The Pastor's Companion

Karen Harper

Do you remember the fun you had when you were a child playing in the snow? There were snow sledding parties, the enjoyment of building snowmen, and snowball fights! I can remember helping my mom and dad and several young people build an igloo. You could actually crawl in it and sit down. We laughed and ran around dodging snowballs. Those are great memories.

It seems that now I look at snow in a different light. It means I have to scrape my windshield (or let my boys scrape it for me), wear snow boots, and get my hair wet going to the car. It doesn’t seem like as much fun. Our view of the world changes as we grow older because our responsibilities increase stress and put demands on our time.

Recognizing this made me wonder if I’m guilty of doing the same thing with the gift of salvation. When Jesus first came into my heart, the world looked brighter and more hopeful. As I grew older, I allowed the circumstances of my life to cloud my view of Jesus. This Christmas season, I want to look at the birth of Jesus with new wonder and hope. He brought me new life and I receive it with joy and expectation of what lies ahead in my future. A future that is bright and full of grace. I also plan to enjoy a few snowball fights and build a snowman this year.

Try to look at the season through a child’s eye and experience the wonder of Jesus’ birth and the precious gift of salvation. You can experience the joy of salvation by spreading it to people you meet while shopping or doing daily errands. Smile at everyone and say, “Merry Christmas!”  The joy that comes across the faces of individuals as you mention CHRISTmas will transform your heart and bring new joy to your season. 

The Pastor's Companion

Karen Harper

Honor

By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches and honor and life.   - Proverbs 22:4
Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.  - Romans 13:7

Honor is defined as a showing of merited respect; a person of superior standing; one whose worth brings respect or fame; a keen sense of ethical conduct. 

When I think of those deserving of honor, I think of the Pastor's Companions of our church.  They labor without complaint, give of their resources, pray without ceasing, and love unconditionally.  Our Pastor's Companions in the Church of God of Prophecy have cooked meals for families in need, come to the rescue of wayward souls, listened on the phone to bleeding hearts, or rescued a new mother from post-partum depression.  These men & women daily live the example of the love of God.  Their humility and fear of the Lord dictate their lives.  Riches and honor and long life are due them.  They are the prayerful support of the foundation of the church.

Today, I would like to honor all of our Pastor's Companions.  These companions spend hours making phone calls to schedule meetings and check on ailing members and their families.  They are always ready with a word of encouragement to their flock.  They make their spouses "look good."  On occasion, they open their homes and house hurting men and women of the faith.  They stand beside their spouse, allowing them to take the forefront, and smile with assurance at the acclamations given to their companion.

Your spouses could not do what they accomplish without your support.  Your prayers and your encouragement help to make them what they are today.   You are special.  You are loved.  You are the most important person in their life.  Therefore, you are all those things and more to God the Father.

I honor you today for making the sacrifices to be a part of the ministry.  It is your calling.  God has ordained you to be right where you are and He will sustain you and prosper you.  He will bless you with riches, honor, and long life.  May God bless you and continue to use you to advance and enhance the Kingdom of God.

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!"  - Isaiah 52:7

A Lovely, Rich Legacy

"Old age isn't for sissies," the saying goes.  As a woman finds her years of living piling up, she can use them to create a self-centered miserable demeanor or a lovely, rich legacy of wisdom and wonder to pass on to other women in the process.  (Jan Silvious, Big Girls Don't Cry)

My grandmother always told me that she was not going to be a crabby old woman!  Her words have stuck with me all of my days.  What she was trying to say is that ‘just because I am older and I can't do everything I used to do, I will choose to be pleasant.’  She didn't spend time complaining about her legs not working as well; she just took shorter walks.  She didn't complain about living alone; she just filled her hours with Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren.  She didn't complain about not being able to eat certain foods; she just laughed about always eating popcorn.
           
We can choose to take the circumstances of life and make them beautiful.  God is in everything:

• God is in “the mop” - John 15:3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
• God is in “the laundry” - Rev. 7:14b  And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
• God is in “bath time” for the kids - Heb. 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
• God is in “paying the bills” - Phil. 4:19 But my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
• God is in “rest time” - Isaiah 28:12 This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing.
• God is there in “the night” when you lay your head on your pillow - Psalm 4:8 I will both lay me down in peace and sleep; for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.

He is the Great I am, the Only Living Word, Wonderful, Counselor, the First and the Last, Age to Age He’s still the Same – He is an Awesome God and He is everywhere!  Share Him with your congregation and leave a “Lovely, Rich Legacy.”

Perspective

We all know the analogy of the glass filled half way with water.  Some see it as half empty and some see it as half full.  If you are really thirsty, you would probably see it as half empty because that much water would not satisfy your thirst.  If you have just drunk a whole glass of water and you have another half of a glass to drink, you might see it as half full because you are too full to drink anymore! 

