I Thank God for this Flock (March 30, 2025)

Last Sunday, March 23, 2025, this church, Coosa Valley Church of God, celebrate me, Sis. Kerri and Ms. Kati for 10 years being the Pastor here at Coosa Valley. We have been honored and privileged to serve His Church for those 10 years. Lots have happened in those 10 years. Countless hours of hospital visits, over 30 funerals, dozens of weddings, many baby dedications, salvation, sanctification, baptism in water and the Holy Spirit. We have had many join the church and many leave the church. And more sickness than we can shake a stick at! But the face remains, my family is still here, and this congregation is still here and together we are still giving the devil a really hard time as we spread the gospel TOGETHER in Cropwell, St. Clair County, Alabama!!!

Just as Paul appreciated the churches in which he was the Shepherd, Pastor for, I greatly appreciate this body of believers. You as a church family have helped to take care of my family through sickness, death and so much more; we greatly appreciate each of you. I will continue to praise God for you and will pray for you, just as Paul did for the Colossian church. I ask God to help me not to fail in the following things.

I Thank God for You!

Colossians 1:3–8 ~ “We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.”

• I do thank God for your faith (v 4)
  • for your faith in Jesus Christ
  • for your faith in His work through me as your Pastor

• I thank God for your love (v 4)
  • for all the saints
  • for the home-bound
  • for the sick and hospitalized
  • for the lost
  • for me and my family
  • that you have shown

• I thank God for your hope (v 5)
  • for the present
  • for the future
  • in eternal life

• I thank God that you hear His Word (v 5)
  • Eagerly and yieldingly
  • Reverently and lovingly

• I thank God for your fruitfulness (v 6)
  • may it continue and increase
  • may God help me to help you bear it

• I thank God for your knowledge of the grace of God in truth (v 6)
  • for it is not a license to sin
  • for it is not a license for worldliness
  • for it is not a license for compromise

Because I Appreciate You, I pray these things over you

Colossians 1:9–11 ~ “And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy;”

• That you be filled with the knowledge of His will (v. 9)
• That you be filled with all wisdom (v. 9)
• That you will gain spiritual understanding (v. 9)
• That you will walk worthy of the Lord (v. 10)
• That you will walk pleasing to the Lord (v. 10)
• That you will be fruitful in all good works (v. 10)
• That you will gain a greater knowledge of God (v. 10)
• That you will be strengthened with all might (v. 11)
• That you will have His glorious power (v. 11)
• That you will have all patience (v. 11)
• That you will have all long suffering (v. 11)
• That you will continue in joyfulness (v. 11).

I thank God every day for each of you. I pray every day for each of you. I hurt when you are going through the pains of life. I rejoice when you and your family have good news. May God bless you in the Holy Spirit!!