ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

 

JESUS, WHAT DID YOU DO?  No, I don’t mean what did You do during your time here on earth?  I’ve just been wondering today what it was like for You when You knew you were down to Your last few weeks before Your crucifixion.  Not that You hadn’t known for always and forever, because obviously there has never been anything that You didn’t know about before it happened.  For me, I think that almost would have been worse.  Always knowing, never a day going by that my life wasn’t on a count-down to death on a cross.  How did that make you feel, Jesus?  Especially when You were perfect, knowing You hadn’t done anything to deserve death – much less this kind of a torturous death.  Knowing that You weren’t paying for Your own sins, because You are sinless – but paying for all of mankind’s sins from the beginning of time until the end of time as we know it on earth.  Obviously, because You are the Son of God, You didn’t allow this knowledge to be a stress-point or a heaviness on Your heart that diminished Your ability to still love this lost world with an everlasting love.  You didn’t allow it to make You bitter that because of us – You had to die because that was the Father’s plan to redeem us.  You just drank the bitter cup when the time came to pour out Your life for ours.  I cannot comprehend such a love, Jesus … I just believe and accept it, and am eternally grateful that You literally saved my life!  There are no words to express what I feel.  I just have to believe that forever and always, including the last few weeks of Your life on this earth, You weren’t moping around, hiding in despair, awaiting the inevitable thrust of those spikes through Your flesh.  I believe that because You saw not only me, but all of Your creation down through the ages, You fell in love with us just as a parent does when they gaze upon their child.  You knew we would stumble and fall … and need You to help us get up again.  You saw our bad choices and outright sins … and knew that You would need to be the One to rescue us from an eternity in hell.  You felt our pain when the diseases and sicknesses came upon us … and it was clear that it would take the stripes on Your back to bring healing to our ravished bodies.  You understood the dark clouds of depression and darkness that would seek to take us down … and You knew that You would be lifted up on that cross, so that we might also be lifted up as overcomers.  You saw our hearts bleed for a million reasons … and Your compassion would compel You to allow Your blood to be spilled so our bleeding could stop.  You saw our confusion and our blinded ways … and You knew we would need a Shepherd to follow Who was willing to give His life for His lost sheep.  You knew we would be disappointed by others and You couldn’t bear the thought that there would be no one that we could truly count on … so You chose to come to us and through Your death and resurrection fulfill Your promise that You never change and that You will always be with us, always – to the end, and always – throughout eternity!  Never to leave us.  Ever!  I have this sense that for any of us humans facing a cross or any kind of death on behalf of someone else, we would either rebel or run.  Even if we had the slightest desire to give our life, would we not dread the end, wishing there could be another way?  You know, Jesus faced the cross knowing the pain and agony He would endure – He even cried out to His Father, asking if it be His will, that this cup would pass from Him.  When that wasn’t possible, the unspeakable joy at what He saw beyond the cross as the ultimate Gift for all of us is what kept Him focused on the plan, and He could still love through the sweat-drops of blood staining His face.  He paid the ultimate price to bring us victory for every day of our lives.  That’s what Jesus did then.  And that’s what He is still providing for us now!  Jesus sees us as worthy – through the blood of the Lamb!  May we daily live that way, never wasting His willingness to give us His ALL! 

 

 

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

 

A SPECIAL WELCOME to Mike, Marcia, Jessica, and Matthew who worshipped with us this past Sunday!  May God bless you!

 

 SUN, MAR 17^TH:                                              

10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP                                  

10:30 A.M. – KIDZONE CHURCH                                     

MON, MAR 18^TH:                                             

6:30 P.M. – RE:FUEL YOUTH                                          

WED, MAR 20^TH/THU, MAR 21^ST:                         

7:00 P.M. – MID-WEEK BIBLE STUDIES                        

Check your church calendar for locations                          

SUN, MAR 24^TH:                                              

10:00 A.M. – PALM SUNDAY SERVICE                           

10:30 A.M. – KIDZONE CHURCH

 

ELEVATION NORTH SPOTLIGHT!

Just a few weeks away will be our Children's Easter event at church on Saturday, March 30th, at 10:00 in the morning.  We don't want anyone missing out on this special time that will remind them and teach them more about what Jesus did on the cross for them and how He arose from the tomb - for them!  They will love this time of learning, celebrating, fun, and special treats!  Plan to bring your children - and if they have friends who do not have a church ... invite them to come along!  This could be their time to hear about how very much Jesus loves them and ask Him into their hearts!  What a great opportunity for us to reach out around us!    

                                  

 REMEMBER . . . “Not one is missing, not one forgotten.  God the Father has His eye on each of you … May everything good from God be yours!” ~ I Peter 1:1-2 

 

 

Serving Christ Joyfully . . .  

 

 

Pastor Doug and Debbie

 

 

ELEVATON NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

DO YOU SEE WHAT I SEE?!  Moments before sitting down to share these words with you, my eyes caught the familiar scene on my computer desktop:  a gorgeous Alaskan landscape painted in summery green foliage, sunny blue skies, reflective rippling water, and decorated with the most beautiful lavender Arctic Lupine flowers that dot this “wish I was there” scene!  I see it every day when I flip open my laptop, but today I really saw it.  I took time to look at it!  Then my eyes turned to “look” at what was outside my windows … and a completely opposite kind of beauty was being showcased.  For the first time in days, the sunshine broke through the white skies of winter and brought a contrast of some blue hued skies that have been missing.  The piled-high snow danced with sparkling diamonds that will soon melt … even the bare, brown trees kicked up their style a notch with some white icing placed carefully on their boughs!  For seven days in a row, I have “seen” breathtaking sites in the Caribbean islands sent via on-line posts by our kids who were there … and I felt like I was experiencing a bit of it with them!  I “gazed” upon new photos that popped up on my phone – starring our grandkids and great-granddaughter, and their smiles, their features, their personalities bursting forth made me feel like I wasn’t so far away!  These past Sundays in church, I have “seen” the hand of God at work through the power of His love and the anointing of His Spirit, and I want to stay and bask in the sweet presence I experience there. I get to lift up precious ministry friends in prayer as circumstances break over their lives in a sudden roar; and I “witness” God’s amazing miracle because He is Jehovah-Rapha, the Healer… and because this couple’s friends all over the country united in intercessory prayer for their urgent need!  We received a letter in the mail yesterday from supporters of this ministry from several states away – and I “saw” through her eyes a vision of Heaven God had given her when she so badly needed comfort in the loss of her sister to cancer.  Amazing, to say the least!  I was thrilled to chat with my aunt in the state of Washington this past week, who just recently turned 98 years young!  I say “young” – because that’s exactly what she is!  I “see” how God has blessed her with long life (she has outlived her five younger siblings!), with great health, with a still-sharp, sound mind, and with a great attitude and outlook on life.  I love the inspiration that she is to me, and “want to be like my Aunt Aretta when I grow up”!!  I am so excited about “seeing” the new people that God has brought to us at Elevation North, who are as excited as we are about this God-given ministry … who love being there as much as we do, who are sensing God’s touch upon their lives like we are, and who cannot wait to get there next week, just like us!  I absolutely love “seeing” God-opportunities present themselves on the horizon of our lives as well as in front of our faces – so that we can be even a tiny part of what God is doing on such a huge-scale in our world today!  You see, until we “see” what God is desiring to show us, we are going to miss the best part of our lives.  I wish for you perfect 20/20 spiritual vision so that you do not miss even one frame of the movie of life being played out each day!  What does God say on this subject? Well, instead of being alarmed at what each day will bring, I think we need to be “looking” at the power of the Resurrection that is recorded in Mark chapter 16 and available for each of us:  “ ‘Don’t be alarmed,’ he said.  ‘You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified.  He has risen!  He is not here.  See the place where they laid Him.  But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee.  There you will see Him, just as He told you.’ “  If we, too, will heed the angel’s words to “look” for the risen Christ – not in the empty tomb, but out and about in our world, having gone ahead of us … then we will “see” Him, just like He tells us we will!  We will “see” Him in every part of our day, every part of our lives!  We will be able to discern His heart-prints, His presence, His miracles, His love! 

