ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

 

YOU ARE MORE THAN YOU HAVE BECOME!  That’s the sub-title of a book by a pastor named Tony Scott … and that phrase intrigued me until I thought through it’s intended meaning and did some further research.  Simply put, what that means is that God is not finished with us yet!  We are who we are at this moment in time – but in God’s eyes, we are more than who we are or what we are today.  We are still in process as He is refining us and polishing us so that ultimately His Kingdom will be shown through us.  Have you ever thought much about the process that diamonds are subjected to?  Let me share just a few facts.  A diamond is known for having superlative physical qualities, having the highest hardness of any bulk material, and having relatively high optical dispersion.  Due to these characteristics, diamonds are used in cutting and polishing tools.  Because they can be contaminated only by a very few impurities, and because of their ability to disperse light of different colors, they have a sought-after luster. Unparalleled in their hardness and durability, diamonds have become the most popular gemstone ever. They are valuable, expensive, and most frequently used for adornment. But what makes them what they are?  Did you know that they are formed at extremely high temperatures and unimaginable pressure at depths up to 120 miles beneath the earth’s surface? They get transported via magma in a volcanic pipe much like an elevator - to the earth’s surface where they can then be discovered and used for their greatest purpose.  It is also interesting that diamonds are not very reactive.  There is little that can change or affect their chemical stability.  Diamonds are identified not only by their high thermal conductivity, but also through the skilled use of a magnifying glass “by eye”.  For the rough diamond to be sold at its highest price, it must be cut or drilled and polished to remove any possible flaws.  It must pass rigid tests to be marked as a highest grade diamond.  In those tests, the authentic diamond is distinguished apart from it synthetic or simulated counterparts.  It is set apart by what it has become.  We, like diamonds, were naturally born “in the rough” and through the spiritual process of being “born again” we find ourselves undergoing the fiery trials and tests … the sometimes unimaginable pressure that just about squeezes the life out of us.  When we are “120 miles under” – we feel like we will never see the light of day.  The weight of the hardening just about breaks us – before it makes us into what God sees we can become.  When we’ve been pressed and pressured enough, we are shot to the surface at volcanic speed, and we see the light of victory.  But a more amazing thing occurs:  others see us and our ability to disperse the Light of the world shines through with brilliance.  Had we never been put through the extreme fiery tests or the crushing weight of trials, we would never be able to be used as tools in the Kingdom of God.  We would never be durable enough, transparent enough, usable enough.  What amazes me even more, is that beyond being chosen by God to be used for His Kingdom purposes on this earth, He also adorns His earth with us – reflecting who He is to a world who so desperately needs to see Him.  Often we are unaware of how valuable and priceless we are to our Creator – because we never attribute our hurting in the diamond process to His commitment to make us more than we are.  We just know it hurts and we don’t like it.  We usually fight against it.  But recognizing God at work within us, we need to become submissive under the heat and the pressure, knowing that we will come forth as precious and polished in His sight … ready to be used mightily in these days.  I can share this message because just this week God allowed me to be pressed to what I thought was my limit … and then He turned around and used my durability to help cut and polish someone else, helping them to see beyond their crushing weight of hurt.  No wonder James wrote in the first chapter of his book:  “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 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.”  Lord Jesus, please make us more than we have become! 

 

 

 

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

 

 

OUR SPECIAL THANKS to Wayne and Verla for ministering this past Sunday while Pastor Doug and Debbie were visiting family!  We so appreciate how everyone stepped up to share in the ministry of our church! 

 

 

THIS SUNDAY, AUG 11:

10:00 A.M. - PRAISE & WORSHIP / COMMUNION

10:30 A.M. - KIDZONE CHURCH

FOLLOWING THE SERVICE - ANNUAL CHURCH PICNIC at Mineral Springs Park

(Be sure to bring your own table service - and plan on having a great time with your church family!)

 

NEXT SUNDAY, AUG 18:

10:00 A.M. - PRAISE & WORSHIP

10:30 A.M. - KIDZONE CHURCH

11:30 A.M. - CHRISTIAN ED MTG for all willing to help with KidZone

 

ELEVATION NORTH SPOTLIGHT!

