ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

 

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

 

 

IN A NUTSHELL . . .
 

SUN, FEB 10^TH:                                    

10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP                      

10:30 A.M. – KIDZONE CHURCH                        

WED, FEB 13^TH:                                     

7:00 P.M. – ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE         

SAT, FEB 16^TH:                                       

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

at The Timberlodge & dessert by Hazel              

at the church following w/fun fellowship   

 

ELEVATION NORTH SPOTLIGHT!

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

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

 

 

Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

 

 

Pastor Doug and Debbie

 

 

 

 

 

ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

CAPTURING WHAT’S BEEN LOST!  What?  What have I lost, you say?  If we truly took time to stop long enough to look at our lives in this fast-paced world we are living in … we would soon “see” how many of the things that really used to be important to us have diminished – or are totally gone.  Like what?  Well, let me just focus on one of the precious things that has been attacked and chipped away at – like our relationships!  Let me narrow that down to marriage relationships.  Think back to your dating days that led to the two of you walking down the aisle to the altar to share your vows before God and those who came to witness such a special moment in your lives.  Do you remember how you felt about each other then?  Dare I ask if you still feel that way – or if so much junk has gotten in the way that your first love for your spouse is just about buried under that huge pile of anger and hurts?  This is where many couples are at today – and the special love they once shared has all but been canceled out by what they’ve allowed circumstances and emotions to do to them.  Let’s see if I can summarize in a few lines a stranger’s story that gripped me enough to share it with you and many others!  It seems this husband came home from work one evening, trying to get up the courage to tell his wife that he wanted a divorce.  When he finally got the words out, all she said softly was, “why?”  He made sure she knew that he really loved someone named Jane and he gave her a document that he had written up stating that she could have the car, the house, and 30% of his business stock.  She began to cry and tore the paper into shreds.  When he went to bed, she was sitting up writing something of her own.  When he awoke later, she was still sitting there writing.  In the morning, she revealed her own set of documents for the divorce.  She only asked for two things.  First, that they would not tell their young son about these plans until after he had taken his exams which were soon coming up, so he would not be too distressed about the news of the divorce to do well on the tests.  And secondly, that her husband would give her thirty days’ notice before the divorce and that for those final thirty days, he would carry her from their bedroom to the front door each day as they went to work, just like he had carried her into their bridal suite some ten years earlier.  He readily agreed to the first request, but didn’t like the second one much at all.  But – he figured if it made things go better to accomplish the divorce he wanted, so be it.  He told Jane about the requests, and she laughed and scorned his wife’s wishes.  But he followed through, and the first day as he carried his wife down the hallway, their young son was so excited and he exclaimed, “Wow!  Daddy is carrying Mommy!”  Both he and his wife felt clumsy this first day.  The second day was a bit easier, and she put her arms gently around his neck as he carried her.  With each passing day, she seemed a little lighter and he began to experience emotions that he had not felt for a long time and he held her a little tighter.  Their young son would bounce along with them, loving this daily routine as the days grew into a few weeks.  The husband noticed that his wife seemed so frail, and he for once looked at her a little closer and realized that she was not as young as she used to be, hair graying around the fine lines on her face.  He thought about the ten years of her life she had given him already and how those years had not been easy on her.  The thirtieth day approached, and suddenly the husband realized that he wanted to capture once again the precious love they had once shared and then lost.  He raced to the office, ran up the stairs and told Jane, “I don’t want a divorce anymore.  I realize we never stopped loving each other; the love just got lost somewhere along the way!”  With a hard slap to his face, Jane was gone.  He ran back down to his car, stopped at the floral shop and took a beautiful bouquet home to his wife with the note he had written, “Honey, I know now that I want to carry you to the front door every day – until we die!”  Arriving home, he ran into the house looking for his wife, and found her in their bed – dead.  In his busyness of life, he had not even known that she had been fighting cancer – thus her increasing frailty.  She had only wanted them to be able to gift their son with the knowledge that they loved each other and he would have that solid memory when she was gone – and through that unselfish gift, they both had become recipients of capturing and reviving what had been lost.  They only had thirty days, but they had ALL of thirty days!  It is never too late to start, dear people!  This story is about an earthly couple – and it can be your story, as well! That’s what I wish for you!   I also challenge you to expand it in your mind to be about you and Jesus.  Perhaps life has stolen your first love for your Lord, and you feel as if there is nothing between you anymore.  Oh, He’s never stopped loving you … but you’ve allowed life to kidnap the intimacy and closeness.  Does it have to be this way?  Will you turn and go your separate way from God?  Whether you have thirty days or one day – or one year or thirty years to live yet … there is no time like the present!  Start NOW!  Let God carry you every day, each new morning, wherever you go.  In that closeness, draw close to Him again – just like when you first met Him and you became His!  If you’ll admit it, that’s what you are really, truly longing for.  And you’ve always known that you could count on His love.  Today, tomorrow, always!  It’s everlasting, dear ones!  So please, go recapture it!  It will be the best thing on this earth that you’ve ever done!  Get on your knees before your spouse and make things right.  Get on your knees before God and make things right with Him.  And out of that, you and your spouse will be recipients of sharing the deepest love you’ve ever known!  God will see to that!

