I know its only been a few weeks, but God has already been revealing Himself in so many new ways to me and I’d love to share what I am already learning 🙂 These lists will be ever-growing and are somewhat like a journal to myself, too!

From God (prayer times/devotions), I’m learning…

• that He can work in so many more ways than I’ve known
• to distinguish His voice in my head while I seek direction, answers, and insight
• how powerful He is
• to let Him take control – quick side story: while I was reading my Bible on the seawall by the ocean, two men walked by and without hearing any of their conversation before or after, I heard “why drive when you can be driven?” which would have absolutely no meaning to anyone else, but it stood out so clear to me! I have totally been trying to “drive” and not let “Jesus take the wheel” so-to-speak (hahah) lately as I make plans and think I know what’s best in how to serve (Steve said I should try “carpooling with God” more 🙂
• that there’s a difference between a good thing and the best thing
• all I need to be is WILLING
• to stay the course – fruit will come when we don’t pull our roots up too soon
• that I’d rather err on the side of it maybe being God’s voice and obey, than to live among the comforts of the world
• to come to God expectant but without my own expectations
• that He is always rooting for us, on our side no matter what

From speakers I have learned…

• to say yes before knowing all the details
• that it’s a lot easier for God to guide us if we just keep moving
• “go where the grace is” even when we don’t see a bigger picture, keep taking little steps wherever God seems to be pointing
• that to be the most effective learner, I need a desire to engage and a dedication to study – need both hunger and discipline to learn and grow
• to reshape my view of rest – an opportunity to lean on God and reflect on His love
• how to live in “holiness,” which simply means “set apart” – look different from the world’s standards, insecurities, expectations – just being an image bearer of God in a world that doesn’t look like it
• not to equate my level of trust with God’s level of power
• to practice following simple directions and daily obedience when its safe, so its easy when its not
• that God works best outside of our comfort zone
• as soon as we decided to follow Christ, we move from being the mission field to the missionary – not always in foreign countries as a career, but in our every day lives
• to focus where you want to go, not where you don’t – easy to be consumed by what you are trying to avoid (like the edge of a cliff) when we aren’t staring at our goal (like the path ahead)
• never to sit in passivity – always be sharpening each other, welcoming refinement, and ending each day looking a little more like Jesus
• grace doesn’t just cover our mistakes, but enables us to walk in the things we can imagine – love, righteousness, purity, joy
• God uses the impossible so man can’t take the credit – step out into what He can do!
• He brings the increase and fulfillment of promises, all we do is obey
• relationships don’t just stay the same – always increasing or slowly decreasing – same thing with God! that doesn’t mean we work for our salvation, but we can strengthen our faith and relationship!
• when we take out negative aspects of our character or turn from old ways, we need to fill them with God and good, or it’ll easy to slip back in
• not to be ruled by my heart – we are created with emotion, but that doesn’t mean decisions should be based off of them
• that nothing is really a sacrifice if it is given up for something better
• when Jesus is the model, things become surprisingly black and white (i.e. justifications for not loving difficult people)
• the world can love people that love them back; its this unnatural, unconditional love that should separate us – people are changed by love, not unforgiveness
• don’t work for love, work from love
• that there’s a difference between conviction (from Holy Spirit to cause change) and condemnation (from Satan to cause shame)
• the Gospel is not just me and God – there is always people and community, so I need love and vulnerability
• every command and law can be summed up by: Love God, Love People.

The people I have been building relationships with have been teaching me…

• how different cultures can be – learning to respect various opinions and opposing perspectives, expanding my global outlook from people that from so many different places, countries, lifestyles, and backgrounds
• to maintain my identity and personality, no matter the situation – whether I’m meeting new people on campus or sharing stories with Marshallese families, I want who I am to come through
• all the ways God can work in my life by listening to awesome stories of God providing, speaking, comforting, and leading
• how we can all unite for one purpose – despite differing views, its awesome to be able to come together to serve God and His people
• how to work in harmony with groups – highlighting people’s strengths and giving grace for their weaknesses, staying positive and encouraging, thinking of their needs first and continually looking for areas that need help