ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

TRUE FREEDOM ISN’T INDEPENDENCE AT ALL … BUT RATHER A TOTAL DEPENDENCE UPON GOD!  Allow me, please, to share something I wrote back in 1999 for our then-church family in my monthly, “Ponderings from the Pastor’s Wife”.  God brought a part of it to my mind yesterday, and I knew this would be my message to you, our now-church family!!  Here it is!

Morning will soon be dawning.  This is such a perfect time to think … to do some soul-searching.  I love the peace and solitude of the pre-dawn hours before the world awakens to its runaway schedules.  Nothing compares … especially when the only one to communicate with is the Lord Almighty – my Lord!  At this hour of the day (night?) I find God to be even more personal … I find Him to be even closer to me ~ no, I think it’s that I’m closer to Him.  Yet, amazingly enough, I find specific instances when I’m in the middle of the most demanding, hectic, noisy schedule, that He’s as close as He could ever be.  I find myself so aware of the presence of God, that I have to smile as I shake my head in amazement!  Sometimes, it’s His voice I hear ~ there’s no mistaking it!  Sometimes, it’s just an extra sense of being upheld and cradled in the palm of His hands ~ how reassuring it is!  And at other times, it’s something that happens ~ and I know that no other could have arranged such an occurrence at just that precise moment!  Just my Lord!

It’s like a TV commercial I saw the other night.  (Remember this is 1999!)  This man comes into a town and makes it his mission to “convert” all the townspeople over to his newly discovered brand of cellular phone … “the best there is,” according to him.  You can tell he really believes in his product, and he wants everyone else to have the same benefits he now knows about!  I was reminded how so often when I experience something deeper, something more precious, some eye-opener in my walk with the Lord, I just want to “drive into town” and “tell everyone” what I’ve discovered ~ that they need the best connection there is!  The best, being Jesus!

As our country’s celebration of the Fourth of July nears, our thoughts turn to freedom … Independence Day!  Just what does freedom really mean?  I remember growing up and some of the phrases I’d hear, like, “Your freedom ends where someone else’s begins” or “With freedom comes responsibility”.  You’ve most likely heard them, plus many others.  More and more, I’m realizing that true freedom isn’t independence at all, but rather a total dependence upon God.  And independence is actually when I insist on doing it my own way.  My moments of greatest freedom come at the times I’m most dependent on God for the answer, when I need Him the most to be my total Source.  Living that kind of lifestyle is comparatively much more exciting than attempting to find my own answers, trying to do it all in my own strength.

There’s a Disney children’s story that our sons all loved to have me read them when they were small.  It went something like this … A young sailor was swept onto shore during a storm at sea, and when he revived and awakened, he discovered he could not move.  Upon closer inspection, he soon discovered that his body was criss-crossed with dozens of ropes anchored to pegs in the beach.  A few more looks revealed to the sailor that his captors were tiny, miniature people frightened by his normal size – to them, he was huge.  For the first few days, the men stood guard; the women brought him bread and fruit.  The children were the first to lose their fear and to play near him, then they began to climb all over him.  Finally one day trust overcame their fear, and the little people of Lilliput cut the ropes and freed the “giant” stranger who had been washed to their shores.  And just in time … for pirate ships were appearing on the horizon, and the Lilliputians had no way to defend themselves.  King Lilliput climbed into the palm of the sailor’s hand, and the sailor walked out into the water.  At the command of the King, the sailor inhaled deeply and then blew the tiny pirate ships far away to the ends of the horizon!!  The country of Lilliput was safe … and the tiny people were glad they had freed the “huge” sailor who had become their friend and saved them, giving them freedom from their enemy!