 

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

 

CHECK OUT what's happening at Elevation North this week ~ and make a decision to jump-start your week in His House!

 

SUN, FEB 3^RD:                                       

10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP                     

10:30 A.M. – KIDZONE CHURCH                   

5:00 P.M.   – SUPER BOWL PARTY                                  

at 165 24^th Place NW, Owatonna                          

MON, FEB 4^TH:                                      

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

WED, FEB 6^TH:                                      

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

905 El Dorado St. SE, Owatonna                          

THU, FEB 7^TH:                                                            

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

165 24^th Place NW, Owatonna  

 

 

ELEVATION NORTH SPOTLIGHT!

Plan to come and join us for our Super Bowl/Souper Bowl Party that will be held at 165 24th Place NW  here in town!  Getting together for this occasion is designed for fun fellowship with your church family!  Come and watch the game and the crazy commercials ... but more importantly come and enjoy this time with your brothers and sisters in coversation and laughter!  Bring plenty of yummy hot and/or cold snacks to satisfy our tastebuds while we hang out together for the evening!  Along with the fun, be sure to think of someone less fortunate and bring several canned good items to share!

 

SIGN-UP for "A Sweet Night Out" at The Timberlodge Restaurant on February 16th at 5 P.M.!                             

 

REMEMBER . . . “How precious it is, Lord, to realize that You are thinking about me constantly!  I can’t even count how many times a day your thoughts turn towards me.”  Psalm 139:17

 

 

Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

 

 

Pastor Doug and Debbie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

WANNA KNOW?  Wanna know five things you can’t recover in life?  1.  A stone after it’s thrown.  2.  A word after it’s said.  3.  Time after it’s gone.  4.  Trust after it’s lost.  5.  An occasion after it’s missed.  (Saw this printed on something, and it kind of jumped out at me!)  After all, we are still in the first month of the year.  And while many people don’t even bother with making New Year’s resolutions, still there’s a part of us that decides having a fresh start is a great time to turn over a new leaf and make some changes for the better!  But, let’s be honest.  Just how long do these changes last?  One day?  One week?  Maybe a few weeks? Then what?  Back to the old routine.  And if we disliked it enough to want to change it, then why are we back where we started?  Just maybe we don’t have the right direction in life … or more importantly and most likely, we do not have the Right Person directing us and giving us the power to follow those directions!  So, how ARE you doing so far this year?  Are you completely happy with your performance?  If not, then join us in this January commitment to not just pray, but to pray AND fast!  We can do lots of things in life if we strive hard enough and do not deter from our goal.  But … being human, often we run out of energy or time, even motivation.  And we for sure, get distracted from our focus so easily.  Life happens – and so much for our resolution to make changes!  Down the drain … we messed up again!  So we just let it go – for another year, struggling with the same things for the next 12 months.  You know, it doesn’t have to be this way!  It IS possible to live a life that doesn’t always leave us with regrets that so much cannot be recovered, that it’s gone … lost … missed.  Is it possible on our own?  No, no.  We need God’s help and His perspective.  And His Word tells us that sometimes it takes more than prayer alone; it takes prayer and fasting!  Isaiah 58:6 tells us about some breakthroughs that come through fasting:  “Is not this 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?”  You see, 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!  When we fast, GOD ALWAYS SHOWS UP!  Fasting gets God’s attention quickly – and the enemy HAS to flee!  I’ve heard it put this way:  Satan has a furious vendetta against us – that’s why God has a furious LOVE for us!  My husband will be preaching a message about prayer and fasting this Sunday morning that will answer some of your questions about “why should I fast?”  One answer is “when we obey God’s commands through prayer and fasting, we release blessings into all areas of our lives.”  Deuteronomy 28:2 says, “And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God.”  And of all the blessings that come, the highest to be treasured is the deeper intimacy with God that we will experience!  We realize that not everyone can fast from food, due to medical issues; but how about the need for all of us to fast from wrong thinking?  Under that heading falls a multitude of things – like fear and doubt.  Does that strike a chord?  See, God will show you what kind of a fast He is leading you to do that will bring spiritual victories, freedoms, and breakthroughs … in the Name of Jesus – and for the glory of God!  We encourage YOU to join our corporate church fast this week! 

