ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

RE-EVALUATE AND REFLECT.  Yes, it’s that time … this “new year” is almost half-lived!  With what seems like a few blinks of the eye, the calendar pages have propelled us with jet-expulsion speed to the threshold of the second half of 2014.  While most of the time it is healthier to keep our eyes on the day at hand – there is a right time to take a few good hard looks at where we’ve been recently.  Doing this helps us assess if these places are on God’s map to where He is wanting to take us – or not!  Often just recalling the major life events that have marked specific milestones in our lives is a great reminder of God’s faithfulness to us.  No matter how curvy and bumpy our road has been, there is a definite straight line that runs through it all.  That is God’s life-line thrown out to us when we doubt we can see the path ahead.  I’d like to invite you to join us on our appraisal and contemplation of the “days of our lives” thus far this year.  I am realizing more and more (perhaps we DO gain more wisdom with age!) that it is not always “what” happens in our lives that matters the most – it is “what” we do in response to those events and circumstances.  So … here we go! 

With just a few steps into the year, our Mom Jones was hospitalized and lived out her remaining few days on this earth with family surrounding her.  God’s time for her came suddenly and unexpectedly, and yet those hours at her bedside offered us a close-up look at what was most important to her with eternity in view.  And in the weeks and months that have followed her Home-going, we’ve learned more than ever before just how important family really is.

And then it was time to honor another mom ~ for her 90^th birthday, no less!  What a testimony to a life lived for her God as we listened to my mom reminisce and make us laugh!  The party stuff was fun and her family had come from near and far, but the best and lasting treasures of the celebration is knowing that without fail, she is up at the crack of dawn praying for each of us by name.  As little children she introduced us to Jesus and that’s priceless and eternal!

We’ve answered the phone calls and heard the anguish in the voices of those we love so much as they have battled the attacks of Satan in their own lives, and on their children as he attempted to kidnap them and hold them hostage.  But God’s voice immediately came back with a powerful promise that what He once did in their lives – long ago … He will do again!!  And all of us have claimed those victories to come!  There is something so-o-o reassuring and calming about hearing from God.  And His peace?  Well, there is absolutely nothing like it! 

And then one day you find out what it’s like to grieve over the attack by a dog on your little great-granddaughter’s face.  Baby fresh face … she’s not even two years old yet!  The dog’s teeth ripped deep and close to her eye and lip.  You cry out to God to be with her and for divine healing of wounds laid wide open.  And in those first moments of stark realities of possible scarring, your heart does a flip-flop and soon you can thank God in the midst of the terrifying attack that she is still with us!  And you know without a shadow of a doubt that He is, too!

Fast forward to a most lovely, serene setting in the woods near the water, and beneath the blue skies on a perfect summer afternoon, you witness the breathtaking beauty and love of your granddaughter speaking her vows to the young man God has brought to her!  Whitney and Matt stand hand in hand before God and commit themselves to each other as Grampa Doug performs the wedding ceremony.  Surrounded by family and friends, God’s blessings and wedding bliss shine in their lives, and their faces glow with the love that only God can give!  The celebration is the reason almost all of our family is able to come together for an extended weekend and create new memories as we pack lots of everything into those days together beneath the gorgeous Michigan sun!  And for the first time in a long time, we are blessed to be together to worship in God’s House on that Sunday morning!

God already knew what challenges and changes we would be facing immediately upon our arrival back home.  His strength was foundational for the onslaught of attacks and change thrust upon us without warning.  For nearly a week, we paddled through murky waters – deeply conflicted in our spirits until God gave breakthrough and clarity of His plan for us and the ministry He has called us to.  The storm was intense, but the calm after the storm has not been shaken.  How we love it when the enemy’s plans are obliterated by our Lord God and He makes a way where there is no way!  Will it be easy?  No.  But that’s what faith and trust are for!  Will it be joyful?  Yes!  That’s our promise from God when we are obedient!  God’s Word encourages us to take heart, for the best is yet to come!  And all of us get to be a part of it!  We stand on solid ground as we enter the second half of this year, excited at what God will do!  We can trust Him with everything, even our very lives, you know!  And that includes trusting Him with the ministry and future of Elevation North … for after all, it is HIS church and it is by HIS Spirit that it will flourish and grow into ALL He has designed it to be!  How far reaching is God’s faithfulness?  Deuteronomy 7:9 gives us the answer:  “Know, recognize, and understand therefore that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, Who keeps covenant and steadfast love and mercy with those who love Him and keep His commandments, to a thousand generations.”  Lord, we will stand on that!

REMEMBER . . .

“I have held many things in my hands and I have lost them all;

but whatever I placed in God’s hands, that I still possess.”

