• God is always with you and knows exactly where you’re at

• You learn to trust God in life because if you don’t, you’ll fall flat on your face

• It’s a season of character development, not gifting development

• God’s discipline and correction is really preparation for what He has for you in the future. He corrects & prepares those He loves!

• There is a reason you’re in the wilderness, and you won’t always know it until you’re out of it!

• In times where God seems distant, He is usually leading you into a deeper relationship with Him then you’ve ever known before.

• We need to stop looking to people for affirmation, permission, and acceptance. Doing so will only lead to bondage. Instead, we must learn to get these things from God, which leads to freedom.

• God is smarter than me, He knows what He is doing. He wants to get me where He’s called me to more than I want to do what He’s called me to!

“Wilderness” experiences are not always pleasant, but they’re always worth it when we get through them.

What lessons have you learned in the Wilderness?

This post was taken from the Only God Blog!

Here are some great thoughts and truths I’ve chewed on in 2010. I hope they’ll help you:

• Discipline is remembering what you want
• God’s word isn’t just instruction, it’s empowerment to do what it says!
• I can be used by God everywhere I go
• Success is always being, not having
• God wants to be as unique with my story as He is with everyone else’s
• Focus on things that will produce fruit – long term
• People’s opinions don’t matter, it’s His Word that matters
• I’m always going to have to choose between people’s approval or God’s approval
• Apart from God, we can’t do anything worth doing!
• Job 23:10 – God knows where I’m at and where I’m going, when I come out, I’ll be like gold!
• II Chronicles 16:9 – I’ll only have victories where I trust God!
• John 21 – 3 Things I need to do if I love God – 1.) Follow Him 2.) Feed His sheep 3.) Don’t worry about how God is using everyone else
• Jesus was never confused. He always knew what to say, where to go, and what to do, and we should be the same.
• The only thing worth giving people is Jesus.
• World class Christians pray for the world
• Only Life Focus: To make Jesus famous one person at a time.
• Wherever I go and whatever I do, I’ll be blessed if I’m following God –Deut. 28:6
• God is who makes you great, you can never make yourself great!
• A “call” is not the same thing as “developed”
• “If God gives you a dream, and the dream comes to life, God shows up, then the dream dies, it may be that God wants to see what’s more important to you – the dream or Him?”
• “The impact God has planned for us doesn’t occur when we’re pursuing impact. It occurs when we’re pursuing God. At long last after a lifetime of striving God was enough. Not God and impact or God and ministry. Just God.”
• We’re educated way beyond our obedience!
• There isn’t a lack of people to minister to, there is a lack of people that have something to say when they minister
• Daily Choice: Am I going to be a leader or a clown?
• Prayer: God, develop me as quickly and as solidly as possible.
• David went from feeding the sheep to serving the King, out of Nowhere
• You can always be bigger on the inside than you are on the outside
• One act is better than a thousand intentions
• Prioritize the relationships that will sit on the front 3 rows of your funeral!
• When you’re lacking resources, God is helping you learn to be resourceful!
  
