ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

 

“UNTIL GOD OPENS THE NEXT DOOR FOR YOU … PRAISE HIM IN THE HALLWAY!”  I read that unknown quote a few days ago – and with swirling circumstances surrounding us, that tiny but powerful message arrowed itself into the core of my heart.  And it has been such a joy this week to realize just how sweet it is to live this way in the interim while we are waiting for that next door to open.  You see, having walked through the open door to where God placed Elevation North this past year … we found the corridor to unique blessings and out-of-the-ordinary miracles!  We loved what God did in that place.  We grew.  We changed.  We were strengthened.  We saw souls saved and lives transformed.  We learned.  We shared.  We gave.  We experienced.  We loved the extra space to spread our wings a bit!  All along we knew that we wouldn’t be there forever – God had something more in mind.  We had not outgrown it yet … but we had grown!  Suddenly, God gave us an abrupt push … and we knew we must go out the door and search for a new place.  So after seeking God’s face, and searching and searching, all doors but  one seemed to be closing.  That one door remained opened and we sensed this was to be God’s new place for us!  Taking another big leap of faith together as God’s church, we pursued this open door and we were about to move!  We were not going to be a “homeless” church, after all!  We were so excited!  What would God do in this new place?  Then, suddenly, abruptly again, it seemed as if that new door was not going to swing wide open.  Lord, did we not hear You right?  Are you closing it, Lord?  We really wondered all over again if the door was going to be slammed shut in our faces.  We continued to seek God.  Lord, what is it You want?  Then came the answer – the door was available for us - it just wasn’t going to be open for us to walk through as quickly as we first were led to believe.  So here we are again, out in the wilderness … searching for a place that Elevation North could find a door to hang a sign on for a few weeks in the interim.  Where, oh, where is it, Lord?  Somehow, as we praised Him in the hallway, a door swung wide open.  This place would be glad to have us back, they said – and here we thought it was no longer available.  Who ever said You aren’t a God of miracles?!!  They were wrong, wrong!  So rather than curl up in a little ball and pull in all the options … we are going to make these few weeks in this small place that used to be home for Elevation North - filled to overflowing with our very best offering to God … of ourselves, our gifts and talents, our mindset, our worship, our everything!  No holding back waiting for the next open door – and missing out on what this one has to offer!  It will be our testimony and celebration of what happens when we praise God in the hallway!!!  Isn’t this attitude of praise – no matter what – where God longs for His people to be?  Perhaps when we pass the test out in the hallway, He will appear and fling the next door wide open, that one that He has already shown us.  Just like the Israelites of old, who were led by a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night … God has led us EVERY step of the way.  Many times we did not see very many steps ahead … but we could always see just in front of us as we took the next step!  The Lord God of Israel is the same faithful God today, leading Elevation North safely through each hallway to get us to where He wants us to be in each new plateau of our ministry!  So no avoiding the hallways, dear people!  In fact, celebrate from one end to the other ~ you are almost to the next door!!!



IN A NUTSHELL . . .

 

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WISHES go out to Harold who celebrates his birthday on November 9^th; God’s best to you!

SPECIAL THANKS from Pastor Doug and Debbie to those who remembered them for Pastor’s Appreciation Month!


SUN, NOV 04:  10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP w/COMMUNION &  powerful message:  “Sin’s Power is Broken!”

SUN, NOV 04:  10:30 A.M. – KIDZONE CHILDREN’S CHURCH with Verla & Kelly … for a fun time of learning!

WED, NOV 07:   7:00 P.M. – BIBLE STUDY in the book of James / at 905 El Dorado Street SE in Owatonna

THU, NOV 08:   7:00 P.M. – BIBLE STUDY in the book of James / at 165 24^th Place NW in Owatonna

SAT, NOV 10:    8:00 A.M. – MEN’S FELLOWSHIP STUDY at “The Kitchen” restaurant/invite some guys this week!

SUN, NOV 11:   10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP with a message on “Veterans of the Faith … Are You One?”

PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . . Spencer, Tina, Johnny, Lundstroms, Seykoras, for our nation’s future as we vote!