Sometimes, in my own strength, I, too, get all wrapped up in “ropes” that strap me down.  Freedom escapes me.  I find myself “tied down” by this commitment and that appointment and this schedule and that deadline … ‘til I’m so criss-crossed with “ropes” that I’m prohibited from doing anything.  So now, when I start feeling the “constraints of captivity” ~ I run for the “scissors” to set myself free.  The other day I ran to Jesus … He’s got the scissors to cut me free, you know.  Actually, I crawled, because the ropes were getting quite constricting.  But when I got there, I just sat there at His feet for a while.  It was great!  At first, neither of us said anything.  He didn’t have to.  And I couldn’t.  In my frazzled condition, I just sat there and soaked in the warmth of His presence ~ it just felt good to be near Him.  I felt safe, secure.  I breathed in deep.  It was like I breathed Him right into me, and when I exhaled, the most incredible thing happened.  One of the ropes came loose and fell at my side.  I looked at Him.  He smiled at me.  I felt more cares melting away.  More ropes dropped away.  I sat there in His presence, still … for I don’t know how long.  He eyes turned to His Book.  I reached for it and gently, eagerly opened it.  Now He spoke to me, as I read.  It was like He had written these pages just for me.  How wondrous His scissors are!  Rope after rope was being cut away, ‘til I sat there, free to go.  I could move.  But I didn’t want to leave.  At least not for a while longer.  So I stayed longer, filling myself with all I’d need to face the “new rope tricks” out there.  This time, I prayed for discernment to recognize them, to take authority over them.  I prayed that no matter where I am, no matter what I have, that I will always be totally dependent on God … then I will truly be free!

The other day, before I ran to God for His scissors, I missed an important event.  Well, it could have been an important event.  I missed stopping at a lemonade stand with two little girls by the side of the street, and because the ropes were tightening so much, I didn’t feel free to take the time.  I’ve regretted it ever since.  I’m sure they didn’t miss my coins as much as I missed giving them and getting their sweet drink.  I lost that opportunity … but you can be sure I will stop at the next lemonade stand I see, ‘cuz I won’t have any ropes tying me down!  And if I feel any starting to strap me down again, I’ll just ask my Father to start snipping!

Are you feeling frazzled instead of free?  Then we need to learn to think like Him.  Peter, in his first book by his name, in chapter four, tells us this:  “Since Jesus went through everything you’re going through and more, learn to think like Him.  Think of your suffering as a weaning from that old sinful habit of always expecting to get your own way.  Then you’ll be able to live out your days free to pursue what God wants instead of being tyrannized by what you want.  Everything in the world is about to be wrapped up, so take nothing for granted.  Stay wide-awake in prayer.  Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it.  Love makes up for practically anything.  Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless ~ cheerfully.  Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it:  if words, let it be God’s words; if help, let it be God’s hearty help.  That way, God’s bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and He’ll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything ~ encores to the end of time.  Oh, yes!”  (The Message Bible – I Peter 4:1-2, 7-11)

Happy rope-cutting!  Celebrate your freedom, dear ones!

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 (TLB)  

Joyfully Serving Christ . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT MY FATHER … there is NO one like HIM!  Lots more about Him, though, in a minute or two!  So, I actually have two other fathers who are now in Heaven, and I loved calling them “Dad” while they were here on earth with me.  They taught me life-lessons by their example, and I still remember what I’ve learned from them.  I was born to my first dad, the first of our family’s four children, and I adored him.  He was my hero, my teacher, my best friend.  He was soft-spoken and gentle, fun-loving with a twinkle in his eye, as honest as any man could be.  Yet he commanded respect, and when he spoke with expectation, he did not need ever to repeat himself.  We knew he was serious, and we did not want to disappoint our dad – nor did we want to experience the consequences of disobedience.  We knew without a doubt that he meant what he said.  Our growing up years on the farm gifted us with rich, valuable experiences.  Not rich in the financial sense, but God always provided everything we needed.  And Dad taught us the value of hard-earned money, the dangers of indebtedness, and how to budget what we earned on the farm as young children.  If a man could get to heaven by his own goodness and integrity, my dad would have been the one!  But, God’s Word tells us there is only one way to have eternal life:  through acceptance of Jesus and the gift of His shed blood for the forgiveness of our sins.  And so we prayed.  We prayed up a storm for our daddy – because while he was the most wonderful man ever, he had not yet felt the need for a personal relationship with Christ.  Unfortunately, he had witnessed the behavior of too many hypocrites and had allowed their lack of genuine Christ-like living to sour his sense of true Christianity.  But it’s like I would often remind our youngest son as he was growing up in the church:  “Please don’t judge God by people, son … He is not judgmental and cruel and negative.  He loves you unconditionally, and will always be more than enough your whole life long!”  I’m so glad that our son was able to differentiate between the two, and made that choice to pursue God rather then blame Him for man’s failures.  And I can say the same for my Dad, who one day made the choice to follow God, no matter how people acted.  To this day, I do not know who was instrumental in his change of heart.  But God answered our prayers, and when He called our dad home at age 48 with a massive cardiac arrest, we were crushed with the incredible loss of the dad we loved so very much – but comforted and held by the assurance that Dad was Home with Jesus and we would see him again some day! 

