Golly! It’s been 3 months back in the States and I’m slowly gathering my thoughts about this past year. I know processing takes a while and I will most likely be processing this Race for the rest of my life as the Lord gives me new and deeper understanding (eeek…so excited!).
My mind is full of memories and it’s hard to even put words to what I experienced. To help with this process, I figured “Hey, let me look back to my notes at training camp and see what I find.” Man was that cool! I was flipping through my numerous journals I used on my Race and found tear-stained pages, highlights from the day/month, prayers to Papa, key verses I clung to as I entered and exited differed seasons, answered prayer requests, crazy God moments, pain, joy, sadness, vulnerability, artwork, book quotes, teaching notes, and even traced hands of the children I sat next to in Haitian church service month 2. Wow! I am completely overwhelmed with what I found. I could visibly see the ways the Lord broke and molded me over the course of the Race; in my own handwriting.
As I was flipping through, I jotted down some of the patterns I noticed and breakthroughs I experienced. Enjoy!
1. It’s not me people need, it’s God.
2. Expect the unexpected and rejoice!
3. A life of full surrender is the best posture.
4. I’m not called to be friends with everyone, but I am commanded to love them.
5. It’s not about me! It’s all about God and His Kingdom. Luke 22:39-46
6. There needs to be a balance between intimacy, community, and mission. It all starts with intimacy with the Father.
7. God has called me; therefore, I am equipped.
8. Abandonment leads to brokenness. Brokenness leads to a stronger dependence on the Lord, which is exactly where you want to be.
9. Here/There Path (where you are now, where you want to be, and how you’ll get there) is never a straight line, but something to always reflect on and adapt.
10. We cannot control others’ reactions, only our own.
11. We ALWAYS have a choice!
12. Pain is one of the greatest teachers.
13. It’s God’s job to lead, not mine. He gives me authority through Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:18-20
14. How to discern the voice of God: Does it line up with Scripture? Is it consistent with God’s character? Is it being confirmed through church messages or in my quiet times? Is it beyond me? Would it please God?
15. Have an Acts 9:31 mindset as the Church.
16. Who am I to stand in God’s way? I’m not big enough to mess up His plan.
17. Delayed obedience is still disobedience.
18. Prayer is SO important and SO powerful!
19. The gospel will still be spoken and understood without a shared common language.
20. Fight for stillness! 1 Samuel 12:16 and Psalm 46:10
21. Be weary of control.
22. I’m already loved.
23. Don’t doubt in God’s ability to use you.
24. Waiting to feel the Lord’s favor is incorrect. Our feelings can lead us astray and aren’t always reliable. We need to trust and press into His goodness despite how we feel.
25. Don’t let emotions be my boss!
26. Without a battle, there is no victory.
27. My life will follow where I choose to focus my vision.
28. God has all power. I am simply a manager of His resources.
There’s for sure more things that will surface as time goes, but wow…THANKS GOD!
p.s. If you don’t journal, I highly encourage you to start. Or maybe you journal sometimes, but haven’t in a while. I highly encourage you to continue. Pick up your pens/pencils and let your heart write. It’s absolutely incredible to look back and see the journey you’re walking with the Father. It’s so sweet!
~A