REMEMBER . . . “There are better things ahead than any we leave behind.”  ~  C.S. Lewis



Serving Christ Joyfully . .  .


Pastor Doug and Debbie

 

ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

CELEBRATE JESUS!  And that’s exactly what thousands of women did this past weekend at the Women of Faith conference in St. Paul … we celebrated the Lord God of the universe as we worshipped Him and lifted up His Name, exalting Him and praising Him!  What a powerful time together in the unmistakable presence of the Lord Jesus Christ … fifteen of us, plus six friends whose group joins with ours each year.  We are growing!  And we pray and anticipate what will take place as God meets with us!  It’s like Ken Davis, Christian comedian, said at the start of the first evening - when he gets up in the morning, he asks himself, “I wonder what God is going to do today?!”  Hopefully that’s how you feel about your days, too – that you can hardly wait to see what God will do!  Ken emphasized that we need to believe that God is the author of joy … and then said that some of us need to send some missionaries to our face!!!  Whatever it is we are believing for, we need to believe with ALL our heart!  Perfection is not a requirement … we just need to be engaged in living life fully alive!  Ken challenged us to not wait until tomorrow to live fully – but to do it today!  Soon we were lost in the beautiful sounds of Cece Winan’s voice as her songs led us straight to the throne of God in pure worship.  “For Your glory, we’re taking territory … waging war … for Your glory!”  I love how she stated that “when you recognize who Jesus is, you cannot help but worship Him!  And when you get a glimpse of Him, He takes all of your attention!”  May our attention always rest on Jesus and not be interrupted by distractions that seek to diminish our worship.  Soon we were challenged by Sheila Walsh’s words spoken powerfully in her Scottish accent … “One Word, one Hope, one Song, one Name:  Jesus!”  She reached out to the many women in the arena who were feeling broken beyond repair, and she told them, “That is why Jesus came!  He’s seen our movie and still He loves us!  We are broken, but redeemed!”  Then Sheila reminded us that this is not our home – she reiterated, “We’re not home, girls!  In Heaven, we’ll live fully as we were intended to!”  It’s true that the enemy wants to take us out, but if you read the account in Luke chapter 4, you will see how Christ combatted the enemy with the Word!  Connection draws us closer to God.  Condemnation drives us farther away.  As God’s children, we will rise above the rubble – and her beautiful singing of “I Will Rise” resonated in each of our hearts all throughout that huge convention center as she closed her session with us.  The message that Liz Curtis Higgs brought to us was so timely, as she talked from I John 3:1 how God’s love fits all, covers all, hides us … it is truly the only “one-size-fits-all”.  We compare ourselves with others, but we should not.  We are God’s beloved and He loves us … as beautiful to Him.  It’s time for us to start seeing ourselves as God sees us!  Psalm 149:4 tells us that we are beautiful with God’s salvation ~ crowned!  We are His … loved and chosen!  God’s treasured possessions – that is how we are described in Deuteronomy 7:6 … His people, treasured by Him!  Liz helped us grasp this a bit clearer by telling us that just like we all think our babies and grandbabies are the CUTEST and the BEST … God sees US the very same way!  Did you know that your picture is in God’s photo brag book?!  Do we really get it?  We are HIS … so let’s live for Him!  Let’s celebrate Jesus, the One who delights in us!  And … more to come next week!  


IN A NUTSHELL . . .

BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS to Sam who celebrates this week; may your life be blessed and uplifted in the days ahead!

A SPECIAL WELCOME to Meryk who came to worship with us this past Sunday for the first time; God bless you!

SUN, OCT 28:  10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP with the final message of “Living Beyond the Shadow of Victory!”

SUN, OCT 28:  10:30 A.M. – KIDZONE CHILDREN’S CHURCH with Verla; invite a friend and learn together!

WED, OCT 31:    7:00 P.M. – BIBLE STUDY in the book of James / at 905 El Dorado St SE in Owatonna

THU, NOV 01:    7:00 P.M. – BIBLE STUDY in the book of James / at 165 24^th Place NW in Owatonna

SUN, NOV 04:  10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP with message on “God’s Perfect Timing!” / with Communion

SUN, NOV 04:  10:30 A.M. – KIDZONE CHILDREN’S CHURCH with Verla; don’t miss this exciting experience!

