living and learning. lessons from 2009.

At the beginning of 2009, I decided I would keep a list of life lessons I learned throughout the year by personal experience or the observation of others. I had no idea I would learn so many things. J Some are funny… some are serious. It ‘s always best to learn from others so that you don’t have to learn the hard way. This is worth reading… I hope you can grab a couple of them to take with you and apply to your life. I have by no means mastered them… still on the life-long journey.

1. If you don’t manage your time, your time will manage you.

2. Going to bed at 10pm makes life better. J

3. Fake nails are the remedy for nail-biting. J

4. Investing in one person IS significant- they could be the one to change the world.

5. Always keep learning and reading.

6. Treasure family.

7. It’s good to make a plan, but don’t get ahead of God.

8. Ice storms just might be God’s way of saying, “stop, rest, think, dream.” J

9. You don’t want to find out what you missed by simply not asking God. So ask.

10. People may actually remember what you said a year ago. Good or bad.

11. It’s worth it to go out to eat with friends after church… even if you can’t get out of bed the next day. J

12. Do something you are afraid to do every day.

13. Look for the people who are serving when no one else is watching… they are the real leaders.

14. Be the friend that’s present in both the tragedy and the mundane.

15. It’s worth it to spend money on fresh flowers… even better, grow your own.

16. Invest time, money, energy into the next generation… change history.

17. Read different translations of the Bible every once in a while… you will fall in love with reading it all over again.

18. Journal and take photos… live your life and document it.

19. When you say that you will pray for someone, write it down and actually pray.

20. Bless someone every day… loneliness results from thinking too much about ourselves.

21. Time at the altar seeking God and soul-searching is never wasted.

22. When it’s freezing cold outside, wear the warmest coat you have… cute or not. J

23. Hang on to the birthday cards with the long letter of wisdom from grandpa… you may need it.

24. Do two things you don’t want to do every day.

25. “Success comes to those who are working too hard to look for it.”

26. Hang on to the friends who tell you the truth you don’t want to hear.

27. People will make decisions based on your outlook on life.

28. It’s a good thing to live at home with your parents when you can. J

29. When family comes to visit, cancel everything to spend time with them.

30. We may not know ourselves as well as we think.

31. Sitting outside and watching the stars at night can put life back into perspective.

32. It’s okay for Mom and Dad to have Facebooks… they need friends too. J

33. Don’t spend lots of money on clothing/accessories… you WILL want to get rid of them someday.

34. Everyone has a background/story that affects their outlook on life. Don’t judge.

35. Time reveals a person’s true character.

36. Don’t make determinations/decisions about life when you are tired or at night.

37. Make family your priority… they will still be there when everyone else fails you.

38. Invite people to church… they’re waiting for you to ask.

39. Invest your self, time, energy, and resources rather than simply spending them.

40. You don’t have to understand it all in order to take the next step forward.

41. Stay close to Jesus… and He will take you where you never thought you could or would go.

42. When it seems like God is holding out on you, He is actually protecting you and setting you up for something great.

43. Don’t settle for cheap substitutes or to walk the easy road… they don’t last.

44. God HAS to be the first place you run to share your joys, sorrows, fears, and doubts.

45. Don’t hold on to your life tightly… live with your hands open… freely giving and receiving as God sees fit.

46. When life is hard, don’t turn up the noise and speed up the pace… it’s good to think and process with God.

47. Love and cherish the people in your life… because they may leave before you realize that you need to.

48. See people with their potential- not as they are now… or you may miss out on having them in your life.

49. When you invest your finances in things that are God’s priorities, He will provide and meet your every need.

50. Life is not going to slow down, so stop waiting for it to… jump on board and start living.

51. Don’t allow your mind to think too far ahead or you will miss the moment in which you are living.

52. When a car is parked in the garage, don’t park behind them- they may forget you are there and back into your vehicle. J

53. Don’t marry the flirt… some things just don’t change. [observation.]

54. When you have people in your life depending on you and looking up to you, it causes you to live to a higher standard and be more thoughtful making decisions.

55. Welcome people into your family who have no family… that’s the heart of Jesus.

56. When you are having a bad day, look at yourself in the mirror and force yourself to smile and smile and smile… bet you can’t stop. J

57. Have multiple backups of your computer data… trust me. J

58. Learn from the mistakes of others so that you don’t have to make them yourself.

59. If vehicles aren’t needing repairs, they need maintenance… save accordingly.

60. You will begin to talk like and act like the people you spend the most time with… choose wisely.

61. Don’t be in relationships with people who tell you what you want to hear but rather those who throw you overboard into greatness.

62. Take as many trips/vacations with your family as you can- the memories will last a lifetime.

63. Let God be the one to fight for you- He responds when you live like you need Him.

64. “The biggest moments in our lives are so small compared to what God wants to do.” –hona

65. Eating healthy and exercising is good stewardship of the life and body God has given you… preventing sickness and disease… be wise.

66. There is always something to be happy about… it’s a matter of finding or noticing it.

67. Owning your own business has its advantages and disadvantages… ask me before you do it. J

68. “Go as far as you can see, and when you get there you will see farther.” – hona

69. Some things are not worth crying over… but some things are.

70. Keep your spouse first… then the kids… so, when the kids are gone, you will still have your best friend. [observation.]

71. It’s okay to be open and vulnerable with your life… your stories may be someone’s answers or source of inspiration.

72. Sometimes all you can do is believe.

73. Every birthday is worth celebrating… you are alive! J

74. Growing old is a way of thinking… embrace change and stay forever young.

75. If you find yourself doubting the nearness of God, spend time in nature, and you will see Him everywhere.

76. God is the ultimate creativity… He has some good ideas for you… ask Him.

77. Sometimes you have to be away from the ones you love, but it doesn’t mean you love them any less… usually makes you love them more.

78. Don’t be afraid to open your home to orphans… after all, God adopted us as His own and changed the course of our lives.

79. When you talk to people, ask yourself, ‘What is their present need and how can I help meet the need?’

80. The more you give your life away… the more you will want to keep giving.

81. We have no reason to complain about inconveniences… we live such comfortable lives.

82. Sometimes the things God requires of us don’t make us happy at the moment, but God is working behind the scenes to set us up for greatness.

83. Don’t carry your camera on your shoulder… risky business. J

84. When we encourage people, it is important to point them back to God’s Word and their need for Him- our words don’t change hearts and lives.

85. Faith can cause silent prayers to be answered… He knows the desire and needs that we have never put to words.

86. If you don’t take risks and step out in faith, you may never know what God can do… and what it is to really be alive.

87. Beautiful looks different to everyone.

88. “Unless God is with me, I don’t want to go.”

89. “God uses nobodies to do His work.”

90. You must pull yourself together one the inside- the rest of the world is losing it and falling apart.

91. We all dream of going and changing the world… rarely the communities in which we already live. [guilty of this.]

92. No one likes to do the “dirty work”- be the one to pick up trash, work behind the scenes, and have the tough conversations.

93. Create margin in your life- it allows you to relax and be available for people and God.

94. “When you are close to Him, you can hear a whisper.”

95. “God is outside of time and knows how to put everything in order.”

96. When it seems like God is not answering our prayers, He is taking us on a journey that is changing our lives.

97. There are some worthwhile things in life that simply deserve our commitment.

98. It is worth it to clean your room for 20 minutes a day so that you don’t have to spend a week doing it. J

99. Not every Christian loves Jesus as much as I do.

100. God gives us time so that everything doesn’t happen at once… He knows what we can handle.

Here is to a Happy New Year. 2010 will hold many incredible opportunities, challenges, joys, and sorrows. The future is bright. God is with us and for us. Stay close to Him.

Heather