Personality Development: What's the Purpose?

Out of all my hobbies and interests, learning about personality theory has been near the top for quite some time. And most of the time, it is centered around those theories, like the MBTI, that are more in the pop-psychology realm. 

So whenever I hear about writers elaborating on an aspect of personality that has to do with, for example, introversion and extroversion, I appreciate that. This particular one was convicting, because while it deals with misconceptions about introverts, the main point of it was how the development of our personality, for the Christian, is about sanctification, about “accepting the realities” of the personality that God gave us and allowing Him to develop that for His glory. It’s not about me and my personality and figuring out who I am, it’s figuring out who I can be for God’s glory. The last paragraph of the article really sums it up well. 

I need to examine my motives for studying this personality theory stuff. Am I simply trying to make myself feel better, or am I using the information I learn to show love to others in a more effective way and to grow as a person and glorify God? Good food for thought. Here's the article: Four Lies About Introverts 

-Rachel

Contentment Challenge Update

So, in the month of March I reread the 2 books that make up the Marta’s Legacy series, Her Mother’s Hope and Her Daughter’s Dream by Francine Rivers. While each book is fairly long (around 400 pages), it never takes me very long each time I have read these books, they just seem so real to life! This makes them very impacting as well. I have not reread any books for the month of April, although I have several new ones, either from the library or from a purchase. It always seems easier for me to start something new than to revisit something. However, I am thinking about what I am going to reread next, I will update you with what I decide on!

Contentment Reading Challenge 2013

So I’m reading 5 books this year that I have read before, as part of the Contentment Reading Challenge hosted by Amber, a good friend, and I am starting with Francine Rivers’ book Her Mother’s Hope. I often buy many books, some of which I don’t get to reading, and I want to take a look back at what I have read before and be happy with what I already have. Easier said than done, probably, but it’s worth a try. I challenge you to join in with me on this adventure.

ENFP - "Journalist". Uncanny sense of the motivations of others. Life is an exciting drama. 8.1% of total population.

Take Free Jung Personality Test
personality tests by similarminds.com

Does anyone else know their MBTI type?

After a Long Absence...

Hello, to anyone who reads my posts. In the past, I have used this blog frivolously, but now I'm going to use it as a type of journal. My walk with God is THE most important part of my life, so that will come into play more often than not :)
Anyways, over the past few days I've been digging out old journals I've kept, and I'd like to share an experience I had right before Christmas of 2007. I will now share the beginning of a poem/short story about the experience.

I Went to San Quentin
With an ominous thud
the gate clangs open
interrupting my thoughts and fears.
another clang
as the gate closes
to let the inner gate open:
maximum security.

Inside
buildings
tall, faded, foreboding
no one in sight
then
woman deputy
watching the outsiders come in

and Now
Garden Protestant Chapel
all lit up
we enter
men dressed in denim:
the inmates

Chapel
decorated
Lights sparkling
banners telling
of God and Christmas
old, hard, yet welcoming pews

like the welcoming men
shaking hands
sharing
of God's goodness
they are glad you've come

Amazing
how God can change lives
the joyful men
some have to live here
the rest of their lives
yet they are happier
than many freed men

God sets the lonely in families,
he leads forth the prisoners with singing;
but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.
Psalm 68:6

This is a poem roughly in the villanelle style that I wrote in senior year english. it's, well, interesting:


‘Flowers’
Each flower has a special place
And when you’re feeling blue,
A flower can put a smile on your face.

Whether blowing in an open space
Or placed in a vase, and planter too,
Each flower has a special place.

And of an ugly flower you will not find any trace.
Red, yellow, orange or blue
A flower can put a smile on your face.

How can a flower exist without God’s grace,
The design is much too intricate of a view
Each flower has a special place.

Seeing a pretty flower is like scoring an ace,
And now that you’ve seen it, you know what you must do:
A flower can put a smile on your face.

What starts as a seed in another time and place
Grows up into beauty, it is true:
Each flower has a special place,A flower can put a smile on your face.

and now for a sestina. sorry if it's confusing. there's two girls, possibly two trees, and one flower. see if you can figureout the pattern of the poem.


4/16/07
2nd period
‘The Lost Girl’
In the woods was a girl
She may have been lost
She walked up to a tree
She looked for a shelter
But saw only a flower
She wanted to be found

‘Why can’t I be found?’
Said the small little girl
As she plucked the flower
From its stem, she was lost
And could not find a shelter
Except for the small tree

The smallness of this tree
That has now been found
Makes it not a shelter
And so the little girl
Who may or may not be lost
Stares in disgust at the flower

Which she has picked, the flower
Of her frustrations, the tree
It has become lost
From her sight, she may be found
By maybe another girl
If she finds a shelter

But there is no shelter
Except for the flower
And the hope of a girl:
Discovered by the tree
That she has again found
So she will no more be lost.

By now she has lost
Any hope of a shelter
Any hope of being found
But now as she sits, the flower
Leads the way to the tree
And maybe another girl.


And finally, the sonnet to the jelly stain. I hope you can get a laugh. :)

Sonnet to the Jelly Stain
O that the stain on my shirt would come out,
This situation is making me pout.
There is nothing so permanent to see
As the mark of grape jam upon, uh, me.

The way to get rid of this horrible
Blight, will take a work of genius in my
Sight. Not just in sight, but in mind, you see,
A good solution now must come to me.

I could have it licked right off by a cat,
Or carried off in the wings of a bat.
But these suggestions are rather silly,
These solutions just will not work for me.

In the end, the answer must simply be
The one that takes jam completely off me.

so, tell me whatchya think.

hello!

Hey, I'm starting a blog. I guess it's a fad now huh? well, i have to say I like this fad...anyway, this blog will be about anything and everything, most likely. If you know me, you know that I am a random person, I get fascinated by almost everything. anyway, this blog will mostly contain things about what God has been teaching me (it's funny how many different ways God can teach you , huh?) as well as me practicing writing and possibly starting to write songs....well, I hope you enjoy, and have a great day!
Love in Christ,
Rachel the Goose ;)