 

 

 

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

 

A SPECIAL WELCOME to Mary, to Chris & Diamond, and to Amon, who joined us in worship this past Sunday!  God bless you!

SUN, MAR 10^TH:                                              

10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP                                  

10:30 A.M. – KIDZONE CHURCH                                     

WED, MAR 13^TH/THU, MAR 14^TH:                         

7:00 P.M. – MID-WEEK BIBLE STUDIES                        

Check your church calendar for locations                          

FRI, MAR 15^TH:                                                         

LADIES NITE OUT/1^st Birthday Celebration!                  

SAT, MAT 16^TH:                                              

9:00 A.M. – MEN’S BIBLE STUDY and

LADIES' PRAISE & PRAYER - with the              

Barnabas Team meeting to follow  

 

 

ELEVATION NORTH SPOTLIGHT!

We are excited about the presentation of the Passover Meal as part of our Good Friday evening service at church at 7:00 p.m.  You will be able to focus on the indescribable sacrifice that Jesus made for us on the cross of Calvary as Pastor Doug shares from the scriptures.  You will also experience sampling the foods that Jesus and His disciples shared together before His crucifixion:  lamb, unleavened bread, grapes, salt water, paste, and more.  You will not want to miss this unforgettable, meaningful service that will help prepare your heart for Communion and looking towards the joy of celebrating the Resurrection of our Lord!  Plan to join us!!!                                        

 

REMEMBER . . .  “Be on the lookout for God’s trail of handiwork in your life … you will see things you’ve never noticed before!” ~ Debbie Jones

 

 

Joyfully Serving Christ . . .

 

 

Pastor Doug and Debbie

 

 

 

      

ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

SOMETHING NEW AND FRESH!  Who loves the same old … same old?  Or the stale crusts of dry bread?  Or pulling out the very same few pieces of clothing and wearing them time after time after time?  Or knowing exactly what your day is going to be like and nothing new and exciting ever happens?  Or feeling like your world is shrinking along with your circle of friends and family?  Or wondering why your phone never rings with any messages of good news?  Well, you get the picture!  And maybe it is all too familiar.  If so, I just want to remind you of how our days are supposed to begin!  God’s Word says in Lamentations 3:22-23: “Because of God’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”  Did you catch that?  We do not have to be consumed by the mundane or the tough times, which is what happens so often, right?  His great love and His compassions are faithfully available and fresh for us every morning … without fail!  That’s powerful!  We can expect God to show up, every day, first thing in the morning – with fresh and abundant portions of His incredible love and kindnesses.  Enough to last ALL day – every day!  They are not stale or old or boring.  They are not lacking or late.  That is SO exciting!  God promises something new and fresh EVERY day in our relationship with Him!  We should hardly be able to wait to jump out of bed in the morning to meet up with God and see “what He’s got cooking for us!”  I absolutely LOVE making new recipes, or trying out a new twist on an old recipe!  It’s much more delightful for the taste buds … and it makes cooking and baking a really fun adventure!  I think that’s how we’re supposed to look at our walk with God!  I believe He wants us to grasp the truth that He Himself is excited about our appearance each morning, and He can hardly wait to share with us what He’s got in store!  There’s nothing boring about God, you know!  He’s got some fantastic things lined up … new places to go, new people to meet, new God-planned appointments, fresh divine favor, new restoration of things we’ve given up on, new paths for us to take that will lead us to higher plateaus, experiences for us to dive into that we’ve been shy about in the past, gifts for us to receive that we’ve always wished for but never thought could be ours … and so much more!  It’s different each day, you see!  But first He wants to pour in the fresh anointing by His Spirit.  He invites us to sit at His feet, to curl up in what He wants to be a most familiar spot for us each new day as we just listen to what He has to say.  He teaches us and coaches us to be disciplined and committed to what He is telling us as we open the pages of His Word.  His instructions leap out – new and fresh each day!  While we might have read those passages before or heard someone speak from them before … this day, this morning, they are new and fresh – and exciting and personal!  Just for us … for today!  I tell you, living life this way is so much more exhilarating!  It’s how God planned and purposed it to be.  Just try it … for 30 days.  See what changes take place.  I can guarantee you’ll never want to return to the old and stale living of your past!  