 

PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . . Harold’s dad, Lynn, Johnny, Jimmy, Spencer, Kay, Lundstroms, Seykoras, God’s hand of blessing as we move to our new church location this week, for wisdom in voting, for revival in us and passion for God!

REMEMBER … “May the Lord continually bless you with heaven’s blessings as well as with human joys.”  Psalm 128:5  

 

 

Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

 

 

Pastor Doug and Debbie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

 

BELIEVE GOD CAN DO ANYTHING!  That’s the theme for our next year’s Women of Faith Conference.  And yes, I know, we haven’t even been to this year’s conference … but we will be heading there in the next few days!  But when I saw the announcement for 2013, it echoed the events of this past week in so many ways.  I just have to share some of them with you!  When I was a young girl, my mom would go around the house singing that short little chorus titled, “Only Believe!”  And it went something like this:  “Only believe, only believe!  All things are possible, only believe!  Only believe, only believe!  All things are possible, only believe!”  That’s all I remember … I have no clue if there were any verses that went with that or not, but this was what mom would sing – over and over.  It kind of stuck in my memory, you can tell!  I have not heard this sung anywhere for years and years and years!  Did I say years and years?  Yeah, it’s been that long … and still it jumps into my head and I sing it from my heart every so often!  So, yes, I would have to say that I DO believe God can do anything!  It’s just ME that gets in the way of total trust in my Lord once in a while – and then He has to give me a little push to get realigned with that “anything” that I say I believe!  Last week and this week, I have had to believe that God would give me the strength to put in ten and a half to thirteen hour days at work so I could leave early on both Fridays – first to go and celebrate our oldest son’s 40^th birthday with him and his family, and second – to attend the Women of Faith Conference I was just talking about.  He did it last week, and I’m half-way there this week!  My God is SO very faithful!  It was so wonderful to just jump in the car and head down the road, sitting, relaxing, chatting, planning … and drinking in what remained of the fading autumn colors as we made our way north.  There’s nothing like that first glance when you finally get to see your family again!  I know that might sound strange to those of you who see your family every day or every week; but when you only get to see them once or twice a year … your eyes can’t get enough of them!  No matter what we all pack into 48 hours, the best part is just looking around and seeing them close by!  We don’t even have to be talking all the time … it’s just having them near that matters!  How we loved the moments we shared with our oldest son, his precious wife, and our three grandchildren … enjoying cherished talks, great food, doing a mini-photo shoot, going to the target-range, taking in a special 90^th birthday open house for our “daughter’s” dad who is still pastoring! … and finally celebrating with an enjoyable 40^th birthday lunch for our son and topping it off with some outstanding oatmeal ice-cream with caramel, pecans, and chocolate chunks (the oatmeal makes it healthy, right?!)  Back to that little push from God.  Well, the outcome of that is that after these two intense weeks and after returning from Women of Faith, for the first time in years, I will be going to ONE job for 40 hours … and leaving work at 4:00 in the afternoon to come HOME!!!  Not planned by me, but by the hand of God … I will now have more time with Him, more time for family and ministry, and more time to actually see what it’s like to live a bit more normal life (not that anything about our lives has ever been very normal!).  I am SO excited – this is definitely proof that ALL things are possible, if I only believe!  I have believed and longed for this moment for a very long time … and now God, in His perfect timing, has made it possible!  To God be the glory!!!  What are YOU believing God for?

 

 

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

 

 

SPECIAL THANKS to Wayne and Verla for sharing the message and music last Sunday in our absence; we know you were a blessing and we appreciate your willingness and faithfulness!  May God bless you both!

 

SUN, OCT 21:  10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP with part 3 of “Living Beyond the Shadow of Victory!”  Bring your Bibles!!

SUN, OCT 21:  10:30 A.M. – KIDZONE CHILDREN’S CHURCH with Verla … kids, don’t miss this fun learning time!

SUN, OCT 21:  11:30 A.M. – POTLUCK LUNCHEON – bring your favorite food to share with your church family!  Following the meal, we will head to the Oak View Nursery Pumpkin Patch outing - $6 per person … come and share in the fun! 

