It's that point in the series when I take a break to share what's inspiring me. Ideally this would be a beautifully curated collection of my most favorite and inspiring words of encouragement from all the sources I've seen, heard, read ever.
Unfortunately, though, that would require lots of digging through too many old journals. So, instead, I'm sharing inspiring words simply from the books I've most recently read, from things I've recently heard, and some ongoing favorites from the Bible. Together, these are encouraging me on my life's journey.
Book Quotes
Never Broken by Jewel
We are made like trees, with our roots firmly planted in the ground, and if we can see we are built to bend and give, then the winds of life will pass through our branches without breaking us.
The More of Less by Joshua Becker
Admire success. But do not celebrate excess. Learning to know the different will change your life.
Post-Traumatic Church Syndrome by Reba Riley
(about her mother's crisis of faith after an incident at their church) She didn't understand why God had allowed the abuse, but she also knew God wasn't a part of it. She had a choice: to be bitter or better.
The Ministry of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson
We cannot take away those [difficult] circumstances, but we can offer our children the gift of faith so they will have the strength to live through them and a relationship with God that gives meaning to it all.
Wild and Free by Jess Connolly and Hayley Morgan
Who are you to call any part of what He has made bad? Your personality, body, gifts, dreams, voice, story, ideas, passions, family, and convictions--where in Scripture do you find any authority to see those as anything but God-given and God-approved?
You have to go there [to freedom] yourself. It's impossible to guide people into something you've never experienced.
Own Your Life by Sally Clarkson
This time of testing will be the making of your faith, the humbling of your heart, the shaping of your character, the writing of your story.
Make It Happen by Lara Casey
If there is a 'secret' to life it's this: following God is far more valuable than all the riches and comforts in the world. Whatever you are going through right now, if it's humbling you, making you pray, bringing you to your knees, and making you feel like you cannot do this along, maybe there is a reason--a glorious, beautiful reason.
Present Over Perfect by Shauna Niequist
This is where life is... Here. Now. You, just as you are. Me, just as I am. This world, just as it is. This is the good stuff. This is the best stuff there is. Perfect has nothing on truly, completely, wide-eyed, open-souled present.
Love Warrior by Glennon Doyle Melton
Pain led them to their rock bottom, and rock bottom is the beginning of any honest life, any spiritual journey.
Wildflower by Drew Barrymore
It takes every step to get to where you are, and if you are happy, then God bless the hard times it took you to get there. No life is without them, so what are yours, and what did you do with the lessons? That is the only way to live.
Spoken Quotes
Dick van Dyke's character on Mary Poppins
What did I tell ya? There's a whole world at your fingertips. And who gets to see it but the birds, the stars, and the chimney sweeps.
The Narrator on Cinderella
Would who she was really be enough? There was no magic to help her this time. This is perhaps the greatest risk any of us will ever take—to be seen as we truly are.
Jen Hatmaker, Belong Tour
Do not get derailed because your call doesn't feel "big" enough. Jesus did not ask us to be famous, He asked us to be faithful.
Patsy Clairmont, Belong Tour
(telling about birds that were tracked and found to have flown endlessly without break) Those little birds were created for so much more than people knew.
Nichole Nordeman, Belong Tour
God is going to meet you in the rubble, and He prefers that anyway because that's where the honesty is.
Shauna Niequist, Belong Tour
Love is never found in hustle, it's always found in love Himself--the very heart of Jesus.
Pearl Bryant, KS-NE Women's Retreat
Mindfulness brings together feelings and facts to a purposeful Christ-centered action. If you're acting on feelings alone, you're at a high risk of making a bad decision.
Bible Texts
Some of these are from the New King James Version (my go-to) or The Message (the paraphrase I'm currently reading through) or a summary of a longer text.Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Psalm 78:1-4
We're not keeping this to ourselves, we're passing it along to the next generation--God's fame and fortune, the marvelous things He has done.
Ecclesiastes 3:11
He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts.
Psalm 18:16, 19
He sent from above, He took me; He drew me out of many waters.
He also brought me out into a broad place; He delivered me because He delighted in me.
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Ecclesiastes 12:13
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all.
Mark 12:30-31 (also Matthew 22:37-39, Luke 10:27)
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these.
Deuteronomy 8
Remember every road that God led you on for those forty years in the wilderness, pushing you to your limits, testing you so that he would know what you were made of, whether you would keep his commandments or not. ... Make sure that when you eat and are satisfied, build pleasant houses and settle in, see your herds and flocks flourish and more and more money come in, watch your standard of living going up and up—make sure you don’t become so full of yourself and your things that you forget God, your God...
John 8:14-18
I know where I’ve come from and where I go next.
Joshua 1:9
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
James 4:7-10
Hit bottom and cry your eyes out. Get down on your knees before the Master; it's the only way you'll get on your feet.
Revelation 22:20
He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
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