One of my funny awkward moments of Easter Day was giving mega-church Pastor an Easter card, just after the 6AM service. (I’m sure I had more 7AM energy than most, as you would expect!). I made a tiny palm cross and included it inside, because he said something funny about palms the previous week. I also included a copy of my writing of the Alpha and Omega words, which I had written months ago, actually meaning to give to him but didn’t. I think folks don’t want to bug him but have some questions that it would be good to chat about. He is gracious to the flock.
I am sure I could bug him A LOT, but he has 10,000 or more in his flock, and I simply feel for me to be a blessing to encourage him. You could say the same for a media star, just like I wait for a picture with a favorite DJ (which I just did recently). But a pastor? He’s not in it to meet fans or for publicity of himself, he’s there to teach. I am there to LEARN! (And how blessed am I with like a couple dozen pastor friends, I can just be an encourager here. I am SO happy when people pick up their callings. God knows people need to know Him. Jesus came both to save and to TEACH)
Me encouraging, sure, but is it a bit like a fan groupie? Well, is it blessing or bugging? Well, yes. Both. I’m excited about people sharing faith.
So, an Easter card, I think that’s just the right amount of encouragement without bugging. Encouragement for him to say “Hey, busy servant child of God, who is also an amazing pastor shepherd – I am praying for you.” I am sure he also likes it when you laugh at his jokes. As for what makes him surprised, is the POWER of God to rally the faithful.
Encouragement is to say God Bless you, is simply to say: “Hey, I get you, you are DRIVEN by the Holy Spirit too, I APPRECIATE you allowing God to move you (not that you can stop God, but many don’t allow themselves to serve fully).
If we can remember Jesus IS our PRICE of Peace and Prince of Peace, we can push ourselves out of our comfort zone. There’s important balance between bugging and blessing. There’s an important blend of serving and stepping aside personally and reducing pride. Certainly there is a time and place for our humanness, that’s life. And certainly there’s always time to be respectful and not a burden.
But the one true blessing that’s NOT bugging? PRAYER. ALWAYS PRAYER.
Prayer is in private as well as public. Prayer is petitioning for Pursuit of Peace. It is so important for all of us to pray for Pastors. So important to pray for all of God’s servants.
PRAYER. Jesus NEVER runs out of ears, Jesus VALUES listening, so much He even repaired the ear of one in the garden who would then march Him off to capture.
When I said to Pastor that I was praying for him, he said “thank you, I covet your prayers”. He’s human like all of us, and we know that the Lord is keeping tabs on us but MOST IMPORTANTLY fueling our faith and waking us up everyday. Praying is the one thing that never could be given in excess, if they are sincere, but could be too few. Prayer in private is God’s knowing that you are not in it for the recognition. “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Matthew
Prayers is like keeping track of perseverance. “As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered.”
Prayer is KNOWING God intervenes
The Prayer of Faith
Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” John 5:12,13-16
Paul thanked the church for prayers in his letter to the Thessalonians (1st:16-24). He wrote: “JESUS IS FAITHFUL.” That we believe!
We can all be thankful for prayers, we have many and won’t know it, but God does.
GOD DOES HEAR.
Amen
Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing.
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
Debbie Upper 