Elevation North has News for YOU!

IT’S TIME FOR BREAKTHROUGH! Why would we say that? Because in God’s timing, He is always ready and waiting to bring to us what we cannot make happen on our own. He invites us to claim the breaking down of strongholds and the lifting up of Christ in all things. May we remind each other of the theme verse of our church, Ephesians 3:20, which tells us that “He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, BEYOND all we can imagine”! No … WE can’t. But … HE CAN!!! And while we can imagine LOTS ~ our imaginations barely scratch the surface of all that our God has in mind when it comes to our lives personally, and yes, our church, too! The more we study and research the scriptures for what God is telling us about the impending doom of our daily headlines, we see that He is very present in all of it. He has not been caught off guard. He’s not disappeared into oblivion, and He has not left us to face it all alone. No financial forecast, no escalation of evil, no downward spiral of morals and values, no attempted control by government can dim our view of our God who sits on the Throne of this universe. Well, that is, if He sits on the Throne of our hearts. It is from that premise that we stand on His promises. And from that vantage point, we can see our breakthroughs! He is the One who long ago inspired godly men to write of these things as fast as their fingers would move across the scrolls. They may not have understood what they were writing, but as long as God’s divine inspiration hung heavy on them, the words took form as the ink flowed from the quills. They were writing of the exact time that we are now living in. That knowledge should bring to us an excitement unequalled by anything else we’ve ever been privy to. WE could be the generation that sees the return of Christ! Literally! Generations and generations before us have prayed for this time, have waited for this time, have longed for this time ~ for the return of Christ for His bride, the Church. Will we be as radiant, as pure, as beautiful as He wants His Bride to be? Will we be as prepared as He wants us to be? Will we be as filled with Him and as consumed by our love for Him as He desires us to be? Will we be fully engaged in what He’s asked us to do, and yet focused on that first glimpse of our Bridegroom? What a day THAT will be! What a moment in time THAT will be! It is our heart’s cry as we pastor the wonderful people of Elevation North – that God would help us to be agents of breakthrough. May we have a burning desire to be agents of change in our community. You see, we don’t go through all these tough times for nothing. God has us in training when we’re fighting battles. We’re being cued up for action when yet another onslaught is served up to us on a platter that we’d rather not be served. I’ve been asking myself some tough questions this week. Some new, intensive training on the job has been challenging, schedule-wise … but I can already see just how valuable this is going to be - not just for this job, but for personal growth, as well as for ministry and every other facet of my life. I have had to take on a whole new stance of attempting to make everything work together as I adjust to these added hours, but I must say that it is only working because God is holding me up by His righteous right hand. And, I believe He has me in a new place of training right now. That part is really exciting! When we find ourselves in these hard places, it makes us wonder what we are in training for. We wonder what is just around the bend. What is coming up next? God evidently knows that we wouldn’t be ready for the next phase without this present training. The best part of all this is realizing more than ever before, that THIS is the place God has for us to enjoy right now. The training times as we await breakthrough are not meant to be seen as dreadful or stifling. God means for us to “give it all we’ve got” – yes, even with some extra “blood, sweat, and tears”. But at the same time, we do not have to wait for the “perfect tomorrow” that we think will bring us everything we’ve been waiting for – to laugh and enjoy life! We can do that RIGHT NOW … in the midst of our training. Making the most of today … as if it were our last day, can be freeing! We will realize that TODAY is the tomorrow we were waiting for yesterday. So if we let today slide by waiting for yet another tomorrow to come before we can enjoy the life God meant for us to have, just think how many days will be lost forever. Let’s grab onto the breakthroughs of today, as we train for the breakthroughs of tomorrow … and let’s smile and laugh through the twists and the turns. I think I can see the first glimpse of breakthrough ~ just up ahead! Do you see it, too? And … there’s Jesus! He’s waving us on! Let’s run!!!

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

- THERE’S NOTHING LIKE REMEMBERING! Which is just what we did as we were led into worship, through the Word, and into soul-searching as we partook of Communion this past Sunday. As He left this earth to go to Heaven, it was Jesus’ instructions that we should remember Him and what He did for us. What a precious time of remembering!
- OUR THANKS AND APPRECIATION go to Pastor’s mom, Shirley, for all the beautiful doilies she hand-stitches to give to our visitors each week! What a wonderful ministry that is!
- SPECIAL BIRTHDAY WISHES are coming up for Nancy who will be celebrating this Monday, March 15th! God bless you, Nancy! We are so glad that God has brought you to us!

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .

- THIS SUNDAY, MARCH 14TH:
- 10:00 A.M. – WORSHIP & PRAISE – with hearts ready to receive God’s message for us as Pastor Doug continues on with our 50-day Spiritual Adventure! This week we will be zeroing in on how we can keep our promises to God as we “Support The Ministry of our Church and Pastor”. Each of us who are a part of God’s church are important as we get involved and do what God lays on our heart to do! Don’t miss out on this practical message that will help you get fired up in your work for the Lord!
- 11:15 a.m. – SUNDAY SCHOOL – just one more way for us to experience learning how to apply God’s Word and His truths to our lives! Come and participate by taking notes and sharing your insights as we grow together!
- YOUTH – RE: FUEL session will resume next week on the 22nd, since Justin will not be here this weekend. In the meantime, carry on by looking around you to see who would benefit by coming to youth with you next time!
- EASTER MISSION PROJECT – let’s help provide a portion of 30,000 meals for the hungry in the Twin Cities this Easter season, giving them not only food for their bodies, but “food for their souls”! Just $2 is all it takes to touch someone’s life this Easter! Let’s see how many two dollar meals we can provide!
- MARK ON YOUR CALENDARS: Easter Services in April – and - Mother-Daughter Tea on May 1st!
- DON’T FORGET TO TURN YOUR CLOCKS AHEAD ONE HOUR this Saturday evening on March 13th for DST!

- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .

- NOTHING IS TOO HARD FOR OUR GOD! Your prayers are valuable as we remember Matthias & Liz as they travel home from NY; Julia and her brothers, Jim & Pat as they await the liver transplant; Jeff & Michael for complete healing of brain conditions; a miracle buyer for Bucholz’ house; and for many other needs in our church family! Let’s be on our knees as we trust God and praise Him in advance for answered prayer!!!

- THIS WEEK . . . “Remember, “A great deal can be done for the Kingdom by “little servants” with “little skill” and “little training” if they have big hearts for God.” ~ Jill Briscoe

Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

Elevation North has News for YOU!

