When Was The Last Time Did Nothing?

I have almost the same routine every day. 7:30am-10pm pretty much have a set schedule. I am a busy Wife and Medical assistant. Along with that I have church calling, Physical Therapy, Meeting with therapist, doctors appointment (and more of them), grocery shopping making, dinner...and blah blah. And yes, I don't even have kids yet. Regardless of what time we are at in out life it is BUSY!

Our world is running at a fast pace, and I have been going at that same pace (or attempting to).

We have fast food, fast phones, fast freeways, fast access to multiple things!

The other day I watched a TED talk:

It reminded me of Elder Utchdorfs talk in which he says:

"Isn’t it true that we often get so busy? And, sad to say, we even wear our busyness as a badge of honor, as though being busy, by itself, was an accomplishment or sign of a superior life.

Is it?

I think of our Lord and Exemplar, Jesus Christ, and His short life among the people of Galilee and Jerusalem. I have tried to imagine Him bustling between meetings or multitasking to get a list of urgent things accomplished.

I can’t see it.

Instead I see the compassionate and caring Son of God purposefully living each day. When He interacted with those around Him, they felt important and loved. He knew the infinite value of the people He met. He blessed them, ministered to them. He lifted them up, healed them. He gave them the precious gift of His time."

“Life is made up of Moments. Moments create Days, days create Months, months create Years, years create LIFE. Lose the Moment and you lose Life.”

I have been so distracted that there are time that My husband will ask me if I am okay I say, " Of course". Without skipping a beat. I am so not in tune with my emotions or with the spirit. I have so much going on in my head to keep we busy. I have been so "busy" that I haven't even blogged for a month!!

Whether you have an addiction, are in recovery from one, or don't have one at all. We need to be aware of Satan, He is using busy. In all of us. and 'Busy' literally means we are 'yoked with satan'

B-being

U-under

S-satan

Y-yoke

Let us take a moment this week to have silence. To drive without music blasting or talking on the phone. Instead of playing games, checking your Facebook/Instagram/twitter etc. get our your knees. Don't let busy ruin your week.

Much love,

Rachel 

Sinking In His Grace

David Crowder Band. How He Loves Us. 

Just wanted to remind everyone how much God loves you. No matter what you are going through, no matter what you have done, He loves you. He made you. You are His. I love this song. Thankful for this reminder today. 

“If His grace is in ocean we’re all sinking in it… I don’t have time to maintain these regrets, when I think about the way… He loves us”

Much Love, 

Rachel 

Not Abandoned

On Saturday my husband had the day off, which NEVER happens. I was so thankful. We had a fun day planned. But first we had to take my car to get an oil change. blah!

As we sat down in the waiting room I realized I had not put on my ring that day. A horrible feeling, but I knew right where it was. We got home and I eagerly went into my bedroom to my night stand to put it on. I couldn’t find it. I then began to look around the night stand…thinking it may have fallen.

Then I went into the bathroom thinking, maybe I took it off to wash my hands in the morning. Nope not there. As I searched the kitchen and it was not there my anxiety grew stronger. I told my husband I couldn't find it and he started helping me search for it. 

And let me tell you it was quite the search. I had done laundry that morning, so we dumped out every laundry basket and searched every cranny of the laundry room. I had taken recycling out. So yes, my lovely husband emptied thee entire garbage bin and literally crawled inside to double check the bottom to make sure it wasn’t there. 

Our house was literally torn apart. We thought it might have fallen in the couch, so we cut the fabric lining underneath the couch only to find a marble and some fake money (which was not so funny at the time). 

By this point I was sobbing. We said another pray together. I remember telling God that I was angry because the reason my ring fall off is because it is to big. The reason it is to big is because I have been sick. And being sick is unfair. My heart was broken. 

I begged Him to fill me with faith. As I continued searching a thought came to me “God cares about what you care about”. The whole 2 hours I searched I held on strong to that. 

I began calling every place I had been starting with Jiffy Lube all the way to yesterday at Savers.  No place had they seen it. I had a feeling that we needed to go to Jiffy Lube ourselves and look for my ring. 

As we arrived at Jiffy Lube I was trying to remember which parking spot I had parked in. We began walking from spot to spot…all of the sudden there it was. Yes! In the parking lot, on the ground, sparkling in the sun. 

