The Lord’s blessing’s to all who may be reading my blog for the month of October. I pray that your life is filled with not only the joy and strength of the Lord but with His goodness as well!!

As I was driving my car, I was thinking about what it was that the Lord would want me to write about in my blog for this month. I sensed the Holy Spirit bring to my remembrance that October is the month of the year that churches all over our nation set aside to express to their pastors how much they appreciate them; better known as Pastor’s Appreciation Month. Now being a pastor myself I can truthfully say that I am richly blessed and honored anytime I receive a thank you card or note from someone in our church body expressing how much I have blessed their life. Whenever anyone takes the time to either write a card or give a small gift to say thank you to me for something I may have done, I am deeply humbled. As I thought about that the Holy Spirit began to gently speak to my heart about you, the faithful serving church members. As a pastor  I can confidently say that without you, the faithful serving church members, we would not have a church to pastor.

Yes, as pastors, we have the responsibility to bring forth a word each Sunday, hopefully from the heart of the Lord, that will minister to the hearts of those who walk through our church doors and help to equip them to be better Christians. As pastors we have the responsibility to go to the hospitals or homes and pray for the sick. As pastors, we need to be available when someone has a crisis, no matter the hour or day. As pastors, we must be ready with a word of Godly counsel to those who may be in a time of confusion or pain in their life. As pastors, we must officiate at weddings and also be there to give words of comfort as we officiate at the funerals of loved ones who have died. All these things and many more, pastors have the responsibility to oversee. Yet in saying all of this, for the most part, as pastors we draw a paycheck for all our efforts. I am always amazed at those pastors who do all of this and also work a job on the side; great is their reward in heaven.

Yet, even with all that pastors have to do for the church, there are also many in the church, people like you my friend, who faithfully serve week after week in many areas of ministry in the church; often without a word of thanks or even any recognition given for all their efforts. Speaking as a pastor, I am very sad that even happens in the church; more than that I am extremely sad that may also be happening in my own church.

The Apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”  I wasn’t always a pastor but I always tried to find a place to serve in the church. Yes, there were times when I felt that no one even cared about what I was doing or that others seemed to be recognized for their efforts over me. If I were to be honest, at times I felt like quitting. Yet I prayed that what I was doing, whether anyone even knew about it, was hopefully helping someone out to be a better Christian. As I look back at all those many hours I put in serving in the church, though I may not have received the applause or recognition of man, I did it unto the Lord so my labor was not in vain.

Paul also writes in Colossians 3:23-24 “Whatever  you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” That verse applies to everyone, pastors included. As a pastor, even though I received a paycheck for my labor, I too have felt times when I felt unappreciated so I had a good pity party to express that. Then the Lord graciously slapped me back into reality and showed that there were others all over the world who had not only served Him with everything they had with no recognition but that some of those very same people had  given the ultimate cost, their very lives,  for the work of the Lord and His kingdom, (OUCH!!)

We are familiar with the account in Luke 17:11-19 where Jesus had pity on 10 men with leprosy and healed them, only to have only one come back to thank Him, and a Samaritan to top it off. Jesus said, “Were not all 10 cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?”

So this being Pastors Appreciation Month, as a pastor I want to personally express a huge “Thank You” to each and every one of you who faithfully serve in the church week after week for as I said before, without faithful servants of God such as you, we pastors would not have a church to pastor. Though at times you may feel you are not given the appreciation you so rightfully deserve, please know that the Lord sees your labor and He will richly reward you at the proper time. Thank You, Thank You, Thank You my dear brother and sister, you are great in the eyes of the Lord 🙂