My second earthly father became my “dad” a few years after my birth dad had died; never to replace him but to add to the richness of my life.  Dad Jones was also a gentle, loving man who fully loved and devoted himself to God, and I loved having his presence in my life until God called him home at an elderly age, following several health issues and several ensuing miracles that testified to the healing power of the Lord Jesus Christ! 

In this season of my life, I am so grateful to my God for the gift of all the dads God continues to bless me with from generation to generation:  my husband and sons and grandsons – each amazing dads in their own right!  I see Jesus in them as they walk out their faith in life-lessons taught with unconditional love to their own children.  And I am moved to tears at the faithfulness of God!  While none of us as parents get it right all the time, even though we know the Lord; He continues to be gracious to answer our prayers!  And truly, our deepest heart’s cry is this:  that one day EACH one of us will be together to share eternity with our Father in heaven . . . forever and ever and ever!!

Back to MY Father, the One who deserves way more words than I have space for here … HE is the most amazing, indescribable Father of all!  Often when in prayer, I find myself calling Him by Name – His many Names, from A to Z.  I challenge you to do that, as well; it brings us to the place of remembering that He is our Everything, though our human limitation to describe Who He is, falls far short of covering His limitless attributes!  He speaks every life-lesson I could ever learn; if I will only listen.  Sitting in His presence, soaking in His presence … I know there is no place I would rather be!  No where at all.  In His presence, I am loved, healed, taught, put back together again, empowered, led, strengthened, helped, called, gifted, anointed … and so much more.  And when I ask what’s on HIS heart and when He wants me to know, He reveals things to me.  You see, He WANTS us to be a part of what He is doing on this earth!  He invites us to be actively engaged in His Kingdom work on this earth in these present days.  His plan was not that He would create us only to have us sit on the sidelines and just be a passive observer.  His joy is for us to jump in along side Him wherever He is working – and He uses us, imperfect as we are.  He understands we are His work in progress, and if we will choose to be yielded to our Father, He will pour into us anything and everything we need to be used for His glory and His honor!  God our Father would have never given Jesus, His only Son, as a sacrifice on Calvary for us … to just leave us lost, broken, and unusable.  When a Father pays that kind of a price … He will go to the ends of the earth to save us, rescue us, transform us, renew us, and revive us to be ALL that He planned before the beginning of time that we could be!  What a Father we have that we can call Him “Abba, Daddy” and crawl up in His lap and be held as little children, even though we are adults.  We will always be His children if we have asked Him to be our Savior!  That’s one prayer that gets instant response – and it is always a loving, resounding “yes”!  Of course, God our Father, like any good father, can and will use tough love when He knows it is what we need to get us back on the right path.  When He knows it will clear our vision.  When He knows it will help us hear His heartbeat for us – and for the crazed, out-of-control world around us. 

Speaking of the crazed, out-of-control world we live in … Dads and everyone else, I just want to share this challenge with you in closing. While it is easy to feel that there is nothing we can do to make a difference with everything that we hear on the news, there actually is.  We need to be listening to God’s heart, so we can hear what He is asking us to do.  He would not give us His promises and assurances if He did not mean for us to be engaged … either in loving response to those affected by the evil tragedies that come because of hate-filled hearts – or in intercessory prayer for repentance of sin and rebellion so hearts will be changed before they perpetrate the evils we are seeing everywhere we look.  It’s not too late – yet.  Jesus IS coming again, and our passion should be not just that we escape hell, but that we take as many people to heaven with us as we can!  That is the heartbeat of our Father in heaven, and He wants us to make it our heartbeat, as well!  Here is His promise to us!

REMEMBER . . .

“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence.

In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration;

but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]!

For I have overcome the world. 

[I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]

~ John 16:33  

Joyfully Serving Christ . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

FINDING THE HIDING PLACE FOR OUR BATTLE STRATEGIES!  And, let me ask, are you even searching for it?  Which audience is THIS title targeted for, you might ask?  Well, none other than Moms, since Mother’s Day is just around the corner … but in all actuality, this message can apply to everyone!  We all have wars to win, you know.  But life moves in like a flood and the hands on the clocks of our lives seem to spin with an ever-increasing speed that just about takes our breath away!  Just how do we pursue the fleeting hours and days of our lives – and capture what is most precious and treasured and of utmost importance? 

