire list of blessings.  That’s what your life would have looked like without those God-gifts that you were so abundantly blessed with.  Which way would you rather live?  Did you know that God inhabits the praises of His people?  Did you know that out of praise comes victory?  And the more that we praise Him, the more we are aware of the blessings He is pouring out into our lives!!  And did you know that it is just not people who praise the Lord?  His entire creation praises Him . . . the billions of galaxies, planets and stars, the mountains and rivers, the islands and oceans, the air and raindrops and snowflakes, the animals and birds and fish, the trees and plants and flowers, the soil of the earth and yes, even the rocks!  Everything that God created cries out in praise to Him!  How do we know this is true?  Listen to what God’s Word tells us . . .

“For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.”  ~ Isaiah 55:12

He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”  ~ Luke 19:40

“Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise Him in the heights! Praise Him, all His angels; praise Him, all His hosts! Praise Him, sun and moon, praise Him, all you shining stars! Praise Him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the Lord! For He commanded and they were created. ... “      ~ Psalm 148:1-14

“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!” ~ Psalm 150:6

“Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth!” ~ Psalm 96:1

“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork.” ~ Psalm 19:1

“The people whom I formed for myself that they might declare My praise.” ~ Isaiah 43:21

“Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet to be created may praise the Lord:”

~ Psalm 102:18

“Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and His greatness is unsearchable.” ~ Psalm 145:3

So, dear ones, let’s get writing!  We have pages and pages to fill of God’s everlasting love and faithfulness … to us and to ALL generations to come!  What promises are ours!  We praise you, O God, for Your presence, peace, power, protection, and provision!

REMEMBER . . .

“Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty heavens! Praise Him for His mighty deeds; praise Him according to His excellent greatness! Praise Him with trumpet sound; praise Him with lute and harp! Praise Him with tambourine and dance; praise Him with strings and pipe! Praise Him with sounding cymbals; praise Him with loud clashing cymbals! … “  

Psalm 150:1-6  

Joyfully Serving Christ . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

SHOW ME, LORD!  That SHOULD be the cry of our heart, always!  But then I often wonder how wide we open our eyes to actually see and take hold of the breathtaking ways our God IS showing Himself to us.  Showing us His ways.  Showing us His wonders.  When He answers, are we truly seeing that He IS answering?  Are we receiving the answers?  The blessings that are coming from His hands to our hearts?  I sure hope so, because He wants us to be so aware of His presence and His involvement in our lives … every day, all the time, in each hour and in each moment!  Jesus tells us this in John 10:10:  “The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).”  (The Amplified Bible)  Just what does that look like?

This past month while visiting with my 94-year old mom on the phone nearly every evening, I began to realize that I was hearing a change.  Her voice was weakening and she sounded more frail, even confused at times, and sometimes when she was really tired it was difficult for me to understand her speech.  One evening after our conversation, my spirit was stirred to the point of knowing that it was time to just put my life on hold and go … go to my mom and love on her while she is still here with us, go to encourage her and bless her, go to lift her up and pray with her and over her in person rather than just over the phone.  God gave strength to put everything in place, and after worshiping and preaching on a September Sunday morning, my husband and I made the long trip from MN to MT where she is being cared for right now.  The days together were precious, and I saw Mom experience frustration from the increasing symptoms of her aging.  I witnessed her tears and some questions about her aches and pains and struggles.  But through it all, her faith remained and continues to remain strong.  She is determined to hang on to God with a grip that just won’t let go.  And of course, God reciprocates … because He will NEVER let go of Mom’s hand!  When it was finally time to share those hugs and kisses as we left her in God’s hands and in the care of those who show such kindness as they care for mom from morning to night, and from night to morning … Mom laid her head against my face and shoulder and just sobbed.  She knows that her time on earth is drawing to a close, and I am sure she was thinking the same thing I was.  Would this be our last earthly embrace before Heaven?  I just held her close and let her cry, assuring her that I was right there; that all will be well – because God’s got this!  Because God’s promise is that He will never leave us or forsake us … that He will be with us even to the end of the age.  I patted her back softly, spoke words of love into her ear, kissed her cheek and her forehead, and told her over and over that I love her.  And then I noticed a nurse standing off a bit observing what was happening, and I saw tears glistening in her eyes.  I finally stood up and with one last hug and kiss and one more, “I love you so much, Mom!” ~ I walked away and turned back and threw her a kiss with a smile!  I motioned for the nurse to join me in the hallway, and she told me that seeing us was such a beautiful thing and it reminded her of being so far away from her mom like I am.  She told me that she might not have the opportunity to go and see her elderly mom once more before she leaves this earth.  I was able to share with her that the only reason I could walk away in that moment is because I knew that I was leaving Mom in God’s care, which is perfect and all-sufficient.  And that I will see her again someday … if not here, then over There!  I told her that I would pray that God would provide what she needed to be able to see her mom one more time, as well.  And then I turned with one last loving look at Mom from down the hallway, and she was already engaged with others at the dinner table.  All was well … and God poured such an unshakable, amazing peace into me and all over me, that I left with the strong sense that God was providing ALL that Mom and I could have needed in these difficult moments ~ transforming them into treasured moments that I will cherish for the rest of my life!  To each of you who prayed us through these days, your prayers were not only felt literally, but they were answered!  Thank you, from the depths of my heart!  God showed Himself!

