Why We Appreciate You

Volume 8 Issue 8 (November)

Greetings in His Name,

I hope this issue finds you well. Well it is New Years Eve and I'm down to the last two post before we ring in the New Year. I decided to use this post to remember a truly spirit-filled man of God who touch my life; especially within the last year and a half. That man is Rev. John Morris, Jr. This is just an excerpt from a sermon I preached for what we didn't know would be his last Pastors Appreciation. Today's blog is entitled Why We Appreciate You. Hope you find some inspiration, conviction, and queries.

shalom and love,

heidi

P.S. Rev. Morris was a supporter of this blog, please follow in his footstep by signing up.

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I used the above picture because that's how I felt as I worked along side Rev. Morris for Conference Studies. I felt very much like an eager child sucking up all the wisdom and knowledge that God had poured into this earthen vessel. My knowledge of Rev. Morris and his wife (Marcella) goes way back to 2006 when he was a Pastor and Presiding Elder in Texas. From the moment I met them I knew that these were people I wanted to be associated with. The power of God and the love that exuded from them was like a magnet. Thankfully, God honored my request when he paired me with Rev. Morris for fourth year studies. He probably didn't know how serious I was when I said I would love for him to be my mentor but I was and I really looked to him being my mentor. For years I have been in search of a mentor in ministry and for just a brief moment I was able to experience that through studies with Rev. Morris. He was also an encourager; I felt very small compared to him but he always made me feel BIG. One thing I have shared with other ministers that I admire is, "I want to grow up and be better than you." Not saying it in a derogatory or self-centered way but their example is something I want to shoot for. Rev. Morris, posthumously I say, " I want to grow up and be better than you." In his words to me as I prepared to preach his Pastors Appreciation, "You don't have to say it all in one Sunday." So let me get to the task at hand; rest in peace Rev. John Morris, Jr. and I hope to meet you in the heavenlies one day.

Opening: Hebrews 13:17a

Obey them that have the rule over you and submit yourselves. In our current society words like obey, rule, and submit can be seen as offensive, invasive, and disturbing. But when you do a little word study the word obey simply means – trust – believe, so the scripture is only admonitioning us to trust and believe them that lead us in our Christian walk. Godly leadership is not that of a dictator or overlord but an overseer. As most of us have heard it said God is a gentleman and he is not going to force himself upon you and that is so true but so it is with a genuine leader of God he/she doesn’t force but gently taps you with their shepherd’s staff to move you in the right way. But this can only happen if you submit yourselves - meaning yield yourselves. This word is an important factor in the equation. You can’t be led unless you submit yourself to be led. As you will continue to read you will see three reason why we should appreciate our Pastors/Leaders.

Responsible For Our Spiritual Welfare (Hebrews 13:17b)

for they watch for your souls. God has made each Pastor a watchman – a custodian, a guard, a caretaker unto His house and His people. So as we obey and submit we do this knowing that our souls are being watched after. It is the shepherd of God’s main objective to see us spiritually healthy and spiritually sound. They have been given the ability to strengthen us, to help us be steadfast, immovable, always abounding or excelling in the work of God. I tell you why we appreciate the leader of God; because they are responsible for our spiritual welfare.

Always Watching To Protect Us (Hebrews 13:17c)

as they that must give account. In John 10, Jesus tells us of the good shepherd and how He as a good shepherd-pastor is not like a hireling; one that can be easily chased away when danger, confusion, and bad times face the flock. Look at this… how can a Pastor give an account of you if they tuck their tail and run, NO! A true servant of God stands flat footed ready to protect the flock of God no matter what. This portion of the verse takes me back to a time while sitting under Pastor John C. Evans, Jr. leadership. I was falsely accused not once but twice of taking money. I called my pastor for spiritual and secular support and I thought he would say Heidi it’s gone be okay but he said, “did you do it?” “Did I do it?” “No...” He then said to me, “I had to ask.” He further explained that no matter what – he was in my court but he needed the truth. He then gave me scripture; them that would live Godly will suffer persecution. Let me fast forward to the end of my story, not only was I promoted twice (the guilty party stole from my till twice) but I have been on this job successfully for 24 years. So a true pastor will walk with you through the valley of the shadow of death and will walk with you when you are by rivers of living water. Why do we appreciate the Pastor; because they are always watching to protect us.

Serves With Joy (Hebrews 13:17d)

that they may do it with joy and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. For a Methodist preacher from year to year your job description doesn’t change but your place of employment can which can be a little taxing and in all reality tug at your joy. Jesus is the constant reminder of good shepherding endurance. Hebrews 12:2 says looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him – endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Who-for-the-joy. One other version says who for the prize; the reward of our salvation gave Jesus the ability to endure and finish his work with joy. It is that same joy that is given to every true Pastor, that joy that only the Lord can give to deal with and care for a flock of multi-faceted, diverse, and sometimes hard to deal with but must deal with people. Why do we appreciate the Pastor; because they serve with joy.

Closing: Bob Moorehead, The Growth Factor.

God give us men and women...ribbed with the steel of his Holy Spirit...leaders who will not flinch when the battle's fiercest...leaders who won't acquiesce, or compromise, or fade when the enemy rages. God give us leaders who can't be bought, bartered, or badgered by the enemy, leaders who will pay the price, make the sacrifice, stand the ground, and hold the torch high. God give us leaders obsessed with the principles true to their word, leaders stripped of self-seeking and a craving for security...leaders who will pay any price for freedom and go to any lengths for truth.

God continue to give us leaders delivered from mediocrity, leaders with vision high, pride low, faith wide, love deep, and patience long... leaders who will dare to march to the drumbeat of a distant drummer, leaders who will not surrender principles of truth in order to accommodate their peers.

God give us LEADERS more interested in scars than medals. More committed to conviction than convenience, leaders who will give their life for the eternal, instead of indulging their lives for a moment in time. Give us leaders who are fearless in the face of danger, calm in the midst of pressure, bold in the midst of opposition. God give us leaders who will pray earnestly, work long, preach clearly, and wait patiently. Give us leaders whose walk is by faith, behavior is by principle, whose dreams are in heaven, and whose book is the Bible. God give us leaders who are equal to the task. Those are the leaders the church needs today.

Why did I appreciate Rev. Morris because he was such a man…

LIFE QUOTE

Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can, At all the times you can, To all the people you can, As long as ever you can. -John Wesley

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