Moms have a calling from God that can literally shape our very world … one life at a time … if we take that calling seriously!  But choosing to obey that calling necessitates laying a foundation from which to influence the hearts of the children God has gifted us with.  Once we mark that place, no matter what age or season of life we find ourselves in, it is never an easy thing to go there faithfully.  What IS easy is to hear the screaming voices of our little ones, or the incessant call of never-ending responsibilities and tasks, or the strong pull of a sea of not-so-important distractions.  Some days it feels like we are having to climb a mountain to get to our quiet retreat.  Other days we cry out for rescue from the quick-sand of the noise of life that is nearly pulling us under, making us feel like it is nearly impossible to reach our hiding place.  And on the days that we can actually think straight, we realize that unless we purposely rise above the challenges that come to us, we will never get to the place where our greatest work is done!  So, where is that place?  Well, it can be anywhere you choose it to be – or the only place in your world that you think will work!!

From the day that I first heard this real-life story about a mom named Susanna Wesley, I have never forgotten the powerful choice she made to go to her secret place.  Take a peek with me into this woman’s life, and you, too, will be shocked – and amazed and inspired!  Born in 1669, she was the youngest of 25 children – and when grown she married a preacher.  Though they had 19 children, nine of them died as infants … and the struggling marriage often left Susanna to care for the children, their schooling, the house, the garden and yard, and the milk cow.  On top of all that, she was desperately sick most of her life.  Her husband was not gifted with money matters, so often there was no money for food, clothes, or anything else – and debt was a constant cloud over them.  Twice fires burned down the house they were living in, her husband was thrown in jail for the debt they could not pay, and they endured persecution from their church members.  But … early in Susanna’s life she had made a promise to God that for every hour she spent enjoying entertainment, she would equally spend an hour in prayer and in His Word.  But her life now seemed to make that vow almost impossibile to keep.  So, get this:  Susanna decided instead to spend two hours a day in prayer!!  Where on earth, with ten children around her, would she find a place that was hers alone to spend in the presence of God?  It is said that what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger … so I am sure Susannah found strength she didn’t have before – and she most likely learned how to make her wishes known!  So she told her ten children in no uncertain terms that when they saw her with her apron over her head, that meant she was praying and she could not be disturbed!!  Through the years, she prayed countless hours in those two hours daily, waging war in the heavenlies as she prayed for her children and for understanding of God’s Word to help her live the life that God had called her to.  And you know what?  She didn’t lose one of those ten children during her hours in prayer – every one of them survived!  In fact, you’ve most likely heard the names of two of her sons:  John and Charles Wesley.  They were called of God to share the Gospel, and in those days, John preached to almost a million people with revival breaking out every place he went.  Charles became the songwriter of over 9,000 hymns, including many that we still love singing today, because his anointed words are timeless and still touch hearts!  Out of the revivals and hymns, together these brothers founded the Methodist Church whose Kingdom work still goes on around the world today!

We will never know today what all will someday be known through our time spent “under the prayer apron” in OUR  secret place.  There is nothing magical about Susannah’s apron over her head … but there is everything miraculous about her time spent in the presence of her God, devoting uninterrupted hours in conversation with her Lord, seeking His face, battling the enemy through the power of the blood of Jesus, drinking in the words of wisdom and laying claim to the promises of God that she found within the pages of her Bible.  Prayed-over children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren are empowered children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren … to each generation to come!  God’s answers to our prayers live on in each succeeding generation of our family – and beyond!  I have a sense that Susannah had no clue while she prayed with covered head in the midst of ten noisy children and such dire circumstances … that such spiritual wonders would take place through her offspring for centuries to come … even into eternity! 

Dear ones:  Moms and everyone else – THIS is what we hold in our hands today!  The opportunity to choose between “distractions of this world” ~ and ~ “finding the hiding place for our battle strategies”.  Do you want to win spiritual battles for your family in every generation?  Then I challenge you today, right now, to promise God to meet with Him daily in your private sanctuary, wherever it might be, whatever it might look like!  All that matters is that you and God are in that place together!  You will be changing the future of our world, for the glory of God!  We CAN make a difference … just take a look at Susannah and God’s faithfulness to answer her prayers!