 

 

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

 

 

OUR DEEP GRATITUDE goes out to Marty and Kelly for their awesome artistic work and dedicated efforts to see the new church sign to completion!  Your church family at Elevation North thanks you for this important witness!

 

SUN, MAR 3^RD:                                                

10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP                                  

10:30 A.M. – KIDZONE CHURCH                                     

MON, MAR 4^TH:                                               

6:30 P.M. – RE:FUEL YOUTH                                          

Bring a friend or two with you!                                        

WED, MAR 6^TH:                                                        

7:00 P.M. -MID-WEEK BIBLE STUDY                             

905 El Dorado St. SE, Owatonna                                      

THU, MAR 7^TH:                                                

7:00 P.M. - MID-WEEK BIBLE STUDY                            

165 24^th Place NW, Owatonna                                          

SAT, MAR 9^TH:                                                

Turn your clocks ahead for Daylight Savings                      

Time – for Sunday morning!  

  

ELEVATION NORTH SPOTLIGHT!

We join Marty and Kelly in saying "Hallelujah" that the new church sign is finished and in place in the parking lot ... pointing everyone who drives by to the location for Elevation North ... inviting them to stop in and join us in worship, praise, and fellowship!  May this sign ever be a powerful tool, drawing people not just to us, but most importantly, to Christ and new life in Him!  Or to a new, deeper commitment to Christ as we learn and grow together!  No one really knows the many, countless hours and challenges that are unseen when you just look at the church sign, but Marty and Kelly will never forget their experiences while designing, painting, and placing this sign for all to see!  They have quite a story, and bottom-line, we who know the story have caught a glimpse into how important this sign is ... for it points people to the Cross of Jesus Christ!  How we thank you, Marty and Kelly ... may God bless you immeasurably!!!

                                         

 REMEMBER . . . “The Lord is good to those who wait hopefully and expectantly for Him, to those who seek Him.”  ~ Lamentations 3:25

  

 

 

Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

 

 

Pastor Doug and Debbie

 

 

 

 

ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

 

OUR IDENTITY … AND OVER-TIME!  What do they have in common, if anything?  Just what makes us who we are? Well, if we are God’s children, His Word tells us that we are created in His image.  That infers that we must look like Him.  Well, at least we are to resemble Him enough that we are actually a reflection of Him.  Wow!  That’s pretty incredible!  It’s one thing to think that I have my dad’s eyes or my mom’s nose, or that I sound like my siblings when others hear our voices.  But to think that I really look like my Father?  My Father in Heaven, that is?  Mind-boggling, to say the least.  Oh, yes … our minds.  God’s Word also says we are to have the mind of Christ.  Now THAT’S a tall order, wouldn’t you say?  And yet, God would not have told us these things if it was not possible to achieve them with His help!  But does accomplishing anything come as easily as we think it is going to?  I remember when our youngest son, Dustin, used to tag along with his dad in the summertime to help out with repair projects at the apartments we owned.  My husband would ask, “Do you want to go along, Dustin?  It won’t take very long!”  And Dustin’s reply was always, “How long is that?”  To which Doug’s answer was, “Oh, not too long … probably about a half-hour.”  So, Dustin would head out with his dad.  After going on several tasks like this, Dustin soon got smart and told me one day, “If Dad said it will only take about a half-hour, I know I’m going to be there at least two hours!”  I told him, “You’re learning!  Nothing ever goes as quickly as we plan for … or hope that it will, does it?  Something changes … it’s harder than we thought, or something else breaks, or we get interrupted, or we don’t have the right tools and have to go get them.  But we stick with it until we accomplish it!” There are many people who are committed to doing whatever it takes to get the job done in many arenas of their lives.  They work more hours to pay the bills, or they get an extra job.  They just do whatever it takes to survive.  Or, if they want something more than survival, some people start a business of their own on the side, in hopes that someday they can replace all of their long hours at so many jobs.  An easy change?  By no means, but adding in a few extra hours now means looking forward to later enjoying life the way God intended us to! Some people want to lose weight and become healthier, so they take a hard look at their options and choose to ditch the fast foods, the packaged and processed foods and replace them with the natural foods that God gave us to eat.  An easy change?  By no means, but a commitment to that means a healthier, longer life – and you feel great while you’re living it!  What about our walk with God?  Why do people just settle for “I just don’t have any more time or any more money to give to God!”  Point blank.  Done.  End of story!  I cannot answer for anyone else.  All I know is that if I can be my best at my job and make the right choices for enjoying life; if I can put the right kind of foods into my body to fuel it for the long-haul; then surely, I can put some over-time into my relationship with God – which is what matters eternally even more than any job I will ever have or any food choices I make.  All of these decisions mark who I am.  They give me my identity.  Especially my identity in Christ.  He gave so much for me … cannot I give more of myself … my efforts, my time, my devotion, my money and possessions, my talents, my ideas … to Him?  Do we ever even think of putting in some over-time to accomplish things for God’s Kingdom on this earth?  After all … our jobs will end someday when we can no longer work, our health – no matter how great it is, will end when we take our last breath, but our identity in Christ will live on into Eternity.  No one can steal that identity from us!  Today, I encourage you to think about putting in some over-time for the only lasting thing in our lives … let’s get out of our comfort zones and share Christ and recruit as many others for Him as possible!  Just wait until we get to Heaven … and there they all stand – because of Jesus … and because of us!  Will the over-time have been worth it?   

 

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

SUN, FEB 24:                                                         

10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP                                              

10:30 A.M. – KIDZONE CHURCH                                                 

WED, FEB 27:                                                        

7:00 P.M. – MID-WEEK BIBLE STUDY                                        

905 El Dorado Street SE, Owatonna   

THU, FEB 28:

7:00 P.M. - MID-WEEK BIBLE STUDY      

165 24th Place NW, Owatonna 

SAT, MAR 02:

9:00 A.M. - MEN'S BIBLE STUDY with the

Barnabas Leadership Team Meeting to follow

9:00 A.M. – LADIES PRAISE & PRAYER

 

REMEMBER . . . “We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” ~ 2 Corinthians 4:18  

 

 

 

Serving Christ Joyfully . . . 

 

 

Pastor Doug and Debbie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

 

ARE YOU ASHAMED?  Ashamed of Jesus, that is?  Or talking about being ashamed, do you ever wonder if our Lord is ashamed of us?  I know we all have bad days once in a while … but let’s give ourselves a little quiz right now!  If someone recorded us on the camcorder (whether we were made aware of this taping or not) and we began to see ourselves on the screen, what would we see?  A follower of Christ who is positive and joyful and reflects Him in every way possible?  Or would we see a person who says that they are a child of God … but here is this crabby, complaining, negative “someone” that looks just like us?  We’d say “THAT is not ME!”  But … one thing the camera is not – is a liar!  Oops – guess we’ve got some work to do!  What I am going to share next, I truly wish I had written.  But when I read it, the message resonated so strongly within me, that I would love to memorize it, recite it, and most of all, LIVE IT!  It was a man by the name of Dr. Bob Moorehead who wrote this very powerful declaration … and all I ask is that you slowly and prayerfully read every word and let it soak in until it becomes a part of who you are in Christ!  It is titled, simply, The Fellowship of the Unashamed. 

 

“I am a part of the fellowship of the Unashamed.  I have the Holy Spirit Power.  The die has been cast.  I have stepped over the line.  The decision has been made.  I am a disciple of Jesus Christ.  I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.  My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure.  I am finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tame visions, mundane talking, chintzy giving, and dwarfed goals.  I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded.  I now live by presence, learn by faith, love by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power.  My pace is set, my gait is fast, my goal is Heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions few, my Guide is reliable, my mission is clear.  I cannot be bought, compromised, deterred, lured away, turned back, diluted, or delayed.  I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.  I won’t give up, back up, let up, or shut up until I’ve preached up, prayed up, paid up, stored up, and stayed up for the cause of Christ.  I am a disciple of Jesus Christ.  I must go until He returns, give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until He comes.  And when He comes to get His own, He will have no problem recognizing me.  My colors will be clear, for ‘I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes …’ Romans 1:16”.  (End of quote)

 

People are watching, dear ones!  We could be the only Bible that some of them will ever read.  Will we look enough like Jesus to be able to lead them to Christ?  Do we resemble Christ closely enough that our words about Him will be believable?  Will our actions back up our words and cause those watching us from a distance – or from up close, to truly want what we have?  Or could they possibly dismiss Christ because they’ve so easily set us aside as not being genuine?  That would REALLY make me ashamed!   Lord, may we never live that way.  Rather, help us to live revived, rejoicing, and redeemed, by the blood of the Lamb! 

 

 

 

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

 

OUR HEARTFELT THANKS to each of our faithful supporters from other states who have felt led to stand beside us as a church in prayer and financial support!  Your generosity overwhelms us and it is truly our heart’s cry that God will bless and multiply your gifts in eternal ways through this ministry!  And may His favor be poured into your lives as you serve Him each day!

 

SUN, FEB 17^TH:                                     

10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP                      

10:30 A.M. – KIDZONE CHURCH                         

MON, FEB 18^TH:                                     

6:30-8:00 P.M. – RE;FUEL YOUTH                                   

WED, FEB 19^TH:                                     

7:00 P.M. – MID-WEEK BIBLE STUDY                

905 El Dorado Street SE, Owatonna                  

THU, FEB 20^TH:                                               

7:00 P.M. – MID-WEEK BIBLE STUDY                

165 24^th Place NW, Owatonna   

 

 

ELEVATION NORTH SPOTLIGHT!

We are so grateful to each one who has given sacrificially to the special fund to cover the costs of moving into our new church location, as depicted by the leaves on the tree branches in the fellowship area, "The Oasis"!  We have also needed to update our church brochures and stationery to include our new address and information.  To date, we have "leaves" totaling $1190 toward our $1500 goal!  How great is our God!  What seems so huge to us - is so ably attained through the power of His Spirit, if we will just have child-like faith and be obedient to do what He lays on our heart!  If you have not yet had the opportunity to be a part of this special project that will allow us to reach out into our community ... NOW is the time!  God bless!

                           

 REMEMBER . . . “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.  So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord … “.  2 Timothy 1:7-8a

 

 

Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

 

 

Pastor Doug and Debbie

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                                     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

 

WINTER STORM WARNING!  Is there really a severe storm on the way?  I am not sure … and if there is one in the works, I am not sure just where it will strike.  I’ve not heard any weather forecasts, so I am rather at a disadvantage.  Some people are hoping for a three-day weekend – but I don’t think that’s slated for here.  So for us?  I still do not know, but I will search out some answers, and eventually, time will reveal what will take place.  We’ll get to experience it live!  It’s kind of like our real lives.  People talk about “what could happen” and they get all freaked out about the “what ifs” of life – so much so that they miss out on the richness of spending their lives as if they were a priceless treasure!  (Which they truly are!)  We spend our split-seconds, our moments, our minutes.  We spend our hours, our weeks, our months.  Soon all that “spending” turns into years … and as if in a flash, the days in the hourglass of our lives have just about run out.  Where has all that time gone?  Last week I shared a love story early for Valentine’s Day … this week I want to share a personal story about the incredible gift that our lives are and that it really does matter how we “spend” them and invest them in the lives of others!  You see, while God gifts us with our very lives, we are not given the winter storm warning that tells us when our last day or last breath on this earth will be.  We do not have access to forecasts like that.  Last week our second son, Dana, went with twenty-five or thirty guys on the snowmobiling trip that the company gifts to their management team annually.  They all headed northward to the upper peninsula of Michigan for a week of fun in the snow!  The first few days there was not even enough snow to rent snowmobiles, so they rented four-wheelers with the option to trade them in for the snowmobiles later if the forecast for several inches of snowfall came true. Well, it did – and soon they were out enjoying the snow-covered trails!  Thursday afternoon came and it was time to stop for a late lunch at a place in the wintery woods.  The guys strolled in to hear a question asked of them, “There’s just been an accident on a trail not too far from here.  Was it one of your guys?”  They all shook their heads and replied, “No!  We’ve all been together all day!”  Looking around, they soon discovered that one of them was missing, but knew he was right on their tail, so they hung around a few more minutes, waiting for him to pull up and join them.  More minutes passed, and finally one of the guys said, “I’ll back-track just to make sure,” – and it wasn’t long before they heard his somber voice on the phone, “You better come; it’s Jay, and it’s not good!”  Jay had missed an “s” curve and went airborne, hitting a tree.   Now, here they are … rushing back to Jay and realizing that his life is ebbing away.  One of Dana’s employees gave CPR for twenty minutes – to no avail.  At first Jay could not feel his legs, and soon he said, “I can’t breathe!  I can’t breathe!”  And then … he was gone.  Fifty-four years old, a successful, wealthy leader in corporate America, happy family man, new grampa … with much of his future still ahead of him – his life ended suddenly without warning.  Our son was crushed.  Since joining this company, Dana has talked with Jay on a near-daily basis as his direct contact.  He has been his mentor and coach, and our son has spoken about how highly he respects this man because of his integrity and how he lives his life.  We did not know Jay, but felt the impact of such a great loss for his family – and for our son.  He had lived his life full-speed ahead and impacted people far beyond the scope of his own understanding, I’m sure.  Our son said the afternoon/evening of the visitation, over two thousand people greeted Jay’s family and shared how much he had meant to them.  Yes, Jay’s life on this earth is over, but the legacy he left to his family and all who knew him in his corporate circles will live on.  No forecast, no prediction.  A life well-lived, a death so unexpected.  Only God knew the complete set of dates for Jay:  his birthdate and his date of death.  It was Jay’s choices in life that made his fifty-four short years on this earth so full and impacting to so many others.  We get the same choices between our beginning and ending dates.  What kind of living will we do between the two? Lord, help us “spend” our days wisely, making You our #1 choice!  There is no greater choice we can make, and making God #1 in our lives will allow us to impact others for His glory for as long as we live!

 

 

IN A NUTSHELL . . .
 

SUN, FEB 10^TH:                                    

10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP                      

10:30 A.M. – KIDZONE CHURCH                        

WED, FEB 13^TH:                                     

7:00 P.M. – ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE         

SAT, FEB 16^TH:                                       

5:00 P.M. – “A SWEET NIGHT OUT”                    

at The Timberlodge & dessert by Hazel              

at the church following w/fun fellowship   

 

ELEVATION NORTH SPOTLIGHT!

We invite you to take time out of your mid-week schedule to attend the Ash Wednedsay Service at church at 7:00 p.m.  This is a time to focus closely on all that Jesus experienced in the days preceding His complete sacrifice for us on the Cross.  Come and honor and worship our Lord; come and sing praises; come and let God's Word change you; come and take heart as you remember all that Jesus has done for us as we partake of Communion.  Think of someone you can invite that may not have attended an Ash Wednesday service before so they can experience God's amazing love!            

 
REMEMBER . . . “Don’t be anxious for tomorrow.  God will take care of your tomorrow too.  Live one day at a time.” ~ Matthew 6:34 / “I will not forget you.  See, I have inscribed you on the palm of My hands.” ~ Isaiah 49:15-16

 

 

Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

 

 

Pastor Doug and Debbie