Holly Furtick

Small adjustment, big change

Wednesday February 27, 2013 | Reflections

Sometimes a small adjustment can make a huge difference.

Last school year I had major issues getting Elijah to school on time.  He was always just 2-3 minutes late.  Rushing your children out the door is an awful feeling.  I don’t like it, they don’t like it, and it really isn’t effective in getting you anywhere any earlier.

This year, I made one small change about our mornings.  I make my children pack their lunches the afternoon before.  Everyday, when they come home from school, they are responsible to get their lunch packed for the next day.  Now, of course, I am in the kitchen helping them and making suggestions, but they do most of the work.

This small change impacted our family in many positive ways.  First, my children are learning responsibility.  Second, there is no rushing around the kitchen in the morning arguing about what they want for lunch.  Third, there is one less thing we have to do in the morning.

I cannot say that I have a perfect record of getting to school on time this year, but their tardies are few and far between and our mornings are (not perfect) but much calmer.

Small adjustments can have a big impact.  A huge ship can completely change course by adjusting only a few degrees.  Small adjustments in routine, or relationship, or maybe even a personal struggle can make dramatic improvements.  Sometimes you have to quit trying to make a big change and start with a small one.

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The art of overlooking

Tuesday February 26, 2013 | Marriage, Reflections

This past Sunday as we were getting ready for church and my husband was listening to his pastor, Pastor Craig Groschel (My husband never misses one of Pastor Craig’s messages). And as I was putting on my make-up, I heard Pastor Craig talking about over looking an offense. He said, overlooking an offense is a type of forgiveness. It’s choosing not to be offended by something someone said or did that hurt or angered me.

Proverbs 19:11 says, “A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.”
Have you ever been around someone who is easily offended? It’s like walking on egg shells and its not fun. People, who are easily offended are often bitter over events they barely remember happening.
Hebrews 12:15 says, “Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.”
It’s funny because I think I am easily offended by the people I love the most. Probably because they are also the people I trust the most. But the opposite should be true. I should be able to overlook an offense from the people I love the most because I know they love me and would not be purposely trying to hurt me.
In my marriage, I have a little rule of thumb. If my husband says or does something that hurts me or bothers me, I try to give it some time. If I can forget about it, then it doesn’t need to be discussed. If I can’t stop thinking about it a day later, I need to talk it out with my husband. You know, 9 times out of 10 (when I actually follow this rule because let’s face it, I don’t get it right a lot), I forget all about the offense. And that other 10% of the time, when we discuss it, it is well received because the conversation is not out of a place of anger.
Mastering the art of being quick to forgive is what enables me to keep any root of bitterness from taking place in my life. Ask the Lord to make you quick to overlook any offenses you may face today.
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Elevation Worship……Giveaway Winners

Monday February 25, 2013 | Give aways, Uncategorized

Thank you to all of you who entered our Elevation Worship CD / DVD giveaway!

The CD Winners are

  • Dana from Jackson, TN
  • Suzanne from Maine
  • Lizmarie from Rancho Cucamonga, CA
  • Kara from Delray Beach, FL
  • Ruth-Anne from Ballymena, Northern Ireland

The DVD Winner is

  • Heather Martin from Lenoir, NC

Please send your mailing address to Leigh Ann at (lloeblein@elevationchurch.org) and we will get your prize to you right away.

If you would like to purchase a copy of the album, you can purchase on iTunes or through our site or at your local Christian bookstore and Best Buy or Walmart.

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Monday Morning Commentary

Monday February 25, 2013 | Monday Morning Commentary

 

We are continuing our series In-Fin-8.  We are walking through 8 of the greatest stories from the Bible.  We have heard about Adam and Eve, Moses and the Red Sea, and then today my husband taught on the story of Elijah at Mt. Carmel found in 1Kings 17-19.

The first thing he pointed out is that Elijah had a rhythm of relationship with God.  Elijah did what The Lord told him (17:5).  ”The Word came… Elijah went.” (18:1-2). God greatly uses those who listen and obey.  It’s that simple.  I’m not sure i would always be able to describe my relationship with God as rhythmic. I think a lot of weeks I’m spastic, or sporadic. I want to be rhythmic.

I also loved when he talked about Elijah’s question to Israel, “How long will you waiver between two opinions?” (19:21). Elijah was not necessarily talking about wavering between God and Satan.  He explained that the Israelites worship of Baal was like an add on. As if they trusted God to meet their spiritual needs but not their agricultural needs.  The thing is, God refuses to be one of my options. He is the only solution to any and every problem I may have.

It really is shaping up to be a great series.  I hope you will take the time to watch or listen online if you missed it. You can listen to the message on the Elevation Network, or later today on our Podcast, or in our archive.

Check back around 3 for the announcement of our give away winners.  Have a great Monday!

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Life Change Inbox

Friday February 22, 2013 | Life Change Inbox, Uncategorized

It’s Friday and time for another Life Change Inbox! Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 3:2-4 that our lives are living letters written so that God might be glorified. People often write in to Elevation and share the work God is doing in their lives through our church. When I read these stories, I am reminded that we serve a powerful God who still works miracles in the lives of everyday people. These stories inspire me to keep giving, keep serving and continue praying for those who are far from God. I hope they will do the same for you.

If you have a story you would like to share, email us at amencorner@elevationchurch.org

Check out Marci’s story….

