I know most people would venture to say that they have the best Pastor in the world. Well today in honor of the month set aside to show appreciation I will join the bandwagon and lift my voting paddle to nominate my dad as the best Pastor. In a world that is bombarded with controversy, schemes, scandal, indignity, disgrace, shame, dishonor, outrage, mortification, embarrassment, humiliation…surrounding men, I am obligated to not only shed light on those unfortunate experiences but to declare that God has favored me so by giving me beauty for ashes. Beauty for Ashes is a scripture that describes the promise of emotional healing. Many people seem to have it all together outwardly, but inside they are a wreck. Their past has broken, crushed, and wounded them inwardly. They can be healed. God has a plan, and Isaiah 61 reveals that the Lord came to heal the brokenhearted. He wants to heal victims of abuse and emotional wounding.
"To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified."—Isaiah 61:3.
So what does this have to do with Pastor Appreciation...?
The beauty of having a Pastor is that God has equipped them with a multi-level ministry of compassion. They are able to deal with, address, and assist with mending the most complex of situations in the spirit of holiness. People come to their ministries on the brink of giving up, purposeless, filled with anger and uncertainty, yet with a level of desperation as their souls plead for a new life experience. No, I didn’t come to Maranatha with a drug/alcohol addiction, a felony conviction, a record of promiscuity…I came with a bag of ashes. For fear of my bag being identified and me being judged I began to eat these Ashes, causing me to relive each experience all over again. Ashes are not at all meant for human consumption and as a result I began to experience an internal bleeding. The thoughts/dreams, physical fatigue, anxiety, worthlessness were all beginning to choke the very life out of my soul. BUT GOD!!!....Put a Shepherd over my soul and as a result I am in active recovery.
How blessed I am to now have him in a twofold capacity…not only as by Bishop/Pastor but as my Dad! Ive never heard of someone being adopted as an adult but God knew and made spiritual provisions for me to be the exception to the rule. Thank you Dad for ministering emotional healing to me through the word of God even when at times it may have seemed the seeds were not falling on good ground. Thank you for your open door policy of allowing me to shout, scream, cry, and curse every experience out. Thank you Dad for modeling Christ through your compassion, patience, & love. Because of your steadfast commitment my life will never be the same. I can now sit back and gleam and tell God I want my husband to be just like my Dad! This may not mean much to most but for someone whose biological dad was absent, a step-father who was abusive, uncles and cousins who were filled with schemes while neighbors/strangers were scandalous, I never desired a husband or children. The thought of trusting, loving, sharing with someone outside of my siblings has not always been my reality but I am so blessed that my reality has been re-written. As I sit back and look upon my own brother, I am amazed and thank God for his protection and guidance as he is molding him to be all that I could have ever hoped and prayed for. The curse has been broken---Glory Be! Thank you Dad for standing in the gap and demanding that satans hold on my family unit be loosed and the blessings of God be released---AND IT IS SO!
To my Pastor/Bishop/Dad…I want you to know today that you made a difference and as a result I can testify to the following:
"To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified."—Isaiah 61:3.
So I heard October was Pastor Appreciation Month…!
Ebony Duncan
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