 

Our Christian Ed Leadership is planning for the Fall, Winter, and Spring edition of another season of ministries for all ages. That will include KidZone Church, as well as nursery, youth, Bible studies, and more!  We are praying for God’s direction as we choose topics and books of the Bible that will draw His children, young and old, into a deeper walk with Him!  Join us in prayer, that God’s will might be accomplished throughout this new year of seeking after God.  There will be a special meeting with Wayne and Verla following worship on Sunday, August 18^th, at 11:30 a.m. for everyone willing to help with the KidZone ministry here at Elevation North!  If you feel led to help support our Christian Ed ministries with a love offering, please mark it accordingly.  Thank you … may God bless you!

 

REMEMBER . . . “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.” ~ Hebrews 10:23-24 

 

 

Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

 

 

Pastor Doug and Debbie

 

 

ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

LOVE, LOVE LIVING … BUT CAN HARDLY WAIT FOR HEAVEN!  It’s been a long, long time since I have had so many people talk to me about death as they have this week.  It’s a subject that most people avoid bringing up in casual conversation, but when death occurs their emotions rise to the surface and words come spilling out.  After all, when hearts are broken, there is a cry for consolation and comfort and peace.  It all started with a sad, tragic story that touched one of my co-workers … but in the days that ensued, stories of loss after loss began to come to light.  Semi-truck and pick-up truck accident – that left a young man in his early forties who was “the king of fitness” in this community – dead.  Real people, right where we live.  All young.  All encountered tragic accidents that snuffed their lives out.  No one was planning on their lives ending; and people began asking serious questions.  Why?  What’s happening?  Those who lost their lives were all connected with people that I know and see most every day.  But back to the young lady who poured out her tearful story to me just a week ago.  She was struggling so deeply with what she had seen as she came upon an accident that was literally happening before her very eyes just up ahead.  As if watching an action movie being played out, she saw the vehicle flip many times – perhaps ten times.  When it finally came to a rest, being an EMT, she rushed to the aid of the people inside.  Arriving before anyone else did, she witnessed the critical status of those trapped in the vehicle.  The man kept asking how his wife was, but my co-worker assessing the situation, attempted to help the little toddler in the baby seat first.  She could tell this little one’s life was hanging in the balance, so she did all she could do to try to save the child.  But … soon the small child breathed its last breath.  The man continued to yell for his wife, so my friend moved up to the front passenger seat where she saw a young woman that with one glance told her there was nothing she could do.  So she just bent close and tried to comfort her, and then she heard her say, “I’m eight months pregnant!”  And then … she was gone.  By now the officers and medical team had arrived, so my friend let them step in to take care of the man who was badly injured but looked as if he would survive.  And then her eyes caught some movement in the rear of the vehicle – there sat another child, a little boy, seemingly unhurt.  She turned to leave – she had done all she could do.  But the faces, the sights, the voices, the words all haunted her day and night, and she wondered why it happened and why she was the first on the scene.  Her heart was broken.  I listened.  I confessed I sure didn’t have all the answers.  Who does, especially when there is untimely tragedy?  But I told her that I knew the One who was there in those riveting, horrific moments. I told her He was there with everyone in that vehicle.  And I told her that while it perhaps didn’t seem comforting, God had chosen her to be placed there at that appointed time – to be the first one that those precious people saw coming to help them, and the sweet face they saw as they took their last breath.  I told her I didn’t know how she felt about God, but that He had hand-picked her for that assignment and that He would be there for her in the aftermath of what she had experienced.  I told her that the moment that little one stopped breathing, that child was being held by Jesus in heaven.  I told her how the very moment that young pregnant mom drew her last breath, her unborn baby was also being cradled in the arms of Jesus. The mom?  I do not know where she stood with God.  I told my friend if she knew Jesus she was there watching Him hold her children.  If she did not … that is the ultimate tragedy of any death.  Because it becomes a death for eternity – with no hope of heaven, ever.  Hell is the most horrific tragedy that can come to any living soul, because it never ends – it never goes away.  But for those who know Jesus personally, any death here – no matter the age or tragic circumstance, it is the glorious journey from earth to heaven.  It is just the beginning of a celebration that lasts forever that will never, ever end!  It is life with our Lord and Savior, our heavenly Father … an ongoing pouring out of worship and praise and adoration in the most indescribable, amazing place that is way, way beyond our wildest imagination!  For Jesus is there!  When my co-worker spoke with me, I was not in a place where I could pray with her, but you can be sure that I will invite her to a time and place where I can freely ask her where she is going – when she breathes her last!  Dear ones, this is what this life on earth is all about … it’s about making ourselves available to God to send us out as the first responders, rescuing those who are lost and injured, throwing out Eternity’s lifeline – while there is still breath in them!  We dare not wait … another hour, another day could be too late!  Let’s love our God-given lives here on earth … but let’s pursue souls for heaven! 