SUN, OCT 21:   6:00 P.M. – BAPTISMAL & DEDICATION SERVICE at Victory Church at 1380 Rice Lake St. East/Owatonna

WED, OCT 24:  7:00 P.M. – BIBLE STUDY in the book of James / at 905 El Dorado St SE in Owatonna; invite someone!

THU, OCT 25:   7:00 P.M. – BIBLE STUDY in the book of James / 165 24^th Place NW in Owatonna; bring a friend with you!

FRI, OCT 26:    7:00 P.M. – LADIES NIGHT OUT / Comedy Night with movie snacks at 165 24^th Place NW (Maple Trails)

SAT, OCT 27:   7:00 A.M. – MEN’S FELLOWSHIP BREAKFAST STUDY at “The Kitchen” restaurant … bring someone along!

SUN, OCT 28:  10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP with part 4 of “Living Beyond the Shadow of Victory!”  God has more for us!

 

PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . . Harold’s dad in hospital in Iowa, Lynn, Kay, Johnny & Cherry, Jimmy & Nancy, our youth and children, that God will activate His people to vote as He gives discernment, for revival in our hearts, our church, and our nation, the Seykoras and the Lundstroms, many unspoken needs, and seeking God’s perfect will for our next church location!

REMEMBER . . . BELIEVE!  “I love the Lord because He hears my prayers and answers them.  Because He bends down and listens, I will pray as long as I breathe!”  Psalm 116:1-2 

 

 

 

Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

 

 

Pastor Doug and Debbie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

 

IS THERE A PLACE IN TODAY’S WORLD called a “peace shelter”?  For most people – no matter what nation we live in, or what language we speak … what we all long for and search after, is peace!  We look in every place we can and pursue every avenue we think will lead us there, but it mostly evades us.  Where, oh where, can we find peace?  Oh yes, we find it every now and then, and we think it shows up when things seem to all be flying in perfect formation and everything is running smoothly.  But what about the times that just about push us to the brink of losing it?  Where is peace then?  Some people wonder if peace even exists – much less being obtainable.  Of all things we could ever hope to attain, finding peace is priceless.  That’s because true peace only comes from one source.  Lasting peace, that is!  All of us could list some thing or some place in this present life that brings us temporary peace … some pleasant escape that calms our bodies and minds and soothes our nerves.  But throw us back out into the storms of life – and wham! – what happened to that peace we were just experiencing?  It seems to have dissipated into thin air!  Elusive.  Slipping through our fingers like sand.  Why can we not hang on to it?  Perhaps we’re looking in all the wrong places.  Perhaps we’re running after all the wrong pursuits.  So where should we be looking, then?  Mother Teresa once said, “If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.”  Well, that’s a part of the answer, because we definitely have forgotten to value others in today’s world.  And when that value is in place, there’s a certain peace that comes with knowing that others genuinely care and will be there for you.  You feel like someone’s got your back!  But I would love to add to Mother Teresa’s quote by saying, “If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to God.”  (Well, we do if we have asked Him to be our Savior and Lord!)  Knowing that we belong to Him brings an assurance that we are held and carried and protected … and yes, even sheltered in the arms of God!  There’s a song written about that, did you know that?  What could ever bring more peace than knowing that we belong to the One and Only who can shelter us and protect us in the midst of life’s storms?  Someone else penned this worth-repeating-quote:  “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass … it’s about learning to dance in the rain!”  Well said!  There’s no peace in being bogged down by the storm – but there IS peace knowing that we can be free to dance in the midst of the downpour!  Our God gives us the raincoat and boots to splash around in, so we don’t miss a thing!  “Peace, peace, wonderful peace … coming down from the Father above” (Another song – from way back, but with a message that never grows old!)  Where is peace?  God tells us to seek it and pursue it, Psalm 34:14.  Then He says there is a future for the man of peace, Psalm 37:37.  In Psalm 119:165, it says, “Great peace have they who love Your law.”  Here’s a prescription:  “A heart at peace gives life to the body,” Proverbs 14:30.  And this, my 88-year old mom’s favorite verse, “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You,” Isaiah 26:3.  There’s the direct route to peace … our mind staying focused on Christ achieves peace!  What are you thinking about – and who are you thinking about?  Think right, think on godly things, and you will find peace!  (Philippians 4:8-9)  The peace shelter!  Now go on … dance in the rain while the storm is raging around you!  “The God of peace is with you!”