REMEMBER . . .

“Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations

 of those who love Him and keep His commandments.” ~ Deuteronomy 7:9  

Joyfully Serving Christ . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

RESURRECTION METAMORPHISIS!

Green, bumpy, crawly, colorful caterpillar …

One given day your painfully slow movements across the green and brown earth

Take you to a chosen branch or limb or stalk high above the ground.

It is there that you attach yourself and begin to spin

The woven cocoon that encircles you, hides you, protects you.

Darkness now falls within the cocoonish walls …

What seems colorless, hard, and lifeless, is silent and still.

Time passes – is this all there is?  How long will you hang suspended there, dear chrysalis?

Suddenly, something stirs within!

An inner struggle ensues in the darkness still –

But struggle you must because to life there is no other way.

Your hard, dried caterpillar shell breaks away

And your now energized movements are giving way to new life!

Out of the cocoon emerge bright, translucent patterned colors

And of all things, wings – that begin to spread as the empty cocoon is left behind!

What are you now?  O cocoon, where is your hold? 

O butterfly, you have been set free to fly and to be

All that God has planned!

Transformed … changed … renewed … liberated … new creation!

Fly, beautiful butterfly … fly!

Your Creator has gifted you with wings!

~

Jesus … divine embryo placed in human womb;

Born in a stable, called to earth to carry out Your Father’s plan.

Loved by earthly parents, You grew in stature with God and man.

Everyday tasks morphed into miracles as You walked amongst the people

Who You came to touch and heal and save!

But Your enemy had other plans  - that played right into Your Father’s will

That took You on a torturous path to a Tree high on a hill.

It is there soldiers attach you to the Cross with nails – and blood begins to flow;

Suspended there, You give Your life … to the very last drop of blood and Your very last breath.

Darkness falls o’er the skies … You are taken off Your Cross and placed in Your Tomb.

You are lifeless, silent and still.  Time passes – is this all there is?  Where is hope, dear Jesus?

Suddenly, Something stirs within the Tomb!

You’ve completed the struggle in the pits of Hell to defeat the enemy and the grave.

There was no other way.

The Spirit of God breathes life into His Son … the graveclothes are flung off …

Jesus folds them and leaves them behind to say, “It is finished!”

Out of the Empty Tomb emerges the Resurrected Lord and Savior in all His glory!

Where is your victory, O death?  Where is your sting, O death?

O Jesus, You have been set free to bring us life and set us free!

Transformed … changed … renewed … liberated … new creations in Christ!

Fly … precious people … fly!

Your Creator and Savior has gifted you with wings!

RESURRECTION MIRACLE!

REMEMBER . . .

“The Lord your God is in your midst, The Mighty One, will save;

He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love,

He will rejoice over you with singing.”

~ Zephaniah 3:17  

Joyfully Serving Christ . . .  

Pastor Doug and Debbie

ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

GREATER THINGS!  Who doesn’t want greater things?  No, I am not talking about worldly, material things.  I am talking about the things of the heart that we desire deep down within.  Things of God – things that will bring lasting satisfaction.  Things we’ve not seen or experienced before ~ that will make us jump for joy!  In these days of fear and lies and destruction all around us … and yes, death – lots of it … our hearts long for peace and safety and truth … and life.  Abundant life.  We might ask ourselves or anyone else who will listen:  is that even possible in 2018 when the world around us seems to be something out of an unbelievable, terrifying movie?  Well, God says it is possible.

But first, He reminds us that we are human and He is God.  That while we cannot fully know or see or understand what is going on in all this craziness – He does.  And He’s got this.  Our part is to pursue HIM.  To run after HIM.  To seek HIM with all of our being!  The Apostle Paul tells us this in God’s Word: “For now we are looking in a mirror that gives only a dim (blurred) reflection [of reality as in a riddle or enigma], but then [when perfection comes] we shall see in reality and face to face!  Now I know in part (imperfectly), but then I shall know and understand fully and clearly, even in the same manner as I have been fully and clearly known and understood [by God].”  (I Corinthians 13:12)  What assurance that we can trust God in the interim – until someday when it will all become clear to us!