We view our life’s circumstances by the situations we are currently in.  If we receive an unexpected doctor’s bill, our bank account is viewed as half empty.  If we have paid all of our bills for the month, our bank account is viewed as being blessed. 

What circumstance do you find yourself in this holiday season?  As we enter into one of the busiest times of the year, are you feeling excited about the events that lie ahead, or overwhelmed of even the prospect of those same events?  If you need to change your perspective and view the glass as ‘half full’, try looking at the holiday season through the eyes of a child - sparkling lights, beautiful ornaments, special candy, seeing grandparents and other family members not often visited throughout the year, colorful presents wrapped under the tree with their names on them, adults that seem more happy, and their parents having extra time off from work to spend with them.  It is all about perspective.

As adults, we tend to see the extra cash flow needed, the extra housework involved in seeing extended family members, all the decorating, all the baking, and all the parties to attend.  These can seem to us as sources of irritation.  Don’t miss a joyous holiday season by looking at the glass as ‘half empty’.  Look at the blessings of family, friends, monetary blessings, a comfortable home, and beautiful decorations as “heaven sent blessings” for you.

“So if you're serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it.  Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you.  Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ — that's where the action is.  See things from His perspective”
(Colossians 3:1-2, The Message).

Stress Relievers

No job is without stress. Mental stress can be more difficult to deal with than physical stress.  Be careful to note when you are feeling overwhelmed and make adjustments in your schedule to relieve the pressure.  Here are a few suggestions to relieve stress:
           
Listen to music.  It has been said that listening to soothing “elevator” music will calm your nerves.  This type of music does have a soothing effect on some people.  However, “elevator” music may get on your nerves and may not help to relieve stress.  Pick out the kind of music that makes you feel good.  It may be Jeremy Camp or Christy Starling.  Whatever it is, let music soothe the “savage beast” in you!

Exercise.  Taking a walk can provide a naturally healthy way to relieve stress.  Just being outside can help you feel closer to the Lord and seeing the beauty He created will cause you to realize that he can do anything.

Watch a funny movie.  Laughter is truly the best medicine!  In addition to it relieving stress, it will loosen tight muscles and help you burn extra calories.  So, laugh your way to health!

Read a book.  You can choose to get lost in a novel that will have a happy ending, a biography of a faithful Christian, or learn about something of interest to you.  It is a good way to get your mind off things that are pressing you and cause you to think about something else.

Take care of the “small stuff.”  If you are in the midst of a large project and feel overwhelmed, break it down into steps.  Do the easy steps first and it will help you feel like you have accomplished something. 

Finding the way that best helps you relieve stress and actually doing it will contribute to a more healthy and relaxing day.  Truly, God cares about EVERYTHING in our lives.  It goes without saying that PRAYER and time with the Lord will give you strength and cause you to realize that you are not alone.  This is the first step in relieving stress.  Life is too precious to spend it irritated at life’s stressors.  Laugh, exercise, listen to music, watch a movie, read a book, or take a picnic.  God wants you to enjoy the life that He has given you.

Smile!
“Some people grin and bear it.  Other people smile and change it.”  (Anonymous)

I have been trying to teach my children that if there is a circumstance in their day that is challenging, find a way to make it work.  Sometimes it is simply changing our attitude.  My mother used to tell me all the time, “Just grin and bear it.”  However, that didn’t change my attitude about it.  If that phrase could be changed to “smile and change it,” my attitude would have changed.  Smiling comes from the heart.  When our heart is engaged in a task, our countenance will reflect it.
           
Situations arise everyday that cause us stress.  Other people may have a bitter countenance and cause us to be disheartened.  It is hard to smile when someone is deliberately being unkind.  However, if we will make the effort to smile, our heart will be lightened and we can cause the bitter expression on someone’s face to change.  “A smile can dispel an approaching frown.  Do everything with a smile, even undesirable tasks, and the world will see the love of Jesus on your face and feel like their world has been encouraged.  Smile for Jesus!

Romans 8:24-28 

“For in this hope we were saved.  But hope that is seen is no hope at all.  Who hopes for what he already has?  But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.  In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.  We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.  And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.  And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Hope!  It means to have a fervent hope or aspiration.  What do you hope for?  Do you hope for a new outfit?  A new car?  A new computer?  Or, a new vacuum cleaner?  Whatever you hope for--it is important to you.  If you already had a new outfit, car, computer, or vacuum cleaner, there would be no need to hope.  God gave us the blessing of hope which results in believing things will be different tomorrow.  With the blessing of hope–provision of shelter, health, and food are given to us by our Heavenly Father.  With the blessing of hope–our children,  or loved ones will be saved.  The reason for His birth was to give us “Hope.”  The Angel said, “Fear Not!”  Put your hope in the Christ that brings peace.

In verse 28, our hope is topped off with the ‘icing on the cake’.  “All things work together for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”  We are given a promise that our hope is not in vain!  Keep hoping, keep praying, and keep believing in the King of Kings!