feed my sheep

Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.                     John 21:17

Last month was Pastor Appreciation Month where we gave thanks and appreciation to the men who stand in the pulpits and minister to us, but today I would like to ask you to show your appreciation to those who Shepherd your congregation. They too are the pastors of your church. The word "pastor" has become a common title for those who oversee our churches, guide us spiritually and look after our souls. The origin of the word comes from the Latin pascere meaning to feed.

We have three awesome men who 'feed the sheep' of Yuma Christian Church and take their job very seriously. They want the best for the congregation. But this job isn't always the easiest. 

Like the Great Shepherd, they give their lives daily for those who have been given into their care. 

Jeremiah 3:15(KJV) says, "I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding."

Here are three ways to show your appreciation to your Shepherds: 

Be constant in prayer. 

1 Thessalonians 5:25(MSG), "Friends, keep your prayers for us."

Paul understood that even great men of God are human beings. Just like us, they sometimes find themselves weary, discouraged, confused, and vulnerable. Your Shepherds depend on your faithful prayers for them, their family, and their ministry. Be also in prayer for their wives. They can see and know the burden their husbands carry ministering to the congregation.

Be faithful to encourage.
Your Shepherds can and do get their encouragement from God, however, God often delivers that encouragement through our words and deeds.

Proverbs 12:25(KJV) "Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop; but a good word maketh it glad."

You can begin by going to your Shepherds and telling them thank you. Send a thank you card or maybe send them a gift. Take them out to eat after a church service or maybe give them a gift card to a local restaurant.

Be ready to lend a hand. 
Since we are a small congregation sometimes the bulk of the work is done by our Shepherds. Be ready to jump in and help. That might mean the physical upkeep of the building. If your not sure what can be done, don't be afraid to ask one of the Shepherds. I am sure they would love to have the extra help. 

Your Shepherds are a gift to you from God, placed in your church's life to teach, encourage, challenge, strengthen, and keep you growing spiritually. 

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13(MSG) "Friends, we ask you to honor those leaders who work so hard for you, who have been given the responsibility of urging and guiding you along in your obedience. Overwhelm them with appreciation and love!"

appreciating the preacher

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”                                    – Isaiah 6:8 

The Preacher read this passage almost 39 years ago and echoed what Isaiah said. "Here am I, send me". He heard His call and obeyed. After all these years. After all the victories for the Kingdom. After all the trials and the hardships. He still loves the work that the Lord called him to do.

He is my Preacher too and I couldn't imagine a life without him. 

what a gift; what a promise!

Last month, the month of October, churches all over America celebrated Pastor Appreciation Month. 

DaySpring, an online website where you can order faith-based cards and gifts, wrote an article titled, "A Real Day in the Life of a Pastor". 

I want to share an excerpt from an article today, because a Pastor, no matter what church he pastors, needs these three things everyday, not just for the 31 days of October. 

They posed this question to many of the Pastors that they know, "How can we best show our appreciation?"  In every case, the following three points were mentioned:

1. Be constant in prayer. In 1 Thessalonians 5:25 (MSG), Paul says, "Friends, keep up your prayers for us." Paul understood that even great men of God are human beings. Just like us, they sometimes find themselves weary, discouraged, confused, and vulnerable. Your pastor depends on your faithful prayers for him, his family, and his ministry.

2. Be faithful to encourage. If you think your pastor gets his or her encouragement from God, you are right. However, God often delivers that encouragement through our words and deeds. Proverbs 12:25 (KJV) says, "Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad." You can begin by taking your pastor's hand and delivering a heartfelt thank you. Keep your words simple and positive, filled with life. For example: "I learned something important from your sermon this morning. Thanks for all the time you spent preparing it.", "Thanks for your prayers. They are making a big difference in my life." 

3. Be ready to lend a hand. Typically, the smaller the church, the more the pastor is asked to handle. Be ready to jump in and help. That might mean the physical upkeep of the building or helping with hospital calls and visits to shut-ins. You can also express your thankfulness through monetary gifts, babysitting, gifts certificates, or by delivering a nutritious, family meal. Running errands may not seem like much but in a pastor's harried day, it can mean a great deal. Keep your eyes and ears open and you will soon be aware of many ways to bless your pastor and lighten his load. 

Your pastor is a gift to you from God, placed in your life to teach, encourage, challenge, strengthen, and keep you growing spiritually. Paul says it best in 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 (MSG): "Friends, we ask you to honor those leaders who work so hard for you, who have been given the responsibility or urging and guiding you along in your obedience. Overwhelm them with appreciation and love!" Like the Great Shepherd, they give their lives daily for those who have been given into their care. Jeremiah 3:15 (KJV) says, "I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding."

What a gift, what a promise! 

With Much Appreciation to the Preacher

Today is the last day of October. Today is Reformation Day commemorating the day that Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses on the church doors. It is also Halloween which is probably what this day is most known for.

But today I wanted to take the time to say Thank You to my Preacher because this is the last day of Pastor Appreciation Month. My appreciation and love for him won't stop after today, I just wanted to include mine here in October with all of the others who have shown their appreciation to their Pastors.

Our congregation has done a wonderful job of showing their appreciation through their kind words and by the work that was done on our house while we were away in Tennessee. 

The first time I heard my Preacher teach I knew there was something different about him. He taught in such a way that you could understand the scripture, he brought the scriptures out of this lofty King James setting and brought them down to our level. We who heard these teachings understood that the scriptures were for us, for the lives we live right now.

I then heard him preach from the pulpit and again there he placed the scriptures and their message right before me so that I and everyone else who was hearing them, could understand that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob was also the God for us. No longer were we beat down with the fire and brimstone preaching of the past but he showed us that God is the God of love and grace. 

(I also loved the fact that he didn't like to stay behind that pulpit. He needed to come out from behind there to feel like he was more accessible to those who were in the church that day.) 

I love the fact that through his studying and preaching he has tried his very best to show that love and grace to his congregation. No matter what church we have served in, he truly loves the people and wants to be a part of their lives showing them the love of Christ.

He has been my rock through the bad times and has been, and still is, my very best friend. We have been a team from the day we married 30 years ago. He has been the best father he knows how to be. He loves our son so much and has always tried to teach him a foundation that he can rely on.

There have been awesome, wonderful times in leading a church congregation but there also have been those days that you doubt that you can still hear the Lord's calling. Through all of that he is still strong in the Lord. He loves the Lord, he loves the inerrant word of God and I know that is what I love most about him. He is our spiritual leader here in his own household. I couldn't imagine living without him.

Thank you to my love, my best friend and to my preacher!

Love from the Preacher's wife