For every pastor out there...we send you a big THANK YOU! No matter where you pastor, what your denomination is, the size of your church or even the preference you have regarding worship styles...THANK YOU for all you're doing for the work of The Lord!
THANK YOU for answering the call, receiving your gift, proclaiming His message and never quitting!
THANK YOU for waking up in the middle of the night to pray for those that the Lord put on your heart...even when they didn't know you were praying for them.
THANK YOU for fighting the good fight of faith and the spiritual warfare you've endured! Although, you can't talk about all the things you've battled through, attacks on you and your family, feelings of inadequacy, weariness, etc., yet you've persevered forward because of the One who said He would never leave you or forsake you!
THANK YOU for the sacrifices you've made that no one will ever know about...time, personal preferences, money, sleep and your own reputation...you have paid the price that most people will never see this side of eternity, and the Lord IS USING your faithfulness to make a difference!
THANK YOU for not quitting when you thought about it...especially on Mondays! :) And yet, Jesus gave you the courage to press on because when it's all said and done, you've been filled with the GOSPEL of Jesus and won't be sidetracked!
THANK YOU for not being detoured by criticism and slander by people who have never even talked with you and are clueless in regards to your heart for the Lord. Misquoted, contextualized, the victim of assumicide and hate filled inaccuracies - yet you persevered...and have resisted the urge to give credence to those who have an opinion about what you do but have never done it themselves. Thank you for staying on the wall and not coming down.
THANK YOU for the tears you've shed over the families in your church and the condition of people's souls. For allowing what breaks God's heart to break yours!
THANK YOU for dreaming big, grandiose dreams and refusing to give up on what you know in your heart God has called you to do!
THANK YOU for the children you've dedicated, funerals you've preached, weddings you've performed, people you've baptized, counseling sessions you've offered, hospital calls you've made, sermons you've prepared, meetings you've administered and the squabbles you've refereed.
No matter what you've had to endure, how much work load you've been under or even the feeling of being under appreciated...THANK YOU...from one pastor to another!
Regardless of what size church you have, employ ten staff or one, whether you're located in the suburbs, inner-city or in the rural country...THANK YOU! Whether you're full time in ministry or bi-vocational...THANK YOU! We're on the same team...and truly, no one can rightly understand a pastor like a fellow pastor. Others may offer their opinion - but NO ONE can identify with you like SOME ONE who is actually doing what you're doing.
You are not alone!
You matter!
You are awesome!
Your best days are ahead of you!
You are a champion!
THANK YOU!
