The past year...

Last April I started a journal. I have started many a journal in my day, and rarely do I finish one. Today, I finished that journal. I thought I'd share some of my favorite scripture, quotes, and thoughts from the past year. 

"He did not do many miracles because of their lack of faith." Matthew 13: 58

"You of LITTLE faith, WHY did you DOUBT?" Matthew 14: 31

"Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted."Matthew 15: 28

"Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." Matthew 10:39

It's NOT about ME. 

"The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised." Job 1:21

LET GO... TRUST.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding; In  all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths." Proverbs 3: 5-6

"O Love that wilt not let me go,

I rest my weary soul in thee;

I give thee back the life I owe,

That in thine ocean depths its flow

May richer, fuller be."

" 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ " -Jesus (Matthew 25:40)

PATIENCE.

SURRENDER.

"I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. " Psalm 27: 13-14

"The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, ABOUNDING in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does NOT treat us as our sins deserve OR repay us according to our iniquities. For as HIGH as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west so far has he removed our transgressions from us." Psalm 103: 8-12

"If I trust Him, I will obey Him gladly." -Elisabeth Elliot

"Taken in the right spirit these things will develop a mature characeter, and a character of the sort produces a steady hope, a hope that will never disappoint us." Romans 5: 3-4 (Phillips)

"Each person is given something to do that shows who God is." 1 Corinthians 12:7 (MSG)

"I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God's hands, that I still possess." -Martin Luther

Quotes of the Day

"Men and women must work. That is as certain as the sun. But we may work grudgingly or we may work gratefully. We may work as people or machines. There is no work so rude that we may not exalt it; no work so impassive that we not breathe a soul into it; no work so dull that we may not enliven it if we understand that what we are doing is service for our Lord Jesus Christ." -Henry Giles

"Remember this, had any other condition been better for you than the one in which you are, divine love would have put you there. You are placed by God in the most suitable circumstances, and if you had the choosing of your lot, you would soon cry, "Lord, choose my inheritance for me, for by my self-will I am pierced through with many sorrows." Be content with such things as you have, since the Lord has ordered all things for your good." -Charles Spurgeon

Cure for the Common Life

Right now I am reading this book called "Cure for the Common Life" by Max Lucado.  I have already read it once, but I am reading it again and enjoying it so much. Basically in this book he talks about how God had given each and every one of us strengths, gifts, and talents for a purpose. He gave us these gifts because he designed us for a specific task to do in life. When we discover what that task is and do it for HIM... we live in our "sweet spot", or the place in life we were meant to dwell. Through this book he gives the reader practical tools for exploring and identifying your own gifts and how to live in this "sweet spot" for the rest of your life.

I started reading this book because I am struggling right now with my job. I don't feel like this is my "sweet spot". Not that nursing or healthcare altogether isn't it... just my current job. I am in process of praying constantly about how I should make my next career move. It is important to me that I am attentive to God's direction, instead of my own will for my life. This book is really helping me through this process.

In the meantime, I pray God gives me strength to get through work everyday and gives me joy in my current job. Because even though this may not be my forever job, it is the work he has given me for today.

Happy reading!

Stephanie