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learn from others


I have spent time this week with some great people.  Some of these people are family.  Some of these people are local ministry friends.  Some of these people work with our local schools.  What they all have in common is that I learn from them, and I am so grateful.

It is incredible to take opportunities to learn from others.  Our situations and the people around us might very well be gifts from God to learn and to encourage.  Think about how you ingest the wisdom of the people around you.

Here is a post from March of 2008 that speaks to this truth as well today as it did back then:

One of my core beliefs is that I have to learn from others.  Since I was pretty young, there has been part of me that desired to sit at the feet of people who love God and love doing what they do.  Through the years I have sat at the feet of some great people (people who have experienced God through their lives).  Some of those people are pastors, some are missionaries, some are business leaders, some are family and others are friends, some are housewives and some are in heaven already.  Do you get it? 

We do not have the corner on the "God market", and it is time that we begin learning from others in bigger ways!

1 Thessalonians 5:11 (nlt)
So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.

Listening to a podcast, I heard this: There is a deep desire in all if us to enjoy life. (from www.catalystspace.com)

I got an e-mail and made a phone call to a dude who is planting a church in Tennessee.  For about 20 minutes we talked about planting, preaching and about passion.  From the places God has brought me to, through and out of, I have stuff to give others.

Galatians 6:2 (nlt)
Share each other's burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.

You have stuff to give to others.  You have stuff to learn from others.  Far too many people we encounter think that they cannot learn, and some think they don't need to learn.  Do you hear that?  When we stop learning, we stop growing.  Worse than that, we stop impacting the world for Jesus.

By learning from others, I learn so much.  I learn I have not arrived.  I learn that I don't have to make some mistakes if I learn from others.  I learn that others have been where I am.  I learn that God is doing some awesome things all over the world and not just around me.

Think about it!  We are partners in ministry.  From Maine to Manila.  From Portugal to Portland.  Learning from others is a care value we need to cherish and cultivate.

Last thing, people matter to God.  You matter to God.  Don't forget that fact.  God is more interested in the people around us than in the programs and processes we have to deal with.  Live life as a learner and giving it all away!

Colossians 1:10 (nlt)
Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.

I close with two things I learned from the podcast I referenced about: the sticky factor and loving Jesus.  The sticky factor is when you give something to a person that they put on the mirror or in their wallet that will be a reminder later.  People ought to have a sticky factor...meaning we ought to live in a way to remind others of what God has taught us.  Loving Jesus is the most important thing we do.  Spend time with Him.

So, learning from others is huge.  We have to do.  We have to treasure it.  What do you think?
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