Reasons I Do What I Do

I have been thinking a lot about Embers post "Why?" There are many little reasons why but it really comes down to my faith and my testimony in my Savior and the Plan of Redemption. I want to return to live with my Savior. I want to be together forever with my family. My family is my rock and my strength and my reason for living. They are the motivation that keeps me going, and helps me to improve myself. Times are tough right now but I know with out a doubt that they would be even harder with out the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost helping me know I am on the right path and helping me overcome my weaknesses. I know that everything I do to help my family to be strong spiritually, emotionally, physically, & mentally will bless us. The Lord needs us to be as strong as we possibly can be in every way possible. I know that some of our trials we face are physical ones-- either due to our own past or current neglect of our bodies or because of the negative changes man has made to our environment, or due to nothing in our control. I do believe one tactic Satan uses is to use "food" that is messed with that it no longer provides nutrition and causes dis-ease in our bodies. Satan does this to make us physically and mentally weak. When we are weak we can't truly perform our missions we were sent here to do. I know that there should be balance in all things and that building us up spiritually should be first and foremost.

I have really enjoyed the talk by Sherri Dew that Sweet Basil shared with us here. I read it one Sunday night, and the following night (Monday) I gave a FHE lesson on it. That following Saturday I sang in the woman's stake choir for our Stake Women's Conference where we were blessed to hear from Sherri Dew. She talked about the same thing but she has added so much more to it. The spirit bore witness to me that yes indeed, I was saved (and so were you!) for these, the last days. He has confidence in me and I need to have more confidence in myself. One thing she said is that when she was a teenager some one told her that "you can have a spiritual experience everyday". She said it changed her life. How amazing is that! We are truly God's children. He loves us. The promise and covenant of Baptism and the Sacrament is true! We can have a spiritual experience EVERY DAY! But it won't happen unless we want it and do what we know we need to do in order to be worthy of the Spirit.

I feel it is vitally important to teach our children about the Spirit. How to recognise it, what it feels like, and how to seek and receive personal revelation. You can't teach something like this with out knowing for yourself how to do these things. But, this is life long learning process-- something that grows as our relationship grows with our Savior. You don't need to feel as if you are perfect at it in order to teach it. As long as you are personally striving for and working on this, you can teach it.

I believe in the power of natural health care. I am NOT saying that I don't see the need for traditional western medicine. It is necessary at times. I believe, because of personal experience, that Chiropractic works. Yes, my husband is a Chiropractor and I will, in a future post tell you of my personal conversion to Chiropractic as a primary form of health care-- not just a way to take care of a bad back. I believe in whole food nutrition. I know that it can and does heal our bodies. My husband has been blessed with the knowledge of how to use whole food nutrition to heal and strengthen our bodies. I love being in charge of my health care! One scripture that I like is found in Alma 46:40

"And there were some who died with fevers, which at some seasons of the year were very frequent in the land--but not so much so with fevers, because of the excellent qualities of the many plants and roots which God had prepared to remove the cause of diseases, to which men were subject by the nature of the climate--"

How powerful is that?! I know our loving Heavenly Father planned the earth so well that he gave us natural answers and cures to remove the causes of disease with in us! No matter where we live or what we suffer from, we can be healed by the plants and herbs found here in the earth. I have learned and seen for myself the damage that man made chemicals that we can be exposed to on a daily basis can cause many health problems and conditions, and therefore I try to avoid as many chemicals as I can. Alternatives that I have found that have been tried and true for my family I like to share here on this blog with you.

I do what I do because I believe in strengthening my family in every way possible so that we can live to do what we were sent here to do-- to help prepare the way for the Second Coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. If we get to be the lucky ones to be alive when He comes what an amazing blessing that will be. But if not, I know that what I am able to teach my family and others, will be passed on to future generations to help bless their lives as well.

Why?

By Ember

I just got back from the gym. This was an enlightening morning, due in part to me dumping some 'questionable' songs from my playlist. I didn't realize they fell into this category until I had them 'in my ear'. I am not the sort to purposely listen to below standards music but had left them on there like a dummy. I filled up my playlist with revival hymns. I know, doesn't sound like good quick tempo-ed music. And it really wasn't but it did give my mind a chance to meditate as I repetitiously worked on the elliptical machine.

I have another question for you today as I absolutely love reading your responses.

What are you doing all of this for? I mean really. What is it that truly absolutely motivates you to change; to continue on; to work through the struggle and pain that sometimes accompanies life? Why do you fight to improve your life, your health? I am not necessarily talking about your eternal perspective here. Of course, that is a HUGE part of it and I mean in no way to downplay or degrade that. But sometimes, at least to me, it seems so abstract. It's hard to focus on something like that at times when there are just soooo many distractions. There are just too many things I feel I should be doing and I feel like I'm failing much of the time. I don't want to feel that way. I recognize it is a tool that satan (yes, I meant to not capitalize that and never do) uses against me. I want to remove that power from him. The only way I've found that I can is to get to work. Well, sometimes getting to work seems extraordinarily difficult without a motivating factor. I am a goal oriented, passion driven person. I have to know why I am doing something. I have to feel it. It's a strength that can also be a weakness when I lose my focus. I have been struggling with the latter and praying to find new focus and reason to continue on. The answers were not really coming, even with a temple visit included. Why was I doing all of this? The homeschooling, home cooking, food storing, money saving, exercising? Why?!? It is so hard to keep up with and I feel so behind and failing. I had lost my vision for my life and that of my family's which was once so clear.

(I don't mean I won't walk blindly, in faith. I just know for me, having a sense of purpose makes all the difference.)

Today, on that elliptical machine while texting with my brother 600 miles away, it hit me. You know the kind. The 'feel-it-tingle-from-head-to-toe-but-somehow-equally-quiet, almost DNA changing, resolution kind. It's not even a new revelation, but I had lost the 'feeling' of it.

I am doing all of this so that I am AWAKE, as the scriptures admonish us to be, and PREPARED! I am determined to be strong enough to not only endure the last days, but to endure them well. And strong enough in all area's of my life.

I had forgotten that Heavenly Father, truly does bless every effort to improve ourselves and will magnify that.

I can't express how encouraged I am to be surrounded by like-minded women, even if it is only through a computer. I am strengthened by you. Your focus, your passion, your gifts and work ethic truly amaze me. We are a part of something wonderful. Yes, scary at times, but truly awesome. We get to do this together! We aren't Noah or Enoch. We aren't alone with our little families. Isn't that incredible?

Why are YOU doing this? (Whatever your 'this' may be.)