 

 

 

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

 

 

THIS SUNDAY, AUG 4:

10:00 A.M. - PRAISE & WORSHIP

10:30 A.M. - KIDZONE CHURCH

SATURDAY, AUG 10:

9:00 A.M. - BARNABAS TEAM MEETING at the church

Be in prayer for our leadership that God will anoint and

guide them in all planning and decision making!

NEXT SUNDAY, AUG 11:

10:00 A.M. - PRAISE & WORSHIP / COMMUNION

10:30 A.M. - KIDZONE CHURCH

FOLLOWING THE SERVICE - Annual Church Picnic at

Mineral Springs Park - please check out the sign-up

sheet!

 

 

ELEVATION NORTH SPOTLIGHT!

All women are encouraged to consider attending this year’s Women of Faith Conference in St. Paul on October 18-19 … and to finalize plans for this incredibly blessed event!  You will definitely experience God’s anointing!  Pray about who else you can invite!  They will be encouraged and strengthened in the Lord through this ministry!  Be sure to see Debbie for more details!

 

REMEMBER . . . “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” ~ John 14:27 

 

 

 Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

 

 Pastor Doug and Debbie

 

 

 

ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

 

HEAR US ROAR!  Since when have we believed that it is godly to be quiet and non-committal and invisible?  These are the days when the world needs to hear us and see us – pointing the way to Christ!  Gone are the days when it is acceptable to scream and yell and shout our cheers and applause for our favorite sports teams and our musical artists and bands – but not for our God and Father, the Lord of lords and King of kings.  Well, maybe those days are not gone … but they need to be!  These are the days when the children of God need to rise up and make themselves heard on the stage of the world – or in whatever tiny, remote place that He gives us a venue and a microphone.  People around us need to hear the Name of Jesus spoken from our lips … and not birthed out of a curse.  “Jesus … Jesus … Jesus” needs to be spoken in adoration and boldness and declaration.  His message, His love, and His redemption needs to flow from our hearts and be spoken into the lives of whoever God brings in front of us – every single day.  We dare not shy away and think that we will just leave that to someone else who is more gifted, more flamboyant, more impassioned.  It is our calling, dear people of God, to live and breathe and share our love for Christ!   And when we do, we must make sure that our voices lead people to hear His voice.  We don’t want our volume to be just empty, powerless noise.  We want our words to be energized and anointed in supernatural ways.  God promises that His words will not return to Him void.  In all essence that means that when we speak His message and His Name, things will happen.  There will be results.  What comes back to God will have merit, meaning, and multiplication to it.  God’s words returned to Him will come back with eternal decisions, with transformed lives, with ever-increasing throngs of people added to the Kingdom of God.  Those voices added to ours are going to begin sounding like a mighty roar as God’s army arises to slay the complacency that has so long been in the Church.  To slay the giants of fear and bondage and inferiority that have taped our mouths shut up until now.  To slay the giants of holding back and not stepping out in what feels like risky, dangerous faith.  To slay the giants of deceit that keep us from living with God as the highest priority in every arena of our lives.  To slay the giants that tell us we are second best and cannot compete with the world’s power and wealth.  To slay the giants of the million and one things that seek to keep us from our knees before the Living God and crying out for revival in our souls.  When these and a hundred more giants are slain, our mighty roar will cause the devil to shudder and shake in the wake of our newly empowered roles.  Nothing can stop us when we begin to live as the powerful sons and daughters of God that we are!  We will begin speaking with a boldness we didn’t know we had.  We will hear ourselves sharing words that we recognize as coming from the Spirit of God.  We will move forward in a power that we realize is not our own – and hesitancy will be replaced with an impassioned excitement.  Soon we will operate through the leading of the Holy Spirit in a mightier way than ever before as we listen for the Voice that sets itself apart from all others, including ours.  In these days, I see a Church, a blood-bought Church, a Bride of Christ that issues forth a call to righteousness, holiness, and purity as she looks forward to the arrival of her Bridegroom.  I see a Church whose voices will unite in true worship – rising to a volume that will be heard around the world.  You see, the devil doesn’t have a corner on roaring like a lion.  The difference is that in his roar, people are devoured.  In our roar, people are rescued, redeemed, and renewed to reflect the Lord God of Israel!  Let’s make our voices count, dear people … we are the Church!  Let’s be the victorious, overcoming church God planned for us to be!  Time is short … what we speak boldly now - will last for Eternity! 

