Pastor's Appreciation Day

Today was pastor's appreciation day, not just at our church but in the four sister churches of Calvary Worship Centre, of Surrey. There are not enough words to express our thanks to a pastor who has been there at all hours of the day and night. That was the case when he and his son came to our house upon finding out that our daughter has taken her life. The police wanted to know if we wish to call  our pastor. They tracked him down in the middle of the night, probably close to 2 am, and he came faithfully with his young adult son, to grieve with us. He had such a kind and listening heart, we walked through Deborah's room, took note of the medication she was on, looked at her underlined bible verses, and cried.
There are no words to express how beloved these men of God are. They are in the ditches with us, when we have been dealt with a cruel blow, and who are with us at our happiest moments of a baby dedication, or a wedding. We need to honor them with more than just words.

Today's message to us was about how some Christians are dead, soon to die, or forever living filled with the Holy Spirit. He claims that there are some churches already dead, but the worship continues, the songs are sung, but the oil of the Holy Spirit has left a long time ago. The fire is gone. The "soon to die" ones are those who are lukewarm, neither hot or cold. Jesus said that He wishes they were either hot or cold.  One sure way to make sure that we stay living, filled with the Holy Spirit is to pray. It was even necessary for Christ to make Prayer:  a priority, have a place or spot to pray, and to practice prayer. One of his favourite verse is
Mark 1:31 when Jesus goes to pray early in the morning.
In the context of practicing he was referring to 1) Faith-pray believing with expectation 2) Adoration-worship,praise 3) Confession-sins of omission and commission 4) Thanksgiving-be thankful even for what God is doing behind the scene, and 5) Supplication-let your request be made known to God.

We must keep the fire burning as we cannot share the oil with others, (he used the illustration of the 10 virgins) He was making also a mention of how we check our I phones constantly, and this distracts us from spending time with God.

In a simple way he summarized by saying that we need people. Iron sharpens Iron. Go to places where the fire is still burning. We need people to succeed, support, spark, and strengthen us. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12.

My husband has gone to place flowers on Deborah's grave today. My mind is not letting me go with him. I feel betrayed, that he too has somehow let us down, but knowing that there was nothing he could have done either. My grief is deep today.

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