• To increase your capacity to receive you need one thing: Faithfulness
• Don’t try to impress, just be impressive!
• Haggai 1 – When your confused and it doesn’t seem like you’re going anywhere, you probably aren’t putting God’s Kingdom first. (Matt. 6:33)
• Stop talking about your goals and start working on them!
• We need to love and serve God for who He is, not what He can do for us.
• Dig Deep Roots (Character)
• Boundaries in Life are Incredibly important!
• Romans 10:11 – No one who believes in Him will ever be put to shame or disappointed!
• Psalm 113:7-8 He lifts the poor from the dust and the needy from the dung heap. He sets me among princes, even the princes of God’s own people!
• In all labor there is profit, but idle talk leads to poverty. –Proverbs 14:23
• Exalt the Word of God over everything else
• What I love about my heroes (Keith Moore, John Maxwell, etc.) is the God in them!
• Nobody has a step up on me in the Word! The more I value the Word of God, the more I’ll reap!
• God’s correction isn’t just correction, it’s preparation!
• Walk in the light you have, not the light someone else is trying to give you!
• It’s not what you know, it’s what people will receive!
• I’d be more effective if I asked God what I’m supposed to do everyday!
• Anytime you let other people’s opinions fill your heart, you push God out.
• Promotion comes from the Lord
• In life, you will have fruit testers!
• The season you are in is not forever. It will pass and just be a memory of what was!
• The Lord will be your confidence! –Proverbs 3:26
• Always ask yourself: “What’s important” Answer: Less and Less
• If the disciples figured to learn about leadership on the fast track and w/appropriate perks and bonuses, Jesus soon disillusioned them” –J Sanders
• “The application of: Doing it now has led to my success”
• Matthew 11:28 – Move with the UNFORCED rhythms of grace!
• Love God, Love People
• Quit feeding yourself, start feeding your sheep!
• Patient endurance is what I need now! Hebrews 10:35
• Nobody is going to make sure your successful!
• If God wants you to have something nothing will stop that.
• God won’t let you have second hand faith, He wants you to have your own!
• I need to spend unhurried time with God daily!
• We need to get to a place where if God doesn’t show up, we’ll fall flat on our faces!
• Know your worth or no one else will!

It’s hard to believe it’s almost been a month since we left for Costa Rica. This was my this was my third mission trip. I’ve gone to Peru in 2005 and Africa in 2007. They’ve all been so different. They’ve each taught me different lessons. I’ve heard it said that, “We need Africa, more than Africa needs us.” When it comes to missions, wherever you go, that’s true. It’s amazing what the people in other countries can teach us by the way they live their lives.

Costa Rica was a special trip for me. Here are some of my big takeaways:

There is Nothing Special About Costa Rica - Dan, one of the staff members for 6:8 ministries said this at our debriefing, and he’s right. The one thing I’ve noticed about mission trips is there is nothing special about the places you go. Everybody, everywhere is facing similar tests and trials, everyone, everywhere needs God. People need God just as much in Pittsburgh as they do Costa Rica. Opportunities to help people in big ways are before us everyday, the question is: what are we going to do about it?

Live 50% Comfortable - In our orientation, Dave, one of the leaders of 6:8, said they wanted us to live about 50% comfortable while we’re there. It’s so easy to live in our comfort zone, to never step out and talk to someone about Jesus, to not be there for someone when it’s inconvenient, to not ask someone to go to church, I could go on and on. Mission trips force you to get out of your comfort zone. Now, it’s time to get out of our comfort zone at home, and live about 50% comfortable while reaching people for God.

Slow Down and Care - There is a 70% unemployment rate in Costa Rica. So most people sit around all day and do nothing! A lot of times, to minister to a family, we’d simply buy some snacks and drinks and go to their homes and spend time with them. We loved on them, had some great conversations with them, and prayed for them. I started thinking about that. Often, I’m in such a hurry to be off to the next thing I “have” to do, that I miss out on the moment I’m in and the opportunities that lie before me. Sometimes the best ministry is just spending time with someone and giving them your full attention.

Teenagers are Capable of a lot more than We Think - I loved bringing a group down from Revolution! These students have a special place in my heart. They worked so hard and had awesome attitudes! They built a house, ministered and fed the homeless, We all made memories we’ll never forget. I’m so proud of each of them.

Everyone Needs to go on Mission Trips, Often - People often think going on a mission trip, is the same as going on vacation, it’s not. You usually do get one or two “free” days where you get to enjoy the area, but the rest of the time, you’re working your tail off!

Mission trips will change your life, increase your compassion, enlarge your vision, give you a global perspective, and help you live your life on purpose. After going on mission trips, it’s harder for me to go somewhere, without wanting to make a difference.

If you’ve never gone on a mission trip, I encourage you to search online for one that lines up with what’s in your heart. And then Go! I promise you, it’ll be one of the best decisions you’ve ever made!