2015: Hope, Good Works & Resolutions

This post is inspired by the spirit of the new year:

HOPE

&

FAITH

To better explain what I mean by this, I am going to share a favorite scripture verse of mine from the Book of Mormon:

"Whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world. . . Which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure & steadfast, ALWAYS abounding in good works, being led to glorify God."

{Ether 12:4}

Pretty powerful, don't you think?

This year I am determined to have this be my theme.

I am resolving to constantly be checking on my faith, hope and personal conversion to the Lord, and strive to ALWAYS be doing good works!

But before I talk about the new year, I need to recap the past year:

2014

So many things happened in this year!

>I turned 19!<

>I received my Call to serve the Lord in the Washington D.C. South Misison!<

>I left my home and family for 18 months<

>Moved so many people in and out of houses, that I might put it under the "skills and accomplishments" section on my resume!<

>Been inside the Washington D.C. Temple!<

>Met some great people who have changed my life for the better!<

   

>Spent my FIRST christmas away from home!<

>Shared my Testimony of my Savior with everyone I've met!<

In other words, my year was pretty amazing!

Now.

2015 is going to be focused on finding the JOY in my journey of becoming a better person.

The person that God needs me to be.

So here are my New Year's Resolutions that will help me to BECOME

1) Forget myself ENTIRELY! 

[Lose myself in the work]

2) Focus Outward

[Quit wasting time worrying about what others think of me, and spend more time worrying about what others need, and how I can help them!]

3) LOVE a little more. Judge a lot less.

[...yeah. you got me! I'm guilty of not always thinking the nicest of the person that cut me off in traffic... oops!]

["If you're judging someone, you don't have time to love them"]

["What you say about others reflects more about you than them"]

4) Be anxiously engaged in a Good cause!

[when given the choice of doing nothing, or doing something, I will always choose to do SOMETHING no matter how small that may be!]

This year is NOT going to be about ME.

{{{This year is going to be about God.}}}

I have a duty and the privilege to serve God, and stand as a representative of Jesus Christ 24/7, 365 days of the year! 

How great is that? :)

I absolutely LOVE it. 

However, being a missionary isn't always the easiest thing. It's not popular to the world. It is challenging and exhausting. 

Every day, I have a decision to make:

>Am I going to choose to do what I want to do? OrWill I choose to do what God has asked me to do?<

So this year, I am resolving to follow God's plan for me, and follow the example of Christ who said, 

"Not MY will, but THINE, be done."

Now.

I am honestly not expecting to be perfect at this...

Lets be honest here.

How often do we make resolutions, and ACTUALLY keep them?

I expect I will slip up here and there... 

And that is okay!

Because #repentanceisreal

2015

             

This is bound to be a challenging year for me.

Life is not easy.

Change is hard.

Serving a mission is exhausting.

It's not something I can take on by myself, but with God ALL things are possible!

{I am ready to face this year with my savior by my side.}

Are you ready for the changes of this new year?

What do YOU hope for?

Who are you striving to BECOME?