Pastor Appreciation Day 2009

“PASTOR APPRECIATION DAY”

OCT. 11, 2009

INTRODUCTION:

Today is “Pastor Appreciation Day!"

Let me share with you a few things that affect a Pastor and his heart.

HERE ARE A FEW THINGS THAT WILL “BREAK” A PASTOR’S SPIRIT!

MURMURING will break a Pastor’s Spirit!

DISCORD will break a Pastor’s Spirit!

DIVISION will break a Pastor’s Spirit!

GOSSIPING PEOPLE will break a Pastor’s Spirit!

LIARS will break a Pastor’s Spirit!

LUKEWARM PEOPLE will break a Pastor’s Spirit!

UNREASONABLE PEOPLE will break a Pastor’s Spirit!

UNFAITHFUL PEOPLE will break a Pastor’s Spirit!

ROLLING EYES will break a Pastor’s Spirit!

HURTFUL WORDS will break a Pastor’s Spirit!

HERE ARE A FEW THINGS THAT WILL“BLESS” A PASTOR’S SPIRIT!

A LOVING WORD will bless a Pastor’s Spirit!

A KIND THANK YOU will bless a Pastor’s Spirit!

A CALL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY will bless a Pastor’s Spirit!

A CARD FOR NO REASON will bless a Pastor’s Spirit!

AN INVITE TO DINNER (WITHOUT ULTERIOR MOTIVES) will bless a Pastor’s Spirit!

A WELL PLACED “AMEN” will bless a Pastor’s Spirit!

A LOVE OFFERING will bless a Pastor’s Spirit!

PEOPLE WHO VOLUNTEER will bless a Pastor’s Spirit!

FAITHFULNESS ON SUNDAYS will bless a Pastor’s Spirit!

DOING WHAT YOU SAY YOU’LL DO will bless a Pastor’s Spirit!

I find myself in a unique situation this morning, because your Pastor is my dad! He’s never really been my Pastor in the manner he has for you, but he has always been my Father & my Pastor in the sense of he has always been the Priest of our home & loving me & my sisters more than he could ever love anybody else other than his bride. My dad & mother have always been “LOVERS OF PEOPLE!” You can’t be in the ministry without being “LOVERS OF PEOPLE!”

Another thing you need to understand about today is it’s not only about a “HIM” but it’s also about a “HER” as well, for they’re a “TEAM!” My dad holds the “OFFICE OF PASTOR” but they share the many for the responsibilities together. Even though you vote on the man to hold the office, as a “TEAM” they “BOTH” hold the office to some degree. The wife may not hold the office but she shares the responsibilities with her husband. I could never do what I do without my wife & her help with & for me! She’s not just the “PASTOR’S WIFE” but in many ways she “PASTOR WITH ME!”

I’ve seen both of them “CRYING IN THE WEE HOURS” of the night for the church & people in the church. How many church members do that?

I’ve seen them “GIVE OUT OF THEIR OWN POCKETS” for the church & people in the church!

I’ve seen them “PASTOR & WORK HARD IN SECULAR JOBS” without church salaries when the church couldn’t afford it!

I’ve seen them “GIVE OF THEMSELVES” when no one else in the church would!

I’ve seen them “PROVIDE” when others could have, but would not!

I’ve seen them both “PREPARE” for services as though there’d be 100’s or 1000’s in service & only a few show up!

I’ve seen the “DISAPPOINTMENT IN THEIR EYES” that I’ve had in mine more times than I can think about it!

But something about Pastors! If they did this for “MONEY” they would be among the “GREATEST FOOLS” in the world! If they did this for “FAME” they would be the “SADDEST PERSONS” in the world! But they do it because of the “CALL OF GOD!” I know the “DISAPPOINTMENTS OF A PASTOR” but still feel the “CALL OF GOD” so strong in my life that I couldn’t “NOT HEED THE CALL!”

That’s “PART & PARCEL” of what separates a “MAN CALLED” & a “MAN DESIRING!” I’ve seen men who “DESIRE” the ministry & who are called to the Ministry! Men who “DESIRE” can always quit, but men who are “CALLED” (CANNOT) quit, they have nothing really to quit to in order for any kind of “SATISFACTION in LIFE!”

As a Pastor, I realize that I am FIRST & FOREMOST a man. I have my “Ups & Downs”, my “Ins & Outs”, my “Goods & Bad(s)” but there is the “CALL OF GOD” upon my life that drives me onward to fulfill that “CALL OFF GOD!”

FOLK, YOU SHOULD “APPRECIATE” YOUR PASTOR! IT’S GOOD FOR YOU & GOOD FOR HIM! SCRIPTURE TELLS US THAT THE “PASTOR” IS A GIFT TO THE CHURCH!

Jeremiah 3:15 says…

“I will give you (PASTORS) according My heart that will feed you with knowledge & understanding.”

Ephesians 4:11

“Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church, the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, & the (PASTORS) & teachers.”

There is a great need for Pastors to be appreciated & for Pastors to be “PRAYED FOR, SUPPORTED & ENCOURAGED!”