This week, 18 years ago, I started full time as a pastor. This was after serving 4 years in a ministry role with no pay and taking every vacation to serve the church and God’s people. I think I went 8 years straight without missing a Sunday. If I was given a restart I’d go back and do it all over again.
Sometimes I had the wrong attitude (still do). I made the wrong decisions and went after the wrong opportunities. I did the right thing for the wrong reason often. I believed in people who let me down and who hurt me. I let some people down and hurt them. I still believe and trust in people no matter what. I repent and ask for grace to do better in the future.
I believed a lot of dumb things. I said a lot of dumb things. I did a lot of dumb things. I corrected. I grew. I matured. I still have work to do. As hard as I worked, as much as I sacrificed, I still haven’t earned it. It’s a gift and honor to be able to get to do what I do. God is good even when we aren’t. Just because I’ve hustled doesn’t mean I can’t stay humble.
Thank you Lord for choosing this path for me. I pray for strength to continue on and run my race. I thank you for the grace that’s upon my family to serve You. Thank you for putting all those people in my life who gave me a chance to mess up and mature.