el•e•vate

(v. ˈɛl əˌveɪt; adj. -ˌveɪt, -vɪt)

v.t. -vat•ed, -vat•ing,

1. to raise to a higher place or position; lift up.

“Lord, this year Shiloh desires to elevate you in all we do.”

2. to raise to a higher rank; promote.

                “God, there is no one more elevated than you.”

3. to raise to a higher intellectual or spiritual level.

“Lord may Your word elevate our understanding of You and Your desires for us.”

4. to put in high spirits.

                “God we are elated to be called Your children.”

 

A Note from Pastor Jeremy Hein, Director of Campus Ministry

As a new school year is about to begin I am reminded of the great privilege it is to partner with your family in the education of your child. I am thankful that God has called me to work for SCS and be a part of its mission to impact the lives of our students in such a way that causes them to seek after God and desire to follow Him. Each year Shiloh adopts a school theme to incorporate into our learning, worship, and community. The annual theme seeks to provide a focus for spiritual growth, promote the values of our school and be a continual reminder of our mission. With that being said, I have the pleasure to introduce the 2018-2019 school theme, “Elevate: Rise to Him”.

I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit,  out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.   ~Psalm 40:1-2

Have you ever encountered a mud pit or snowbank while driving and think, “I got this”? One hour later you are still unable to move forward, you can’t move backward and there’s nothing you can do but sit and wait for help! Your wheels spin and spin but your vehicle stays put. You can try repeatedly to get out, but your efforts seem useless on your own.

I wonder how many times in life we think “I got this” and our agenda leads us to be physically, emotionally and/or spiritually stuck. Sometimes we fall into the pit of being stagnant or apathetic. Sometimes we feel we are in a hopeless hole lacking passion or purpose.  For many, we work tirelessly, and our efforts seem to be in vain.

Here is some encouragement for you, God knows you intimately and will reveal things to you if you include Him in the process. Maybe being stuck, when we can’t move, when we must wait, and when stillness seems forced upon us, it is then you hear the Lord in profound ways. God can pull us out and give us a firm place to stand! God elevates us and provides for us a new sense of freedom, stability, and care!

Our goal for the year is to try to acknowledge where in our lives we are trying to live life on our own and what we need to surrender to God’s care. Next summer when the school year has come to an end, I hope each SCS student, staff and family will be able to see their life from a higher standpoint, being elevated not on their own efforts but by the faithfulness of God. Let’s have a great school year!

 

Serving Him,

Pastor Jeremy