~ Martin Luther  

Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug & Debbie

ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

JUST WHO ARE WE?  And just what are we doing?  Have you ever thought about how closely these two questions relate to each other?  Everything we do in our lives comes out of our heart belief of who WE think we are!  Today I got to thinking about how so often as children of God we act like we are nothing more than beggars.  That must make God really sad.  He’s our Father, you know.  And most parents love to provide for their children – all of their needs, and at least some of their wants (so as not to spoil them too much, right?).  I’ve thought of how often we go about our day doing nothing more than begging God for what He has already given to us!  If we listened to ourselves, we would be shocked to hear how we sounded!  We beg and we plead and we sound so desperate you would wonder if we even knew God!  Don’t get me wrong … God loves to hear us ask.  But it’s all in how we ask.  Are we just asking?  Or are we asking AND believing?  There’s a huge difference!  A life-changing difference.  Then there are those who act as if we should not even ask God for anything – ever.  Period.  Even I just made the statement that so many of us sometimes spend most of our energies begging God for what He has already given us.  So how do we make sense of what could feel very conflicted?  Well, some time ago I heard someone explain it this way, and it sure made sense!  As earthly parents, we provide meals for our children and make sure that they have all they need.  We plan to eat three times a day (more or less – depending on your family’s schedule and habits).  But how many times, even though our children KNOW without a shadow of a doubt that their mom or dad is making them breakfast or lunch or dinner … will run into the house yelling, “Can I have some lunch now?  I’m hungry!”  We hear that all the time!  Do they really think we are going to say, “no”?  We may tell them they need to wait just a bit, but we would never withhold from them what we have already promised them (spoken or unspoken):  that their parents will always provide their meals for them!  And yet they ask … expecting … believing, that they are going to receive the food they need.  The hungry child is not wondering if the parent is going to withhold the meal and so they have to beg.  They are asking, because they are making a request to receive.  The child fully believes he or she will soon be enjoying what has been promised.  They are not worried because there is no reason to worry.  (For children in countries with famine and lack of food – that’s a whole different story for another time.)  So let’s take a closer look at us, and who we perceive ourselves to be.  Because the answer to that tells all when it comes to how we ask of our Father in heaven!  God wants for us to know who we are.  In the book of Romans, the apostle Paul uses these words and phrases in chapter 8:  “… those who are led by the Spirit are sons of God.”  “Abba, Father.”  “… we are God’s children.”  And now listen to verse 17:  “Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory.”  Did you catch that?  Can you grasp that you are heirs of God?  That makes you royalty!  That means you have an inheritance in everything that is your Father’s.  That makes us sons and daughters of the King of kings and Lord of lords!  Wow … that’s a far stretch from being beggars!  Go ahead … and open your Bible to Galatians 3:26 – 4:1-7 – that portion will explain more about us being heirs and about receiving the full rights of sons.  So, dear people, can you see who you are and what is yours because of who you are in God?  Now flip the pages back to the 103^rd Psalm which is really a praise hymn instructing our soul to praise the Lord with everything that is within us.  It instructs us to not forget – but to celebrate receiving His many personal benefits to us.  Yes, ALL His benefits:  “He forgives ALL our sins”, (so do we have to scream and beg – or just ask and believe?).   “He heals ALL our diseases”, (so do we have to accept them in fear and doubt – or just trust and receive?).  “He redeems OUR life from the pit”, (so do we have to torture ourselves by thinking that we’ll always remain there, or do we take the first step and take His hand and believe that He will lead us out?).  “He crowns us with love and compassion”, (so why do we say no one loves us or cares?  What are we believing?).  “He satisfies OUR desires with good things” so that our youth is renewed – and He even compares our vigor and strength to the majestic, soaring eagle, (so why do we say that God never brings anything good into our lives?).  You see, dear ones, often it is not Satan defeating us – we are speaking defeat into our very own lives by NOT believing that we are God’s children and by NOT receiving every “good and perfect gift that is from Above” (James 1:17).  In these days that we are living in, it is imperative that as God’s children we understand whose we are and live freely and fully in every gift that He has already given us!  All we have to do is reach out our hands and accept what He is handing to us in His nail-scarred, outstretched hands!  Be blessed, children of God!  Let’s honor this loving Father of ours by embracing the fact that we are HIS!

REMEMBER . . .

“Instead of worrying, pray.

Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns.

Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good,

will come and settle you down.”

Philippians 4:6-7  

Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

STEP INTO TOMORROW!  (But don’t forget to live in today!)  This Sunday we have the joy of honoring seven high school graduates in our worship service!  Seven young people stand on the threshold of a brand new chapter in their lives – where they get to step into a place called independence … a place in their hearts that has been long-awaited.  Because in this place, they have tucked plans and dreams and ideas – just waiting for that day when they will be able to make their own choices and set their wings to flight!  In our minds, that is the ideal place.  Life doesn’t get any better than that, or so we think!  But, then … tomorrow happens and shakes up well-laid plans and the perfect ivory towers come tumbling down.  At least for a time.  You see, we’ve been there – in our yesterdays.  So we know.  And we want you young people to know today that we believe in you more than we can actually tell you!  We know you are not perfect (sorry – no one tattled on you!); we just know that, because none of us are perfect!!  God tells us that.  Yet we are loved so fully and so unconditionally by the God of the universe that there is no place we can go where His love will not reach us.  We hope by now you have heard us tell you enough times how special and valuable you are – that you truly BELIEVE it!  We don’t care what the world says:  things like – “you are not good enough, smart enough, or good-looking enough” – and – “you didn’t grow up rich or popular or talented” – “therefore you will never amount to anything”.  Those are lies straight from the enemy as he sits in the throes of hell.  We want you to believe the truth and know that there is Someone besides us who thinks you are amazing and gifted and unique!  We want you to know that you were created for such a time as this in 2014 to take on the mantle of confidence and boldness that comes from Christ, and that you are empowered by the living God to step into your tomorrow!  We are smiling … because even though you will “be on your own” … you will NOT be alone!  And not to burst your bubble – but just because God and your pastor and his wife think you are incredible – that does not mean that everyone you cross paths with will agree!!  So when those challenges come … and they WILL, we want you to remember that God is FOR you, so who can be against you?  Take a look at this online quote and look at the difference of how people treat you and how God treats you … and then decide who you want to be able to count on as you step into your tomorrows!