 

 

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

 

 

WE ARE EXCITED about the things God has in store for us as a result of our Annual Visionary Meeting this past Sunday!  You will see the fruits of the planning and discussion in the next few weeks as we put things into action!  Be praying for your church!

 

SUN, JAN 27^TH:                                     

10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP                                       

10:30 A.M. – KIDZONE CHURCH                           

MON, JAN 28^TH:                                    

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

WED, JAN 30^TH:                                    

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

905 El Dorado St. SE, Owatonna                         

THU, JAN 31^ST:                                     

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

165 24^th Place NW, Owatonna                             

SAT, FEB 2^ND:                                       

9:00 A.M. – MEN’S FELLOWSHIP and                 

LADIES PRAISE & PRAYER                                

10:00 A.M. – ADVISORY BOARD MTG   

COMING UP:

SUN, FEB 3:

5:00 P.M. - Super/Souper Bowl Party

at 165 24th Place NW, Owatonna

SAT, FEB 16:

5:00 P.M. - "A Sweet Night Out"

at the Timberlodge

 

ELEVATION NORTH SPOTLIGHT!

Our first Advisory Board was appointed and announced this past Sunday:  David, James, Marty, Robert, and Wayne.  This group of men are coming alongside Pastor D for spiritual support and leadership, and will be meeting once a month.  Any major changes and business decisions will always come before the entire congregation for approval.  Please hold these men of God up in prayer, for wisdom and discernment as they stand by our pastor in leading the church through Christ-like example.

 

 

REMEMBER . . . “My God is changeless in His love for me, and He will come and help me.  ~  Psalm 59;10

 

 

 

Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

 

 

Pastor Doug and Debbie

 

 

 

 

ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

 

PLAN TO FAIL???  Pretty unusual plan that would be!  You see, we go through life dreaming of what many would call “the impossible dream”.  And it IS most likely impossible if we never plan to make it happen or if we never set any goals to reach that dream!  We’d love for our dreams to come true, but of course they don’t just materialize into reality without any effort on our part!  Often, they come into being through lots and lots of sweat, blood, and tears.  Then, when we actually see the results of all that commitment and hard work, we know it was worth it all!  So what’s the difference between success and failure?  There’s really no magic formula or perfect plan, because two different people can use the same formula or plan, and get completely opposite results!  If there’s any “secret” to it at all – it’s not “what” to do – or “how” to do it – but more importantly – it is to “just do something”!  You see, I don’t believe that anyone ever purposely makes a decision to fail.  But, for those who do nothing … failure is the natural outcome.  It doesn’t have to be calculated, theorized, articulated, or planned.  It just happens.  And then people wonder “what” happened.  The Bible talks about that.  And this concept really matters when we take a clear look at our walk with God.  The same rules apply.  God’s Word says that we are destroyed from lack of knowledge.  (Hosea 4:6)  So if we are never taught and never learn the principles from scripture that show us how to live and how to follow God’s plan for our lives, we are certain to fail.  Often in the business world, the term “posturing for success” is used.  That terminology simply means “our position, pose, condition, attitude, state.”  In these days we are living in, I believe that those who call themselves God’s children need to pay attention to their posturing in Christ more than ever before.  Satan’s posturing is to attack us with fiery darts of every kind and to attempt to destroy and devour.  He definitely does not want to see us live victoriously in Christ.  He wants us out of the picture so he can more easily do his deceptive, evil work.  We, on the other hand, need to be ever more aware and alert as to our spiritual stance in life, so that we might be as available and empowered for God’s work as is humanly possible!  Whether we like it or not, people are watching us!  We say that God is our Father.  So are we acting like we’re related to Him?  Are we living like we’ve learned anything from Him?  Some people are hesitant to share Christ because they fear they will not know what to say.  But often the most powerful message spoken is the life that is lived as a reflection of Jesus IN us!  Our actions speak volumes to those around us!  So just what are your plans for this year?  It is still new, and we’ve barely crossed the threshold.  How will you posture yourself as you face each new day and its God-given opportunities?  Will you embrace all that is set before you, even in the midst of struggles and fatigue?  The apostle Paul writes in Galatians 6:9, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”  So there you’ve got it!  LET’S NOT GIVE UP … IT’S TIME TO HARVEST … how’s THAT for a plan?!