Sometimes we see something so out-of-the-ordinary, the only way we can explain it is that the experience has GOD written all over it.  At work the other day in a memory-care facility filled with residents living with dementia and Alzheimer’s, I witnessed an amazing miracle!  I can still feel the goose-bumps I experienced when my eyes saw what I’d never seen before!  This elderly gentleman who typically shuffles up and down the hallways in a slow, not-so-sure-footed manner, stopping often to bend way over and rub his knees, did something that still makes me shake my head  – but jump for joy!!  In my six and a half years in my office position, I  am often out in the front living area and the hallways – and I am able to interact with the residents to the point that I am fully aware of their individual capabilities, or lack thereof.  So on this day, it was time for live music with an entertainer who is gifted with a singing voice that can emulate most any well-known singer.  Staff was gathering the residents and bringing them to the music room.  I walked in for the purpose of joining someone else to listen to “just one song” and then get back to the tasks awaiting me in my office.  As I stopped to listen, some movement caught my eye through the window looking out to the hallway.  I sucked in my breath at first glance, thinking this gentleman was losing his balance and was going to fall.  And in the next glance as he continued his unusual motion, I realized he was dancing down the hallway!  I quickly moved out of the room to where he was to make sure he would not lose his balance and fall.  His body swayed and moved in perfect sync to the timing of the music.  He moved his legs and arms and twirled around in fluid movement as if he had been a professional dancer.  I felt shivers go up and down my spine.  I wanted to run to him, but I barely dared breathe lest I break the beauty of what was taking place!  I looked at his face, and in those impeccably perfect steps and spinning circles, I saw something in his face I had never seen before.  He was visibly experiencing joy on a level that he has not been able to for years.  Fully engaged with the music, his brain and his body connected with full clarity and he danced by himself around the edges of the music room.  Everyone’s eyes were fixated on him, captured in the wonder of it all.  We were one with him, sharing his freedom, his enjoyment, his celebration!  Whoever neared the room, I waved them in to also witness what all of us were so astounded by.  It was nothing less than a miracle!  When I finally made my way back down the long hallway to my office, the physical wonder and sense of witnessing what God had just gifted this man with, stayed with me for the rest of my day.  I still feel it as I write.  One cannot see GOD in action and not be moved deeply and impacted greatly!  As I was witnessing the miraculous movements of this gentleman usually bound by the limitations of his medical condition, I could not help but remember “the greater things” that God’s Word tells us we will get to experience in these days we are living in!  I am still jumping for joy!!

So, in telling you this amazing story, if we want more than what this life on earth can offer us, what do we do?  Where do we start?  What makes it possible?  Well, we first need to recognize that the answer lies purely and simply in choosing to pursue God!  He is our only source for “more” of what really matters.  He is the only one who can gift us with “the greater things!”  We will never experience the very best things outside of God Himself.  Oh, they might seem like the very best in the moment – but believe me, they will not last.  They will fade away.  They will be forgotten.  They will consume us through our failure to hang on to the fleeting.  God’s greater things are experienced “freshly brewed” for each new day!  They are found in HIM:  in His presence!  Living in this pursuit of God takes us right to His heart.  Living this way is not about us – or what He can do for us.  Living this way brings us to a place of asking God what we can do for HIM!  We will want to know what is on HIS heart.  We will live in the place of pleasing the Lord God.  Not because we have to – but because we long to, from the deepest places of our soul.  Everything else will dim in our view, and our vision will finally be cleared to see more of what God sees.  Our heart’s desires will get in alignment with His desires, and our heartbeat will become one with His as we move into action where He is at work. Suddenly, the disappointments and devastations of this present earth lose their hold when laid down at the feet of Jesus. They are sifted through the Promises of God, and the sting is shaken out.  What remains is uncontainable peace and joy … and lasting satisfaction.  The greater things of God push us past our human capabilities … to participating in the supernatural ~ the very gifts of God that He delights in favoring His children with!! 

Just what did He tell us we would be able to do?  Listen:  “I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be able to do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these, because I go to the Father.” (John 14:12)  And Jesus goes on to say in the next verse:  “And I will do [I Myself will grant] whatever you ask in My Name {as presenting that I AM], so that the Father may be glorified and extolled in (through) the Son.”  So, dear ones, our heartbreaking reactions of hopelessness need be no more.  We can run to Jesus, pursue Him, follow hard after Him, and experience all the greater things that God has just been waiting for us to participate in!  Whether we get to witness it – or it is something He wants us to do!  Wait no more ~ start doing!  Do you desire greater things?  Life on a whole new level with GOD awaits!

REMEMBER . . .