And this is how amazing our God is, that one day after returning home, we get the news that our fifth great-grandchild is on her way at the very same military hospital at Hill AFB in Utah where her daddy (our grandson) was born nearly 23 years ago!  Prayers surged heavenward bathing her mommy throughout the birthing process, and on September 28^th at 8:35 p.m., beautiful baby Hazel Elizabeth Jones made her debut, joining our family and filling our hearts with overflowing joy at such a precious gift to all of us from God!  A brand new life joins the family, spanning 94 years from my mom’s generation to baby Hazel’s!  One more little life to love on and pray for as she takes her place in this world, already carrying the divine purpose that God has planned for her!  God showed Himself!

These family stories I have shared are life-events that do not happen every day.  But God shows Himself in the daily everyday happenings of our lives, even in the midst of the routine.  But you see, with God, NOTHING is routine!  It is fresh and new and exciting, as He breathes life into our circumstances, our emotions, our longings!  What we think is hopeless or beyond our capability, God shows up to redeem and renew!  He brings hope and peace and joy when we wonder how we will go on!  He infuses abilities into our very being that we did not know we had!  The greatest gift we can give back to God is telling others what He has done for us – how He has shown up.  Time and time again!  He does what He does for His own glory, that others might be pointed to Him and choose the life and the future He came to give us!  Oh dear people, He did not come to provide only a mundane life without joy or abundance or fulfillment; the price He paid for us with the life of His only Son was given with the title to so much more, if we will only receive it!  And there is another way we can bless our God when He shows Himself in personal ways on our behalf!  Read the scripture verse summary below, and then look up the reference for the complete God-instruction to us!  God loves us with an everlasting love!

REMEMBER …

“Be joyful always;

Pray continually;

Give thanks … “

~ I Thessalonians 5:16-18  

Joyfully Serving Christ . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

CELEBRATION!  The more we have to celebrate, the deeper our gratitude is!  Especially when looking back … and you recall those times when you wondered if there would be anything at all to celebrate in days to come. 

For us, once upon a time – ten years ago now, there was birthed out of great pain – and nauseousness from that pain, a new ministry work that became known as Elevation North!  But before that birthing, in a moment’s time, our world as we knew it was suddenly turned upside down and a great part of it ceased to exist.  Emotions swirled … and tears spilled.  Our questions came in torrential unbelief at what had occurred.  But in the dark of that first night as we lay on our bed, tears streaming down our faces with no more words with which to even ask God “why” ~ we remember saying to Him, “For as long as You will give us breath, we will praise You with all that is within us!” 

What should have broken us and perhaps slowly destroyed us … actually strengthened us and impassioned us to the ministry work God had called us to as young people who did not even know each other at the time.  God revealed to us that the nauseousness and pain we had experienced for nearly nine months was because we were pregnant with the seed of a new church, a new ministry work.  We kept running to Jesus with each new wave of hurt and grief, but still engulfed in the struggle to survive, we had not discerned what God was doing … until He told us!  And when He did, it all made total sense!  And so, in due time … in God’s perfect time … Elevation North was birthed!  And we had no clue what God had in store for this brand new baby church! 