 

 

 

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

 

A SPECIAL WELCOME to Celso & Marcella and family who worshipped with us for the first time this past Sunday!  May God bless you!  We were also blessed to have several of our family and friends who came to worship with us from out-of-state these past few weeks … what an encouragement your presence with us was! 

 

THIS SUNDAY, JULY 28:

10:00 A.M. - PRAISE & WORSHIP

10:30 A.M. - KIDZONE CHURCH

SATURDAY, AUG 03:

7:00 A.M. - 12:00 NOON - Farmer's Market table in Central Park

Plan to pray and help with homemade or homegrown items that we can fill our table with for the purpose of raising additional funds to help us continue expanding our various church ministries for the glory of God!  See Wayne, Verla, or Tina for more details!  And plan to help out at the table and fellowship with others in your church family!

NEXT SUN, AUG 04:

10:00 A.M. - PRAISE & WORSHIP

10:30 A.M. - KIDZONE CHURCH

 

ELEVATION NORTH SPOTLIGHT!

If you are not familiar with our “Bless Back” ministry, then we want to introduce you!  This ministry has an entire room devoted to it which houses clothing (new or gently used), food items (non-perishable), household items (that someone else can use), plus more!  So if you have need of anything – please come and look and we encourage you to “receive” from the generosity of others.  If you have items you would love to give and share – please bring them to the “Bless Back” room so that we can continue to share from this storehouse.  May it overflow out of the abundance that God gives us – so we can give to others!

 

REMEMBER . . . “Jesus approached and, breaking the silence, said to them, All authority (all power of rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.  Go then and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit …”.  Matthew 28:18-19 

 

 

 

Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

 

 

Pastor Doug and Debbie

 

 

 

 

ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

 

“LIFE IS NOT A JOURNEY TO THE GRAVE with the intention of arriving in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather sliding in sideways, totally used up, thoroughly worn out, loudly proclaiming, ‘Thank You, Jesus, what a ride!’”  I loved this recent quote from one of our friends out in Colorado!  And after smiling and shaking my head “yes” in full agreement with his statement, I read on a few lines more, and this is what he concluded with:  “Live life full steam ahead.  If you fall, you’ll cover a lot of ground moving forward!”  Now I was laughing!  Both statements struck home with how our lives must look to others in the midst of our crazy lifestyle – but I couldn’t agree more!  We do understand the high value that God places on priorities and pulling away from the hustle and bustle of life to actively rest.  We know how important it is to take time out to sit quietly and listen to His voice in a place of peace where there are no other voices.  There’s no place we would rather be.  Any other setting dulls in comparison.  But you know what?  When God puts a fire in your soul and gives you a Message that cannot be kept to yourself, that opening quote is pretty much how you live life!  If we’re going to give our lives for someone else, we choose to give it to Jesus.  In those times when the hours in the day melt into the late night, we remind ourselves it’s for the Kingdom of God.  If Paul could preach his heart out to share the gospel and be a tentmaker on the side … then so can we!  And if at some point He walks us back into full-time ministry, there will always be a part of us that will seek out people in the marketplace because that has definitely become our second pulpit every time God opens the door in that arena!  It happened again just today.  And I am always amazed.  I know – I shouldn’t be.  After all, He is God.  He will do what He wills.  But I just love seeing it take place!  We were gifted with a few evening hours with some precious ministry friends earlier this week.  How we love hearing about what God is bringing before them; but at the end of the evening, I think the scales were tipped in our favor when I recall how much time they spent listening to where God has us.  They have a gift for listening … and for sharing.  And they do both with no strings attached.  It is never their agenda – it is always about God’s priority.  That’s true friendship when it doesn’t matter who was on the receiving end more; it’s just whoever seems to be needing encouragement the most, I guess!  It’s a valued friendship that keeps us close no matter how great the time between our in-person visits.  It’s a treasured friendship that devotes time in prayer for each other’s families and ministries - and genuinely cares and intercedes for the times of struggles.  It’s a rare thing for ministry couples to both share the same heartbeat for lost souls – and to know that we cannot stop our pursuit of reaching people for Christ – wherever that takes us.  In my attempt to complete this message when I usually do, it seemed God was putting a hold on it.  At first I was frustrated, but when God brought before me some powerful words today, I knew why.  As I listened and received, the content rang true in my spirit.  This is what I heard:  “We need to make living our lives hearing God’s voice our highest priority.  It is only when we hear His voice that we can then choose to obey or to ignore.  Someday we will see that doing what He says – those things remain.  And everything we do that is not what HE asked us to do, will burn.  That’s pretty sobering.  What that all means is that if we are doing things based on our wants, those things will burn.  How do we know what God wants – or if it is our own will?  Why do people play church – when we can BE the church?  It is not now, or ever has been about pulpits and pews.  Being the church means that we are a living expression of the Living God!  It might not hurt any of us to think about doing an extended fast from all ‘other voices’ in the media, informational, and entertainment world that steal our time and distract us from hearing God’s voice alone.  You say, really?  How could I not watch TV or listen to music, or read a newspaper or check my e-mail or social connections like Facebook?  As I thought more about this, I had to readily admit that when we’re hearing so many other voices, God’s can easily get lost in the mix even though we don’t intend for it to.  Fasting like this would definitely help us get rid of lots of clutter in our lives and bring Christ back to the forefront where He desires to be.  We most likely need to have a bonfire – before the fire of God will fall!”  It’s time to give our all – and slide in sideways! 

