October is the month in the calendar that Canadians set aside to celebrate all that they are grateful for. At our staff meeting this week we shared that we are thankful for Jesus and the price that he paid for our salvation, for family, for our churches and their pastors, among many other things.
Some of my favorite people are pastors. I grew up the youngest daughter of a pastor, needless to say, I understand the life of a pastor and a pastor’s kid. It is not an easy life. Pastoring can often be a lonely road, a thankless road, a struggling road. So much so, if you didn’t remember why God called you to this you would strongly consider throwing in the towel some days. And that is based only on what’s going on in the church, let alone how the pastor’s family is doing or how the community is responding. The pastor often has to lead the church through crisis, attitudes and beliefs that are not scriptural, conflicting messages on social media that tends to lead our people more than Jesus does. Yes, there is joy and celebration along the way, as new people come and find a place of belonging. Some of them finding Jesus for the first time. And for those of you who climb in the trenches with your pastor to keep the ministry of the church going, these are truly good things to celebrate.
For pastor appreciation month I want to encourage you, if you are not a pastor, to reach out to yours and encourage them, pray for them and with them. If you have the means, buy them a small gift; a coffee gift card, dinner out, a time away with the family, but an encouraging note goes a long way.
Proverbs 16:24 “Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”
A couple of reminders for those who are in the “trenches” of ministry.
-You are not alone!! We at Fellowship Pacific see you and really do care for you and pray for you.
Promises from the Bible for each of us
-John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
-Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
-Matthew 16:18 “I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.”
-Philippians 4:6-7 “God’s peace will guard your heart and mind when you pray instead of worrying.”
May we all be unified in one thing, Jesus loves each of us, has given his life for each of us so that we would share the message of his love to others around us and they would find hope in Jesus. A Jesus who is modeled by who we are and how we treat each other.
We at Fellowship Pacific are so grateful for those of you who share the gospel in and outside of your churches. Those of you who are paid and unpaid staff, you make a difference to those around you.
Remember, that God specializes in impossible situations. Moses had a sea in front of him and an army behind him. David had a giant in front of him, and Lazarus had been dead for four days. Please know that no matter what life is throwing at you, now is not the time to think that God has run out of options. He hasn’t! He has you and your family. He has your church. He has your situation.
HE HAS YOU!!
Be Blessed