People will hurt you,

God will heal you.

People will humiliate you,

God will magnify you.

People will judge you,

God will justify you.

HAVE FAITH!

We want you to remember that “greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world!”  In Christ, you have all the power and strength you will ever need.  You have all the grace, mercy, and peace you will ever cry out for.  You have all the resources and talent and opportunities that God has already placed within you that will only grow to greater fulfillment.  You have all the promises in God’s Word with a guarantee that they will never fail.  You have an Advocate on your side – Jesus takes your mess-ups to the Father and appeals your case through His shed blood, and the scale is tipped in your favor.  You have a God-given perfect plan already awaiting you in your future, so pursue it with passion, commitment, and righteousness.  You’ve been given the gift of ONE life here on this earth – for how long, none of us know.  So we want to encourage you to take this gift and examine it, open it, and use it in every way pleasing to God!  There is no place of greater joy and satisfaction than in the place God has planned for us.  So … run and find that place daily now that you are on your own … but NOT alone!  We love you, graduates!  We will always be here for you ~ only a phone call away, day or night!  And, so is God – He NEVER sleeps!

REMEMBER . . .

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,

“plans to prosper you and not to harm you,

plans to give you hope and a future.”

Jeremiah 29:11  

Serving Christ Joyfully . . .  

Pastor Doug and Debbie

ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

There’s a story being written … of a church named Elevation North!

God birthed a vision for this ministry in the hearts of a pastor and his wife in 2008.

Though walking through one of the most difficult journeys of their lives, the call was loud and clear!

While working several jobs to support themselves, the ministry embarked with the help of a few friends.

They met and prayed and worshipped … in some of the most unlikely places:

Pastor Doug’s and Debbie’s living room … outdoor parks and pavilions … their garage …

and as they grew, they packed up everything and set up weekly on Sunday mornings at Clinton Falls Township Hall!

God sent more people, including a group of men to come alongside Pastor in leadership and prayer.

Outgrowing the Hall, this body of Christ took a leap of faith and moved the church

to a much larger building on the main street of Medford.

The vision was clear:  to reach whoever God sent through the doors of the church!

The rent seemed huge:  it increased from $40 per week to $1000 per month!  “Lord, help us!” was our cry!

And you know what?  He definitely did!  The gospel was being preached week after week!

And lives were being changed!

After a year in that location, circumstances brought us back to Owatonna,

and God again provided a place to rent and worship that required another huge step of faith!

Could we do it?  No, never on our own!  But we knew God was leading us forward …

and soon we were moving to a place that was everything we needed for this chapter and time.

A sanctuary – with chairs of our own; classrooms with actual walls and doors!

We were put right on one of the main streets of town in a great location,

and soon people we had never met came walking through the doors of Elevation North!

We would welcome them with God’s love and ours, and before leaving the church they would say, 

“We’ve finally found a church home where we feel Jesus … and are loved just as we are!”

And that was because God gave us a vision to love people right where they are at –

but to also love them to their fullest potential in Christ!

God sent us the lonely, the hurting, the needy, the homeless …

and we loved them and helped them … and shared Jesus with them!

We have seen miraculous transformations:  many lost, now saved – many addicted, now free!

It has been exciting to see God at work; what a precious privilege to serve where God is at work –

and today marks our last Lord’s Day of worship in this place as He continues to move us forward yet again!

For a short interim time we will be meeting and worshipping at the local AmericInn,

while the building God has led us to purchase is being changed into a place of worship to our Lord and King!

Finally, after all these months and years of being moved from place to place,

God has seen fit to gift us with a location that will be a place dedicated solely as HIS House:

Elevation North – for the glory of God!

With each passing year, God has fleshed out this ministry to reach more and more people,

with many of you coming alongside us to help serve as God enlarges our boundaries!  

What does He have in store for us as we step into this next place He has arranged for us?

Only God knows … but He is revealing new territory as we follow Him obediently and boldly.

God is bringing together two ministries into one: 

Elevation North will hold English and Spanish services each Sunday,

reaching more souls than ever before for God’s Kingdom!

And WE get to be a part of God’s unfinished business on this earth at this time and in this place!

Praise God … from Whom all blessings flow!!!

REMEMBER . . .  Ephesians 3:20-21

“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work

within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever!  Amen!” 

Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

I WILL RISE AGAIN!  That’s what He said.  Can you think of any words that were more like the sound of beautiful music to the ears of Jesus’ disciples and to His followers than . . . “I will rise!”  For most of His three-year ministry on earth, Jesus had taught and spoken to them in parables, but as His time neared to go to the cross, His content and style changed.  He knew the time had come to prepare His disciples for what His Father’s plan was.  He began to talk about what and how He would suffer – and …well, let’s listen in:  “From that time on Jesus began to explain to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”  (Matthew 16:21)  Can you imagine hearing that from someone close to you who you love so dearly?  What a battle must have raged in their souls.  Killed?  Natural instinct:  they would defend against danger, harm, and death.  But they also heard that one little, but larger-than-life word:  MUST.  There was no choice it seemed.  And at first their hearts sank.  But then three other words echoed in their hearts:  RAISED TO LIFE!  Talk about an emotional roller-coaster!  But then they had become accustomed to their Lord – and signs and wonders had always been a part of His ministry.  Hope rolled in, and they hung on for the promise that He would live again.  And with that knowledge, they also began to understand that THEY would also live, even after death!  The great thing is that Jesus always taught simply enough for a child to understand so that whoever listened would get the point of His message.  He did not want anyone to not understand clearly enough so that they could possibly miss out on choosing His gift of eternal life!  And so the disciples walked with Jesus through that final week of His life before the crucifixion.  The triumphal entry into Jerusalem.  More ministry and teaching.  The plot against Jesus.  The Last Supper.  The disciples being comforted by Jesus.  Gethsemane.  Jesus’ arrest and trial.  Jesus’ crucifixion and death.  Jesus’ burial.  What a week … the events pulled at the very core of their humanity – and from time to time, some of the disciples became sadly aware of the ways they had failed their Lord.  One of them betraying Him earlier in the week.  And later, the rest of them falling asleep during the prayer watch in the dark of the night.  And later yet, another denying he had ever known Jesus.  They knew.  Oh, how they knew they had disappointed Jesus – and yet He showed only love.  Now they find themselves unable to sleep and overwhelmed with grief.  They have even forgotten to count down to that third day that Jesus had told them about.  The scriptures do not record much of anything about the disciples’ activity between the crucifixion and the resurrection.  Had there been something worth telling, I am sure we would know.  We can only imagine what they were feeling – someday we will get to ask them!  Suddenly, day three arrives and still they are out of circulation.  But … the women could not contain themselves any longer and while it was still dark, they made their way to the tomb to take spices for Jesus’ body.  By the time they arrived, dawn was just starting to break.  Fully expecting to see Jesus’ body there (had they not heard His prophetic words, or had His crucifixion put their belief in His words to death, as well?), they were perplexed at the empty tomb!  Standing there, wondering, suddenly they encounter two angels, and the one speaks.  I absolutely LOVE what is said, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?”  What a powerful question that is!  And then the follow-up explanation:  “He is not here; HE HAS RISEN!”  (Luke 24:5b-6a – emphasis mine)  And with that, they reiterated Jesus' prophetic words about being crucified and rising again.  And it was THEN that they remembered!  No one can keep a great story a hidden secret – so the women went to tell the disciples.  Because their story seemed like nonsense, the disciples did not believe them.  But Peter’s curiosity moved him to his feet and he ran to the tomb to see for himself.  Hope increased with each quickened step, and yet when he saw the empty tomb and the strips of linen lying there … he just went away, wondering.  It still didn’t sink in.  He needed more.  More words together as Jesus joined him and John on the walk to Emmaus.  More time together as they gathered to eat.  But the moment Jesus did what He had done before, taking the bread, giving thanks, breaking it and giving it to them … then and only then did they truly SEE Him and realize it was their Lord they had just spent the afternoon with on the road.  Can you imagine having your eyes opened like that?  In a moment’s time, realizing that Jesus was ALIVE!  Understanding.  Comprehending.  Rejoicing!  Jumping up and down for joy – no matter that they were grown men!  Check out the rest of that chapter, will you?  This week we remember.  We celebrate! Our Jesus, our Savior is ALIVE and RISEN!     Our eyes are opened wider.  We understand more deeply and more fully.  Jesus is among the living; so each of us will no longer remain dead in our sin.  That’s why He lives!  Today, where are YOU at, and why do YOU live?

REMEMBER . . .

“God gives me new life –

not just for today, but for tomorrow, and every day after that.”

~ unknown  

Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

ANNOUNCING ... our Annual Ladies Tea for 2014:

"A TOUCH OF THE SOUTH!"

Saturday, April 26th at 1:00 p.m.

at Elevation North 

Call (507) 363-2109 with reservations

by Sunday, 4/20/14,

for this amazing free ministry event!

Gourmet Refreshments

Fun & Friendship

Favors & Gifts

Inspiring Message by Cindy Halvorson

Music by "The Southern Hope-Fulls"

Ladies and Girls of all ages ... YOU are invited!

ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

PRAYING … SWEAT-DROPS OF BLOOD.  What’s that like, Jesus?  Some say that it wasn’t actually drops of blood, it was just sweat that fell from Your face to the ground “like” drops of blood.  Plenty of us have worked where we’ve pushed ourselves to the limit in steaming hot, humid conditions, and we know what it’s like to have drops of sweat drip from our faces and fall to the ground – or the floor, whatever the case might be.  So we know a sweat-drop when we see one.  We know a drop of sweat when we experience it.  That’s all that it is:  just sweat.  Pure, smelly sweat.  But the anguish that Jesus experienced before His crucifixion stepped His sweat up a notch – well, several notches, in fact.  Do you really want to know how much He loved you then, when He was in the Garden of Gethsemane?  Do you truly want to understand (as much as our minds can take in), all that He suffered for us?  Being Who He was, Jesus knew all that was going to happen to Him on Calvary before it ever took place.  Being part of the Triune God (the Trinity), nothing was ever a surprise for Jesus.  And remember, He was God in the form of human flesh … the Son of God.  How do you feel when you are facing one of your most excruciating experiences and you know what is to come?  Lots of people feel like running in the other direction.  But Jesus?  The only directional change He made was:  He dropped to His knees.  Picture this.  It’s the night before His own crucifixion.  And He is torn by the pain and the grief of what He knows He will soon endure.  Torture to the umpteenth degree.  Jesus could have put a stop to it all before the death process even began.  Did He want to suffer in agony?  No.  Who does?  But He was willing, because He knew someone was required to pay the price for the sins of the world.  And that included mine … and yours.  The battle that raged in His soul was fierce beyond description.  In my research, I learned some details about all of this that proved all the more the full extent to which He would go to pay for my sin debt so I would not have to!  Scripture states in Luke 22:44, “And being in anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.”  Another version records it this way:  “And being in an agony (of mind), He prayed (all the more) earnestly and intently, and His sweat became like great clots of blood dropping down upon the ground.”  There is a medical term called, “hematohidrosis”, which is a rare, but very real physical condition where one’s sweat will contain blood.  The sweat glands are surrounded by tiny blood vessels.  These vessels can constrict and then dilate to the point of rupture where the blood will then effuse into the sweat glands.  The cause for this condition is none other than – extreme anguish.  In other verses in the Gospels, the level of Jesus’ anguish is explained – in His own words:  “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.”  (Matthew 26:38 & Mark 14:34).  That’s extreme, my friend.  Have you ever hurt so intensely about some sad or disturbing news you received, or about some circumstance you found yourself in … to the point of being nauseous and you had to fight to focus on anything other than what you were feeling?  I’m sure all of us could answer “yes”, and probably more than just once in our lifetime!  And yet for most of humankind, while we all suffer to some degree, and others much, much more – very, very few of us have ever sweat drops of blood.  But Jesus did, as He prayed.  At the very thought of the excruciating pain He would feel with each strike of the whip, drops of blood fell from His brow.  At the very hint of carrying the countless sins of this world on His shoulders, greater sweat-drops of blood spilled to the earth turning it crimson red.  Then with all of that evil on His Son’s body, the Father had no choice but to look away; and Jesus was left with the stark reality of being totally abandoned by the One who had been with Him always and forever.  Could there be any greater pain that that?  I’m sure the physical infliction of pain was easier to bear than the separation from His Father as Jesus was now left alone to go through it all … on His own.  Because He loved us that much.  So much so, that His sweat was mixed with His blood as He prayed in preparation for what was to come – so we would not have to!  He did it all, He gave His all … so all we have to do is say “yes” to His invitation to accept His gift of eternal life!  And what Jesus did brings us hope that in the midst of our “sweating and suffering” times when we feel like our heart is breaking and bleeding literally … we can be assured that all it takes is “one drop of blood”.  HIS blood, which is our all-encompassing answer, solution, promise, and guarantee that He is for us – and with us!  And if God be for us, who can be against us?  He’s already paid the price, and with Him WE WIN!  Take time today to thank our Lord for the great and precious sacrifice of His life!  We’ll never fully comprehend the battle of the soul that led Jesus to finally say in the Garden, “ … yet not My will, but Thine be done.”  (Luke 22:42)  But we definitely can thank Him and live in a way that will honor His amazing gift of love!

REMEMBER . . .

“As Jesus stepped into the garden, you were in His prayers.

As Jesus looked into heaven, you were in His vision …

His final prayer was about you.

His final passion was you.”

~ Max Lucado

Serving Christ Joyfully . . . 

