Day 4 Council Retreat Day

Day 4 greets me with a devotional thought from a book by Henry T. Blackaby, Experiencing God Day-By-Day.

Surprise! Here are a few thoughts from todays devotion...

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 09, 2008
Encounters with God

'But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. (Acts 26:16)

God was working in your life long before you began working with Him. The Lord knew you before time began, and He knew what He wanted to do with your life (Jer. 1:5; Ps. 139:13)...

Our Lord does not come to us to discover what we would like to accomplish for Him. He encounters us in order to reveal His activity and invite us to become involved in His work....When God shows us what He is doing, He invites us to join Him in the work He is doing.

Are you prepared to meet God today? Don’t seek to hear from God unless you are ready to ask, as Paul did, “What shall I do Lord?” Read the whole devotional at: http://www.blackaby.org/devarchive.asp

How appropriate as I prepare for the Council leadership retreat at church this morning. It is our first meeting as team and I always look forward to what God is doing or going to do at such a gathering. We had a great retreat and it is going to be a very strong leadership team. Again it's like we have been given a bunch of Christmas presents and now we have the privilege and honor to open each one and be blessed by what God has given us. They will be full of surprises as they and we discover how their giftedness fits into the leading of our church family.

Snow and cold....burrrrr...No Surprise! Surprise...Sunshine!! NO MATTER HOW COLD IT IS, IF THE SUN IS SHINING IT'S NOT THAT BAD...ya right.

One surprise of sorts was when I said that today was Day 4 of the journey. One of our council members said it was Day 3 for them because they didn't know about the journey until Ash Wednesday. It doesn't matter when you start or started...we are on a 30 day journey praying the 3 word prayer and making note of the surprise encounters with God at work in and around us...so no matter what day it is for you keep your eyes open and be ready for God sightings in your life. (PS...I have found that if I read the chapter of the day I am on currently...it amazes me how Terry's thoughts and reflections are surprising in light of my own as go through the journey...just a thougth)

Pastor T