The odds of finding such a tiny thing were definitely not in my favor. I have never been so grateful! Not just because of the actual cost/value of the ring, but that the Lord did not give up on me. He guided me, He helped me every step of the way. He cares about what I cared about. He knew how important my ring was to me. And He knows what is important to you, no matter how big or how small. I know it!!!

“I am testifying that God never leaves us alone, never leaves us unaided in the challenges that we face. “[N]or will he, so long as time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one man [or woman or child] upon the face thereof to be saved.” On occasions, global or personal, we may feel we are distanced from God, shut out from heaven, lost, alone in dark and dreary places. Often enough that distress can be of our own making, but even then the Father of us all is watching and assisting. And always there are those angels who come and go all around us, seen and unseen, known and unknown, mortal and immortal.” -Elder Holland Oct. 2008 Conference. “Ministry of Angels”

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

Much Love,

Rachel 

Pride: Misunderstood Sin

I work at a doctor’s office. Every now and again we get some patients that we consider will not follow the physician advice. They will recommended a “plan of treatment”. Sometimes it may include a medication of some sort. When I call the patient to notify them of their abnormal blood work (or lab of some sort) they decline the “plan of treatment”. They state that they heard that the medication doesn’t work, or that someone that had that placed got worse, or someone that took that medication got fat, or they read on a website X,Y,Z etc. etc. etc. 

The physician has worked their life researching and studying this. He or she (usually) has your best interest. But many patients come in requesting something that we know will not help them. They are not interested in medical advice at all. They know what they want and they are get what THEY want. 

I know I am guilty of this with the Lord. He tells me to do _____ and I tell him that the “side effects” I will have will be to bad. Or the “surgery” won’t work well enough, OR, OR, OR.

I know that the great physician KNOWS all our needs. He KNOWS exactly the treatment we need. (I know that comparing Him to an earthly physician is not reasonable, for he is perfect)Yet, how we treat Him or react to His counsel is very prideful. 

“Pride is a very misunderstood sin, and many are sinning in ignorance. In the scriptures there is no such thing as righteous pride-it is always considered a sin. Therefore, no matter how the world uses the term, we understand how God uses the tern so we can understand the language of holy writ and profit thereby. 

Most of us think of pride as self-centeredness, conceit, boastfulness, arrogance or haughtiness. All of these are elements of the sin, but the heart, or core, are still missing. 

The central feature of pride is enmity- enmity toward God and enmity toward fellowmen. Enmity means “hatred toward, hostility to, or a state of opposition.” It is the power by which Satan wishes to region over us. 

Pride is essentially competitive in nature. We pit our will against God’s. When we direct our pride toward God, it is in the spirit of “my will and not thine be done” “- Ezra Taft Benson Conference April 1989.

In October 2010 conference Elder Utchdorf stated,”Pride is a deadly cancer. It is a gateway sin that leads to a host of other human weaknesses. In face, it could be said that every other sin is, in essence, a manifestation of pride.”

Let us all be more full of humility. We can choose humility by receive counsel from the Lord, forgiving others, and putting Him first in our lives. 

I am trying this week particularly this week to put the Lord first to do His will. He loves me and will not lead me astray. He is the perfection physician. 

“Blessed are they who humble themselves without being compelled to be humble.” (Alma 32:16.)

Sharing Is Caring

On KSL news they shared a story about a man who attempted suicide. Downer story, right? That is what I thought. But as I watched the story I actually was very inspired. 

"There is a time and a place for medication, and I used medication to get over my depression, even after the suicide attempt, and he prescribed medication," he said, "but the healing and the best medication came from helping others who were dealing with the same thing.” -Seth Adam Smith

Watch his story. 

Seth is now changing lives with his story. He has a blog. His blog not only talks about depression. It also talks about:

• Addictions
• Eating disorders
• Post traumatic stress disorder
• Faith
• Love & family 
• Inspiration 

His blog is not your typical blog. It is a group of 12 different authors. A large variety of topics and a lot of opinions (all positive).

I have been very inspired by it. I am so grateful that the Lord preserved his life so he, and others, can inspire us.