The story of this ten-year journey from that first night to this day, if written, could fill the pages of a book!  My pastor-husband and I had never walked this way before.  The other churches God had called us to were already in existence with a history behind them, plus everything they needed to continue to move forward.  With Elevation North, all we had was an unknown future with unmarked paths … but what we DID have was THE LORD GOD, JEHOVAH … GOD ALMIGHTY … EMMANUEL:  GOD WITH US!  And THAT was good enough for us!  And so we embraced the call of God to move past the pregnancy to the present … which brought untold opportunities to be God’s church wherever He placed us in our nomadic style of being the church!

You see, we had no building.  No permanent place to call “home”.  So we relied on God to lead us just as He had led the Israelites in the wilderness.  He led.  We followed.  We were not mature enough or old enough yet to have a church building, and so God led us to rental locations which we fleshed out with blood, sweat, tears, AND great joy to become a “home” for Elevation North.  We invited the presence of the Living God and the anointing of the Holy Spirit to fill every nook and cranny of each place we worshiped.  Yes, each place.  There were several – because when the owners could rent to someone with greater funds than we had, we needed to move on and begin the search all over again, waiting to hear from God clearly before making final decisions.  We wanted HIS perfect will more than anything else!

The greatest beauty of this journey is that in each place, God’s Spirit drew people to that place.  Together we prayed, we sang, we worshiped, we preached, we loved, and we listened.  God’s Spirit fell and lives were saved and changed.  God’s Spirit fell and then chains fell and people were delivered.  God’s Spirit fell and people were healed.  God’s Word and His truth were our foundation.  The blood of Jesus brought victory and the power to overcome as we took authority over the enemy of our souls in each situation that came to thwart God’s call upon this ministry.  We climbed spiritual mountains, feeling the burn of the upward trail, nearly slipping off the path when the rocks were so sharp and treacherous … but we heard God telling us to keep our eyes fixed on Him and to keep running the race with our eyes on the goal.  And so we kept putting one foot in front of the other, no matter what the trail looked like.  Time after time after time.  Step after step after step.

While the journey will ever be described by us as precious and powerful … we would not be honest and transparent if we did not confess that at times when facing the grim reality of the circumstances, questions came and brought discouragement with them.  Thank God, all of that was stopped short of despair – because there is no room for despair in the light of God’s presence and love.  The two can not co-exist!  In those lowest moments when we were on the verge of thinking – just perhaps God was leading us to gracefully quit and wrap it up neatly (which we really did NOT believe was what God wanted) … suddenly God would break through in such a miraculous, intentional, personal way for Elevation North, that we just stopped in our tracks and stood still, giving God full attention and saying, “We get it, God!  There is not a soul who knows what we were wondering and thinking, but You!  There is not a soul that we shared our desperate needs with, but You!  And You came through so magnificently, lovingly, abundantly, and timely, that we can point the glory ONLY TO YOU!  Which of course, is where it belongs!  Thank You, thank You, thank You, Jesus!  We will keep moving forward in Your strength and Your provision!”

And that is exactly the same pattern that we experienced when we felt God leading us – even PUSHING us, out of our last rental location to the search for a building to permanently house Elevation North in for each time we would meet together.  Of course, the truth of it is that when we are not meeting together in the place we call our “church” … we as God’s people become HIS church all over the community and in every place He takes us to!  He gives us opportunities galore to reflect Him and share Him … and to BE the church wherever we are at!!  Shining His light from us becomes contagious as others are touched by His Spirit that lives within us.  But … back to the building search.  Countless hours were poured into taking our purchase plans for a building that God presented before us to  a bank.  The location was great, and the price was right due to the generosity of a godly couple who felt led to make the special offer to Elevation North.  My husband would take unending documents as requested to a bank for the purchase application and process, and we would be told that the closing date was approaching.  And just before that time came, the bank backed out.  He repeated this process a few more times, and the same ending always slammed the door shut.  Was there no bank that would see our track record of having paid every bill we ever owed … and having paid every bill on time?  Though that was a miracle due to our small numbers, it was also a reality!  After having not given up and having pursued bank after bank after bank … and getting so close to wondering if this was really meant to be, God placed a business man in front of my husband who told him that he had heard of our struggle with the banks (we had never told him!).  And he said he wanted to give us the name of another bank and the phone number of the vice-president.  He said he felt he could help us out and would put in a good word for us with the banker.  That was the miraculous change-point in the purchase process.  My husband met with the banker, whose bank is family-owned, and who provides loans for more churches than anyone in this part of the state.  And things moved forward at a constant pace as together we persevered together.  Before long, we were sitting in an office at the bank for the signing of the title and the church mortgage documents.  We will never forget the awesome awareness of God’s presence filling that room.  It was thick in that place, and we had NO doubt but that God had brought us to this place for this time to continue forward with HIS work!  Will we give up?  Never!!  God’s hand is all over the ministry of Elevation North and His plan is sure that we will have a future working alongside Him in these last days, bringing as many souls to His Kingdom as we can through His Spirit!

