Sometimes I get excited. In fact, sometimes I get real excited! Well I got real excited when I read this letter I'm getting ready to share with you. Here it is.

Dear Brother Larry,

God bless you! Last month I was driving my tractor-trailer through Tennessee. I was listening to some Waylon on the radio when you came on at a commercial or something and began to talk about needs and stress. Man, have I got needs and stress! I turned up the radio and listened. You said that people with problems only have one way to get rid of the stress and that way was Jesus. Then you said that if we didn't know Jesus, then find someone who did and ask them to introduce you. I turned off the radio before you were done (sorry) and pulled off at Irma's for diesel. When I walked inside, something came over me and I said out loud, "Does anyone here know Jesus?" There was a man from some fellowship church who waved me over to his table. He had a Bible with him. Can you believe it? He actually had his Bible in the truck stop. He introduced me to Jesus and I haven't been the same since. I can actually sleep now. Even in the cab. I have a sticker on my door that says, "God is my Copilot." He is, too. Thank you for helping me. It's nice to be able to sleep now.”

When I get a letter like this it makes it all worth while. Sometimes even those in the ministry get discouraged. Did you know that your pastor is human. Did you know that he or she has bills to pay just like you do? Did you know that every now and then even their children get into trouble? It may surprise you, but they have problems and need encouragement too.

Let's declare today "National Encourage a Minister Day." What's wrong with that? We have “Mother’s Day,” “Father’s Day,” “Grandparent’s Day,” “National Secretary Day.” We even have a “Save a Whale Day” and a “Plant a Tree Day.” So, why not have a "National Encourage a Minister Day?"

You may ask, "How can I encourage my pastor or minister? Well, you can do the same thing this trucker from St. Louis did. Let your minister know when you are ministered to. When you’re helped by something they do, tell them “thank you.”

One thing we don't need is empty flattery. The Bible tells us in Proverbs 26:28 that a flattering tongue works ruin. So don't flatter. Remember, you're not doing this to make points for yourself, you are doing it to encourage and lift up your minister.

Also, tell the truth. If you have just sat through one of the most boring sermons of your life, if you drifted off and don't have a clue what he spoke about, don't tell him as you are leaving the church, "Great sermon, Pastor. It really ministered to me." It would be better to just smile and say something else.

 

When I was pastor of a small church over 25 years ago, each Sunday an older lady would take my hand as she left the church and say, "Keep trying and someday you'll be a good preacher." Thank God for people who tell the truth.

 

Remember, today is "National Encourage a Minister Day!"