Encouraging Your Pastor

October 13, 2021October 12, 2021 RefreshHer2 Comments

When you think of your energy level on Sunday evening after a day of being in God’s house, where would you rank it? A 2 or 3? Yeah, It thought so. There’s a good reason for that, and its has to do with more than wrestling the patent leather shoes onto a three year-old.

Every Sunday when you get yourself (and perhaps your family) ready and head out the door to worship, you are doing battle – a spiritual one. Satan doesn’t want you there where you’ll hear the Word of God. He doesn’t want your marriage strengthened and your children in a place where they’ll be taught Truth from the Bible, and so he fights us. Attitudes get out of whack, you fight to concentrate on the messages, your children are the crankiest on that day. By the end of the Sunday services, we’ve done real battle with the enemy – and it’s exhausting!

If the believer in the pew is fighting a spiritual battle, imagine what your pastor is facing as he endeavors to stand in the pulpit and preach the Word of God! He sees people nodding off, passing notes, flipping through their phones, or looking uninterested, and the devil plants seeds of discouragement in him. He fights with just wanting to sit down and quit. He struggles to remember passages of Scripture or the next illustration. The power point is almost sure to fail during his most important point – even though he spent much time and effort putting it together to aid the preaching of the Word.

It’s for all these reasons and many more that every pastor desperately needs the prayer of the saints. I’ve made a list of some of my favorite passages of Scripture to pray for my husband or whoever will be in the pulpit at our church. Here are the verses I like to pray, with a brief description:

II Thessalonians 1:11,12 – For God to make him worthy of his calling to preach.

I Timothy 1:12 – Thankful for the calling to the ministry.

II Timothy 2:7 – That he might have understanding.

II Timothy 2:9b – That he might remember that the Word of God is not bound.

Titus 1:3 – That he would remember that the Word of God is manifested through preaching.

Ephesians 6:19, 20 – That utterance would be given to him and he would preach with boldness.

II Corinthians 4:1-6 – That he would preach the Word with sincerity and to magnify Christ.

Colossians 1:9-14 – That he would walk worthy of the Lord.

After you spend some time praying through some passages of Scripture for your pastor, why not write him a note or send a text and let him know that you’ve prayed specifically for his preaching? It’s sure to refresh him and encourage him as he heads to the pulpit to deliver God’s Word.

Will you pray for your pastor and then let him know?

Refresh your pastor,

The Most Popular Posts of the Year

December 30, 2015December 30, 2015 RefreshHerLeave a comment

Top ten lists are always fun and informative. When I look into the stats here, it helps me to know what to write and what areas women enjoy reading.

I recently enjoyed taking a look into my blog to see what RefreshHer’s top ten posts of 2015 were. Let’s have a drum roll and I’ll show you which posts made it into this year’s most popular!

When was the last time someone read “The Little Gingerbread Man” to you?!

#10 This post told Why I went to the Altar again Last Sunday. Do you remember why?!

#9 The Topic of Conversational Respect was a marriage post that needs to be practiced by each of us wives. How are you doing at this?

#8 Using Mother’s Day as a Measuring Stick told about a trap many mom’s fall into. The result is not pretty.

#7 Living With the Fear of Getting Caught is a partly funny story on myself; the lesson I learned is the other part.

#6 Watch Your Step was a post written by a guest and my dear friend, Kellie. Her insight of walking in “muck” touched all of our hearts.

#5 What you Don’t Know about Infertility was a post written to inform unsuspecting people who feel the need to say something to couples who have no children.

#4 The Best Date that Costs Nothing was close to the top, reminding me that people want help with their marriage and practical ways that will keep things fun!

#3 How To Tell if a Child Is Ready To Be Saved was read by a host of parents who are grappling with what to do with their child who keeps wanting to ask Jesus into their life. I pray this post has sealed the answer in not only the child’s heart, but their parent’s.

#2‘s post was, How To Refresh Your Pastor. If you’ve forgotten to pray fervently for your pastor who is fighting great spiritual battles for his congregetation, I trust you’ll hurry over and reread this post so you can be a blessing to this man who gives so much of himself for the Gospel’s sake!

And now for the most read post of 2015..

#1 I must have lots of frustrated parents reading my blog, because the best post of the year was, Training Your Preschooler To Sit in Church! So, how’s it going? Do you need a bit of a refresher course? The key is being consistent with the ideas I shared.

Let me just tell you how much I appreciate each of you who take time out of your day to read my blog. Thank you. I pray that I can encourage and refresh your heart, home and life and encourage you to stay faithful in your walk with God. Being His child is the best life!

Thanks again for encouraging me in another year of blogging!

Is there a topic you’d like to see addressed in this next year? Leave a comment and let me know!