I know that many of us have been through very hard things. Perhaps you can personally relate to Seth's story. Depression is real, and it can be so painful and difficult. I have been there. I am so thankful that the Lord is making me stronger everyday so that I am able to share my story. To share that God is good. He is very aware of your situation. 

Much love,

Rachel

Fight The New Drug

I came across this new site today. I have heard about it in the past..but today I have spent hours looking and watching all their videos. It is amazing! 

Fight The New Drug- PORNOGRAPHY 

The University of Pennsylvania Mental Heath Department says: “Porn is one of the most concerning things to the psychological health of the human being existing today.  Pornography addicts have a more difficult time recovering from their addiction than cocaine addicts since coke users can get the drug out of their system but pornographic images stay in your brain forever."

It is such an amazing site! I LOVE everything they are doing to fight against pornography.  

Do you know how addictive pornography is today? 

Do you know how strong a pornography addiction is?

I didn’t realize it was just like being addictive to cocaine until I was in a 12 step addiction recovery group and was literally going through WITHDRAWALS! 

That’s right! I couldn’t sleep. I was very irritable. I got depressed. I had vivid dream “User dreams”. I felt so trapped. SO anxious. Pornogrpahy is a real addition. 

I am so grateful for the support that I had in the 12 step LDS addition recovery group. The girls in there new what I was going through, because they had been through it before. There were nights where I would sob, literally at my wits end. I felt so tempted and so horrible with where I was. I felt like my decision to stop was a bad choice, even though I knew it was right.

I am so grateful I had such an amazing support system I had. Without the LDS addiction recovery program I wouldn’t have understood the severity of my addiction. I would have felt the withdrawal symptoms, and not knowing what they really where OR what to do with them. I would have relapsed. I know it because it happen so many times in the past.

If you struggle with pornography and/or masturbating know that you are not alone. It is a real addiction. It is hard, but it is possible to stop. I promise you. I have been there. 

I am so thankful to the Lord for helping me out of my pit of darkness. It didn’t happen over night. He strengthens me everyday. There is hope. 

Get involved today! Whether you are an addict, you are a loved one of an addict or just happen to come across this blog. Spread the word. Find 5 ways they suggest for you to join and fight. 

Much love,

Rachel 

Drops of awesome

I came across a story that I absolutely love:

"As an object lesson when I was teaching this to the teenage girls at church, I gave them each a small dropper and I put a 2-quart bowl on the table. I told them that throughout the lesson they would get the chance to put drops in the bucket for every Drop of Awesome they could think of that they’d done. I promised them that we would fill the bowl to overflowing by the end of the lesson.

With about 5 minutes to go, we had barely begun to fill the bowl and the girls were looking around at each other nervously. The promised overflow did not look likely. Were they not awesome enough?

At that point, I pulled out a large pitcher labeled ATONEMENT and poured water into the glass bowl until it was spilling out all over the table and the towel the bowl was resting on. The class went silent.

When we are in a relationship with Christ, striving as God’s sons and daughters to do His will, He pours more into our buckets than we can ever hope to imagine. He can fill us to overflowing with peace, with joy, with perfection, with Awesome. And then what do we do if our bucket is overflowing like that? Where does the Awesome go then?

I pulled out an identical bowl, twice the size of the original. Our capacity for joy and light increases. And we just keep working, one tiny drop at a time. And we don’t compare today’s drops to yesterday’s or tomorrow’s. And we live and we love and we repent when we do wrong and we allow ourselves to be glorious, beautiful, and dare I say perfect in Christ, children of God.

I believe in a God who loves us and roots for us and cheers for every Drop of Awesome we can manage. Our victories are His victories and He wants us to feel joy. Not later, when we no longer make mistakes, but right now.

“Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.” (Alma 37:6)

Small and simple. Tiny drops. Go forth. Be Awesome."

source: http://www.daringyoungmom.com/2012/12/19/drops-of-awesome/drops-of-awesome-010/

So grateful for this amazing message! Cannot get enough of the simple, incredible (BEYOND BELIEF MESSAGE). Thank you "Daringyoungmom". This is exactly what I needed today. 

So blessed to learn more about the atonement everyday in my life, and in EVERY area. Never forget that it applies to each and every single thing we do through out our day. 

Hope it can make your day like it has made mine. 

Much love, 

Rachel