THANK YOU ELEVATION

You have succeeded in bringing this broken, lost soul closer to God and Jesus. I was raised with no religious affiliation, although my parents were Jewish. When I married my husband I converted to Catholicism, baptized my children and faithfully attended Church. I never wanted my children to feel lost like I felt. I became very active in Church and at the Catholic school my children attended, yet I was always searching. 

In 2009 we closed our business and knew we needed to relocate. We could no longer afford our life. The only real life I knew. A cycle of pity parties ensued. I fought this move. I WAS a true Long Islander. How can I go backwards? The economy will come back – right? I went back to Graduate school, became a teacher – which has always been my calling, swallowed my pride and applied for teaching jobs in Union County. The rest as they say is history, except that nagging feeling that something, SOMEONE was missing. That was April 2012. As the good Catholic, as soon I moved to Wesley Chapel I found a Church and went about my business. I was telling a friend how I felt and she suggested I find a new Church. I began attending Elevation. I have never missed a Sunday and have even gone back to watch old sermons. This weeks message had such an impact that I had to write. That was me BEFORE Elevation. My motives were not pure. I was passive aggressive in my relationships. I used social media as a way to show all what a great life I had. I was in a state of constant competition. That person is slowly (it’s a process, not a project) disappearing. I stopped asking and started thanking. I feel lighter. I feel true. I feel God and Jesus with me everyday. I am truly Blessed and was just too busy at my own pity party, while covering it up with social media and toxic relationships (caused by me) to ever take notice. Boy, I was missing so much. When the 5b4 starts I feel the presence of our Savior. When we sing in worship, as a community brought together in Christ, I am rich. When Pastor Steven preaches and teaches, I am filled with knowledge. Elevation has changed my life in ways. I can never thank you.

 I am signed up for the M1 initiative and will begin volunteering at the VIP tent next weekend. I am proud and honored to be a part of such life changing Church. 

Please accept my heartfelt thank to you and your amazing team. 



Marci

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Give Away… Elevation Worship

Wednesday February 20, 2013 | Give aways

Yesterday we released our latest worship album, Nothing is Wasted.  This album is special because each song goes along with a chapter in my husband’s book, Greater.  Our team did such a great job writing songs that are singable and truly worshipful.  The album has 12 songs that were recorded in the studio and then in a live recording, so you have 24 tracks (plus a bonus track)!

I am so excited to give away a few copies of this project to you today.  Simply enter your name and where you live in a comment (one time only please).  We will close the comments Thursday night and announce the winners on Friday.  I’ll give away 5 cds and 1 dvd.

If you would like to purchase a copy of the album, you can purchase on iTunes or through our site or at your local Christian bookstore and Best Buy or Walmart.

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A special day

Tuesday February 19, 2013 | Abbey, Elijah, Family, Graham, Pastor Steven Furtick, Photo Journal

 

 

Today is a special day in the Furtick household.  It is Steven Furtick’s 33 birthday. These pictures were taken this past Sunday morning before he left for church. He knew the snow would be gone when we got home.  I wish you could know him the way we do.  You would love and respect him even more.  He is an incredible husband, an amazing father, a brilliant leader and a man of God.

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Monday Morning Commentary

Monday February 18, 2013 | Monday Morning Commentary

 

This weekend was week 2 of our series, In Fin 8, a series about the 8 greatest stories ever told. Today’s great story was Moses and the Red Sea (Exodus 13-14), and it was great. My husband is truly making these stories feel fresh and alive.

My favorite part was when my husband pointed out how God took the Israelites the long way because he knew they were not prepared to fight the Philistines (if they crossed through their land via the short way) (Gen 13:17). My husband said that God’s way is sometimes longer, harder, or slower because He knows there is something ahead in the “easy” way that we are not ready for.

I also loved when he pointed out in Genesis 14:19 that decreased visibility of God does not equal decrease of His presence or protection. What a comforting thought to know that sometimes, decreased visibility of God means increased protection!

It’s a great series! I hope you’ll join us in listening to it. You can listen to the message on the Elevation Network, or later today on our Podcast, or in our archive. Have a great Monday!

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Life Change Inbox

Friday February 15, 2013 | Life Change Inbox

It’s Friday and time for another Life Change Inbox! Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 3:2-4 that our lives are living letters written so that God might be glorified. People often write in to Elevation and share the work God is doing in their lives through our church. When I read these stories, I am reminded that we serve a powerful God who still works miracles in the lives of everyday people. These stories inspire me to keep giving, keep serving and continue praying for those who are far from God. I hope they will do the same for you.

If you have a story you would like to share, email us at amencorner@elevationchurch.org

Check out this story….

During the Banner Years series my husband and I prayed about the amount we were to give for the expansion of Elevation Church. We came up with the amount that we felt we should give although I admit I was not comfortable with it. We have a child in graduate school, another a sophomore in college, and a third finishing her senior year of high school and going to a private college next year. Our expenses are high at this point in our life, but Pastor Steven and Pastor Morris challenged us to give our first fruits to God so we did. We trusted that our needs would be taken care of. During this series, our daughter had been given a small merit scholarship towards college with her acceptance which was nice. Then this week she got another letter from the college saying they had reevaluated her scholarship and increased the scholarship amount considerably. Wow! We have to believe that God has been faithful to us once again and we are truly blessed.

Sincerely,
Elaine and Benny

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My little hearts

Thursday February 14, 2013 | Abbey, Elijah, Graham

“Making the decision to have a child – it is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body. ”
― Elizabeth Stone

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