Pastor Doug and Debbie

ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

THRIVE!  Thrive?  Alright, I will thrive.  But what does that really mean?  After all, we just dubbed the Men’s Bible Study time with that title.  It’s just a name, right?  And what’s in a name, after all?  Well, if you haven’t guessed by now … I LOVE NAMES!  I love putting a name on a ministry – not just so it sounds catchy or cool, although, yes … I want people to be drawn to the ministry.  And if the name helps – then all the better!  Empty words are meaningless, but with an understood meaning, they are powerful!  It’s the same with names.  So checking out the official definition of “thrive” in the dictionary, I can clarify its meaning for you.  To thrive means to prosper, to succeed, to flourish, to increase, to advance.  The meaning could apply to many areas of our lives, but today I’d like to apply it to our walk with God.  We can liken our daily relationship with God to a green plant.  When we care for a plant of ours, we want it to thrive, right?  We do not want that plant to just wilt, shrivel, dry up, and die.  We want it to flourish, to increase in size, to shine with health and beauty, and to flourish even more.  There’s something to be said for anything that exudes health and life in full measure.  Someone has said, “What is it about your life that would cause people to stop and take notice?”  God’s Word even has something to say about how He has designed us to live our lives as His children.  In John 10:10, Jesus is telling us that, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”  Sounds kind of like the dying plant versus the thriving plant, right?  Only we are talking about our life in Christ and how we live it!  The footnote on that verse explains that the thief’s interest is in himself, but Christ’s interest is in his sheep – (that’s us!), who He enables to have life to the full.  Alright, let’s check out this “full” business.  Most of us have full lives, alright – but mostly because of our schedules and running here and there – and most likely meeting ourselves coming or going!!!  That is not what Jesus meant!  To thrive, we must be full!  And we must be rooted.  We are told in Colossians 1:6-7, “So then, just as you received Jesus Christ as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”  This is a declaration that we are complete in Christ.  When we are complete, we can thrive.  We are nurtured from where we are rooted; this allows us to flourish – and not just a little – but a lot.  Until we live full.  And it’s our attitude of gratitude for Christ – and to Christ, that causes us to not just live full, but so full that our lives overflow with Him.  Do you see a pattern for living emerging that would actually cause people to stop and take notice of us?  But more than us … Christ IN us?  You see, it’s easy to agree that what the world sees around them is empty people, lacking in any or all areas of life:  physically, spiritually, mentally, emotionally, financially – and the list can go on and on.  Wouldn’t you agree that for the church to emerge as a people thriving and full of God, the world would sit up and take notice?  Maybe even question what we have and how we got it?  And our answer will be, simply put, that powerful Name:  JESUS!  There we are, back to names again!  Jesus, He is the One who enables us to live filled, complete, and abundant.  The meaning of Jesus’ name is tied to His purpose:  Jesus saves!  He is called by many names:  Son of God, Son of Man, the Word, Savior, Christ, Redeemer, Lamb of God, Teacher, Author of life, Alpha and Omega, Lion of Judah, King of kings and Lord of lords, Lion of Judah, Bright Morning Star, Anointed One, Word of God, Holy and Righteous, Head of the Church, Immanuel, Prince of Peace, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, and a host of others.  Don’t you love that His names tell us WHO He is?  They are descriptive of His character and His attributes!  If others had the task of giving us additional names, I wonder what they would call us.  More importantly, what does God name us?  Does He include “Thriving one” in His list for us?  “Living full”?  “Complete in Christ?”  Put YOUR name in front of each of these names I’ve just included for you here.  How do these names sound?  Even, “Flourishing one!”  Father God, may people notice us because of how we live with You in us!  That’s our purpose:  living saved, victorious, thriving, filled-to-overflowing lives that will draw others to Christ and honor and glorify our Lord!  This week, dig into the soil of God’s Word, get your roots firmly planted, drink from His well, witness the growth, begin flourishing and thriving ~ and let God use His amazing “green thumb” skills on you!  Happy gardening, God!

REMEMBER . . .

God’s Word even gives us a promise that we can thrive:

“The Lord will guide you always;

He will satisfy your needs …

You will be like a well-watered garden,

Like a spring whose waters never fail.”

~ Isaiah 58:11  

Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

FRESH HOPE!  Anyone feeling like you need an extra dose of that today – like right now?  And where is it going to come from?  All it takes is a listening ear and open eyes, and your senses are inundated by real-life stories of the hurting, the struggling, the down-and-out, the belief that no one believes in you – much less God!  Turn around a few times and you begin to see the faces and hear the voices … they are multiplying in fast-forward fashion.  So, we’d agree, right?  The problems are real.  There’s no denying them.  If we stick our head in the sand and pretend that these accounts are not true, that does not change a thing, except to reinforce to the hurting that they indeed, do not matter.  That dare not be our message!  Now – or ever!  My husband and I have seen an increase in the numbers of those seeking help – just in these past few months.  And these people are coming from all arenas of life.  We hear similar stories from both the homeless and the successful professionals.  The attacks and onslaughts from Satan are coming fast and furious.  We believe God is calling us to step up the pace in ministering to those who need hope.  This world surely is not offering any.  Many people do not have enough hope for themselves - and certainly do not share any with others.  So where is it going to come from?  If any of this resonates with you … then this just might be YOUR day to find the hope that you’ve been searching for, but always seem to fall short of finding!  The only thing more heartbreaking than knowing that someone has given up on themselves, is to hear them say that they’ve given up on God and on others.  And it is at this change-point in life, that we make the choice either by doing something or by doing nothing – to grasp for HOPE or to simply give up.  There’s no more dangerous place for people to find themselves in!  Enter:  us!  As individuals.  As the church.  But what do most Christians think church is?  For many, it’s about, “am I going to church today … or am I staying home?”  Both my husband and I love what the singer, Carman, has to say about this.  “God is not calling us to go to church; He is calling us to be His church, the hope of the world.”  And just how do become His church in action that brings hope?  It starts with each of us in the arena that God has placed us.  We must have the kind of intimate connection with God that allows us to live in the overcoming knowledge and authority that we are loved and valued by God – before we can teach that to anyone else.  Our words won’t matter much to someone who feels hopeless.  But – if they watch – and see us living with the kind of hope that keeps us going day after day, that keeps us filled with joy no matter the circumstances, that keeps us knowing that we are children of the Living King, that keeps us sharing the love of Christ by example – then they will listen to us when we speak to them and share the HOPE that lives within us.  They will see it as genuine and real – and think that – just maybe, maybe, maybe – there is hope for them and that their lives can be different than the pit they have been stuck in for so long.  Church, God is calling us out to be real – for reasons just like the note that we received this week.  We will never reveal “who” it came from … but we have hope that through Christ’s rescuing power, this person will someday stand before others with an outstanding testimony of what hope in Christ can do for the hopeless.  Listen to these words that practically broke our hearts:  “I have been pushed far too far.  I do not believe in God anymore.  Maybe He was never in my life at all, maybe it was really the devil.  I can’t believe God would just keep pushing.  My life is mixed up right now so I don’t know where I will be at.”  Are we going to pursue this person in their hopeless state, or just let them go?  The answer is that we will do everything through the power that Christ gives us to restore hope in this person’s life.  Because this life matters to God.  And because this life matters to us!  This note tells the tale of a life being lived without hope.  On another note, we find in Hebrews 6:19 that “we have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.”  The footnote on this verse explains that like an anchor holding a ship safely in position, our hope in Christ guarantees our safety.  Where else can we find a guarantee like this?  Who does not long to feel firm, secure, and safe these days in the midst of such swirling, consuming hopelessness?  What is our part in this guarantee?  Well a few chapters further in Hebrews 10:23, we are instructed:  “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.”  This kind of a hold means “without doubt or hesitation.”  That means we’ve got to hang on for dear life to the hope our God promises us and gives us – without fail.  He does His part!  And our part hangs heavy in the swaying balance – because the outcome is eternal.  It’s not just about this hour or today or tomorrow.  Our part and our response determines what kind of a life we will live here on earth – and where we will spend eternity, and with who!  Dear ones, if you are in need of some fresh hope right now, do not doubt and do not wait any longer!  Cry out to God and give us a call.  We will be here for you and show you how and where to find hope in His unfailing love and salvation!  Take heart!  Fresh hope is awaiting you!

