Since 1992, the month of October has been Clergy Appreciation Month. It is designed for us to encourage and thank the religious leaders in our lives. We should let our Pastors know that we love and support them. Also, let them know why we appreciate their hard work and labor of love. We tend to always hear about all the Ministers that mess up or make a mistake, but we don’t hear much at all about all the good things that are happening in churches across the country. Pastors are saving lives, helping families, feeding the poor, and helping hurting people with God’s help. The scriptures I have here are ones that we really need to take to heart. We need to listen to all of God’s Word.

HEBREWS 13:7

7 Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith.

NLT

The Ministry provided by Pastors and their families is very unique. God has chosen them to watch over His children and take care of the spiritual well-being of their congregation.

1 THESSALONIANS 5:12-13

12 Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance.

13 Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other.

NLT

When a Pastor becomes worn down and worn out, the very souls of his flock are at risk.  Pastors and their families live under unbelievable stress and strain. Their lives are played out in a glass house, with the whole congregation and the public scrutinizing their every move. They are expected to have model families, to be wonderful people, to always be on hand, to never have problems, and to have all the answers we need to keep our own lives on track. These are impractical expectations to place on anyone; yet most of us are let down when a pastor becomes overwhelmed, seems sad, lets us down, or totally burns out.  That is why God teaches us to recognize His servants.

1 TIMOTHY 5:17

17 Elders who do their work well should be respected and paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching.

NLT

The good news is that we can make a difference! Clergy Appreciation Month is one way we can return the favor and encourage our spiritual leaders and let them know that we care about them. There are four easy ways to help your pastors and their families feel appreciated: (1) Buy them a card. (2) Bless them with a gift card to a restaurant, movie theatre or department store. (3) Share with them, in writing, how much they have blessed you and your family. (4) Encourage others to do the same.

Show appreciation and honor your Pastor and his family this year. It will encourage them more than you ever may realize.

Pastor Tony Guadagnino

Christian Love Fellowship Church

There might be a path you are traveling down in life that seems good, but the reality is that we may be headed for destruction because we are following ourselves (a man) instead of The Man.

I heard a sermon illustration once about a battleship that appeared to be on a collision course with another ship one foggy evening.

The battleship’s captain radioed to the unknown ship, “Advise you change course 20 degrees to avoid collision.”

Someone on a radio replied, “Advise you change course 20 degrees to avoid collision.”

The battleship’s captain was not amused. He radioed, “I am a ship’s captain. Change course 20 degrees now!”

Then came another reply, “I’m a seaman second-class and I advise you to change course 20 degrees now!”

The captain was furious, “This is a battleship! I order you to change course 20 degrees immediately!”

The seaman radioed back, “I am a lighthouse!”

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you just don’t want to budge on your position? Everyone is stubborn from time to time, but people who live a lifestyle of stubbornness are dangerous to their relationships with others and with God. When we are overly stubborn with others, we build walls that prevent relationships from growing – and when those walls are high enough, they actually cause relationships to die. In successful relationships, no one has their own way all of the time. Both in friendships and in family relationships, the one who is never willing to “change course” damages those relationships.

NEHEMIAH 9:29

You warned them to return to your Law, but they became proud and obstinate and disobeyed your commands. They did not follow your regulations, by which people will find life if only they obey. They stubbornly turned their backs on you and refused to listen.

NLT

God has been warning us over and over to listen to his word and not to ignore it. If we continue to ignore Him, we will be living with some things much longer than we would like to and possibly forever. When all is well, stop assuming that you had anything to do with it, you stubborn little goat. Stubbornness in our relationship with God works much the same way as stubbornness with friends and family. Being stubborn with God means that we really don’t want to please the Lord, but we want to “call our own shots” and determine our own course in life. God becomes the little pocket genie, “the magic lamp” we rub and ask for favors when we want something for ourselves. When we are stubborn with God, we push his rightful place in our life aside. Being stubborn with God is sin, plain and simple. When refusing to “change course,” we might well find ourselves, much like the battleship captain, on the verge of disaster. We may get what we want, but getting what we want can actually destroy us.

My challenge for you today, in relationships with people and with God, is that you be willing to give and be willing to “change course” if necessary, in order to build your relationships instead of tearing them down. Have you damaged relationships with people or with God by being stubborn? Will you have the courage to ask them for their forgiveness?

Pastor Tony Guadagnino

Christian Love Fellowship Church