 

 

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

 

WE WANT TO HONOR and say thank you to each one of you who has served the Lord so faithfully in your role this past year at Elevation North!  We truly are a ministry TEAM … we could not do it without you!  May God bless you!

 

SUN, JAN 20^TH:                                                            

10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP                      

10:30 A.M, - KIDZONE CHURCH                        

11:30 A.M. – POTLUCK LUNCHEON                

12:15 P.M. – ANNUAL VISIONARY MTG            

MON, JAN 21^ST:  

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

WED, JAN 23^RD;                                                          

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

905 El Dorado St. SE, Owatonna                           

THU, JAN 24^TH:                                     

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

165 24^th Place NW, Owatonna     

                         

ELEVATION NORTH SPOTLIGHT!

Our new theme for 2013 is "Finding Us On Our Knees!"  As we enter this new year, we realize that when we spend time on our knees before God, He will unleash our faith into action.  He will give us wisdom and guidance as we leave our comfort zone and step out to places we've never been as we seek to reach those who do not know Him.  Along with time on our knees, this week we will be corporately fasting as a church, whether it be from food or from wrong thinking, attitudes, or actions, or anything else God leads us to fast from.  As we seek to draw closer to God, we are claiming miracles of freedom and deliverance and healing - all in the Name of Jesus!  Take this steo with us this week - praying & fasting, and may you experience Christ as never before! 

 

REMEMBER . . . “You are very special to God as His precious child.  He has promised to complete the good work He has begun in you!” ~ Gary Smalley

 

 

Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

 

 

Pastor Doug and Debbie

 

 

 

 

 

 

ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

 

