I got a lovely note in the mail today - a real day brightener for a pastor. A couple guys in prison heard about the weekly sermon mailing list and wanted to get themselves put on it. I frequently get letters like this - letters with lots of spelling problems and messiness, but blessedly good intention. And sometimes the letters come with comments revealing how truly little people often understand about God, pastors, churches, the Bible and our motivations to love and serve them. They aren't used to getting anything for free. They aren't used to anyone making time for them. The idea of a loving God, for many, is only beginning to dawn on them...but with lots of spelling errors and messiness.
Today is the first official day of our "Be The Surprise" experiment. We are asking God for opportunities to be His surprise in the world around us.
I guess my encouragement and reflection today, as we begin these prayers, is that we not let a few spelling errors get in the way of offering God's best surprises. May God help us secretly serve and surprise even those who still can't quite get the words right.
Have a great week of secret service and surprise, Elim!
