by Russ Bowman<\/p>\n
I am thinking this morning of all those who go unnoticed in their faithful service to God — at least unnoticed by other people. So, here’s a nod of appreciation…<\/p>\n…to all of the husbands and wives who work hard at their marriage and honor their vows, even when it’s difficult.
\n…to all of the parents who sacrifice their time, energy, and sanity to not merely feed, clothe, and house their kids, but who are teaching them to love and serve the Lord.\n…to those same parents who make hard decisions regarding priorities, standards, and morals in spite of the conflict that occasionally results (especially with pre-teens and teens).
\n…to the young people who are being faithful to the Lord, though in the minority and often ridiculed for such.\n…to the single folks who persist in faith even though lonely and frustrated, who would love nothing more than to make a life with a godly spouse.
\n…to the men and women who maintain honesty, integrity, loyalty, kindness, service, and dedication in a work environment that encourages\/promotes dishonesty, selfishness, and greed.\n…to those who grieve the loss of someone yet don’t lose their trust in a good and loving God.
\n…to the folks who send cards, who take food, who find encouraging words to say, who serve silently and behind the scenes.\n…to the folks who never miss services.
\n…to the preachers whose names are not known outside of their local work.\n…to the elders who stay up late praying and are constantly working to help the folks they are leading.
\n…to the moms (and dads) who wrestle with toddlers throughout worship or bible class, but keep on going.\n…to everyone who prays fervently and reads their Bibles diligently.
\n…to everyone who gets up every day and follows the Lord, no matter the circumstance or consequence.\n
Hebrews 11:35ff notes “others” who served faithfully in great difficulty, yet whose names are unknown to us. But God knew them. And God knows you.<\/p>\n
You encourage me. Thanks. Keep it up.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Russ Bowman I am thinking this morning of all those who go unnoticed in their faithful service to God — at least unnoticed by other people. So, here’s a nod of appreciation… …to all of the husbands and wives who work hard at their marriage and honor their vows, even when it’s difficult. …to…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[27],"tags":[681,1177,357],"class_list":["post-42428","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-appreciation","tag-commitment","tag-encouragement"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":33666,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/you-need-standards-and-guidance-to-reduce-risky-behavior\/","url_meta":{"origin":42428,"position":0},"title":"You Need Standards and Guidance to Reduce Risky Behavior","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 6, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Source:\u00a0\"Research Finds Parallels Between Sexual Risk Avoidance Approach and Successful Public Health Campaigns to Prevent Teenage Drinking, Smoking, and Reckless Driving,\"\u00a0House Energy and Commerce Health Committee, 06 July 2012. Source: \"A Better Approach to Teenage Pregnancy Prevention: Sexual Risk Avoidance,\" U.S. House of Representative Committee on Energy and Commerce, July\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Issues"","block_context":{"text":"Issues","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/issues\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":56143,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/expect-more-out-of-your-kids\/","url_meta":{"origin":42428,"position":1},"title":"Expect More Out of Your Kids","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 24, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"by\u00a0Matthew Allen Earlier this week, I participated in a discussion concerning alcohol and advertising. The debate was over whether alcohol companies target youth in their advertising. There is very strong evidence to suggest that the alcohol companies do in fact target adolescent audiences even though such persons are under the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Adolescence"","block_context":{"text":"Adolescence","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/parenting\/adolescence\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":69333,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/whos-leading-whom\/","url_meta":{"origin":42428,"position":2},"title":"Who’s Leading Whom?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 16, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"by Perry Hall After WWII, a new family unit was created-the teenager. Before that, \"teens\" didn't exist as a celebrated age. Before that, \"teens\" were young adults. Since then, the trauma of war-torn youth has led to the coddling of teens. That has led to a verse you might be\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":30958,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/how-can-trials-be-counted-as-joy\/","url_meta":{"origin":42428,"position":3},"title":"How can trials be counted as joy?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 22, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I struggle with the idea of being joyful during trials. I know James said, \"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":93249,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/you-can-be-hurt-in-the-church-and-still-raise-faithful-children\/","url_meta":{"origin":42428,"position":4},"title":"You Can Be Hurt in the Church\u2014and Still Raise Faithful Children","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 17, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"by Brad Harrub, Ph.D. There are few pains more confusing than being wounded by people who wear the name of Christ. Many parents have sat in pews with a knot in their stomach-betrayed by leadership, ignored in suffering, judged unfairly, or damaged by hypocrisy. Some have endured church splits, public\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":53370,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-it-wrong-to-have-a-preacher-appreciation-day\/","url_meta":{"origin":42428,"position":5},"title":"Is it wrong to have a Preacher Appreciation Day?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 27, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Is it wrong to have a day to show the preacher appreciation and call it \"preacher's appreciation day\"? 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