While we are reaching the end of this year, in a time of holidays and celebrations, let me say few words to a category of which I am also a part. People that work all year long, often even much more in that period, with messages to prepare, services to set up, budgets to be drawn up and programs for the new year to finalize. I'm talking about all those who, for various reasons and often called with various names according to the denomination - pastor, elder, leader, etc.- serve as leaders, but lead as servants in the local churches.
They are people who often steal time from their rest just to obey the call that the Lord gave to them, just to see the birth, growth, and gradual spiritual maturity of those people that, every Sunday (maybe not each one) are there, listening to what the Lord has put in their hearts to teach about.
They do this with joy, without expecting anything in return, except for the hope (sometimes, but not always, the consciousness) to be effective tools in the hands of God. But they are men (and women), with their weaknesses and their doubts. And often a word of comfort, appreciation or praise is worth a hundred "successful" services.
I want to share a prayer that was sent to me as well as to thousands of other church leaders in the world by Pastor Rick Warren, and is dedicated to all those who make serving the Lord in their local communities a priority.
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Pastor, Have a Joyful Christmas
My prayer for you this week is that God will bless and anoint your ministry. I’m so thankful for your testimony of faith and obedience. For such a time as this, God placed you in leadership at your church, and he has equipped and provided you with everything you need to be the servant leader he requires for your congregation.
God is pleased with your tireless work and sacrifice. What you are doing now will bring so many people into God’s family. The time, energy, and sacrifice are worth it all. Because of your obedience, God is doing a great work through you.
You bring pleasure to God because you have a heart full of praise and thanksgiving. God is pleased with this worship, and he knows it works both ways. When we express our thanks to God for what he has done for us, it brings him joy — but it also increases our joy. The book of Psalms says, “The righteous are glad and rejoice in his presence; they are happy and shout for joy” (Psalm 68:3 TEV).
Our joy is a continuation of the joy sent that first Christmas. The angel said, “… I am here with good news for you, which will bring great joy to all the people. This very day in David's town your Savior was born—Christ the Lord!” (Luke 2:10b-11 TEV)
Your heart filled with joy will bring joy to your congregation. I am so blessed to co-labor with you, and I pray that God will anoint your ministry with joy this Christmas season and throughout the coming year.
Your friend,
Rick Warren
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It is nice to hear such an encouragement from another leader of the Church of Christ, someone who knows from experience how the path of the person who works for the Lord in the local church is difficult and exhausting, how this is lived between joy and pain , how often it's fed by doubts and dead ends ... that, miraculously, become highways thanks to Him who has placed us at the heads of our communities. This is the reason why I want to join Pastor Rick in prayer for all the "workers for Christ."
I feel personally greatly blessed to share the powerful work of God with such a great host of devoted and humble workers. To you my sincere wish for a season of great blessings.
But if it's nice to receive such encouragement from another "worker" in the field of Christ, as a pastor I can only tell you how wonderful is to receive something similar from those that are the pastor's "flock".
When was the last time you thanked those who love you, care about you, bring a message that uplifts you and help you so that you will not feel alone or dicouraged in your next six days? When was the last time you gave them a pat on their shoulder saying "thanks pastor!" for a message that touched you, for a phone call that raised your broken spirit, for advice that illuminated your decision?
Remember, your pastors (or elders, or leaders, etc..) DO NOT live for your praise, but your praise can let them know how much you appreciate them. And to them that is a good sign that they are fulfilling the call that God has made!
They don't live fot that, but that's what help them to live, and to continue to lead you as a servant on Christ's road.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
They are people who often steal time from their rest just to obey the call that the Lord gave to them, just to see the birth, growth, and gradual spiritual maturity of those people that, every Sunday (maybe not each one) are there, listening to what the Lord has put in their hearts to teach about.
They do this with joy, without expecting anything in return, except for the hope (sometimes, but not always, the consciousness) to be effective tools in the hands of God. But they are men (and women), with their weaknesses and their doubts. And often a word of comfort, appreciation or praise is worth a hundred "successful" services.
I want to share a prayer that was sent to me as well as to thousands of other church leaders in the world by Pastor Rick Warren, and is dedicated to all those who make serving the Lord in their local communities a priority.
---
Pastor, Have a Joyful Christmas
My prayer for you this week is that God will bless and anoint your ministry. I’m so thankful for your testimony of faith and obedience. For such a time as this, God placed you in leadership at your church, and he has equipped and provided you with everything you need to be the servant leader he requires for your congregation.
God is pleased with your tireless work and sacrifice. What you are doing now will bring so many people into God’s family. The time, energy, and sacrifice are worth it all. Because of your obedience, God is doing a great work through you.
You bring pleasure to God because you have a heart full of praise and thanksgiving. God is pleased with this worship, and he knows it works both ways. When we express our thanks to God for what he has done for us, it brings him joy — but it also increases our joy. The book of Psalms says, “The righteous are glad and rejoice in his presence; they are happy and shout for joy” (Psalm 68:3 TEV).
Our joy is a continuation of the joy sent that first Christmas. The angel said, “… I am here with good news for you, which will bring great joy to all the people. This very day in David's town your Savior was born—Christ the Lord!” (Luke 2:10b-11 TEV)
Your heart filled with joy will bring joy to your congregation. I am so blessed to co-labor with you, and I pray that God will anoint your ministry with joy this Christmas season and throughout the coming year.
Your friend,
Rick Warren
---
It is nice to hear such an encouragement from another leader of the Church of Christ, someone who knows from experience how the path of the person who works for the Lord in the local church is difficult and exhausting, how this is lived between joy and pain , how often it's fed by doubts and dead ends ... that, miraculously, become highways thanks to Him who has placed us at the heads of our communities. This is the reason why I want to join Pastor Rick in prayer for all the "workers for Christ."
I feel personally greatly blessed to share the powerful work of God with such a great host of devoted and humble workers. To you my sincere wish for a season of great blessings.
But if it's nice to receive such encouragement from another "worker" in the field of Christ, as a pastor I can only tell you how wonderful is to receive something similar from those that are the pastor's "flock".
When was the last time you thanked those who love you, care about you, bring a message that uplifts you and help you so that you will not feel alone or dicouraged in your next six days? When was the last time you gave them a pat on their shoulder saying "thanks pastor!" for a message that touched you, for a phone call that raised your broken spirit, for advice that illuminated your decision?
Remember, your pastors (or elders, or leaders, etc..) DO NOT live for your praise, but your praise can let them know how much you appreciate them. And to them that is a good sign that they are fulfilling the call that God has made!
They don't live fot that, but that's what help them to live, and to continue to lead you as a servant on Christ's road.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