 

 

 

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

 

You are invited to join us for worship on these summer Sundays:

 

THIS SUNDAY, JULY 21:

10:00 A.M. - PRAISE & WORSHIP

10:30 A.M. - KIDZONE CHURCH

NEXT SUNDAY, JULY 28:

10:00 A.M. - PRAISE & WORSHIP

10:30 A.M. - KIDZONE CHURCH

 

CHALLENGE:  In the next few weeks with more free time on the church calendar, we want to encourage each of you to choose at least one individual or family in our church that you can bless yet this month!  Ideas:  getting together for an uplifting visit, inviting them over for dessert - or just a glass of cold lemonade, sending them a card to tell them you are thinking of them, or if God leads, share a love gift with them!  They will be blessed and so will you!

 

ELEVATION NORTH SPOTLIGHT!

 If ever you want an opportunity to reach outside yourself and think of others … walking the path along the thousands of lighted luminaries at night on the weekend Relay for Life is a great event to participate in!  Our church team was able to raise $855 for this wonderful cause – as we thanked God for the survivors and remembered the many others who lost their battle with cancer.  Our special thanks to everyone who helped in ANY way … and especially to our team captains, Tina and Wayne & Verla! 

 

REMEMBER . . . “Your heavenly Father knows your needs.  He will always give you all you need from day to day … For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.” ~ Luke 12:30-32 

 

 

 

Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

 

 

Pastor Doug and Debbie

 

 

 

ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

 