HE KNOWS HOW TO TAKE CARE OF HIS OWN! And I’m so very glad He does! Who’s HE? Well, none other than our Father in Heaven! And how do I know? Well, because THIS week, He has held my hand, walked beside me, gone ahead of me, flanked me on the rear, invited me to draw close, intervened for me, literally infused His strength and spirit into me, and then, He even carried me! He has kept me well, given me resources beyond my own in every way imaginable, ministered to me divine protection, stirred my dreams and passions, sent family and friends to touch my life – including my sweet husband, put new opportunities into my path, reminded me of His promises, and in a voice a bit louder than usual, told me to come to Him and rest! And so, I did. That’s why this weekly update is coming a few days late. And you know what? Even though it’s late … I know that life will go on! And I will have been a bit more renewed and refreshed to tackle whatever lies ahead in the coming week that will be filled to overflowing! I will be more effective to undertake God’s work in our ministry ~ both in the church and in the marketplace! I love the first part of Jesus’ teaching in the Beatitudes as written for us in Matthew 5. This is what He said, “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and His rule.” That’s so true! When we’ve done all we can, all we know how to do … and there’s still more waiting to be done, we RUN to God for help. We FOCUS on His promises. We SEEK out His perfect will. We ABANDON ourselves to His plan. And when we live our lives that way, God can take even better care of us, because we’re actually giving Him permission to be in control – to rule His way! And of course, His way is always best, anyhow! Also, in Matthew, chapter 5, following the Beatitudes, Jesus tells us why we are here on this earth. It’s not about us, but about a life so much bigger than we usually can grasp. He says, “Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in this world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand – shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.” That’s how I see our ministry, both as individual followers of Christ … and corporately, as our Elevation North church family. We were never created to be a secret. We were never gifted to have those gifts unused. We were never called to shun our God-given mission. We are never enabled to give up. We are never filled and not asked to be poured out. We are never given God-appointments that we cannot keep. What we DO need, is wisdom and discernment from God, so that we will always be tuned in. Ready to engage. Willing to obey. Eager to be used. We think of Jeff, who we’ve been praying for. A man in his mid-sixties, suffering from brain deterioration that sometimes pushed him towards violence because his medication could not be balanced, was on the verge of being put in a mental facility. This broke his son’s heart, and the family pursued 27 nursing facilities, hoping to place him there instead. They all refused to take Jeff because of the tendency towards violence. We’ve never met Jeff, but God prompted us so strongly to lay hands on a relative and anoint her with oil as she stood in for him as we prayed for a miracle on his behalf. As the hours and next few days passed, God wouldn’t release Jeff from our hearts and we continued to believe for God’s divine touch in his life. Less than a week later, we were informed by this relative, that a nursing home had taken him in as a resident! Miraculous! But not because of our power. God did it all, yet He prompted us to become a part of that miracle through obedience to what He asked us to do. We’re still praying for complete healing and restoration in Jeff! And now we’re also praying for a young 13 year old boy whose brain is being pulled into his spine, and without divine intervention, this condition will take his life. Please join us in standing on the promises of God and claiming a supernatural miracle for Michael. Who knows what God has planned for his life? Remember why we’re here? God’s Word says, repeating from Matthew 5: “By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.” What more can I say? Let’s just do what He says, for He really knows how to care for His own!

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

- WHAT A POWERFUL MESSAGE we received this past Sunday as Pastor Doug poured out his heart through the Word of God as we continue on our 50-Day Spiritual Adventure! He emphasized how much we need each other, and explained the benefits of choosing an accountability partner who will spur us on to greater things in God as they come alongside us and stand with us in our walk with the Lord.
- OUR SPECIAL THANKS to Isaac, who runs the sound system for us; to Mary, who takes care of our tithes and offerings and obligations through her treasury position, and to Chuck and Merv who assist her on Sundays, to Pam, who helps lead worship songs; to Cierra for teaching our little ones, and to Justin, who leads our youth group. All of you are ministering through your gifts, and we thank you for blessing us at Elevation North! And to everyone else who helps us with the “taking-down” process each week after worship, and the many other ways you bless us in your own unique way, we thank you and are so grateful! May God bless each one!
- BELATED HAPPY BIRTHDAY WISHES to Zalee and to Charlotte on March 4th! May God bless you both!!

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .

- THIS SUNDAY, MARCH 7TH:
- 10:00 A.M. – WORSHIP & PRAISE – focusing on our Lord Jesus Christ, and moving forward into our 50-Day Spiritual Adventure, “Promises Worth Keeping”, with Pastor Doug preaching on “Practicing Purity in Thought and Action”. Our sins push us to the tendency to fall and fail, but God helps us get back up and on track to live a winning, victorious life through the Holy Spirit. Come and be a part of this powerful service – don’t miss it!
- 11:15 A.M. – SUNDAY SCHOOL – we are never too young or too old to continue learning more about our God and what He has put in His Word to help us live overcoming, exciting lives! Please join us for classes!
- 6:00-7:30 P.M. – YOUTH – RE: FUEL session at Clinton Falls Town Hall with Justin planning an exciting time of going deeper in your walk with God - plus always, a great time of fun and fellowship with activities and snacks! Let’s work on doubling our group ~ and then doubling it again! Invite, reach out, and keep reaching out!!!
- COMING SOON … EASTER SERVICES, MOTHER-DAUGHTER TEA, & MORE CHURCH FAMILY EVENTS!

- PRAYER OPPORTUNTIES . . .

- HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD!!! That is not only the title of a beautiful song, it is pure truth! God reveals His greatness to us day after day – from morning to evening – and all night long! He is still in the prayer-answering business, and we’d love to have you continue to pray with us for Jeff and Michael with brain conditions; for Nancy in her job-search; for the sale of Bucholz’ house; for healing for Julia, her brother, Shirley, Hazel, Helen; for God to be with Leslie and his family; for wisdom for each of us; and for God’s servants in ministry!

- THIS WEEK . . . “Remember, “Praise is the best auxiliary to prayer.” ~ Andrew Melville


Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

Elevation North has News for YOU!

PROMISE FEVER! What’s THAT, you say? Well, haven’t you heard of sports fever, dance fever, fashion fever, fast food fever, video game fever, travelin’ fever, and _________ fever (you just insert the word – I’m sure there’s a fever that goes along with it)! But, we’re not talking about any of those fevers today … we’re talking about “promise fever”. We’re thinking that this fever is something that God would love for all of His people to catch! After all, promises are meant to be kept – yet all too often broken. And just what can we do about that? Well, first of all, what is a promise, really? They are so easy to make, and just as easy to break. It’s keeping them that’s a bit more difficult. A promise by definition is: a declaration to do something specified. It is also the solid foundation for the expectation of success, improvement, or excellence in our lives or in specific circumstances. Keeping them takes a strong commitment … lots of integrity … and being diligent to follow through. That’s where the “fever” part comes in! Having a fever is punctuated by a bodily high temperature and a rapid pulse. We need to raise our spiritual temps and get excited about being a child of God who keeps his/her promises. Not only will we become more like Jesus when we do this, but we will be a visible reflection of what God meant for us to look like in this world to the people around us. In our homes. Our churches. Our workplace. Our community. When they see us keeping our promises, they’ll know they can go to the bank with whatever we say, no matter what. That will give us much greater credibility when we open our mouths to talk about Jesus. They’ll know they can believe what we’re saying about other things, when we’ve already backed up our words and promises with follow-through action. But still, it’s not easy. And it’s not easy to do by ourselves. What if we had some help? Well, we always have God’s help … that’s HIS promise to US! But what about the help of others? Our church? Our friends? That’s just what we will be learning about as we continue through this spiritual 50-day adventure called, “Promises Worth Keeping: Resolving To Live What We Say We Believe.” We are SO excited about this! We want Elevation North to be known as a group of people who keep our promises … to God, to family, to each other, and to everyone who our lives touch. So often we attempt to do things on our own. And often we fail. We wonder how come we cannot follow through on our promises to God or to others. We suggest that you choose an accountability partner – someone you can trust who will help keep you focused on what you intend to do. Someone who will come alongside you when those unexpected things pop up. Someone who will stand in the gap for you and hold you up in prayer. Someone who will give you encouragement and keep you moving forward. Someone who will be caring and compassionate, but not let you off the hook! Scripture tells us that two is better than one. Ecclesiastes 4:12 puts it this way: “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” So you see … you and a friend and God … together are strong enough so that what you undertake will not be easily torn apart. Besides, the joy of having another share with us in keeping a promise or any other undertaking – is always more pleasant than having to tackle something alone. God gave us family and friends for a purpose, so allow and engage them on this 50-day spiritual adventure! It will not only enrich your life – but theirs, as well! All of us will be able to stand on the other side of these 50 days and see a change in ourselves that most importantly will be visible in God’s eyes … and also to those around us. Author Larry Crabb said in his book, Connecting, “I have come to believe that the root of all our personal and emotional difficulties is a lack of togetherness, a failure to connect that keeps us from receiving and prevents the life in us from spilling over onto others. I therefore believe that the surest route to overcoming problems and becoming the people we were meant to be is reconnecting with God and with our community.” This week, let’s catch “Promise Fever” and ask for God’s help so that we can truly live what we say we believe!

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

- WHAT A JOY IT IS to come together on the Lord’s Day and offer Him our very best as we worship and praise Him! And while as a young church we may not yet be able to offer a full-fledged ministry, we always seek to offer God our best as we give of our time and our talents and our monies. We continue praying for the day when this ministry will be fully fleshed out so that we will have in place ministries available for every group and age and need imaginable! Until then, may we be faithful with what we have as we seek to bless and honor God, and everyone who comes through our doors!
- A SPECIAL WELCOME to Ryan and Pam, Adam and Rebecca, who worshipped with us this past Sunday! How you blessed us with your presence, and our prayer is that you were touched by the presence of God while in our midst!
- SPECIAL BIRTHDAY WISHES to our daughter, Becky, on March 4th – and to our grandson, Wade, who will be 16 on March 7th! We hope you both know just how very much you are loved; and may God’s BEST be yours!!!

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .

- THIS SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28TH:
- 10:00 A.M. – WORSHIP & PRAISE – continuing on our exciting 50-Day Spiritual Adventure! This week Pastor Doug will be focusing on “Cultivating Vital Friendships That Encourage Us To Keep Our Promises!” You won’t want to miss this service! Why not invite some friends who do not attend church anywhere?!
- 11:15 A.M. – SUNDAY SCHOOL – with a class just for you that will stir and encourage your heart at the same time! Why not invite some friends to come and learn with us as we dig deeper into God’s Word!
- 6:00-7:30 P.M. – YOUTH – RE: FUEL session at Clinton Falls Town Hall with Justin taking this time to draw out the best in our youth and with God’s help, to ignite that into fired-up junior/senior high kids who will be able to help change their world around them! So kids, reach out to your friends and bring them along! Learning, snacking, and adventure will be awaiting you!
- CONTINUING – Sunday visits to our church families with Pastor Doug and Debbie! We’ll be calling YOU!
- COMING UP SOON – A Sunday afternoon “Ladies Time-IN!” with Debbie! More details to come!
- MAY 1ST – MOTHER/DAUGHTER TEA is already in the planning stages!

- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .

- There’s nothing quite like being right in the middle of where God is working! And He is definitely at work in our midst, and how thankful we are to Him for that! This week, please join us in praying for: Jeff, who is suffering from brain deterioration; Nancy, who is job-searching; healing for Julia & her brother, also for Shirley, for Hazel, and for Helen; for God’s presence to be with Leslie and his family; for those we support in evangelism and missions; for unspoken financial needs. Great are our needs … but greater is our God!

- THIS WEEK . . . Remember, “The journey begins just where you are ~ with blessings in every step!”



Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

Elevation North has News for YOU!

IT’S SUPERNATURAL! There’s a television program by that title, hosted by Sid Roth, and perhaps some of you have seen it. You may have wondered about some of the things you’ve heard the guests talk about, because most of them are simply unexplainable. Many seem unbelievable. And yet the guests that have experienced these miracles have no doubt about them. I guess that’s why the word “supernatural” is the best fit! After all, who can explain God? Or who can explain the miracles that God did through His Son, Jesus, while on earth … or since, from His throne in Heaven? And who can put God in a box and keep Him there, all nice and explainable? I would presume, not a one of us. That’s exactly what happened at Elevation North this past Sunday morning. We had a few people share about answered prayers, and while none of it is explainable, we know WHO did it! A few Sundays ago, my husband anointed three individuals who were standing in for those not in our midst, either because of their illness or distance away. Two of the three we were praying for are not even a part of our church. We laid hands on them and prayed for one who is the unborn baby of a young couple related to someone in our church. The doctors had diagnosed possible Down’s syndrome. Later, we got word that they had changed the diagnosis to Edward’s syndrome, which is fatal, either while still in the womb, or shortly after birth. We continued to pray and claim the miracle for this new little creation of God, still being formed and shaped. Just days later, we received word that after another definitive test, all is clear! There is no sign of either of these syndromes!!! Jesus … You did it! Another we prayed for was for an aunt of two of our young adults in the church. She lives in another state, and was in stage four of a recently diagnosed cancer. Prayers from all over the country were being lifted up on her behalf. Yet, one day, while in the bathroom, she died in her husband’s arms. He immediately prayed over her while holding her, lifeless in his arms, along with his mother who is staying with them during this time. God raised her up and brought her back to life. This experience actually occurred one or two more times. She died, and would be raised back to life, following prayer. The young man in our church who is her nephew talked to her last week on the phone, and she told him that she had lost twelve pounds. Two, because of the chemotherapy … and ten, because the tumors are gone! And she went on to tell him that she is planning to participate in a triathalon!!! Jesus … You did it! The third individual we were praying for was Tina, from our church, who was home in bed following surgery for removal of her tonsils and adenoids. As an adult, this surgery can pose many more risks than for a child. She was experiencing severe pain and not able to keep any sustenance in her system. Amazingly, as her body continued to refuse the foods, it was probable that her stitches should have broken open and caused dangerous bleeding. But as the days passed, Tina was finally able to eat food again, and never once in all that critical time period did she have any bleeding!!! Jesus … You did it! Now … we just want to clarify one thing: these miracles occurred because of the power of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is Jehovah-Rapha, our Healer! We at Elevation North can heal no one in our own power. BUT … we CAN anoint with oil and lay hands on and pray over people, or on behalf of someone not even in our midst. And with childlike faith, trust, and belief … we can speak healing and life to people in desperate circumstances, in the Name of Jesus, through His shed blood on Calvary. We can claim divine miracles and supernatural victories, through His Word and His promises! And when God does what He does … He does it so that He will be glorified! Like in Mark, chapter 5, in the story of the woman with the issue of blood, Jesus commends her “for taking a risk of faith” and tells her that now she’s healed and whole – and to live well and to live blessed.” In the same chapter, the story is recorded of the madman who Jesus ordered the demons out of. Freed, the man wanted to go with Jesus as he left, but Jesus instructed him, “Go home to your own people. Tell them your story – what the Master did, how He had mercy on you.” The Bible says the man did just that, going back and preaching about what Jesus had done for him. Then, the story ends with this powerful statement: “He (the man) was the talk of the town.” Why? Jesus loves being talked about so that through His supernatural miracles, people will sit up and take notice and be drawn to Him. And beyond that? Jesus just loves doing supernatural miracles for His kids … (and that’s US!!!) At Elevation North, let’s be a part of what God is wanting to do here on earth right now. We can either be a participant with Him, or just a bystander who misses out on the gifts He is handing out as He walks into our homes and our neighborhoods! Let’s rise to our feet in faith!

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

- WE HAVE SO MANY REASONS to praise our Lord! Just having the opportunity to gather together this past Sunday in God’s House, setting aside all else and losing ourselves in the worship and adoration of who He is, was a precious time. Learning from Pastor Doug’s message on the love of God and how we are to live it out (John 15), and hearing the testimonies of answered prayer, truly ministered to our hearts.
- A SPECIAL WELCOME to Dennis, who joined us for worship on Sunday! It was great having you in our midst, and we pray that God’s love and ours was evident! May God bless you, Dennis!
- A BELATED HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to Jimmy and Nancy, who celebrate their day on Valentine’s Day!!!

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .

- THIS SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21ST:
- 10:00 A.M. – WORSHIP & PRAISE – beginning an exciting 50-Day Spiritual Adventure that will lead us right into Easter as we prepare our hearts for remembering Calvary and the Empty Tomb of our Resurrected King!
- 11:15 A.M. – SUNDAY SCHOOL – with special lesson plans from Scripture prepared by dedicated teachers who invite YOU to choose the class for your age level! Come and participate!
- 6:00-7:30 P.M. – YOUTH – RE: FUEL session with Justin leading our junior/senior high kids to a deeper level in their walk with God, as they learn some practical foundations! Also included: fun, snacks, and friends!!! The friends? YOU bring them!!!
- ANY HOUR/ANY DAY – There are several opportunities for YOU to step up and come alongside Pastor Doug and Debbie as we serve in the Kingdom work of making Elevation North all that God has designed for it to be! Give them a call and let them know how you would like to use your gifts, and you’ll be channeled in the right direction!! And THANKS to each one who provided such yummy treats for our Valentine’s Day fellowship!

- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .

- When we experience first-hand the miracle-working hand of God, how our faith is increased to believe even more boldly for other answers! How we thank God for ALL He does for each of us! This week, let’s lift up: Shirley, Julia (and her brother in Denver, still awaiting a liver transplant), Helen, Whitney, and Stacey’s grandma having hip surgery, Josh in overseas ministry and for his family while he is away – all needs that are not too hard for our God! He is also fully capable of meeting our unspoken needs, financial lack, providing jobs, healing of relationships, bringing our nation back to Himself, protecting our troops, and so much more! He is El-Shaddai: the God of “more than enough!”

- THIS WEEK . . . Remember, “Hope is faith holding out its hands in the dark.” ~ Goerge Iles


Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

Elevation North has News for YOU!

DETERMINATION is a greater asset to us than “smarts” … is what I heard someone say today. And I’ve been thinking about that all day. It really makes sense! I can be the most intelligent person, have tons of knowledge, be book smart, business smart … but if I have no determination, none of those “smarts” are going to propel me forward. The word “determination” means a firmness of purpose, no waffling back and forth. It means making a decision and sticking with it, no matter what. And finally, it means we’ve settled something in our minds; it’s a done deal. Simply put … WE JUST KEEP GOING!!! You might be saying, “Well, that sounds good … but how am I supposed to just keep going when I feel like quitting?” Well … when we’ve done all we can do, given our best efforts, as much time as we could, every bit of money that God asked us to, every talent and gift He’s blessed us with, and we feel like we’ve exhausted all our resources … we don’t give up. WE JUST KEEP GOING! There’s a part of us (you and me) that screams, “But I just can’t do this anymore! I can’t go one more day, or one more step. I cannot stay in this relationship - one more day. I cannot work this hard – one more day. I cannot put up with this person’s attitude – one more day. I cannot stand to look at the empty checkbook – one more time. I’m not sure I can take the risk of stepping out in faith – this time. God, to be honest, I’m just not sure about much of anything – right now. God, do you hear me? God, are you there?” And then in the ensuing silence after our despairing questions, He answers. We think we’ve heard this somewhere before, but never quite this way. At least, never this clearly. Never in this tone of voice. He’s so close, we can almost feel His breath. His voice is so gentle, so calm, so reassuring, We almost, almost begin to believe what He is saying to us. He’s whispering softly in our ear, as if He doesn’t want us to miss one word – it’s that important. “Don’t quit. Please, don’t quit. There’s nothing I cannot do. But if you quit, I can’t help you. That takes Me out of the place you’re in. If you’ll just stay in there; if you’ll just keep going – even one tiny, little step at a time, then I can help you!” (God’s voice gets louder. He takes a step back and tells us to look Him in the eye.) He continues on … “I’ll come alongside you; I’ll even carry you, if need be. I’ll do miracles for you. I’ll move mountains for you. I’ll erase your doubts and lift you over your hurdles. I’ll breathe new hope and inspiration into you. I’ll send help. I’ll send strength. I’ll send resources. I’ll send ideas. I’ll keep you going through this chapter of your life and into the next one I have planned for you. When you keep going and don’t quit, I know that you’re ready for the next assignment I’ve been lining up for you. And we’ll do that together, too. See, if you haven’t already noticed, I’ve never left you on your own to do anything. If you could just see things through My eyes, you’d see that I’m with you non-stop. There’s never a time or place that I am NOT with you. I AM THERE! I need you to believe ME, and to stop believing the lies of the enemy of your soul.” (Now God’s voice takes on a sense of urgency – I can tell He really wants us to get this!) “It’s Satan who clouds your vision so you can’t see Me clearly. He’s the one who diminishes your memory of My promises in your life. And He’s the one who distorts your response to your circumstances, so that you lose victory. He’s the deceiver who cons you into thinking that quitting is alright. So be on guard and do not let the enemy steal your determination from you. It’s one of your greatest assets that I can use for My glory. I want you to stay in there with Me. There’s so much I want to do in you and through you in my Kingdom work. I want us to be partners in My ministry on this earth!” And then His voice subsides to a soft, beautiful tone … “Remember that I love you. I will love you always. You can count on that ~ even into Eternity! And I AM coming back for you ~ soon! But until that moment in time, please promise ME something: that you won’t quit and you’ll just keep going. Be determined – because of Me IN you! And don’t ever forget … I’M RIGHT HERE!” His voice reverberates through our entire being as He moves on. And though He disappears from sight, we’ve never been more aware that HE IS RIGHT HERE! I turn to the Word, and find instructions on what to do until that Day when we will see things as clearly as God sees us: “Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly.” (I Corinthians 13:13, The Message Bible) Let’s determine together to “just keep going” – trusting, hoping, and loving - so that God can do all that He’s planned to do in our lives! Use us, Lord!

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

- WHAT A BLESSING it was to worship together and dig deeper into God’s Word as we listened and learned from Pastor Doug’s message from Luke 15 about “The Lost Son” – the third in the series. What a powerful picture of how God wants to restore us to Himself and even offers us hope for restoration in relationships that have gone sour or been broken! Our prayer is that God will help us as His people to reclaim what we’ve lost! He is our RESTORER!
- A SPECIAL WELCOME to Matthias, back home from Afghanistan, who worshipped with us this past Sunday! We pray you were blessed, and we offer our deepest gratitude for all you’ve done for our nation!
- SPECIAL BIRTHDAY WISHES to our daughter, Melissa, on February 14th! May you be blessed in every way and know just how much you are loved!

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .

- THIS SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14TH ~ HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY, everyone!
- 10:00 A.M. – WORSHIP & PRAISE – centered on the theme of LOVE: God’s love for us, ours for Him, and ours for each other! In the love chapter of I Corinthians 13, we are told that love is the best gift of all. Come and learn more about the kind of love that God is talking about in His Word, and just how we can live in it, and also live it out!
- 11:00 A.M. – VALENTINE’S FELLOWSHIP with delectable sweets and treats with your church family! Each family is asked to bring a dozen goodies for this enjoyable time of sharing!
- 11:15 A.M. – SUNDAY SCHOOL – with awesome classes planned for all ages! Bring your Valentine’s goodies to class if you want to continue “munching” – and feast on God’s Word for your heart today!
- 6:00-7:30 P.M. – YOUTH – RE: FUEL session with Justin doing an introductory lesson on issues that affect young people right where they are at. In future sessions, you will learn how to combat the battles that face you every day, helping you to live victoriously for God! Invite your friends, hang out, learn, and enjoy snacks!

- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .

- “HOW VAST ARE THE POSSIBILITIES OF PRAYER! HOW WIDE IS ITS REACH!” (E.M. Bounds) How wonderful that our prayers span the distance from earth to heaven – and God’s answers span from one end of the earth to the other! That should encourage us as we lift up: Connie’s nephew’s unborn baby who may have Edward’s syndrome; Merv, Michelle, Tina, Helen, Julia, Lela – all in need of God’s special touch; unspoken needs for finances; those in desperate straits in Haiti; our nation to turn back to God; & our military serving us!

- THIS WEEK . . . Remember, “When life becomes all snarled up, offer it to God and let Him untie the knots.” ~ Unknown


Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

Elevation North has News for YOU!

RADICAL! Years ago that word carried a connotation that was less than pleasing. Anyone that looked a bit different ~ or anyone that did something out of the boundaries of what was considered normal, was labeled as ‘radical’ in a negative sense. Today? We believe that RADICAL can carry a positive connotation, especially in the spiritual sense! After all, what IS more radical than how God changes our lives, cleans them up, and gives us a new life here on earth with a forever destination called ‘heaven’? I cannot think of one thing that qualifies as more radical than that! So … is it alright to live radically as a believer? YES, we’re shouting a resounding YES!!! And just how does that affect our everyday lives? Well, we could fill page after page of stories of individuals who have been changed by Christ, and now are living radically for Him. They are so grateful that their lives have literally been saved and rescued and delivered from sin and the enemy, that they are not hiding their faith and keeping it in seclusion. They are living messages to their world around them, be it on whatever stage God has provided for them – locally, or in some instances – being broadcast around the nation and world on live TV via satellite! Powerful! So again, how does this translate into everyday living? Do we have had to hit rock-bottom or have committed the most hideous sins or have made a nationally recognized name for ourselves? No, no! This means we pursue God in the tiniest to the largest details of our lives and take Him at His Word, literally. Simply. Child-like. We believe Him – and what He has said in the past. We believe Him – and what He says to us now. And we move on those words, no matter how much it doesn’t make sense, or how radical it seems. When the world tells us one thing, and we hear God say the exact opposite, we respond without so much as a blink of the eye. We can do that because of Who is talking to us. It’s not our neighbor or an acquaintance … it’s the God of all creation, the Lord of the universe, the Savior of our souls! Why WOULDN’T we listen to His voice? On a more practical note, sometimes having to step out in faith against circumstances, can feel radical. But we do it because we take God at His Word. Just recently, I had to take my remaining days of vacation off from work or I would lose them. So not having been to our oldest son’s family for some time, we decided to head about six hours northwest. Finally, all the bases were covered at our many jobs … but then the weather forecast stated to sound pretty ominous. Winter storm warnings of slush and freezing rain and several inches of snowfall. People started telling us that perhaps we should not go. But we decided that since God had helped us get everything in place to this point, we were going to step out in faith and take Him at His Word that He would be with us. So with the first turn of the wheel, we were on our way! First of all, it was wondrous to just sit in the vehicle and breathe in pure relaxation and peaceful moments! And the good news is – none of that weather happened at all on the way there! We were so excited to see DJ and Melissa, and Tyler, Wade, and Lindsay (20, almost 16, & 9) and share this short day and a half visit with them in their home! How they blessed us by tucking in as many enjoyable things as possible: running all over town to several fun places, including walking the mall with Lindsay and gazing at the cute little puppies in the pet shop … the two of us making a double batch of yummy, gooey cookies (the expected 48 cookies turned into 88!!!) … sitting in the ice arena, cheering on Wade’s hockey team … celebrating Tyler’s 20th birthday two days early … seeing Melissa “in action” with her precious day care kids … taking a tour of DJ’s newly renovated office building and his new office space … and sharing all the conversation and hugs that we could in this short time together! There’s nothing like the blessing of being with family! And to think that in this small window of time that God gave us to enjoy – we could have thrown it away had we not chosen to believe radically that God would get us there safely. The return trip home was another story ~ the winter weather descended upon us in all its fury … but God brought us safely back home! Leaving our family is always difficult, but we carried with us new memories that we’ll replay over and over! Radical faith … it’s worth its weight in gold!!! And it works in every facet of our lives!!!

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

- SUNDAYS are always a highlight of the week as we experience God’s presence together, and this past Sunday was no exception as we joined in worship! Pastor Doug preached about “The Lost Coin” – part two in the series from Luke 15, as he encouraged us to move past circumstances and even bad decisions that have brought loss into our lives, “Reclaiming What We’ve Lost”!
- HAPPY BIRTHDAY WISHES to Karrie on February 6th, to Sean on the 9th, and to Kathy on the 12th! May God bless each of you with a great day and a wonderful year to come, filled with His BEST!

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .

- THIS SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7TH:
- 10:00 A.M. – WORSHIP & PRAISE with COMMUNION – Bring your hunger and thirst for more of God, along with your Bible, as Pastor Doug will complete the third message from Luke 15 on “The Lost Son.” Anyone struggling with broken relationships will be challenged to believe for restoration as we “Reclaim What We’ve Lost”. God is the healer of relationships, so come and receive all that God has for you!
- 11:15 A. M. – SUNDAY SCHOOL – with a class just for YOU! What an exciting opportunity to learn more of God’s Word and to share our own related experiences with each other! May it be our passion to get to know God better ~ come and learn with us!
- 6:00-7:30 P.M. – YOUTH – RE: FUEL session with Justin leading an exciting new study that our young people will gain much from! Check with Justin about extended youth time that may include the Super Bowl game. Some awesome munchies will be provided, but plan to bring a beverage and some additional snacks to share!

- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .

- “A TEARDROP ON EARTH SUMMONS THE KING OF HEAVEN.” (Chuck Swindoll) How awesome that our God is ready and waiting to answer our heart’s cries. This week let’s continue to lift up Michelle (Justin’s and Cierra’s aunt in NE) who is battling cancer; for Julia as she undertakes some new tests; Tina and Helen and Lela, as they recover from surgeries; for Connie’s unborn great-nephew, who is fighting for his very life as doctors are concerned about a terminal condition; for a family who needs a miracle to keep their home; and for those who have no homes in Haiti. Our God is big enough to handle all this and more!

- THIS WEEK . . . “Remember, “When God is about to do something great, He starts with a difficulty. When He is about to do something truly magnificent, He starts with an impossibility.” ~ Armin Gesswein


Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

Elevation North has News for YOU!

JUST WHEN DOES “ORDINARY” BECOME “EXTRAORDINARY”? I believe at the very point and time that we totally yield our lives to Christ and live in total abandonment to His perfect will … He has full reign to use us in extraordinary ways! We become completely available – ever at His beck and call! We want each person at Elevation North – from the oldest to the youngest, to experience that spiritual transition from “ordinary” to “extraordinary”! We want you to know that God loves using the ordinary to display His extraordinary ways, so that He is glorified and His Kingdom work continues to flourish and expand all over the earth! We don’t have to be a movie star, sports star, or rock star to live extraordinary lives. We just need to be God’s star ~ and we’ll shine as brightly as the sun in the darkest of places! Let me elaborate a bit. I love the story of Deborah in the book of Judges. Perhaps I love it a bit more than most, since I have her very name … spelling and all! She was an ordinary wife who had become a judge over Israel in her time, and was also a prophetess who God spoke through to His people. Because of her people’s evil ways, they had been sold off to the king of Canaan; and Sisera was the commander of his army. When the people of Israel finally cried out to God after twenty years of cruel oppression at the hand of Sisera and his nine hundred iron chariots, God raised up Deborah. He placed her in a position that would be strategic for bringing victory and freedom to His people. The people of Israel sought her out, coming to her court and seeking justice. Then she enlisted Barak and gave him the Word that God had given her: that he should go into battle, and she would make sure that Sisera and his entire army would show up, AND … he would win the battle! Barak’s response was conditional. He said if she went with him, he’d go. Otherwise, he wouldn’t. Deborah went, and then, so did Barak. But with his attitude, God passed the glory for the victory onto someone else. To a woman. Not Deborah, who was a judge and a prophetess. But Jael, who was also an ordinary woman who God used in a truly extraordinary way! The battle ensued. Sisera and his troops showed up. Again, Deborah became the cheerleader, the motivator. Speaking to Barak, she said, “Charge! This very day God has given you victory over Sisera. Isn’t God marching before you?” How is it that we need these reminders once in awhile? We know it, yet we still need to be told! Then finally, we get moving! That day, not one of Sisera’s military men survived. He alone had escaped and run for cover and ended up in Jael’s tent in hiding; her husband being on good terms with the king. Again, God had positioned Jael in this specific time and place so she could be used to effect total victory in this battle. Jael saw to Sisera’s requests: a drink and a blanket. Then he asked her to stand guard while he took refuge there in the tent. But exhausted, he fell asleep, and knowing that Sisera had been delivered into her hand, Jael decisively, promptly, took a tent peg and a hammer and quietly moved toward the sleeping commander. With divine strength from God, she drove that tent peg all the way through his temple and into the ground, bringing his life to an end. Barak, following in pursuit, arrives at the tent and Jael comes out to meet him and invites him in to see the man that he was looking for. What he saw was graphic, yet it was a clear picture of God’s deliverance for the people of Israel. An ordinary woman … chosen … to finish off the evil that had plagued their nation for so long. An ordinary woman … Jael … who was in tune with God. She heard from Him. She listened. She obeyed. And there was peace in the land for forty years. What will God call us ordinary people of Elevation North to do? Most likely not to hammer a tent peg through a commander’s temple. But … He WILL call us to do EXTRAORDINARY things for His glory, if we just make ourselves available to Him. And equally amazing things will be accomplished through us! We may change the tide of our community or state. We may be in the right place at the right time to share the message of Christ with someone who IS a star in their own arena, giving them even greater opportunities for spiritual influence in places that perhaps we would never find ourselves in. But we will be the connection to the end result! No matter what God chooses to do through us, it is SO exciting to be used of God! Let’s get on board where God is at work and discover His next assignment for us! We can be the next Jael … ordinary no more!

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

- GOD’S PRESENCE was with us in such a real way as we worshipped together this past Sunday! Having completed the 21-Day Fast last week, we are claiming victories and opportunities for the NOW and for the days to come! We see God bringing things to pass in our lives and in the lives of our people, that we know would not have been possible without fasting and prayer. Pastor Doug led us into the new series of messages on “Reclaiming What We’ve Lost”, preaching on the first part of Luke chapter 15 – “the lost sheep”, challenging us to reclaim our passion for lost souls as we continue to reach out.
- A SPECIAL WELCOME to Scott, Mary Jo, Zach, and Justin as they came to visit us and encourage us on Sunday morning! We pray that you were equally blessed and uplifted as we worshipped together!
- OUR THANKS & APPRECIATION to Justin for the new church items he purchased recently; may God bless you for sharing!
- ANNOUNCING!!! Justin will be taking over the RE: FUEL youth group, and we are so excited to have him on board helping out with ministry! This will allow Pastor D and Debbie more time for visitation. The kids will love his leadership and passion for serving the Lord! Welcome, Justin! May God’s anointing be upon you as you lead our young people!

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .

- THIS SUNDAY, JANUARY 31st:
- 10:00 A.M. – WORSHIP & PRAISE – Come and participate in God-focused worship, preaching, singing, learning, and fellowship! Pastor Doug will be sharing the message about “the lost coin” from Luke 15, challenging us to reclaim what has been lost financially in our lives in these tough economic times. God is our Restorer!
- 11:15 A.M. – SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES – for everyone, the youngest to the oldest! You will find this to be an opportunity to learn from God’s Word, as well as to relate experiences in your own walk with God!
- 6:00-7:30 P.M. – YOUTH – RE: FUEL session with Justin at the home of Pastor D and Debbie! An exciting lesson will await you, along with time for fun and friendship and snacks! Plan to come, and we encourage you to invite one or two or more friends to start this time off with Justin! Watch for details for Super Bowl Party!

- PRAYER OPPORTUNITES . . .

- “PRAYER BRINGS THINGS TO PASS WHICH WOULD NEVER OTHERWISE OCCUR.” (E.M. Bounds) And knowing that, please join us in praying for Tina’s and Helen’s recovery from surgeries this week, for Sean’s recovery from walking pneumonia, for God’s healing touch in Merv & in Scott, for Debbie’s friend, Lela, recovering from surgery this week in Michigan, for opportunities to share Christ, for the provision of a church facility, for God’s hand to be upon our families, our nation, the hurting in Haiti, & those serving in our military!

- THIS WEEK . . . Remember, “When we are in a situation where Jesus is all we have, we soon discover He is all we really need.” ~ Gigi Graham Tchividjian


Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

Elevation North has News for YOU!

“ONE OF THE SADDEST THINGS IN LIFE IS ENDING SOMETHING THAT ISN’T OVER YET!” I heard this quote yesterday by Pastor Brian Houston from Hillsong Church in Australia, and it really got me to thinking! More than dwelling on the question of wondering how many times in my life I might have ended something that wasn’t over yet … I decided that from this day forward I will make sure I stay in there for the long-haul. No quitting before it’s over. No thoughts of giving in – or giving up. No premature endings. If you, like me, has ever ended something before God was done with it – I wonder what we missed out on! How sad that we might have missed the divine outcome: the miracle … the answer … the unexpected result … the solution … the dream-turned-into reality … the provision … the healing … the restoration … the promotion … the surprise blessing … the extraordinary idea ... the life that previously we’ve only dreamed about! If we had kept on, we would have experienced God’s plan to the fullest measure! Hopefully we can all say that we HAVE kept on more times than not – and we HAVE experienced the joy of receiving what God loves to bring into our lives. But for those moments that do come to us with fleeting thoughts that “this” is just too hard – that we cannot do it any longer – that we are not able to hang on for even one more day, this is your reminder that God is here. Right now. Today. For you. He’s right here with you in whatever you are going through! A long time ago, I saw a small poster with some powerful words that impacted me so greatly back then. I haven’t read those words for several years, but today a co-worker shared them with me after hearing them on a Christian radio station. And though I shared them with my written audience way back then … I feel led to share them with you now, so that you, too, can be impacted by them. Written by Helen Mallicoat, here is the message: “I was regretting the past and fearing the future. Suddenly my Lord was speaking. ‘My name is I AM.’ He paused. I waited. He continued, ‘When you live in the past, with its mistakes and regrets, it is hard. I am not there. My name is not I WAS. When you live in the future, with its problems and fears, it is hard. I am not there. My name is not I WILL BE. When you live in this moment, it is not hard. I am here. My name is I AM.’” You see, whatever we need in the present, God is so able to take care of. Because HE is present. Because His promise is true – that He will NEVER leave us or forsake us. Because He is bigger than any of our problems or trials or circumstances. And because He WANTS to be a part of our lives, every day – in THIS moment! He loves walking with us, and He loves living in us! He loves helping us and rescuing us! He loves enabling and empowering us! It is so true that the divine power of God will meet us at the level of the commitment that we make. When we commit to living as sold-out followers of Jesus Christ in the here and now, God will be with us in the here and now. Like the words I shared on Sunday from the song, “City on Bended Knee”, let’s make this our daily theme ~ our heart’s cry . . . “If we’ve got to start somewhere – why not here? If we’ve got to start sometime – why not now? If we’ve got to start somewhere, I say here. If we’ve got to start sometime, I say now. Today’s the day!” May this become the clarion call of Elevation North as God leads us down the path of this new year. Each new day CAN be THE day! After all, it’s the day God has given us … and He’s promised to be there with us … for after all, He is . . . “I AM”!

IN A NUTSHELL . . .
- THIS PAST SUNDAY, Pastor Doug shared an awesome message from a variety of scriptures on fasting and prayer as we continue on the 21-Day Fast, teaching us more about God’s commands and blessings. He related the experiences of several people in the Bible who obeyed God and received spiritual breakthroughs and supernatural favor. As a church body, we can fast forward to 2010 and record our own victories and blessings in this time of fasting and praying at the first of the year! No one but God will ever know the far-reaching effects of what He has impressed on our hearts to do, but already we are seeing things happening for His glory! And out of the Visionary Meeting that followed the service, we’ve laid a great foundation to build upon for what comes next! Thanks to everyone for attending!
- A SPECIAL WELCOME to Brent who came to worship with us for the first time on Sunday morning! We pray that you sensed the Spirit of God, and we pray God’s best in your life!
- BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS to our grandson, Tyler, on his 20th birthday, on the 24th! We love you, Tyler!

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .
- THIS SUNDAY, JANUARY 24TH:
- 10:00 A.M. – WORSHIP & PRAISE – Don’t miss out on this message straight from God’s Word as we seek to pursue what and where He wants us to be following our season of fasting and prayer as a body of believers. Pastor Doug will share God’s Word boldly and challenge your heart to step up to the plate in your Kingdom walk! Be a part of the God-focused, anointed, energetic singing and the great fellowship! You’ll feel right at home!
- 11:15 a.m. – SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES – for all ages, with lessons geared to every level as we learn more about our God and His plan for us as His children!
- AFTERNOON MOVIE YOUTH EVENT – details and time to be announced! Let your friends know so they can join us, too! The following week we will be back at Pastor’s and Debbie’s home!
- PLANNING MEETING for upcoming ministries and schedules – date to be announced!

- PRAYER OPPORTUNTIES . . .
- A LOT OF KNEELING WILL KEEP YOU IN GOOD STANDING! That’s true for every arena of our lives! This week let’s continue to be on our knees before our God as we remember not only each other’s needs, but the needs of our brothers and sisters around the world! Especially, for those in Haiti who are experiencing such devastation from the recent earthquake, that God’s love and care might be revealed to them through His people! Also, be in prayer for Larry and Gloria Lundstrom as they begin their series of rallies in Hawaii, and for Josh and Sarah Seykora as they prepare for upcoming ministry in Asia. We can be a part through prayer!

- THIS WEEK . . . Remember, “Hope is not a granted wish or a favor performed; no, it is far greater than that. It is a zany, unpredictable dependence on a God who loves to surprise us out of our socks.” ~ Max Lucado


Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

Elevation North has News for YOU!

GOD’S WORD IS SO EXCITING! Reading this morning before work, there was a portion that just about jumped off the pages at me! Midway through Matthew chapter 16, I was listening in on Jesus’ conversation with His disciples when they were in Caesarea Philippi. And actually, He was questioning them. Jesus wanted to know what the people were saying about who He was. His disciples passed on the thoughts of others – that perhaps he was John the Baptist or Elijah or Jeremiah or one of the other prophets. Following that, I love what happens next in their dialogue. Jesus goes further. He goes to the core of their hearts – to what REALLY matters to Him. More important than what others were thinking, was what THEY were thinking. So Jesus asks, “And how about you? Who do you say I am?” It was Simon Peter who shot back an answer without having to pause to think … “You’re the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Then Jesus poured out His pleasure at Peter’s response, even going so far as to speak prophetically about His church! This is how He replied: “God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah! You didn’t get that answer out of books, or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God Himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am. And now I’m going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out.” INCREDIBLE!!! Did you get that??? If you didn’t realize it before, when you do, it will be life-changing! ELEVATION NORTH, IN GOD’S DESIGN, IS A CHURCH SO EXPANSIVE WITH ENERGY THAT NOT EVEN THE GATES OF HELL WILL BE ABLE TO KEEP IT OUT! Do we realize how powerful we are … just how powerful we can be? God has spoken that kind of energy and power into being so long ago – and now we just have to believe it and tap into it! How different our churches in America would be if all of us believed who we were! You see, in that chat between Jesus and His disciples, it wasn’t just about who they thought He was. Remember, He said, “And now I’m going to tell you who you are, really are!” I believe that’s what’s missing in many of our churches. God’s people do not know who they are! And without that knowledge, the church becomes powerless and ineffective. The church forgets that we are an integral part of God’s Kingdom work here on earth. The church at that point doesn’t have what it takes to be actively engaged in what God wants to do through it. Let’s go back to the conversation again. Because Jesus pushes even further. He goes on, “And that’s not all. You will have compete and free access to God’s Kingdom, keys to open any and every door; no more barriers between heaven and earth, earth and heaven. A yes on earth is yes in heaven. A no on earth is no in heaven.” (verses 13-19) It’s literally breathtaking when you catch the impact of what Jesus was telling Peter. And because we are His church, these words are recorded for us to take as ours, as well. WE have complete and free access to God’s Kingdom. WE have keys to open any and every door. WE have no more barriers between heaven and earth. What we speak on earth is spoken in heaven. Dear ones, let’s grasp as much as we can, the magnitude of what Jesus was telling His disciples that day. For you see, it is His message to us today ~ especially for today! If we want to flourish as God’s church, then bottom-line, our choice must be to take God at His Word, and believe what He says to us! Someone has said, “Without the power of God, the church will wither into nothing – it will die!” Our heart’s cry at Elevation North is that God will infuse us with His divine power and remove any blinders so that we might see ourselves as God sees us. So that we may truly know who we are in Christ!!! So that we might stand strong, shining the light of Jesus into the darkness of this world, fulfilling the destiny He has planned for us as His disciples! Let’s BE who we are! There’s no more exciting life than that, precious people!

IN A NUTSHELL . . .
- THIS PAST SUNDAY we were so blessed to have ALL of you with us to lift up the Name of Jesus! We want to WELCOME Justin and Carianne and Isaiah, Elise, and Katelyn; Dennis and Jean and Lindsey and Britney, Frank and Louise and family, and each one of the family and friends of little Zaleigh who was dedicated to the Lord on Sunday morning! May God’s hand always be upon her life! And may God’s blessing rest upon each of you who joined us for worship for the first time ~ we hope to see you again soon!
- 21-DAY FAST – We are so excited that so many of our church families have made the commitment before God to fast and pray on behalf of Elevation North, for family needs, and many, many other needs. God is definitely at work and we are experiencing miraculous answers and divine favor! Let’s continue to be strong and diligent in our fasting and praying, and let’s uphold each other as we corporately seek God’s face and expect His best!

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .
- THIS SUNDAY, JANUARY 17th:
- 10:00 A.M. – WORSHIP & PRAISE – Join us as we move into week three of this spiritual journey of our 21-day fast, listening to Pastor Doug’s message and learning from the godly examples of those who have gone on before us as recorded in God’s Word. When we see what God has done in the lives of others … that increases our faith to believe for His work in our own lives! And focusing on what a great God we love and serve, makes it as natural as breathing to worship with passion – so come prepared to pour your hearts out in song, in prayer, in taking in the Word, and in fellowship with your brothers and sisters in Christ!
- 11:15 A.M. – ALL CHURCH VISIONARY MEETING following worship, with an over-view report of our past year of ministry and outreach, the treasurer’s report, and a time for sharing the vision God is placing before us for the new year to come! We value your participation, so plan to stay after!
- 6:00-7:30 P.M. – YOUTH – RE: FUEL session for all of our junior and senior high at the home of Pastor Doug and Debbie with opportunity for an interesting time of learning from God’s Word, for lots of fun with friends, and of course, great snacks, as always! Make some phone calls and invite your friends to come along!

- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .
- There is never anything better we can do than to lift up the Lord Jesus Christ, and claim all that He has for us! And He loves hearing from us about things that concern us and that we care about. This week let’s be in prayer for Tina as she attends a Women of Faith conference in Texas in preparation for leading our group this fall! Let’s remember to lift up those who need prayer for healing and for breakthrough with unspoken requests – nothing is too large or too small for our God! Draw close to God, and He will draw close to you!

- THIS WEEK . . . Remember, “That we are alive today is proof positive that God has something for us to do today.” (Anna R.B. Lindsay) And … “Prayer is the key of the morning and the bolt on the door at night.” (unknown)


Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

Elevation North has News for YOU!

WELL … HERE WE ARE! 2010!!! WHAT NOW?! There’s lots of options, I guess … but we really love what singer/songwriter, Lincoln Brewster said recently. He actually posed a question that we think all of us should take to heart and activate immediately. Not tomorrow. Or next week. But today ~ right away early in this New Year! This is what Lincoln asked: “What would happen if every Christian lived their life with the belief that their best days were IN FRONT OF THEM and NOT BEHIND THEM?” We LOVE that, because we believe that living this way is the premise upon which God can do His best work in us and through us. And what better time to believe this, than at the beginning of a brand new year, when everyone is eager for the fresh start – the new beginnings. You see, we don’t get a fresh start by living in the past, or by thinking that our best days are done with – over. The fresh start continues on only if we change what we didn’t like about our past, making our future better than ever before. And that goes for thinking that we cannot do any better than some of our high points of the past. Our God is a “stretching-God”! He stretches us to maximize our impact on His Kingdom work. He wants us to realize that the best thing we’ve ever done CAN be topped ~ with His help! We can reach for higher peaks and strive for greater depth; we can withstand tougher battles and achieve greater victories! We can imagine more magnificent ideas and create life-changing ministries and careers and businesses – all the way from one-on-one encounters all the way to community, national, or even global outreaches! We can sing new songs, write new music, etch our visions on paper, on the internet, and even on hearts and lives. We can express a purer love, a no holds-barred-forgiveness, and outstretched arms of welcome to even the least desirable of characters. We can jump over higher hurdles and run longer marathons than ever before. We can leave our losses in the past and leap to the successes in front of us! We can surge forward and quit looking back – (that stance only takes us backwards)! We can put on spiritual muscle that ripples with strength that we didn’t have in our yesterdays. We can bridge the brokenness in relationships and discover a fusion of soul-support that will remain with us for the rest of our days! We can set aside the negative and drink in the positive – (and the BEST is found tucked inside the pages of God’s Word)! We CAN look back at all we’ve learned ~ all we’ve experienced ~ all we’ve overcome, because of Jesus! We CAN build on that foundation that our days behind us have laid for us. But we want to keep moving forward. May none of us just settle for the accolades of our past … but let us press in and take hold of the BEST that God still has in His hand for us. Some of those “bests” will be experienced yet today; some of them, tomorrow. And more in the days to come! God never runs out of “bests”. In His vault of treasures that He has stored up for His kids, there’s an endless supply! If we could peek inside that limitless storage space – our eyes would pop and our hearts would nearly stop! How could we ever think that our best days were behind us when we compare that – with ALL THIS! Wow, God, You are SO incredible! Your plans for each of us are beyond comprehension! Please help us believe … and live our lives believing that OUR BEST DAYS ARE IN FRONT OF US!!! Living that way will make 2010 completely different than what it will be otherwise. Dare we live any other way? Let’s just DO it! LET’S HOPE AGAIN ~ IN 2010! (Our new theme for Elevation North this year!) Romans 15:13 puts it this way: “Oh! May the God of green hope fill you up with joy, fill you up with peace, so that your believing lives, filled with the life-giving energy of the Holy Spirit, will brim over with hope!” (The Message Bible) Yes, yes! Fill us up to overflowing, Lord!

IN A NUTSHELL . . .
- THIS PAST SUNDAY was so very cold outdoors … but ever so warm inside as God’s Spirit filled our place of worship with His presence and His anointing! We kicked off our series of messages on “A CALL TO FASTING & PRAYER ~ 2010” with Debbie sharing her heart’s cry and challenge to the congregation to join her and Pastor Doug in their 21-day fast for breakthrough and victories and miracles – in the life of Elevation North, in their own lives, and for each of our church families in every area of their lives. Isaiah 58: 6 says, “Is this not the fast that I have chosen to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke.” When things in our lives are not easy, it takes the sacrifice of a fast to break the strongholds. Fasting is not easy – but it is powerful and precious, and God steps up His response to our seriousness about what we are praying about! See Pastor Doug and Debbie for your copy of the “Fasting Contract” with points of preparation and encouragement for your own personal time of fasting, however God may lead you to join us.

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .
- THIS SUNDAY, JANUARY 10TH:
- 10:00 A.M. – WORSHIP & PRAISE – We hope you are as excited as we are about what God is doing and wants to do in our midst! Come with hearts prepared to set everything aside and worship and adore our Lord; come with hearts eager to learn; and come with hearts full of love and ready to stand in the gap for each other! Pastor Doug will be preaching about Biblical accounts of people who committed themselves to times of fasting and prayer, and received God’s miraculous intervention and victories! Fasting brings God’s release, restoration, and reward!
- DURING THIS SUNDAY’S SERVICE, little Kayleigh will be dedicated to the Lord surrounded by her family and friends!
- 6:00-7:30 P.M. – YOUTH – RE: FUEL session for our junior and senior high kids! Nothing is ever humdrum when this group of kids get together … so join in on the excitement of both learning and fun as we hang out together at Pastor Doug’s and Debbie’s home! See you there!
- YOU CAN HELP!!! Begin saving your used, empty ink or toner cartridges and we will turn them in to Office Max for $3 rewards credit each. We can turn in up to 20 per month, which will give us $60 in rewards credit to use for free office supplies for our church! They need to be visibly undamaged and the following brands qualify: HP, Dell, Lexmark, Brother, Epson, Samsung, Kodak, Sharp, or Canon. You can bring them to church and we will drop them off once a month. Thanks for helping Elevation North!
- SUNDAY, JANUARY 17th: ANNUAL VISIONARY CHURCH MEETING (following worship) to recap where God has taken us this past year, and to envision where He wants to take us in this new year! Reports will be available, and your participation is encouraged!

- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .
- What a perfect time to be in more fervent prayer than ever before as we continue on this corporate 21-day fast as a church! Each of our church families represent some very real needs: unsaved loved ones, healing and renewed strength, jobs, housing, finances, relationships, seeking God’s perfect will, and even unspoken needs! How grateful we are for a God who is big enough to undertake in each situation! Let’s thank Him as we pray!

- THIS WEEK . . . Remember, “There is a past which is gone forever, but there is a future which is still our own.” ~ F.W. Robertson (With hope, let’s seek GOD’S plan for our future in this New Year!)


Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie