Hello 2008

Each year at this time I like to set out a plan and theme for spiritual growth in our personal lives and ministry teams. Last year our challenge was to “Renew and be renewed,” and effort to stoke the fire of God working in us and sharing that with others and challenging each other.

I hope that the Bible and book studies we shared together through the year touched your hearts and ministries for the better. I prayed that the Holy Spirit would more greatly use each and every one of you for God’s work. And, from what I have seen, observed and heard from you and about you, God has worked some awesome wonders in your lives and ministries.

One thing I would add to last years challenge, here at the beginning of the New Year, is to write down how God has changed you and used you in 2007. If you want to share that with me in email form that would be fine. If you want to post it to the comments on my blog – www.timmydou.wordpress.com - that would be great as well. You will inspire me and others with God’s work evidenced in you.

Well, what is it this year that God wants from me, from us? This is a humbling thing to think about and decide. What if God is not speaking to you and me in the same way or about the same things? What if someone doesn’t want to be challenged in the same way as you or me? None of these questions will even come into play because God always works into us individually no matter what the plan or theme. We must trust the Holy Spirit to do His job of convicting, convincing, comforting, helping and empowering each individual on each and every team. So, what does God want from us – for each of us to go “Deeper.”

This word means a lot of things. Sometimes it is used by the spiritual elite to indicate where they are versus where the rest of us are. Sometimes it is used to indicate a level of experience or sensation in our spiritual life that makes us more than or less than others. But, at its’ core in its’ finality all it really means is “deeper” – further into God than we already are, or borrowing from the online www.dictionary.com #13. – “immersed or submerged in or heavily covered with… 26. immersed or involved; enveloped…

27. absorbed; engrossed: deep in thought.” Who doesn’t want this in their relationship

with God?

So, that’s as far as I will go for this introduction. There is so much more to say, but we have a year to share it together. If you want to get started you could word search “deep, deeper” etc., in your Bible and in the dictionary. I think you will find a very exciting possibility is awaiting our New Year.

1 Cor 2:9-11

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard,

and no mind has imagined

what God has prepared

for those who love him."^*

¹⁰ But^* it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit.

For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God's deep secrets.

The Bible - New Living Translation

Get ready! Let’s go!

Pastor Tim