Have you ever taken the time to realize how your personal weapons of self-destruction wreak havoc on your personal life? I am talking about the debilitating negative emotions of shame, uncontrolled thoughts, compulsions, fear, hopelessness, and insecurity that make your life a mess.

God always calls you someone different than who you call yourself. God always has better thoughts than you could think about for yourself. God has a better plan than you could plan for yourself. God paints a better picture of who you are than you can paint for yourself. And it all starts with an understanding of “who you are in Christ”—what you’re new and true identity in Christ is. 

The best thing Encounter can do for newcomers checking us out is for all of us to be there to greet them and connect with them! We need to go out of our way and make our newcomers feel warm, loved, welcomed, safe, and connected. This Friday is all about our newcomers, and we need all of Encounter to show up in full force with open arms! 

Stay in close communication with your Encounter family this week. Think of ways you can help. Think of people you can invite to help you. Reach out and ask how you can get plugged in if you don’t have a specific role. 

What would you think of a person who always wanted things from you but never offered a word of thanks in return? We can be that way with God, can't we? Let's remember to thank Him.