LISTEN … ON PURPOSE – TO FIND GOD’S PURPOSE!  It’s kind of interesting how sometimes we like to do all the talking, and seldom take time to really listen.  That happens in our everyday lives … at home with family, with friends in conversations, at jobs with co-workers.  We talk, but don’t always listen.  We hear words, but not intended meanings.  I think that’s because we hear with our ears … but it takes our hearts to truly listen.  Sadly, we often do that in our relationship with God, too.  We talk, talk, talk … even pray, pray, and pray some more.  Then we jump up and leap full-force into the next thing on our agenda.  God is saying, “Wait, wait!  I wanted to say something to you!”  But His voice is just a fading whisper in the flurry of our hurried scattering.  We asked for help – but didn’t wait to hear His solution.  We asked for wisdom – but didn’t wait to ponder on His Words that we just finished reading.  We asked for direction – but didn’t wait for His GPS to download the map.  (By the way, that’s “God’s Provision System”.)  We asked for purpose – but didn’t wait to hear what God had planned for us, for the day, for the moment, much less for our future.  We asked for strength – but didn’t wait around for God to pour it in.  We were off and running.  Running in circles criss-crossing this way and that way attempting to find the perfect answer.  Running without a clue, searching for the light-bulb to come on and somehow bring us some kind of discernment for our situation.  Running aimlessly, back and forth, getting lost and having to turn around to see if we can see the signs pointing us the right way.  Running scared because we feel like we don’t really know why we are here – what in the world does God have for me to do, anyhow?  Wishing we knew!  Running until we’re just about ready to drop from weakness and exhaustion, missing the connection of the funnel that God wanted to use to fill us up with His ever-lasting fuel.  Doesn’t that sound like us at times?  Perhaps we had our New Year all planned out – and we thought our plans sounded pretty great!  Then, life threw us an unexpected interception, and we saw those plans swirling down the drain at the end zone.  At first, the new agenda kind of smacks us in the face, and we have a choice to make how we’re going to respond.  Will we cling to our own strategies and demand our own way?  Or will we give them up to the greater purpose that God has planned and bend to His will and His ways?  Once we’ve conceded to His game plan, then we begin to see some exciting action and the evidence of teamwork.  Listening and putting into action what we’ve learned brings winning results – and glorifies our God!  And oh yes, I am talking more to me ~ than any of you who are reading this!  I must learn and live out what God puts on my heart, or it will hold no merit.  It will only be clanging, noisy words.  The Word talks about what comes out of listening … John 10:27 says, “My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.”    When we listen … we will follow.  The book of James instructs us what mode to be in for listening:  verse 19 of chapter 1 tells us that we should all be “ … quick to listen …” and then goes on in verse 22 to say that we should “not merely listen to the Word and so deceive ourselves”, but “do what it says.”  Our part is to take action – to participate; in other words, “to do something”!  Coming full circle, listening – really listening, births obedient action, which in turn, creates purpose in our lives.  God’s purpose!  His plan is always the best way – we learn that over and over.  You’d think that one of these times, I would “get it” just a little bit quicker.  But, I am learning, on purpose … and I’m really excited about that!

 

 

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

 

 

THANK YOU to each one who so faithfully serves and gives to propel the ministry of Elevation North forward!  God bless you!

OUR DEEP GRATITUDE to each of our outside supporters who share so generously from their hearts to keep this ministry moving forward – as we reach out to those within our walls and beyond the walls of our church!  May God’s favor be upon you!

 

SUN, JAN 13:                          

10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP        

10:30 A.M. – KIDZONE CHURCH             

MON, JAN 14:                           

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

WED, JAN 16:                          

7:00 P.M. – MID-WEEK BIBLE STUDY    

905 El Dorado St. SE, Owatonna              

THU, JAN 17:                        

7:00 P.M. – MID-WEEK BIBLE STUDY    

165 24^th Place NW, Owatonna   

 

FRI, JAN 18:

7:00 P.M. - LADIES NITE OUT

w/Women of Faith info/plans, games,

snacks, and more!

 

SAT, JAN 19:

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

9:00 A.M. - LADIES' PRAISE & PRAYER

 

SUN, JAN 20:

ANNUAL CHURCH VISIONARY MTG

following worship and potluck lunch

 

 

ELEVATION NORTH SPOTLIGHT!

Calling ALL men and women!!!!

Plan to attend these exciting Bible Study sessions, with the next one on Saturday morning, January 19th, at 9:00 a.m. with Pastor Doug and Debbie at the church!  The men have already been meeting and digging into "God's Way for Men to Live Courageously"!  The women will be starting this powerful, life-changing study on "The Prayer that Changes Everything" - (The Hidden Power of Praising God).  You won't want to miss even one session, and we encourage you to invite your friends who would be blessed by this topic from God's Word.  Be sure to bring your Bibles!  Expect amazing changes to happen!

 

 

REMEMBER  . . . “That we are alive today is proof positive that God has something for us to do today.” ~ Anna R. B. Lindsay 

 

 

Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

 

 

Pastor Doug and Debbie

 

 

 

 

 

 

ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

 

DO YOU HAVE AN EMPTY JAR?  If not, I suggest you find one!  This January, why not start out the new year with an empty jar and then fill it with notes about good things that happen!  Then on New Year’s Eve at the end of the year … empty it and see what amazing things happened throughout the entire twelve months!  I have a feeling that at some point, you will have to go hunting for a larger jar – because the one you started with will not hold all those special notes!!  Now, I have another question for you.  (Yes, I’m full of them tonight!)  DO YOU HAVE AN EMPTY LIFE?  I hope not, but if you do – I propose that beginning to fill the empty jar with little notes will soon provide a powerful reminder of just how full your life really is!  And, if your jar remains empty for more than even just a day or two, that means that you are keeping yourself too isolated … too far away from where the blessings are flowing.  You see, good things often happen as a result of us helping someone else.  So, if we are anywhere close to others, we will see an entourage of unexpected good things come tumbling in our direction.  Of course, that is not the purpose of blessing others – that is just God’s law of sowing seeds and harvesting!  Our God has invited us to “ask and we shall receive!”  Surprisingly it seems He often asks us to give when we feel we have so little or nothing at all.  What we’ve found is when we’re at the bottom of the barrel of resources, and we take that last little bit to share with someone else, suddenly … (did I say SUDDENLY?!) God starts pouring in His blessings from such unexpected sources!  OUR JAR IS EMPTY NO MORE!  Close to the end of our 2012, our jar was filled to overflowing in so many ways!  Had we been literally filling a jar last year, the end-of-year notes would have spilled over the rim.  Let me share a few notes we would have scribbled and tucked down inside with all the others tightly scrunched in there.  “Got to drive less than an hour to meet up with our oldest son and his wife, and see our 12-year old granddaughter perform in her team’s synchronized ice-skating competition and she did g-r-e-a-t!!!”  “Were blessed to travel to celebrate Christmas with our youngest son and his wife and our three youngest grandsons, ages 7, 4, and 2 – for the first time ever at their home!”  (It’s a little difficult to be anyplace else for Christmas when you are doing the Christmas Eve service at your church!!)  In the midst of all the fun noise and laughter and activity, we loved watching the two older boys sing two songs with the kids at their Christmas Eve service at church.  Sunglasses and all … they sang every word and looked happy to be doing it!  That would have been another note – what a precious thing we got to experience that usually we are never there for!  Presents, toys, cookies … and a two-day adventure for our little grandsons to go out and bless others who didn’t have much.  They really got into the groove of telling complete strangers, “Merry Christmas!  Jesus loves you!”  Tuck another note in the jar!  And I got to see my 88-year old mom and two of my siblings soon after Christmas ~ I’m scribbling another note!  Some of our last-minutes notes were a bit tear-stained ... the goodness of God and others touched our hearts so deeply!  This new year “jar” of 2013 is almost ALL EMPTY … how will we fill it?  What kind of living will we tuck into it?  What experiences of joy will we write about?  What will we say about the sustaining strength and peace God will give us in the tough times?  What new God-adventures and opportunities will we want to put pen to paper for?  Let’s not leave our 2013 empty … let’s live it to the fullest like God meant for it to be:  life more abundantly!  Begin choosing now what you will write on your notes … and get ready to record all the incredible surprises God has in mind!  “For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.”  (Jeremiah 29:11)  There … go and find a jar!  

 

 

 

 IN A NUTSHELL . . .

 

A SPECIAL THANKS to Wayne and Verla for ministering in the service in Pastor Doug’s & Debbie’s absence last Sunday!

 

 

JOIN US . . .

 

SUN, JAN 6TH:

10:00 A.M, - PRAISE & WORSHIP

10:30 A.M. - KIDZONE CHURCH

WED, JAN 9TH:

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

905 Eldorado St. SE, Owatonna

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

165 24th Place NW, Owatonna

FRI, JAN 18TH:

7:00 P.M. - LADIES NITE OUT

 

 

ELEVATION NORTH SPOTLIGHT!

The Annual Church Visionary Meeting will be held on Sunday, January 20th, following Praise & Worship and the Potluck Meal.  Plan now to participate with your attendance and involvement.  Be in prayer for God's leading, that we will be in alignment wirh the vision God has for our church for growth both numerically and spiritually ... and for outreach that will bring in the lost - that they might find Christ as their personal Savior and Lord!  If you consider this your church home, please commit to joining us as we unite in an effort to make 2013 a year of results for the glory of God!

 

 REMEMBER . . . “God may be invisible, but He’s in touch.  You may not be able to see Him, but He is in control … That includes all of life – past, present, future.”  ~ Charles R. Swindoll

 

 

Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

 

 

Pastor Doug and Debbie