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!

Every year, I try to thank all of the people who made a difference in my life throughout the year. For some people, I’ll give them a phone call and thank them for what they’ve done & to others maybe a text or a Facebook message.

Then I will specifically pick 3 people who made the biggest impact and write each of those people a letter. Then I’ll try to meet with them, give them the letter, and thank them personally for the deposits they’ve made in my life.

It’s been a great practice for me every year. It keeps me humble and grateful for all of the wonderful people God’s placed in my life.

This week is Thanksgiving, but it shouldn’t be the only week of the year we show people how grateful we are for them. We should be living lives of thanksgiving all year long!

Go out of your way to thank the people who have made a difference in your life. Make sure they know how grateful you are for their investment in you.

Who have been the three most influential people in your life this year? Why not call them, text them, or write them a letter knowing how big of an impact they’ve made on you?

Highlights:
•    Steelers Playoff Game with Ben Rath – San Diego Chargers
•    Steelers Winning Super Bowl/Pens Winning Stanley Cup
•    Praying for Dan to go to Iraq for the Egans
•    Ski Trip 2009
•    Super Bowl Pig Roast at Faulks
•    Seeing Keith Moore in Canton
•    Going to the Pens game with all the Pastors
•    Fiddler on the Roof
•    Believer Meetings
•    Catalyst West Coast with the Boys
•    Meeting Craig Groeschel and Erwin McManus
•    Hollywood, Santa Monica, Reagans Library, Universal Studios with Ben Rath
• Pittsburgh Marathon
•    Working at Houlihans
•    Spring Cadre Advance in ATL  – Stone Mountain, Ring Ceremony
•    Having Dinner with Jeanne Mayo, the honor of being asked to work for her
•    Speaking at Jumonville for the 2nd time
•    Impartation Conference
•    Driving Doug Jones, Christopher Alam, and Pat Butcher to the airport
•    Making it Count Cincinatti – Training and Assemblies
•    Vacation in Ocean Island with the Kruks
•    Working in ATL with Jeanne and Staff in August
•    Going to NA football game with my dad
•    Marine Corps Marathon in DC
•    Fogo Di Ciao Celebration
•    Cadre Fall Retreat in ATL – Jeanne’s First Church, Retreat, CNN Tour, The Varsity hot Dog Shop
•    P90X
•    Revolution Leader Christmas Party – Students Seving
•    Steelers Game with Mr. Steidel, James, and Matt
•    New York City for New Years

Favorite Versus:

Jeremiah 32:38-41, Jeremiah 33:6-9, Romans 8:32, Proverbs 31:8,9, Proverbs 25:6,7, Proverbs 2:9,10, John 8:28, Psalm 34:4, I John 4:18, Psalm 105:19, Psalm 127:1-3, Genesis 23:39:23, Exodus 18:14,  Exodus 31:13, Acts 13:7, 1 Tim. 1:4, I Tim. 4:14,

Travels:

• Atlanta, Cincinnati, New York, DC, LA & Orange County, Rushville IL, Ocean Isle, NC
  

Bucket List Items Complete:

• Attend a Catalyst conference, go to an NFL playoff game, checked off one presidential library (Reagan), ran 2 marathons, meet Erwin McManus and Craig Groeschel, get mentored by high quality leader (Jeanne Mayo), get a bible degree, graduate college.

Best Series I listened to:

• Keith Moore - Graces and Places, Thanksgiving Victory, Free from All Fear

2009 was an amazing year and I know God has even more in store for 2010! If 2009 was good for you spend time reflecting on great memories, all that was accomplished, and how much you’ve grown! If it wasn’t a great year, recognize God wants to do big things in your life and 2010 will be the best year of your life!

Happy New Years Everyone!