Living and serving Him to build up His church is so
worth it! I am living the dream everyday! Whenever someone asks me hows life
and ministry, my standard response to them this past year has been, "It's
scary, exciting, and fun all at the same time." These are a few lessons I
lived and learned with family, ministry, and leadership. Just jotted them
down to hopefully be an encouragement to you.
1. WENT ALL IN
- God
talks through even your children. Ask me about it!
- Took a step of faith
individually and as a family into full-time ministry.
- It was time and
the step out and the step in was official on May 1st.
- Obvious fears were
focused on the practicalities of raising a family on Long Island.
- Sang,
preached, read, and heard about "Jehovah Jireh". This year we
saw Jehovah Jireh.
"O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed
is the man who trusts in him." - Psalms 34:8
2. LOVE LANGUAGES
-
Realized that I can't love everyone the same way. Tough love doesn't
always work. Tender loving care doesn't always work either. Balance it
out.
- Realized that everyone will not love me the same way.
- Realized
that people will not love you or even like you. The haters will always be
there. Some were expected and some were surprising. If anyone says
it doesn't take a toll on them, they are lying. I
definitely experienced some hurt and deep wounds this past year.
God is transforming those wounds into scars. Wounds will always
hurt but scars are just reminders.
- Realized Jesus loves me, this I
know, for the Bible tells me so ... =) about to start singing ...
3. LET'S GO
- I'm a
big picture person who still tries to keep a handle on the details at times.
I'm already thinking about 2015 and beyond...just saying!
-
Everyone doesn't move at your pace or even at God's pace for their lives.
-
While I've learned to slow down at times thanks to a great family and
ministry team, they've learned to speed up. (Don't know if they would
thank anyone for that.)
- Learning that some are born leaders while others are
developed leaders. Born or made, all need to be learning and growing
servant-leaders.
- Learned that all may not be ready for the call on their life
or for the vision and mission of the church.
- Leads to the next lesson
learned...
4. THREE WORDS
- My
prayers to God in relation to family, leadership, and pastoral ministry from
the beginning of the year were centered around these 3 words: patience,
wisdom, and discernment.
- Lord give me the patience to see
growth and lives change in a moment and through a process.
- Lord give me the
heavenly wisdom to handle every situation and challenge with grace and
humility.
- Lord give me the discernment to see what you see.
-
That prayer has not changed just because its a new year. Need more
of all as expectations, demands, vision, and hopes grow.
5. BE AN ORIGINAL
- At
times, I got caught red-handed playing the comparison game as a pastor, leader,
and church.
- I'm not made to be someone else. I'm not created by
Him to be a carbon copy. I am created by Jesus to be His child and His
servant.
- I'm not a puppet for man to speak through but an instrument
and tool in God's hands to use and speak through.
- He constantly reminded me
to take on His identity. As I did, He led me into greater levels of
revelation in Him and His Word. Putting on Christ is the best decision
made.
- I was surprised a few times by what He was doing in and through
me. Almost was afraid of what was happening and had to trust Him in the
moment.
- I know I am here, I am a sinner, I am forgiven, and I am
called. I am a husband, father, son, brother, friend, pastor,
servant-leader.
- God take me, use me, and send me for your purpose and
glory!
I'm thankful for what God has done and is doing.
I'm not looking to be successful but just be faithful with God has
given to me. I look forward to what lies ahead. I press on
because Jesus is calling.
I don’t mean to say that I have already
achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on
to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear
brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing:
Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach
the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through
Christ Jesus, is calling us. (Philippians 3:12-14 NLT)
Enjoyed The Ride,
Pastor Cee
