Starting school, some key verses

School is starting next week. My classes are Health Policy and Management; Chronic Diseases in developing countries and Women's health (policy controversies). I'm pretty excited about these classes and am hoping to give them the time they deserve, especially since there are only three of them. Did I write that in an earlier post? I imagine I may have. The great thing is that two of these classes are electives (I could choose them for myself, I wasn't obligated to take them for the degree.)

I wanted to share my hope for the future with you. There are a couple of key verses that I've been thinking about today:
Proverbs 31:8-9 "speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy."
and
James 1:27 "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

We have been re-reading A Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren, and on day 2 it emphasizes that we are unique, and that our strengths and weaknesses are created specifically to make us, and also ultimately to give us a purpose that fits us. I think this is true, and really encouraging. I hope you're encouraged by that, too. It's good for giving wisdom about what of ourselves to let go of and what to hold on to.