REMEMBER . . .

“Hope is faith holding out its hands in the dark.”  ~  George Iles  

Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

LOVE.  That word has been spinning around in my head and heart all month.  And not because it is the “love month” – but because God is doing a real work in my life as He is helping me grasp more than ever before what that word really, truly means.  Isn’t it true that we usually learn better by “doing”?  We experience something more fully when we do it “hands on” – rather than just seeing or watching or listening.  Combine all of those facets, and it is still the “having to live it out” that makes it real for us.  Last weekend a scripture verse popped up in front of my eyes, and I was captured by its very essence.  How many times have I read that verse before?  I don’t know; many, many times – that’s for sure!  But it never spoke to me like it did this time.  Since then, I have also read the verse preceding it, and together, they create a powerful command by our Lord.  Not just a suggestion or a choice; these are Jesus’ words and they demand an obedient response from us.  Listen:  “A new command I give you:  Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.”  (John 13:34-35)  First, I hear Him telling me to do something:  to love one another.  Then I hear Him explain that He has already done this – by example … and that as I have been loved by HIM, that’s how I MUST love others!  Wow, that’s a tall order, Lord!  And recently it seems as if You are throwing some tough lessons in front of me.  You know me, God.  I am usually always a lover of people – not a fighter.  But I think You are putting ME to the test.  You want to know how I will respond in these bizarre situations.  Will I be able to love … like You love me?  As I read it, You don’t give me a choice, do You, Lord?  Because if I fail this test and don’t love like You’ve commanded me to, then the last part of that scripture comes into play.  If I do not love like You do, then people will not know that I am Your disciple.  I will be missing the benchmark – the distinguishing characteristic that should set me apart as one of Your followers.  And what is that?  Simply put, it is loving others.  One another.  Each other.  Family.  Brothers and sisters in Christ.  I am beginning to catch a glimpse of how easily we could change our world – if we would just love one another.  Like Christ loves us!  Would that be difficult?  Is it hard?  Yes, of course, it is.  None of us are perfect.  We are all different, and we all like different things.  God Himself created us to be unique individuals.  Yet He created us in His likeness.  So while it may not be easy to do what He commands, He did put that capability within us.  He would not have commanded us to love others like He loves us, if it were not possible.  So, I think we have some work to do.  I know I do!  Ninety-nine percent of the time, I find it so easy to love others.  It’s that one percent remaining that just about gets me every time.  Thank God that He intervenes and pulls me up short and lovingly, but ever so firmly reminds me that I MUST get it right!  And, of course, I cannot do it alone.  But God can do it.  In me.  And through me.  If I will let Him!  This most recent struggle with getting my heart in the right place was not nearly as much about not loving – as about not understanding another’s heart.  And that can leave you in a vulnerable spot.  It can open the door for the enemy to walk in and bring on his best attempts to thwart and defeat.  And always, it is so much bigger than just me – or you!  At these points in time, we are wrestling not against flesh and blood – but against the very principalities of darkness.  (See Ephesians 6:12)  The Amplified Version explains that we are not “contending only with physical opponents”, but with “the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly sphere.”  It’s about much more than only having a struggle with loving others; it is more often doing battle with the powers of the enemy in the spiritual realm.  Because he knows if he can keep us from loving others, his victory is half won!  What does God instruct us to do?  He tells us to put on His complete armor … that we may be able to resist the devil’s schemes and to stand our ground – firmly in our place.  I believe that we will be able to stand strong … only if we are able to love each other as God commands us to!  That’s why I listened to the whisper of the Holy Spirit that night when the attack came in like a flood.  I called in the prayer warriors from all over the country – texting as many people as God brought to mind, asking simply but urgently:  “Can’t talk right now; but please pray!”  Did I have to explain anything?  No.  God knew, and that’s all that mattered.  Within moments, responses came rolling in affirmatively:  “Yes, praying!”  “Yes, I am!”  “We sure will!”  “Praying for you!”  A sense of God’s peace and victory covered me at once, and I was the first to tell the devil in no uncertain terms, “We’ve won … you’ve lost!”  We will love, no matter what!  We will cut the enemy no slack.  God’s plan to use His people is too precious to waste on buying into not loving others!  We are loved by God … and we will love others as He loves us, by His grace and His power!  Thank you, dear ones, for coming alongside us and standing in the gap – praying!  You are loved – by God … and by us!

