Monday, January 21, 2013

Defining Passion

I recently discussed with a friend our beliefs, and when I really began to have my passion and form my foundation spiritually. Honestly I was saved when I was nine years old after my mother watched a hell-fire preacher and scared the poop out of me of going to hell, I really didn't care much after that until the age fifteen when I doubted my salvation and wanted physical proof that I was saved (mainly in the form of God coming down and audibly telling me I was honestly). It took a while and many prayers to get past that point and to just trust Him that I rested safely in His almighty hands.  I had a relationship with God, but only in the form of fear of separation. 

I later really formed my beliefs after a Mormon friend on his mission asked me some questions in one of his letters. I remember after reading it, I sat in the bath tub and thought to God how on earth am I supposed to answer all these questions? After getting out I wrapped myself in a towel and before even getting dressed I sat myself at my desk and prayed to the Lord to help me and began to write.

I cut the introduction off and posted the body of the letter here, if there is anyone interested in what I believe.




"January 18, 2007 (printed and sent January 22, 2007)


Dear Elder Jake,


...I’m mainly writing you this to answer your question.  I do get this kind of thing from missionaries (or Richard! Ha-ha JK) although I’ve not seen them recently due to Richard and Nicole moving out to the boonies.  The exact question was “…what you [I] believe.  Like what is the nature of God? What is the meaning of life?  What is the role of families in God’s plan?”  Then you asked “What gives you the strength to get up every morning?  What do you want for your life? What are you going to do to get it?”  Well I’ll try to answer this as well as I can.  I believe the Apostles Creed which is:


I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; HE descended into hell.

On the third day he rose again; He ascended into heaven, He is seated at the right hand of the Father, and He will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

Amen.

My mother once paid me to memorize that and I did it just to get the money and then forgot it, but a few years later I memorized it again, and this time for the right reason, because I really love it, and it really says what I believe and feel.

God’s nature is Love, he is Love.  How else can you describe him better than that?  A friend of mine in high school used to say he couldn’t see how God loved us, and I would tell him I couldn’t see how he couldn’t.  I find it a bit hard to explain past that because love isn’t a physical thing you can see, but like a DC Talk song says “he’s like the wind, you can’t see the wind but you can see the effects of the wind”  I find that a good description.  The meaning of life for me is to serve the Father with all our mind, soul, heart, and strength, and to show his everlasting love to others and serve as a witness to all of His eternal love.  The role of families is the same for me as the meaning of life, to serve him with all our being.  The parents are to guide and teach their children about him and guide them along his glorious path.  Whether in families or as individuals, we are to serve him as children of God.

What gives me strength to get up every morning? The Lord of course and my desire to do his will, and get closer to him than I was the last day.  It is impossible to get to know every aspect of God, so I want to learn and build as close of a relationship with him as I possibly can.  And this life is too short to waste even a day.  He is the first one I talk to in the morning and the last one before I go to bed, He is who I see in all of nature; in trees, wind, the sea, waves, the sky, the grass, the flowers, in all his creations, including me.  I see him when I look at the ceiling, when I look in the mirror and talk to him, and when I look inside myself.  He is my father, my teacher, my professor, my almighty counselor, and my best closest friend.  He is someone I want to be like, and I can never get enough of.  In his own words he is I am that I am.  What I want for my life is whatever God’s will is, I want his plans for my life, because my life is devoted to him.  I want to worship Him and be a witness to as many as I can while I’m here.  I also want a family of course, I want to be a mother that embodies the Proverbs Wife but the rest I’m currently working on figuring out. What do I want out of life? I want the fullness of God. What am I going to do to get it?  I will pray and meditate on him, read his word (for the word was with God, and the word was God, in the beginning), continue to talk with him and follow the path that the lord sets before me. 

I hope that I answered your questions, I’ve never written my responses before to someone and as I’m sure you’ve noticed on occasions I tend to ramble, even when I write, so I tried to stay on topic and not ramble too much. J

I think I will leave it on that note and say adieu.  Have a glorious day and I’ll talk to you later!

Sincerely,

Rebecca Wright (ReeBee)"

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Where my joy comes from

A lot happened this last year, a lot personally and financially, a lot with my family and a lot with my friends.  After a few emotional breakdowns my family all decided that I needed to go back on my antidepressant...why? Too much to get into and none of it worth it really.

With the ending of one year and the beginnings of another, many people create new year resolutions, goals, and such but there is one thing a blogger, +Tina Reale did that I liked and I think I'm going to try this year...creating myself a theme for the year.  She did it by one word, joy. 

While joy is definitely something I could use also, I think I'm more going to aim for peace.  Really I want to work on all the fruit of the spirit, but this one especially.  With the attaining of peace I expect joy and balance to follow and both are things I could use.

This holiday season, I found out that nothing can replace a firm relationship and foundation in Christ or family in your life.  God is the only solid thing we have in our lives, the only true thing we can put our trust into. Thankfully I've also been blessed by Him with a family I can rely on to be there for me though, which is a huge blessing. Out of all the things I've brought them through they've been there for me, and that means more then they'll ever realize.

Work is starting something called the happiness advantage and I really recommend watching it

http://www.ted.com/talks/shawn_achor_the_happy_secret_to_better_work.html


in it he lists 5 ways to turn happiness into an advantage:

  1. write down what you're greatful for (3 things)
  2. journal for 2 minutes about something positive that happened within the past 24 hours
  3. exercise
  4. meditate (prayer) 
  5. send a positive email first thing at work.
I've done a greatful for journal before so just getting me back into the habit, along with the journaling 2 minutes. That I wont do on a blog because I feel it will benefit me more if I physically write it. For me there is something about the act of penmenship that cannot be replaced. Exercise I've covered with the help of +Tina Reale & her Best Body Bootcamp. Meditate and prayer I need to work on doing more regularly. I'm thinking of trying in the car maybe on my way to work, along with stretches at least 3 days a week. After that it's the positive email first thing at work which sounds easy enough but after a while I'm not so sure...

Anyhoo I'll keep you all posted!