 

 

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

 

 

SPECIAL BIRTHDAY WISHES to our son, DJ, who celebrates his 40^th birthday on October 14^th: we pray God’s favor and blessings on you always!  You are loved!

 

SUN, OCT 14:  10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP with a special message on “Trust” ~ don’t miss out on this!

SUN, OCT 14:  10:30 A.M. – KIDZONE CHILDREN’S CHURCH with Verla … invite your friends to come with you!

WED, OCT 17:   7:00 P.M. – MID-WEEK BIBLE STUDY in the book of James /at 905 El Dorado St SE in Owatonna

THU, OCT 18:   7:00 P.M. –  MID-WEEK BIBLE STUDY in the book of James / at 165 24^th Place NW in Owatonna

FRI, OCT 19-SAT, OCT 20:  WOMEN OF FAITH CONFERENCE in St. Paul … leaving Debbie’s at 3:00 p.m.

SAT, OCT 19:   8:00 A.M. – MEN’S FELLOWSHIP at “The Kitchen” restaurant in Owatonna – bring someone along!

SUN, OCT 21:  10:00 A.M. - PRAISE & WORSHIP / 11:30 A.M. - POTLUCK LUNCH / PUMPKIN PATCH OUTING following lunch for the entire church family - $6 per person (see Wayne and Verla) / 6:00 P.M. – BAPTISMAL SERVICE at Victory Church

FRI, OCT 26:    7:00 P.M. – LADIES NIGHT OUT / Comedy Night with movie snacks – bring a girlfriend or two!!!  We will meet at 165 24th Place NW in Owatonna.

 

PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . . Lynn, Kelly, Johnny & Cherry, Jimmy & Nancy, Maria, Kay, Julia, all of our ladies attending Women of Faith, the Seykoras, the Lundstroms, our nation, unspoken needs, and God’s will for our church location!  May we clearly discern His leading!

 

REMEMBER . . . “Peace is not a season – it is a way of life.”  ~  Unknown

 

 

Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

 

 

Pastor Doug and Debbie

 

 

 

ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

 

“WHAT THE CATERPILLAR CALLS THE END OF THE WORLD, THE MASTER CALLS A BUTTERFLY!”  (unknown)  I love that quote, because so frequently when changes come – we feel like our lives are being unraveled at the seams.  I shared with our church family this past Sunday another quote that speaks deeply to all of us who have ever had those trying, tugging at, stretching-you-almost-past-your-limit-days!  Sometimes the days turn into weeks or months when situations just about sink us, and we almost-forget-to-turn-to-God when we’re trying to figure out where to turn next!  I figured with some changes coming our way as a church in the next few weeks (good changes – just presently unsettled!), that we could use a refresher course on how to look at change.  So here’s the quote:  “Maybe one day we’ll see that the greatest setbacks in our lives were actually the greatest setups to seeing God’s glory in places we didn’t even know to look!”  (unknown)  When you think about the caterpillar before it becomes a butterfly, there’s a whole uncomfortable thing going on.  What has become the norm is just about to fall away, and what was somewhat comfortable is getting left behind.  There’s an ensuing struggle to get out of that cocoon wrapping that has held it intact for a while now.  But it cannot stay in that spot any longer, or it will die.  Its wings-to-be will never develop without the struggle.  Without the wriggling and squirming and twisting and turning and pushing … the butterfly will never be a full-fledged creature with beautiful, functioning wings.  It will fall to the ground motionless, unable to rise to its dance in the skies … and will die.  So, let me ask you this:  was the struggle really the end of the world – just because it seemed that way, or felt that way?  Or was it really the birthing of something brand new and freedom-filled, with more functional potential than ever before?  You see, the Master can call the caterpillar a butterfly, because He designed it to be that way – transformed through change.  Empowered because of the struggle that took place during the change.  There’s the very beginning, the egg stage – which is the start of a new life.  Then comes the caterpillar – and there’s a time of growth.  Soon the chrysalis or cocoon is spun – and a time of change takes place.  In time, emerges the most wondrous butterfly – the time for fruition and rebirth!  Each stage is necessary for there to be a butterfly.  And in our church, I see the changes and transformations emerging – one by one.  At the start, Elevation North was birthed out of the seed (egg) that God planted in our hearts.  Then came the slight changes as we grew from home to garage to parks to motel meeting rooms to town hall and finally to our present roomy space.  But circumstances have spun themselves around us like an ever-tightening cocoon, until NOW is the time for the emergence to take place as we struggle out of the chrysalis surroundings we’ve been in for a while.  It’s almost time for the butterfly God intended us to be to finally emerge with strong, breathtakingly beautiful wings … strong because of the struggles, and ready to take flight – to take our place in this world, just as God intended all along!  Are you ready for the metamorphosis?  We are!  We are ready to take off into the place – yet unknown, where God wants us to land, and be the full-fledged creatures He intended us to be … beautiful in His sight and fully functioning as we continue to make ourselves totally available to Him for His intended use!  Pray with us – that as God’s church … “we who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”  (II Corinthians 3:18)  Hang on, dear people of Elevation North, we’re about to go on the flight of our lives! 