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!

I CAN THINK OF NO OTHER LOVE … that I would rather pursue than the love of my Lord Jesus Christ!  And I can think of no other love I would rather rest in and be assured of ~ than that of my precious Savior and Friend!  The media these past few weeks is blitzing ads like crazy … deluging us with visions of diamonds, roses, chocolates, and more – in preparation for Valentine’s Day!  “Ladies, when you receive one of these, you will know you are loved!”  At least that is what the marketing implies.  They forget – it takes more than any of those things to make us feel truly, genuinely, unconditionally loved!  That’s because:  things are only things.  We could be swimming in an ocean of chocolate, wearing a diamond-dazzled swimsuit, clutching the most beautiful long-stemmed roses between our teeth … and still drown in our sorrows and loneliness and self-pity.  So, what does that little visual tell us?  Only that there is obviously more to real love than even limitless quantities of the things we think we love so much.  My heart has never cried so much for the pain of others as it has recently.  I hear the cynicism and bitterness in voices.  I sense the “giving up” mode coming into play.  I feel the struggles vented via people’s posts in social media.  I would totally understand if this vocal behavior was coming from the crowd who doesn’t know Christ personally.  But when I witness the noticeable change in the attitudes and demeanors of those who have long said they were part of God’s family – even to the point of nearly questioning God Himself and the words He has given to us … that’s a sad, rude awakening!  It’s easy to blame any of us humans for exhibiting a less godly love than we should; but for someone to actually state that God sits on high looking down on us and our struggles and pain for mere entertainment … that makes me shiver and shudder.  How do we get from loving God to a statement like that?  What brings about such disillusionment?  The more I ponder and pray over these things, it seems that when we get so caught up in our own agenda instead of opening our hearts to allow God to move and work as He wills on this earth for His Kingdom purposes, we sabotage all that He has for us.  Now wait … please don’t bristle up in your spirit at me.  What you need to know is that before I can put any words that God gives me on paper, He takes me through the practice run – sometimes over and over until I can confront the issue and deal with it.  Not practicing what a person preaches makes the message a useless, noisy, clanging cymbal that no one wants to hear, much less listen to.  And something is usually missing from the overall picture:  a little four-letter word called “love”.  Yes.  It’s a very small word, but in God’s Word in the love chapter of I Corinthians 13, the author Paul explains that exercising love when using our spiritual gifts is “the most excellent way”.  We can do all kinds of things, say all kinds of things … but if we do not have love or show love … we are nothing.  That’s stating it quite strongly, I’d say.  All pretenses are spared in that teaching.  We can attempt to love the way we should, and if we are seriously committed to loving like Jesus loves, He will definitely help us in our quest.  But we’ll never get it right every time – because we are not God.  And we are not perfect, as much as we’d like to think we are sometimes!  Love is not always easy … and sometimes true love rattles the cages of others!  We define love like we think it should be.  Yet the love Jesus frequently demonstrated to others while He walked this earth seemed quite radical – and even shocking to those who observed.  They shook their heads at who He hung out with or whose house He went to eat dinner at.  But Jesus’ example of love purely and totally outshines our best efforts at love.  All the time!  He doesn’t demand perfection from us before He’ll love us; He only asks for our repentance.  He doesn’t want a forced love from us; He invites a set-free love that causes us to automatically run in His direction just because we want to be with Him!  In my hand-written side-notes in my Bible, these words jump out at me once again:  “Jesus' love is extravagant in its expressions!”  Wow!  Wouldn’t we like to have the love in ALL of our relationships be exactly THAT:  extravagant!  Meaning:  a love that exceeds the limit of reason or necessity; beyond what is reasonable.  Someone has said (which I also noted in my Bible!) that “Jesus’ love is the grand essential in the drama of our lives!”  And taking a hard look at our lives in this age we are living in, proves that there’s LOTS of drama going on – either in our own lives – or all around us.  So while drama may be more the norm than not these days, there needs to be one thing that is included.  So let me say that one more time:  “Jesus’ love is the grand essential in the drama of our lives!”  Both Calvary and the Empty Tomb exhibit that extravagant love, and with that example to follow, we cannot, and must not miss the mark when it comes to loving each other.  There is no more excellent way to love!

REMEMBER . . .

“For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

so great is His love for those who fear Him.”

~ Psalm 103:11

(That’s pretty great!)  

Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie