"A man of character finds a special attractiveness in difficulty, since it is only by coming to grips with difficulty that he can realize his potentialities."
- Charles De Gaulle
"Affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope."
- Romans 5:3-4
Today's plan was just to read chapter 2, recap my work history to myself and ponder on two questions:
- How close to the national averages am I in the length of my jobs?
- The national average for keeping a job is 3.2 years, so it's safe to say that I have surpassed that with my current job and come close with others. I'm not sure the others really count as they were jobs just to get me through undergrad.
- Were the changes in your work a result of circumstances or something I did?
- I suppose all of my changes were circumstantial. While at Purdue I never really chose a part-time job based on if I'd like it or not. I chose based on convenience and later how much money I'd be making. When I started looking for internships it became more about how good this would look on my resume and position me for a "stable job". It's weird sometime between graduating high school and graduating college I stopped pursuing things that really interested me.
I think the biggest part of this situation is I don't really know who I am or what I want. I know I'm a child of GOD but I don't really know who GOD has created me to be (bummer, right?!). I'm excited (.. and maybe a little scared..) about what's to come.. because right now I am SO uncomfortable that things will have to change. I cannot do stagnant & mediocre anymore.
Key Quotes from Chapter 2
- "Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eye off the goal"
- "The more you understand yourself, the more you can move forward with boldness and confidence. When you get to heaven, GOD is not going to ask you why you weren't more like Mother Teresa, HE's likely to ask you why you weren't more like you. Lead with your own unique talents and personality. Be authentically you and let GOD use you."
- "Just because you have the ability to do something does not mean it is well-suited to you."
- "All beginnings are hopeful"
That last quote helps me realize part of what is my issue. Not having a clear, cut vision of my future direction is causing me to be hopeless. I mean, how can one have faith without hope.. they kind of go hand in hand. So that is my prayer... VISION.. please if you're reading this today... say a quick prayer for me.
I know that I'm not in this season of my life for nothing. I pray that I pay attention to what is going on and what GOD wants me to learn. I'm gaining a lot of knowledge while reading this book but as my pastor said in bible study last night, "Knowledge is not power unless it changes you and knowledge without a test is not LEARNED".
I'll leave you with this quote:
"Faith is ALWAYS in front of me, NEVER behind me"
~ Pastor Harold Pettigrew, Jr.
~ Pastor Harold Pettigrew, Jr.
It's time for me to take a leap of faith! Pray my strength!
So inspiring1 I loved this. I love quotes, but I'm not a junky...so when I first saw all the quotes you put in this post I was like "Skip this one...that one too..." lol. I usually like ONE really good quote--but--after I actually read all of them in conjunction with what you were saying, I realized they ALL spoke volumes to the situation. So, in all...excellent work. I'm excited to keep on truckin on this journey with you! Doin well..now answer my text please =)
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Me
Man I am so stealing the Charles De Gaulle quote.. the truth, this has been my experience it is only in difficulty you find out who you are and what you are made of. It is also awesome because you also get a glimpse into who God is calling you to be. The Romans scriptures sums it up similar to the Book of James, telling us that we are basically built to go through things that will contribute to who we are and build our character. Faith is such a powerful thing. We can accept change for the better unless we have the faith for it to mainfest. What I have learned about faith is that it cant be an option it has to be an essential part of who you are. I realized that even when you have a little faith "that mustard seed faith that you can move mountains. As God brings you through situations you thought were hopeless you can no longer go around with that same level of faith you have substance now so you faith my continue to grow. God is so awesome that he will allow us to go through things because we arent being completly submissive to his will and he has to allow us to see that he is always in control. So I say to you seek Gods will for your life and there will be no failure. Replace that fear for faith because when we walk in fear we put down our faith and God is not pleased. I believe we go through things for God to so us who we really are vs where he is calling us to be and when you can clearly see you aren't walking in the direction God has called you to be you won't have peace. But also God challenges us to put us down and pick him up and that could be something we are not familiar with therefore causing a level of discomfort and we hate that. All said and done we won't get anywhere without God ordaining it his will. So in all things Seek God there lies the answer.
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