 

 

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

 

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WISHES to Lyndel and to Chuck, who will both celebrate on October 12^th; may God’s best be yours!

 

SUN, OCT 07:  10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP focusing on “Living Victoriously!” – part 3 / with COMMUNION

SUN, OCT 07:  10:30 A.M. – KIDZONE CHILDREN’S CHURCH with Verla ~ don’t miss out on this fun time of learning!!!

WED, OCT 10:   7:00 P.M. –  MID-WEEK BIBLE STUDY in the book of James / at 905 El Dorado St SE in Owatonna

THU, OCT 11:    7:00 P.M. –  MID-WEEK BIBLE STUDY in the book of James / at 165 24^th Place NW in Owatonna

SUN, OCT 14:  10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP – with a special service being planned!  More details next week!

FRI, OCT 19-SAT, OCT 20:  WOMEN OF FAITH CONFERENCE in St. Paul / ”Celebrate what Matters … God Loves You!”

FRI, OCT 26:    7:00 P.M. -  LADIES NIGHT OUT / Comedy Night with movie snacks – bring a girlfriend or two or three!

 

PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . . Kelly, Spence, Johnny, Jimmy, Maria, Julia, Shirley, Tina, Randy, our families, our children and youth, our college students, wisdom for the upcoming election decisions, our nation, our military, Seykoras, Lundstroms, unspoken needs, revival in each of us and corporately in our church, and a new location for our church home!  We praise God for answers!

 

REMEMBER . . . “If I have inside me the stuff to make a cocoon, maybe the stuff of butterflies is there, too!”  ~ Trina Paulus

“May you grow to be as beautiful as God meant you to be when He first thought of you!” ~ unknown

 

 

Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

 

 

Pastor Doug and Debbie

 

 

 

ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

“ONE DAY YOUR LIFE WILL FLASH BEFORE YOUR EYES.  Make sure it’s worth watching!”  When I heard that some time ago, I knew I needed to write that down.  I didn’t want to forget it – I wanted to live it.  And might I add to that quote … “Make sure it’s worth being remembered by others!”  That sounds good, in all essence … but how do we live a life that we would feel was worth watching?  Well, how about giving it to God to use?  We can attempt to do all kinds of things with our lives, and some of it might end up worth our time to view.  But … if we literally give our lives to God to use – daily … God’s real-life-movie rating system proves out that it WILL be worth watching!  Part of living like this shouts out in how we respond to those tests and trials we talked about last week.  We can be at rock-bottom, but it’s how we pull through that matters.  We can feel distraught, but it’s how we choose to handle those emotions that make the difference.  Let’s turn up the sound on someone’s conversation with God in the wee hours of the morning.  It could be your talk with God; it could be mine.  Let’s listen in.  “Papa.  Daddy.  Father God.  I don’t know what’s happening!  I just have to talk to You.  And yes, I promise to listen, too.  I want to listen to Your voice.  It’s just that right now I have a torrential downpour of questions, and I know that no one has the answers but You!  I have prayed, I have sought Your face, I have done all I know how to do.  And I truly don’t understand what’s going on right now, Lord.  Part of this test feels like a spiritual onslaught.  Part of it feels like rejection, being forsaken.  It would be so easy to throw up my arms and say “I quit!  I’ve done all I can … and still it doesn’t seem to be enough!"  But you know what?  Those words just won’t come out of my mouth.  Because … well, because this really isn’t about me – or you.  It’s about God and His work in us.  It’s about turning ashes into beauty.  About transforming trials into triumph.  About NEVER giving up!  About fighting battles in the heavenly realms – and coming out the conquerors!  Disappointments come.  And they can go, in Jesus’ Name!  I believe this is about setting all else aside and taking a good hard look at the nitty-gritty of faith and trust.  Will we throw in the towel when all else seems to be coming apart at the seams?  Or will we take a full body-heart-n-soul plunge and follow our Lord God at all costs?  Even when it doesn’t make sense to us!  Yes!  Help us to remember, Lord, that our trials and tests contain our most longed-for treasures.  Help us to pursue them with passion and fervor, running towards them, clothed in the complete head-to-toe armor of God!  Will this pursuit of following God’s ways through the thick and thin be worth it all in the end?  Of course it will.  But how we need God’s empowering and strength to stand in the gap and not grow weary.  Sometimes we ask, ‘What do You want from me, Lord?  Where do You want me to go?  You know our hearts.  We’re just asking You to show us.  You’ve never, ever failed us … why would we think You would fail us now?’  We thought we were depending on You, God.  But if You thought we were depending on others or things – and You’ve chosen to strip that all away, then by Your grace and Your mercy we beseech You to help us see things like You see them.  We ever, only, and always want YOU to be glorified in our lives.  Though imperfect and lacking, yet we choose to exalt You above all else.  What else can I say, Lord?  Help me to just sit back and be quiet – and listen to what You are telling me.  Help us to realize, Father, that we can trust You to be God, even when we don’t understand.  We will listen.  We will declare Your Word and we will stand on Your promises.  We will stand firmly and resolutely in the place You have called us to.  With Your help, we will not waver.  We will … ‘Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all (manner of) prayer and entreaty.  To that end (we will) keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated people).’  Ephesians 6:18.  So now, we will rest in You.  We know you have it all in control!  We are Yours … to do with as You wish!  Use us, Lord!”  Someone else?  Or me?  God answers all of us!!!

 

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

 

WE WELCOME Maria and Lori who came to visit and worship with us recently.  May God bless you both, we pray!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WISHES to our granddaughter, Lindsay, on her 12^th birthday on October 3^rd!  We love you and pray for God’s best in your life always!  And special birthday wishes to little Emilynn on October 6^th!  God bless you!

 

SUN, SEP 30:  10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP with a message about “Victorious Living – Can we have it?”

SUN SEP 30:   11:15 A.M. – KINGDOM CONNECTION CLASSES & CHILDREN’S PUPPET MINISTRY!

WED, OCT 03:  7:00 P.M. – MID-WEEK BIBLE STUDY in the book of James / 905 EL Dorado St SE in Owatonna

SUN, OCT 07:  10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP / 11:15 A.M. – KINGDOM CONNECTION CLASSES for all ages!

 

PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . . Johnnie & Cherry, Jimmy & Nancy, Julia, Tina, Kay, Shirley, our church family, Lundstroms, Seykoras, our nation, our military personnel, our students, for righteousness in each of us!