We love the people that God has sent to Elevation North ~ each one is precious and valuable in His sight!  Each one has a ministry of their own – and a heart big enough to love every new person that God sends our way!  Are any of us perfect?  Unbroken?  Without sin?  No, a million times “no”!  But as we come to Him and say “yes” to the gift of God’s love and forgiveness through His Son, Jesus, we can say that we are now called by new names:  Redeemed, Blood-bought, Overcomers, Victorious, Delivered, Mended, Healed, Sinners saved by Grace, Called, Chosen, Partners in His Kingdom Work, and Dearly Beloved!  THAT is WHO Elevation North is, as this year in 2018, WE CELEBRATE GOD’S FAITHFULNESS TO US through all these past ten years, KNOWING THAT THE BEST IS YET TO COME, as He continues to use all of us for His glory!  Everlasting God, may you ever set our hearts on fire so that you can use us as You wish … keep us on track with You … and make us pure and holy and righteous so that we will reflect You always!  We are so excited as we anticipate what You have in store for us in the days to come!  We are Yours, O God! 

REMEMBER . . .

“Now to Him Who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, 

according to His power that is at work within us,

to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, 

forever and ever!  Amen!” 

~ Ephesians 3:20-21  

Joyfully Serving Christ . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

EYE-CATCHING … THOUGHT-PROVOKING!  Isn’t that of utmost importance these days in the marketing world?  The goal seems to be to catch the attention of the consumers and then to make them stop long enough to think and make a decision to act on the offer.  The other day one of those ads caught my eye … and … my attention.  Not necessarily because of what it was advertising, though there was much truth to it; but because of how it rang true in the spiritual sense.  Here, let me share it with you!  A local funeral home published this eye-catching … thought-provoking ad.  “ ‘Someday’ is not the time to preplan your funeral or memorial service.  Last time we checked there is no ‘someday’ on the calendar.  Plan TODAY!  Your family will thank you.”  Powerful, you have to admit.  It caught my eye and made me think.  But within seconds, I “saw” other words appear in my mind that would be equally eye-catching and compelling as an advertisement for those who do not know Christ personally.  It goes like this:  “ ‘Someday’ is not the time to preplan your eternal destination – where you will live forever.  Last time we checked, there is no ‘someday’ on the calendar.  Plan TODAY!  Not only will YOU be forever grateful that you did, but your family who wants you to know Jesus so you can all spend Eternity together, will be so very grateful!”  Thought-provoking, for sure!  The words compel the “consumer” to make a decision to act on the offer – God’s offer of salvation and a forever Home in heaven with Him and loved ones who already know Jesus!  Who would intentionally turn that offer down, or just ignore it?

Here is God’s take on this eye-catching …thought-provoking ad.  He actually wrote His own long ago and it is so important that He put a non-stop run on its length of time for publication.  The message has never been pulled; the “ad” still runs.  Look at what it says . . . (2 Corinthians 6:2)

“For He says: ‘In an acceptable time I have heard you, 
And in the day of salvation I have helped you.’

Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 

(New King James Version)

“For He says: ‘I listened to you at the time of My favor.  

And the day when you needed salvation, I came to your aid.’

So can’t you see?  Now is the time to respond to His favor! Now is the day of salvation!”

(The Passion Translation)

So, do you hear the invitation God gives, the help He offers, and the urgency of receiving the offer NOW?  There is no “someday” included in this invitation.  No expiration date is included, because for each of us – that date will be different.  We are not guaranteed our next breath, much less another day or month or year.  That is precisely why God urges us that “NOW” is the time to respond affirmatively to His offer of salvation!!  In the very moment we accept His gift of salvation, our reservation in Heaven is secured for all of Eternity!  I plead with anyone and everyone reading this, as well – please do not intentionally delay your decision, or turn God’s offer down, or worse yet, just ignore it!  This offer WILL expire the day and the moment God has already ordained to be your last breath on earth.  So if you have never said “yes” to Jesus … please say “yes” right now!  God purchased your one-way entrance ticket at Calvary with the price of His Son’s blood – and then printed His invitation with your name on it – and all that still needs to be done is for you to reach out and take it and say “yes” … “I receive You as my Lord and Savior!  I choose to spend eternity in heaven with You – and with those I love who have already said ‘yes’ to You!”  It IS that easy, that simple, and it IS completely free!  TODAY is THE day … for YOU!  This is the most important “ad” you will ever respond to because it will change your forever destination from Hell to Heaven!  I’ve already preplanned for Heaven … will you please join me today?!  More than anything ~ I want to see You there!  And so does He!

REMEMBER . . .

“Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

~ Luke 15:10 (New King James Version)  

Joyfully Serving Christ . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

TRUE FREEDOM ISN’T INDEPENDENCE AT ALL … BUT RATHER A TOTAL DEPENDENCE UPON GOD!  Allow me, please, to share something I wrote back in 1999 for our then-church family in my monthly, “Ponderings from the Pastor’s Wife”.  God brought a part of it to my mind yesterday, and I knew this would be my message to you, our now-church family!!  Here it is!

Morning will soon be dawning.  This is such a perfect time to think … to do some soul-searching.  I love the peace and solitude of the pre-dawn hours before the world awakens to its runaway schedules.  Nothing compares … especially when the only one to communicate with is the Lord Almighty – my Lord!  At this hour of the day (night?) I find God to be even more personal … I find Him to be even closer to me ~ no, I think it’s that I’m closer to Him.  Yet, amazingly enough, I find specific instances when I’m in the middle of the most demanding, hectic, noisy schedule, that He’s as close as He could ever be.  I find myself so aware of the presence of God, that I have to smile as I shake my head in amazement!  Sometimes, it’s His voice I hear ~ there’s no mistaking it!  Sometimes, it’s just an extra sense of being upheld and cradled in the palm of His hands ~ how reassuring it is!  And at other times, it’s something that happens ~ and I know that no other could have arranged such an occurrence at just that precise moment!  Just my Lord!

It’s like a TV commercial I saw the other night.  (Remember this is 1999!)  This man comes into a town and makes it his mission to “convert” all the townspeople over to his newly discovered brand of cellular phone … “the best there is,” according to him.  You can tell he really believes in his product, and he wants everyone else to have the same benefits he now knows about!  I was reminded how so often when I experience something deeper, something more precious, some eye-opener in my walk with the Lord, I just want to “drive into town” and “tell everyone” what I’ve discovered ~ that they need the best connection there is!  The best, being Jesus!

As our country’s celebration of the Fourth of July nears, our thoughts turn to freedom … Independence Day!  Just what does freedom really mean?  I remember growing up and some of the phrases I’d hear, like, “Your freedom ends where someone else’s begins” or “With freedom comes responsibility”.  You’ve most likely heard them, plus many others.  More and more, I’m realizing that true freedom isn’t independence at all, but rather a total dependence upon God.  And independence is actually when I insist on doing it my own way.  My moments of greatest freedom come at the times I’m most dependent on God for the answer, when I need Him the most to be my total Source.  Living that kind of lifestyle is comparatively much more exciting than attempting to find my own answers, trying to do it all in my own strength.

There’s a Disney children’s story that our sons all loved to have me read them when they were small.  It went something like this … A young sailor was swept onto shore during a storm at sea, and when he revived and awakened, he discovered he could not move.  Upon closer inspection, he soon discovered that his body was criss-crossed with dozens of ropes anchored to pegs in the beach.  A few more looks revealed to the sailor that his captors were tiny, miniature people frightened by his normal size – to them, he was huge.  For the first few days, the men stood guard; the women brought him bread and fruit.  The children were the first to lose their fear and to play near him, then they began to climb all over him.  Finally one day trust overcame their fear, and the little people of Lilliput cut the ropes and freed the “giant” stranger who had been washed to their shores.  And just in time … for pirate ships were appearing on the horizon, and the Lilliputians had no way to defend themselves.  King Lilliput climbed into the palm of the sailor’s hand, and the sailor walked out into the water.  At the command of the King, the sailor inhaled deeply and then blew the tiny pirate ships far away to the ends of the horizon!!  The country of Lilliput was safe … and the tiny people were glad they had freed the “huge” sailor who had become their friend and saved them, giving them freedom from their enemy!

Sometimes, in my own strength, I, too, get all wrapped up in “ropes” that strap me down.  Freedom escapes me.  I find myself “tied down” by this commitment and that appointment and this schedule and that deadline … ‘til I’m so criss-crossed with “ropes” that I’m prohibited from doing anything.  So now, when I start feeling the “constraints of captivity” ~ I run for the “scissors” to set myself free.  The other day I ran to Jesus … He’s got the scissors to cut me free, you know.  Actually, I crawled, because the ropes were getting quite constricting.  But when I got there, I just sat there at His feet for a while.  It was great!  At first, neither of us said anything.  He didn’t have to.  And I couldn’t.  In my frazzled condition, I just sat there and soaked in the warmth of His presence ~ it just felt good to be near Him.  I felt safe, secure.  I breathed in deep.  It was like I breathed Him right into me, and when I exhaled, the most incredible thing happened.  One of the ropes came loose and fell at my side.  I looked at Him.  He smiled at me.  I felt more cares melting away.  More ropes dropped away.  I sat there in His presence, still … for I don’t know how long.  He eyes turned to His Book.  I reached for it and gently, eagerly opened it.  Now He spoke to me, as I read.  It was like He had written these pages just for me.  How wondrous His scissors are!  Rope after rope was being cut away, ‘til I sat there, free to go.  I could move.  But I didn’t want to leave.  At least not for a while longer.  So I stayed longer, filling myself with all I’d need to face the “new rope tricks” out there.  This time, I prayed for discernment to recognize them, to take authority over them.  I prayed that no matter where I am, no matter what I have, that I will always be totally dependent on God … then I will truly be free!

The other day, before I ran to God for His scissors, I missed an important event.  Well, it could have been an important event.  I missed stopping at a lemonade stand with two little girls by the side of the street, and because the ropes were tightening so much, I didn’t feel free to take the time.  I’ve regretted it ever since.  I’m sure they didn’t miss my coins as much as I missed giving them and getting their sweet drink.  I lost that opportunity … but you can be sure I will stop at the next lemonade stand I see, ‘cuz I won’t have any ropes tying me down!  And if I feel any starting to strap me down again, I’ll just ask my Father to start snipping!

Are you feeling frazzled instead of free?  Then we need to learn to think like Him.  Peter, in his first book by his name, in chapter four, tells us this:  “Since Jesus went through everything you’re going through and more, learn to think like Him.  Think of your suffering as a weaning from that old sinful habit of always expecting to get your own way.  Then you’ll be able to live out your days free to pursue what God wants instead of being tyrannized by what you want.  Everything in the world is about to be wrapped up, so take nothing for granted.  Stay wide-awake in prayer.  Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it.  Love makes up for practically anything.  Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless ~ cheerfully.  Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it:  if words, let it be God’s words; if help, let it be God’s hearty help.  That way, God’s bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and He’ll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything ~ encores to the end of time.  Oh, yes!”  (The Message Bible – I Peter 4:1-2, 7-11)

Happy rope-cutting!  Celebrate your freedom, dear ones!

REMEMBER . . .

“Your Heavenly Father knows your needs.  He will always give you all you need from day to day …

For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.”

~ Luke 12:30-32 (TLB)  

Joyfully Serving Christ . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie