Thoughts running through my head...

When something or someone becomes important to you, life gets complicated.

God gave us so many "tools" within our finite selves, and oft times we forget how much we have control over how we use these powerful tools -- things such as love, passion, and drive. We apply them to all aspects of life: people, hobbies, sports, pets, life in general.
Along with these tools we must never forget that God has given us the gift of free will. I believe that God created these powerful emotions, feelings, and drive so that we could use them to worship Him...

BUT -- it seems all too often we wrongly prioritize how we share these gifts. All too often we love our family, our friends, our jobs, schools, homes, cars, money, hobbies, sports team, and even church, more than we should.

The love, passion, and loyalty that God so rightly desires from us is often given to another as He watches on.
He will not force our loyalty to be His own, but how it must break His heart to see the meaningless, trivial things that we choose over Him!

I, myself, am so very guilty of misplacing where my loyalties lie. It seems all too easily I begin to allow other things to creep in on the time and devotion that I have for my Saviour, until suddenly it will come to the surface and I finally realize my unfaithfulness to my Father. Usually its because something I've planned out crumbles on me, or perhaps someone I have faith in fails me.

These are the times I find myself running to my Strong Tower, my High King.

And God is so loving and kind. He is always patiently waiting for my love's return. He is always ready to mend my broken heart. He is faithful and so good to this undeserving soul!

I know I'm going to stumble and I know I'll make some mistakes, but I am pledging my loyalty to God, my Heavenly Father.

No matter the earthly pain I must suffer, I desire to be wholly His, and with His help, to never let anything or anyone take first place in my life over Him.

I am thankful for these reminders and challenges He sends my way. Anything God intends to use to make me stronger and draw me closer to Him is of course for my benefit, so I will face it, and knowing He will be at my side, I will conquer it!

My day ahead...

Wow...

I'm sitting in my car -- stunned. (posting from my phone)

I recently went through some stuff I'd stored at my parents house. In doing so I found several old cassettes of mine, so these last few days I've been listening to them in my car -- seeing it has the only cassette player I own. Anyway, this morning I decided to listen to one that I picked up at a missionary convention, its Chinese hymns...

and I'm not understanding a word they're saying, but I can understand the meaning and I can hear the passion for the God they serve! Its beautiful...and moving.

I desire to sound like someone that loves God, I seek to look like someone who loves God, I want others to know that I AM someone that loves God!

A look at my surroundings...

my makeshift closet for the summer...

my "storage unit"...

and finally my "have-no-clue-where-in-the-world-to-put-this-stuff-yet" space!

But hey -- I'm not sleeping in my car! Life is good. (actually my summer bed is awesome!)

Summer desire

Yesterday I was talking to a friend about what we're both hoping to accomplish this summer. We talked about places we wanted to visit over our break, people we wanted to catch up with, and diets we'd like to make routine...

but those weren't the important desires.

We also talked of our spiritual battles we wanted to conquer, the deepening of our faith, and the hunger for allowing God's will to reign in our lives.

I thank God for a friend like this. And I thank Him for helping shape my focus. I desire to be wholeheartedly His, to deal with the battles, and to become a more powerful tool for His kingdom.

I know He's faithful and willing to complete these things which He's started in me, and I can't wait to see what all He's accomplished in me by summer's end!

Through Him we are more than conquerors! I intend to continue to pursue more through Him, to be more for Him, and to try to live more Christ-like because of Him.

I'd appreciate if my blogger friends would remember me this summer in prayer. Thanks...

Think about it...

Today I read about Allonzo Trier -- a 13 Yr old basketball player.

Apparently he has what it takes.

The skill yes, but more importantly -- the drive.

He spends a minimum of 4 hrs a day practicing. He pushes himself to do more and be better. Allonzo hits the court directly after school and starts his warm up by rounding the court while moving the ball around his back and through his legs. After several minutes of this warm up, he grabs an extra ball and begins to repeat this exercise while masterfully dribbling both balls through his legs and around his back.

He's been honing these skills for several yrs. now, and his mother even works an early shift every morning in order to be home so she can help with his practice routine.

When done with the warm up he proceeds to shooting. He requires himself to make 450 shots before he can quit, and if he misses two in a row his mother's been instructed to subtract one shot from the tally.
Also, he decided that if he's going to do this it should be done right, so he won't allow for shots that bounce in or roll around the rim and then drop in, three of these in a row cause a loss in the tally as well. Altogether this can last up to 90 min or more.

Once that part of Allonzo's, or Zo as friends call him, daily schedule is finished he and his mother get in the car and head off to his private basketball tutoring, which lasts for about hour. There he goes through all kinds of exercises to challenge his reflexes and overall talent.

Finally this little boy leaves his tutor and heads to his team practice, this takes up the rest of his daily 4 hrs. or more.

Zo plays for a special league called Amateur Athletic Union or AAU. He flys all over for games, and does special promo things for different events. In fact, Zo has his own line of clothing, some of which is through Under Armor -- not to shabby kid.

Coming from a poor, single parent home this kid knows that he has to work hard for this dream. The world of sports has become so very competitive that he can't risk backing down or slacking off. He has to stay always ahead of the competition and always be ready to battle.

All this said -- I'd like to throw some questions out there...

-What do we, as Christians, do in our daily lives to stay "spiritually fit" and prepare for battle?
-How much personal time are we willing to invest?
-Are we truly devoted, 100%?
-And parents...are you willing to go above and beyond the norm, doing everything in your power, to ensure that your child is able to reach their full Christian potential?
-Will you sacrifice your personal schedule and comforts in order to accomplish the ultimate goal of wholeheartedly serving Christ, come what may?

...think about it.

The two links below showcase the skills of some other young players. The first is a kid named David and he's ten, while the second is an 11 yr. old named Jashaun.
1) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6bnH0JhuKA
2) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oC3aIHg95A

Break out the sunglasses people!

Don't you just love big sunglasses?!? These are my newest pair...Emily and Charity wanted to see how they looked in them. :-D

Oddly out of place

I'm back home(ish).

Funny thing is I feel so out of place.
When you have to juggle your personal effects around a room that comes predecorated it tends to produce this feeling. Sigh.

To think that, in around three months I'll be packing up what few(ha that word shouldn't be used here) things I brought w/me and lugging them back into the dorm, is about to drive me crazy. This is my lot in life I fear.

I am, however, already thinking through some of my redecorating plans for my dorm room come this fall. Funny -- I was doing this as I was packing that room up. Good thing about thinking ahead to that is now I can keep my eyes open for deals this summer on some of what I'm looking for.

Although I need to be thrifty...considering how many trips I'm wanting to go on this summer.
I'm working through the pros and cons of each at this point. My possible desinations are: KS/OK, PA/NY, and AL/FL.

I'm really torn as to what direction to head and how many places I can go. I do have one trip that's certain on my going, Washington state. I'm heading there for Brenda's wedding and I've already bought an airline ticket so its a go.

Oh! And I'm going to Kidz Adventure. I will be there from June 15th-18th...and I fly to Brenda's on the 18th.

Sheer craziness is what that boils down to.

Anyway, twas' just thinking through my summer plans. I'll be sure to let you all know where I plan to end up.

Coming (possibly) to a city near you,
Tiffany

Just some semester's end thoughts...

Another one has come and gone. Wow. I'm a senior...sorta. As of about 4 and 1/2 hrs. ago my classes as a Jr. are done and gone. Hallelujah! I'm so overwhelmed w/joy I think I could just cry...or maybe that's the sleep deprivation kicking in. Who knows.

Hopefully I have learned something this year -- don't procrastinate! Ok, so the likelihood of me never procrastinating is slim to none, but I really, really pushed it this year, I mean really pushed it.

I know I'm the one to blame though, so I hold no ill will toward profs, friends, or classmates. They're not the educationally retarded child...apparently I am. So, as we've been learning in Wisdom Literature, "What is God trying to teach me in this situation?"
I'm thinking its this, "If you're lacking the drive to get it done when you should, give yourself a good kick in the tookus and do it anyway!!!"

*Yawn* So incredibly tired...

An Art Lesson From Dakota

Having lunch with my little man...

My weekend (in color)