REMEMBER . . . “We have a God who delights in impossibilities.”  (unknown)  “When all else is gone, God is left and nothing changes Him.”  ~ Hannah Whitall Smith

 

 

Serving Christ Joyfully,

 

 

Pastor Doug and Debbie

 

 

  

ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

DID YOU EVER STOP AND THINK about what is in the seed of your trials?  No one knows at the outset … but God knows!  We have been studying in the book of James in our mid-week Bible study, and one of the first verses of the first chapter starts out this way:  “Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides.  You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced out into the open and shows its true colors.  So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely.  Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.”   Can’t say it much clearer than that, right?  Considering our tough times as a gift … well, that just doesn’t seem to match up, does it?  Or does it?  Let’s stop and think about this – I mean, really  think about it.  After all, it was just last week that I wrote about God asking us to do something out of the ordinary and stepping out of the comfortable places.  And “tests and challenges” definitely fall into the uncomfortable category, don’t they?  Well, thinking about “the places” I’ve been in since then, I now have a vantage point to look back from, and see a little clearer where God is taking me through these rather rough paths … and what He is doing along the way.  Amazingly, I can begin to see the reasons He has allowed these tests to come.  And as I started to grasp just an iota of God’s ways in this very uncomfortable, stressful saga … I was reminded of our new baby great granddaughter, Emma.  Before she was ever born, her mommy experienced the pregnancy test:  the nausea, the stretching and growing, the swelling, the uncomfortable stages, and at long last, the painful birthing process.  But just look what the end result of that test was:  a beautiful, healthy baby girl!  She could not have been born into our family any other way.  Every stage of the test was necessary to receive the gift at the end.  And what a precious sight she was to behold when we caught the first glimpse of her a few weeks ago, visiting her mommy and daddy!  What a joy it was to watch our son, Dana and his wife, Stacey, and our grandson, Dylan, relate to her in such loving, nurturing ways!  Seeing Whitney and Matt giving such devotion to their first little one warmed our hearts.  Sheer gift.  Yes!  That’s a great way to put it, God!  You do want us to get it … so that instead of resenting our tests and trials, we will be able to face them with an eagerness, speaking into being the end result.  Declaring Your Word back to You … claiming the tearing down of strongholds.  And then comes the ensuing freedom and deliverance - the sheer gift.  Out of lack – the sheer gift of plenty bursts forth.  Out of joblessness – the sheer gift of employment is offered.  Out of frustration and desperation – change and transformation begin to emerge.  I suddenly understand a little more about just how much our God must love us - that He takes the time and effort to select the perfect test to sharpen our spiritual skills, to strengthen our spiritual muscles, to broaden our spiritual knowledge, to deepen our spiritual wisdom and discernment.  Could those things come to us any other way?  How we wish!  Finally grasping what a joy and sheer gift it is that God gives these growing and birthing opportunities to us because of the potential He has placed within us … we finally realize that He is not hurting us, but honing us to become more like Him in every way.  We are developing and maturing, just as He intended!  Can we ever get to the point where we say, “bring it on, Lord” because we know the end results are so valuable?  I don’t know.  But what I do know is that, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.’”  (Psalm 91:1-2)  God’s formula is that the seed always brings a harvest.  Knowing that, we should never have to look at our tests and challenges in quite the same way again!  May you see them like God does … gift-wrapped and tied with a bow, just waiting to be opened and received for our benefit and ultimate enjoyment! 

 

 

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

 

A SPECIAL WELCOME to Max who has worshipped with us these past few weeks; may God bless you with His love!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WISHES to James, who celebrated on September 22^nd; to Matthias who celebrates on the 25^th, and to our son, Dana, who will celebrate on the 25^th – you are loved and wished God’s very best!

 

SUN, SEP 23:  10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP with the start of a new two-part series called “Victory Living!”

SUN, SEP 23:   11:15 A.M. – KINGDOM CONNECTION CLASSES – let’s invite others to join us as we learn!

WED, SEP 26:   7:00 P.M. – MID-WEEK BIBLE STUDY in the book of James/905 El Dorado St SE in Owatonna

SUN, SEP 30:  10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP / 11:15 A.M. – KINGDOM CONNECTION CLASSES for everyone!

 

PRAYER OPPORTUNITES . . . Praises for answers, prayers for unspoken needs, for a home, for healing, for relationships, for comfort, for ministry servants, for a return of our nation to God, for Lundstroms and Seykoras

 

REMEMBER . . . “At all times, even in the midst of any type of suffering, I can realize that God knows, loves, watches, understands, and more than that, He has a purpose.”  ~ Billy Graham 

 

 

Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

 

Pastor Doug and Debbie