1) How to be a servant- Papa lee has such a servant heart, I learn so much from just his actions. He works so hard on the compound, outside in the heat, for HOURS! Not once have I heard him complain. One night when we were in devotions he told us that everything he does he does is for The Lord. The Lord is his motivation to keep going everyday. Papa Lee doesn’t need praise from everyone for everything he does. He is okay with being behind the scenes because he know he is serving his God and that is the most important thing. Papa Lee truly has the same attitude of Jesus Christ when he serves. Like Christ, we should have a servant attitude, and serve out of love for God and others. We can approach life expecting to be served, or we can look for opportunities to serve others.
1 Corinthians 15:58 says,
“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”
2) Prayer- Papa Lee has such a beautiful gift when it come to prayer and being present with the Holy Spirit. He has taught me so much about how intimacy with the Holy Spirit comes with prayer. Mama Gracie told me how some nights he it up very late just praying for hours for every single missionary that has visited this ministry, each person, one by one. That is so amazing to me because it’s so easy to make excuses when it comes to your prayer life, like “I have nothing else to pray about”, or “he already knows what I’m thinking”. One night somebody brought up how they feel like there’s no point in praying to God because he already knows what they’re thinking. They answered, “it’s about the relationship”. It seems so obvious but it’s very easy to forget. It’s like any other relationship you have, if you have a friend that you never talked to them about your problems, how are they support to help you? We have to be open to that help and that relationship.
3) Beauty of not being the center of attention- 3 days a week Mama Gracie and Papa Lee have a devotion with our team. Mama Gracie does most of the talking (which I learn SO much from her and appreciate her wisdom she brings to the team) and Papa Lee stays quiet the whole time and just listens. At about the last 15 minutes Mama Gracie asks him if he has anything to say and that is when he talks and gives his input on everything we’ve been talking about for the past hour or so. The words he speaks into my team and I are so wise and beautiful. He is a gentleman (like Jesus) in a way that he won’t force his opinion on anyone, but if you are willing to hear what he has to say, he will really speak powerful words to you. Papa Lee has taught a great lesson on what being truly humble looks like.
James 4:6 says,
But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
This is a great reminded that you don’t have to be the center of attention to make an impact on other or for your words to be powerful. It is so important to remain humble in your walk with Christ.