With love,

Husband · Pastor

Freshen Up Friday

October 11, 2013July 14, 2015 RefreshHerLeave a comment

I enjoy baking, and I equally love sharing my baked goods with others. Since we are now in a new area and have new neighbors that I pray will become good friends, I decided to bake little loaves of sour dough bread for each of the families in the houses near us. It’s my attempt to say hello and let them know we desire to be friendly.

What do you have or what could you do to extend friendship to someone you don’t know very well? Do you grow herbs that you could share? Flowers? Do make great cookies? Do you stamp cards? Find some little tangible way to be friendly to someone and freshen their Friday!

Pastor’s Encouragement: Pray that your pastor will strive for personal excellence and will believe God for all He wants to do in the congregation.

Husband Encouragement: Make sure your husband knows he is your sweetheart and best friend. Does he know this? Have you told him, or do you assume he knows?

Don’t assume. Everyone loves to know they are special. Take time to appreciate your husband by demonstrating it to him. Tell him with kind words; show him with your kind acts.

Be refreshed,

Christian Life · Husband · Pastor

Fess Up!

October 10, 2013July 14, 2015 RefreshHerLeave a comment

I recently heard a story about a man who had been running from the police for over ten years. He was from Canada and came to the States where he completely changed his identity in order to continue to hide from authorities. He shared how that during that time, he was constantly looking over his shoulder; fearful someone would recognize him and arrest him for the things he had done.

You and I might not have that kind of criminal record, but have you ever worried that someone might find out what you are doing? Maybe you don’t want your husband to find the receipt in your wallet for the money you spent that you know you shouldn’t have. One might worry that the history on their computer might be checked, and they would be caught in the truth that they were viewing inappropriate material, or spending way too much time chatting on Facebook with an old friend.

I don’t need to drudge up scenarios. The Holy Spirit will bring to your mind and mine the things that we may be hiding that need to be confessed and forsaken. I love Proverbs 28:1 –

The wicked flee when no man pursues,

but the righteous are bold as a lion.

When we are doing what is right, we do not have to be afraid of who is watching, of where they might look into our personal things, or hear a conversation we have on the phone. We can be bold. However, if we are involved in sin, we should be afraid. Proverbs 15:3 –

The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

We cannot hide our sin from God. He sees and it will be discovered. The man I described in the beginning of this post was miserable due to the guilt. He confessed his sin to God, and turned himself in to the authorities where he received a lesser punishment for his crimes than what he really deserved. When we “fess up,” with God and others we’ve sinned against, we will be freed from the fear of being found out, our conscience is clear of the guilt, and we can move joyfully on with life!

Is your conscience clear, or did something come to your mind when you began reading today’s post?

Proverbs 28:13 –

He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

Fess (confess) up, forsake, and get back to living!

Pastor’s Encouragement: Pray that your pastor will earnestly seek God’s will and be committed to instant and complete obedience-ready for God to work powerfully in and through his ministry.

Husband Encouragement: There are lots of tough guys in the world, but true courage comes from the Lord. Does your husband exhibit the courage to take an unpopular stand alone against evil? Is he courageous in his faith? Does he work hard to change injustice? Is he a stickler for the truth? Does he protect you or your family from the attacks of the enemy?

Psalm 27:14 says this kind of courage comes from “waiting on the Lord for His strength.” Such spiritual courage is a gift and blessing to you – thank the Lord of it and praise your husband for the covering he supplies.

With love,

Husband · Pastor

A Peek from my Country Porch

October 9, 2013July 14, 2015 RefreshHer3 Comments

I love to doodle and draw. The picture/chalkboard that I have on the mantle in the living room gives me a great opportunity to draw with a purpose. I found a great idea for my fall decor. So I changed out my chandelier drawing for this one:

Autumn, the year’s last,
loveliest smile.

Do you draw or doodle? Paint? Sketch? What do you do that is on the crafty side that begs for release?

Pastor’s Encouragement: Pray that your pastor will seek God for personal revival, and revival in your church and community.

Husband Encouragement: Jesus led a balanced life. He grew mentally, physically, spiritually and socially. As you see your husband branching out in these areas, is there a pattern of growth? Is your husband striving for balance in his life? If so, let him know you have noticed, and ask how you can further encourage him.

My husband and I have the privilege of serving the Lord in Alaska this weekend and we fly out this afternoon from Atlanta! We are excited at this wonderful opportunity! I’ll be speaking to some dear ladies at a retreat on Friday and Saturday, and he will be preaching on Sunday. Will you pray that the Lord will use His Word to encourage and challenge these dear folks? Pray for strength and wisdom as we go. Thank you!

With love from my country porch,