SOME PEOPLE THINK IT’S OLD-FASHIONED to talk about the blood of Jesus.  Do I?  Not for a moment!  The Word of God tells me that the blood of Jesus is the foundation of our faith – without it there would not be a reason for believing anything else about the Son of God.  His shed blood defines Who He is.  And it defines who we are in Christ.  The blood of Jesus sets the believer’s future apart from the future of all who do not believe in Jesus as their Savior.  It sets apart living as a blood-bought child of God from living without the power of the shed blood of Jesus.  It’s the difference between victory and defeat.  It’s the difference between freedom and bondage.  It’s the difference between joy and sorrow.  Last night my husband and I joined a group from our church to view “The Passion of the Christ” – one lady had never seen the movie before.  We had seen it several years ago when it was first released, and perhaps one time since.  As the movie began and the story of the hours before the crucifixion of Jesus began to unfold, we were once again gripped by the magnitude of such suffering and agony … and of such love – for us!  There is no holding back of tears, for such a love is hard to grasp.  Feeling as if we were part of the group who knew and loved Him and who witnessed the events with horror and sadness, we agonized with each word of ridicule, with each look of scorn.  We shuddered at the intensity of the evil unleashed against Jesus; it seemed to grow greater with each thrashing of the whip.  The stripes on His back were sliced open and deep with the anger that propelled each wickedly aimed lash.  We shivered as we saw the flesh being shredded and Jesus looking to the Father as He struggled to stay on His feet, and then on His knees as they beat Him within just a lash of His life.  The blood stained the courtyard … the blood spattered in all directions and spotted the blood-thirsty soldiers who took corrupt delight in the merciless crescendo of blows to Jesus’ back.  It seemed they would never stop.  Seeing this portrayal again on the screen, the truth struck us ever so boldly:  no wonder there is such power in the blood of Jesus … no wonder so many miracles happen when we apply the blood of Jesus to our lives and our circumstances.  Remember what happened when the blood was applied to the doorposts of the Israelites at the Passover?  The death angel passed over that home and left the firstborn untouched.  The blood was the difference between life and death.  It is the same for us today, in 2013!  But do we apply it to our lives in obedience to our God?  Or do we just view it as something recorded in a story that happened long ago?  Have we forgotten the importance of the sacrifice on the cross – and that we were the reason that the sacrifice was needed?  Do we set the blood of Jesus aside?  Do we diminish its relevancy in our lives?  Do we often wonder what is missing in our sad, defeated lives?  I challenge you, though it is not Passion Week, to open the pages of your Bible in the gospels to the account of the entire crucifixion and resurrection and read it once again – very carefully.  Walk into the scenes as if you were there.  Ask yourself what your emotions would have been, had you stood just steps away and witnessed the look of torturous suffering in Jesus’ eyes.  Had you witnessed the look of love that shone out of the swelling and the blood and the deformation of a face wracked with pain.   Would you have run to Him to try to stop the ominous blows?  Would you have run to Him with a cup of cold water and a clean towel?  Would you have scattered and run?  Would you have stayed your distance?  Reading about the emotions and ensuing actions of Judas, His traitor – of His disciples and close followers – of His mother and those He considered to be family … what would you have done?  I had to ask myself what I would have done.  Would I have offered to show my love without counting the risk to myself?  Or would I have feared the outcome and turned my back?  You might be saying, how would we know what we would do until that moment comes?  Our actions are a choice, you know, and they are an outward expression of what is inside our hearts.  By God’s grace and with His help, my hope and prayer is that we would run to Him without hesitation, giving to Him whatever we could and lavishing our tear-stained love on Him as He shunned not one blow, not one nail, not one drop of blood.  You see, He loved us that much!  And the end, His final breath – wasn’t the end!  In three days, He was alive and triumphant over His death, over the grave, and every single death threat we will ever have!  His blood, His precious, priceless blood is ours.  He shed it for us, may we never waste it! 

 

 

 

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

 

 

THIS SUNDAY, JUL 14:

10:00 A.M. - PRAISE & WORSHIP

10:30 A.M. - KIDZONE CHURCH

FRIDAY, JUL 19:

6:00 P.M. - RELAY FOR LIFE, a team event to fight cancer

Join your church team at the Fairgrounds and walk the path to honor both those who have lost their lives and those who are survivors!  Come and support this special effort to make a difference for those who are fighting their personal battles with cancer.  Most of all, be in prayer for God's divine healing touch in their lives!  See Tina and Wayne & Verla for more info!

NEXT SUNDAY, JUL 21:

10:00 A.M. - PRAISE & WORSHIP

10:30 A.M. - KIDZONE CHURCH

 

 

ELEVATION NORTH SPOTLIGHT!

We want to ask you to include Daouda, our mission child from Senegal, Africa, in your daily prayers!  He lives in a culture without much, even without necessities that we take for granted!  We invite you to make him a part of our church family by adding a love gift in the mission jar as often as you are able!  Our commitment to help Daouda with schooling and medicine and clothing and food is $35 per month through World Vision.  His letters to us tell us that our sharing and giving is making a big difference in his young life!  If you want to help with the cost of shipping small packets containing fun, inexpensive gifts once in a while, along with photos and letters, please mark your giving that way for our church treasurer.  We thank you and Daouda does, too!

 

REMEMBER . . . Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies … How priceless is your unfailing love! ~ Psalm 36:5,7 

 

 

Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

 

 

Pastor Doug and Debbie

 

 

 

 

ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

WHAT DO YOU NEED A GOOD DOSE OF?  With each passing day as I cross paths with lots of people, I see more and more sad faces and hear more and more heartbreaking stories.  I see less and less hope and hear less and less laughter.  We know how we feel when the world and its burdens cave in on us … and others are no different.  The only difference, the BIG difference when despair strikes, is if there is someone to turn to, someone who cares, and someone who can help.  I am beginning to realize that to really help someone else, we have to first help them help themselves.  Of course God is about the business of peeling back the scales on our eyes so we can truly see what He is desiring to reveal to us so we can live above despair.  And the great thing about God putting us in situations where we He calls us to help others, is that as we seek Him for wisdom we also help ourselves by learning the same lessons God gives us for others in a new and fresh way.  That’s what I love about God’s Word!  It is always timely.  God always knows just what to say to us!  And how to say it!  Sometimes He drops the instructions in a thundering voice that we cannot miss.  Other times He speaks encouragement in a gentle, soothing tone.  And then there are those moments that it would be so easy to completely miss His whispers of exactly what we need – if we weren’t tuned in to Him and listening attentively.  This week God gave me a double dose of a story that is recorded in Exodus, chapter 17.  When an enemy of the Israelites came and attacked them, Moses took authority and delegated the military mission to Joshua.  His command was short and to the point, basically that Joshua was to go and choose some of their men and then go out to fight the Amalekites.  Then he revealed what his part would be:  he said that he, Moses, would stand on top of the hill the next day – with the staff of God in his hands.  There are a few things here that are pertinent to rising above our attacks.  Did you notice that Moses took action?  He made a plan and gave orders for it to be carried out.  I love that he didn’t speak the word “retreat” but instead gave the directive to “go out” to fight the enemy.  That means facing them front and forward and confronting them.  Should we do any less?  And I love that Joshua and his chosen soldiers did not have to feel as if they were being sent to slaughter, but given Moses’ word that he would do his part to ensure victory.  Remember the staff of God that he mentioned would be in his hands?  Well, just what did he do with it?  This is how God has the story recorded:  “So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill.  As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning.  When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it.  Aaron and Hur held his hands up – one on one side, one on the other – so that his hands remained steady till sunset.  So Joshua overcame the enemy with the sword.”  Do you see how very powerful this is?  The footnote in my Bible says that holding up his hands was “a symbol of appeal to God for help and enablement.”  And do you see how long Moses actively implored God for help and victory over the enemy?  Till sunset.  Till the enemy was defeated and the battle was over and victory was theirs!  He didn’t send up a weak SOS and then walk away and tell Joshua that he’d be back later to see how they were doing!  He came alongside Joshua and the military men and did what God asked him to do for as long as it took.  And when his hands and arms grew weary, two other men of God came alongside Moses and lifted up his hands high into the sky as they looked over the battle that was waging below.  Did the soldiers alone win the battle?  Did Joshua win it by himself?  Did Moses win it alone by the strength of his uplifted hands?  Or were Aaron and Hur the two who won the battle because they stood in the gap and helped hold up Moses’ hands?  Can you see that each strategy was necessary as God had given Moses the plan … but victory would not have been realized had not each one been faithful to step into place and stay there as long as it took!  That’s godly teamwork, people!  Please read the last few verses … that’s a story in itself about how God will war against our enemies – from generation to generation!  I believe the same is true for us today as God’s church and God’s people.  Which position will we take up?  Let’s plan on serving faithfully in the army of our Lord as we help each other to victory! 

 

 

 

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

 

A SPECIAL THANKS to everyone who helped with our church team fundraising efforts for Relay for Life!  May God bless you!

 

SUNDAY, JULY 07:

10:00 A.M. - PRAISE & WORSHIP with Communion

10:30 A.M. - KIDZONE CHURCH

WEDNESDAY, JULY 10:

7:00 P.M. - MOVIE & MUNCHIES with our friends at Kay Knutson Apartments (see Spotlight below!)

SATURDAY, JULY 13:

9:00 A.M. - BARNABAS TEAM MEETING at the church.  Be sure to be in prayer for our leaders as they seek God's face for guidance and direction for our church as we move forward!

NEXT SUNDAY, JULY 14:

10:00 A.M. - PRAISE & WORSHIP

10:30 A.M. - KIDZONE CHURCH

 

 

ELEVATION NORTH SPOTLIGHT!

Our church families that come to us from Kay Knutson Apartments mean so much to us!  And since they cannot always come to us for all of our extra events, we are taking one to them!  Everyone is invited to join our friends there for a “Movie & Munchies” night on Wednesday, July 10^th, at 7:00 p.m.  Bring some munchies & beverages and head on over to 905 El Dorado Street SE!

 

REMEMBER . . . “God has a thousand ways, where I can see not one; when all my means have reached their end, then His have just begun.” ~ Esther Guyot 

 

 

Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

 

 

Pastor Doug and Debbie