Dear Fellow Children of God,
Who do you go to when you need to talk when you need someone
to listen to you? Personally, I can tell
you that I am blessed that my best friend is my wife, Kathy. There is much I share with her. Also, the Promise Keepers men’s group at St.
John has become a source of Christian encouragement and support for me. I pray that this group gives support for
Christian faith and life to all who attend.
There are also many other supporters and friends at St. John with whom I
talk.
But, in addition to family and friends, when I need to
talk with someone I often talk to other pastors. There are other long-time pastors who have
spent time serving God and his people and they understand the difficulties and
challenges of serving God as a pastor.
Some of the issues I would like to talk about with others may be issues
that include areas of confidentiality, so I don’t share that with friends or
other church members, or even my wife.
But, it is appropriate to talk about professional issues, pastoral
issues, with other pastors. I have some
really good friends who are pastors and I appreciate their friendship and
willingness to listen.
So, who do you go to when you need the encouragement of a
listening ear? Do you visit with a
parent, a brother or sister, or do you have a close friend whose listening and
advice you really cherish?
Have you ever thought that God has a web of support for
his children? God has given us
family. What a blessing when a home is a
place of love and faith and security.
What a blessing when we can go to a family member with concerns. Proverbs 17:17 says, “a brother is born for adversity.”
Do you have such support at home?
There are times that
before we go to family, we speak with a friend. In Proverbs 18:24 we are told, “there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Do you have such a friend who is so close that
you trust them as much or more than even family? What a blessing to have such a person of
faith and love in our lives!
I am
sure you know the words in Matthew about God himself listening and responding
to our prayers. "Ask and it will be given to
you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7)
What a blessing to know that the Lord of heaven listens to our
concerns and acts in love and power and mercy when we go to Him in faith.
The point is that God has not left us alone. In a world of trials God has sent Jesus, “Immanuel
– God With us.” And, it is God’s plan to
give us companionship, encouragement, and love today in our families, through
church and friends, and from personal communication with God through
prayer. God has a network of support for
us as we face life and its struggles.
Do you need some encouragement? Why not reach out to a Christian friend? Do know someone who needs a shoulder to lean
on? Reach out to them and listen. It’s part of God’s plan that we have
friends. It is part of God’s plan that
we serve others as friends.
A Child of God, supported by God’s web of love,
Pastor Jonathan
P.S. In Sunday’s sermon, based on Mark 6:1-13, we
will look at the reception Jesus got from family and compare that to the
reception He got from His disciples. I
hope to see you Sunday..
****
ABOUT ‘THOUGHTS
FROM THE PASTOR’ - I am sending these e-mail messages, hopefully
weekly, to all St. John members and friends whose e-mails I have. (I am
always adding new names of friends and members – in case you are just receiving
this e-mail for the first time.) However, if you don’t want to receive
this e-mail, please let me know, and I’ll gladly leave your name off my list
for this message. . . Or, if you know someone who would like to receive one
of these e-mails, please send me their
e-mail address.
****
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