(Our Scripture theme verse at the birthing of Elevation North):

“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 every!  Amen!”

~ Ephesians 3:20-21  

Joyfully Serving Christ . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

LOVER OF OUR SOULS!  It is a bit … or a lot … difficult to imagine the very God of the universe loving insignificant little me – little us, in our wretched, lost, human state.  What, oh what could have attracted You to us, God; even persuaded You to take pity on us?  And even more so, to love us fully with an everlasting love?  Now, now … I would not say such a thing had I not already learned and experienced the amazing love of Christ that assures me that He sees me – as precious and priceless.  You see, His plan from before the beginning of time was that His love would provide a way to keep us from the death that He knew would otherwise send us to eternal punishment.  And He loved us that much while we were still sinners who were rejecting Him!  What kind of love is that?  His Word tells us in Romans 5:8, “But God clearly shows and proves His own love for us, by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  He didn’t demand perfection before He would love us like that, because He knew that our capability to love like He does is not possible.  It is difficult for our minds to make sense of a Love that is so unlike human love which is often very conditional and demanding.  But accept it – and experience it once, or twice – or every day for the rest of your life … and you can and will attest that it is true and genuine – even indescribable!  Experience His love … and you will stand in awe of the Lover of your soul!

So, just how do we love others?  In this calendar season of love when the retail and greeting card stores are going crazy with everything heart-shaped and red … it might seem like an easy thing to spend some money and let the verses in the cards and the chocolates, balloons, and flowers do our talking for us!  At least, that is the plan!  😊  But what happens to the lovey-dovey words when the ooey-gooey chocolates have been consumed; when the balloon has drooped, and the flowers have wilted?  Do the words still ring true with how we live them out?  Or did we just waste our money for a feel-good experience that didn’t last?  There IS a way that we can live, if only we choose to!  And this is not a scripture verse, but the quote rings true to what scripture requires of us.  It says this, pure and simple:  “The more we stand in awe of God, the less we’ll stand in judgment of each other.” (Bob Goff)  I share this, because it works for every relationship:  spouses, parents and children, children and parents, siblings, extended family, friends, acquaintances, co-workers, and yes – even the relationship we share as a church family!  Living our lives with God present in every single moment increases our level of awareness of just how incredibly awesome our God truly is!  How can we not stand in awe?  And the more we experience the fact that God can do anything … the easier it is to lean on Him to help us reflect Him in everything we do.  In every relationship.  In the very moment we begin to strike out in judgment against someone else, God’s unconditional love comes telescoping into view and looms so large that we cannot help but see our judgments against others glaringly clear – and we are repulsed at our own actions!  Can we do this on our own?  No, surely not every single time!  But standing in awe of God, we will most surely see ourselves respond in a more Christ-like way to others whether their actions deserve our grace and mercy, or not.  Did WE deserve the grace and mercy Christ showed to us?  No … a million times NO!  But He gave it to us anyway!!  Can we strive to do any less with His promised help?

This past month of our church’s annual 21-day fast before God, I have been made so strikingly aware of God’s love!  His love has been exhibited in so many ways that I could never miss what He has been lavishing on not only me, but so many others like me that have come to Him in need of His supernatural intervention and favor.  So to honor Him for His amazing love, I share just a few of these life events (ours and others) and His divine answers.  He deserves ALL the glory and honor and praise that our lips can utter, exalting Him with thanksgiving from the depths of our souls!

Ø  Perfect results from a complete medical physical – first time after 11 years of no health insurance

Ø  Miraculous turnaround for a young person whose newly prescribed meds created a mental nightmare

Ø  Possible medical diagnoses were reported as non-existent – bringing hope and victory and a new lease on life

Ø  Confirmation in a dream from God that sharing the Gospel with someone made an eternal difference for them

Ø  And the list goes on and on …

God teaches us in His Word that certain things are changed only by prayer AND fasting; and in addition to whatever else was changed during the course of this fast – WE are transformed by the renewing of our minds!  WE stand all the more in awe of God!  And in this month of LOVE – WE are able to stand less in the judgment of others and love them MORE!  God, help us be ALL that You intended for us to be when You gave us the example of Your beautiful love and priceless Gift of Your only Son, Jesus!  We are eternally grateful!

REMEMBER . . .

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 

Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

~ I John 4:7-8  

Joyfully Serving Christ . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie