Extraordinary Update: Week 2

Posted on January 19, 2011 by Wilson

Tonight I cried.

I know this post is supposed to be informing you, dear reader, of any progress I’ve made in persuing my goals. That being said, however, I’m almost 100% certain that you’re even more interested in the above statement (which pertains to today…not last week). And so, a brief scurry down the rabbit hole:

Tonight I cried. Not the cry as in “crying out” or shouting but the cry as in “Wah wah, sob sob, sniff sniff (repeat as necessary)”. Even as I write this, the waterworks continue. Let me make one thing perfectly clear at the outset: I’m not crying because some tragedy has occured. I’m…overwhelmed. Overwhelmed in a good way. Tonight, it’s as though God is giving me a “bear-hug” and is pouring out His love on me in a very special and powerful way.

That’s it. That’s all I really wanted to share about tonight. Nothing else really happened that triggered such an outburst of unbounded joy. Oh—Except there was a phone conversation I had with my parents that God is already using to impact my life in HUGE ways. Perhaps that’s what started it all. Hmm…

“We now return you to your regularly scheduled program.”

Sigh. Three days late. And only the second week of the year. Sigh.

I have to confess that, as much as I did last week, I don’t really recall most of it. It seemed to start off slowly and then, without warning, the week vanished. Yeah, I was stunned, too.

Here’s what I do remember:

  • I finished reading the books of Leviticus through Deuteronomy in my Bible reading.
  • I finished reading my second book of the year: “Reclaiming Surrendered Ground,” by Jim Logan. (That’s 2 down, at least 38 to go.)
  • Kevin Kirchner and I made a lot of progress on a web application we’re building.

Here’s what didn’t happen (I know, I’m working on it):

  • I didn’t print out those goal posters like I said I was going to.
  • I didn’t write this post on time!
  • I’m sure there are some other things, but until I start journaling again, I’ll have to rely on memory.

Here’s what I’m going to do this week—what’s left of it:

  • Print out those goal posters (and finish creating posters for the rest of my goals).
  • Finish reading “You Can Write Children’s Books,” by Tracey E. Dils. (I was supposed to finish reading it today. More on that in next weeks update.)
  • Get caught up on my reading in “The Compassionate Samurai,” by Brian Klemmer.
  • Update the web application and fix some bugs so that my co-workers can start using it and become superproductive-superhuman-superawesome…llamas? (I guess if you don’t know where I work, you won’t get the joke. I’m a web developer at Classy Llama Studios. There. Now re-read that sentence.) ;)
  • (I started this on Monday, but if I had written this post on Sunday as intended, it would have been in this list.) Get started on the “Insanity” workout and meal plan!

It was a packed week, for sure. I just need to come up with a better solution of documenting it for you guys.

One of the things that I’ve noticed over the last couple of weeks has been a shift in priorities from “todos” to relationships. I’ve spent an abnormally large portion of my time just talking to friends and family. I’m usually not so social. Still, it’s been incredible to see God work through those close to me! I absolutely LOVE IT when God allows me to watch Him move in my life. What a true blessing it is and a testiment to the awesome power of the God that I serve. (See, I’m tearing up again. I told you. I’m overwhelmed.)

Oh that your praise, dear God, would ever be on my lips!

Interestingly, semi-switching topics again, I remember thinking to myself last week that so much had happened that I could write a small book! I just wish I could recall everything that took place. There is so much going on in my life right now that I really want to share, but I don’t know where to start. I have so many thoughts that are demanding to be let out that it’s hard to know what to say at all. And so I leave you with this, an encouragement that is meant to encourage me when I read this again in the near future:

Take action. God’s plan and purpose for you may differ from your ideas of what you want to accomplish, but He’s powerful enough to guide you. I’m not suggesting to do whatever you want without thought. I am instead saying this: Do SOMETHING! I found myself, last year, dreaming and hoping and talking. This year, I’m doing. May God be the “lamp unto my feet and the light unto my path”. May I place my focus on Him always and step out on faith to become the man He’s created me to be. May my passion for Him grow everyday and may my life shine with the light and love of Jesus Christ my Savior!

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Postponed weekly update

Posted on January 17, 2011 by Wilson

Sorry guys, but it’s already 10:36 PM. I’m really tired. I’m getting up at 4:00 AM. I haven’t even finished my reading for the day (I finished my Bible reading, though!).

Trying to add a workout into my already-superbusy schedule is obviously going to take bit of work. So please bear with me as I start to rearrange my schedule to account for (activity name here) and start to juggle it all.

Talk to you guys soon!

<><

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Extraordinary Update: Week 1

Posted on January 9, 2011 by Wilson

A fine week it has been. A fine week, indeed!

Forgive, I pray you, the structure of these first few sentences for I have just finished reading Dickens’s classic A Christmas Carol. I can, as I type this, feel my mind reforming back to our modern style of speech…if even it can be said to have style. Ah! I am very much going to miss the strength with which Dickens composed and the depth of his messages. Too often I find myself yeilding to the laziness of current times, even in my thoughts. (I may need to add a few more classics of this calibre to my reading goals of this year.)

Now I come to the point of this writing. It is my desire to publish a weekly update of the progress I have made in the resolutions I’ve established. Obviously, my reading ritual is well under way for, God willing, I will have another book completed on Tuesday. Best to save that, though, for the next of these weekly installments.

During these several days past, my focus has largely been set on planning. Here I have laid out a brief overview of how I used my time this week. I have:

  • laid out the initial architecture for a daily routine as well as a budget.
  • detailed and refined a number of the goals I have set.
  • constructed an idea of what story it is I will write (but have yet to outline).
  • continued my 90-day Bible reading schedule and have finished Genesis and Exodus already with Leviticus behind me tomorrow! (Also, I kept my schedule even on the weekend, which I have failed to do in times past.)
  • been faithful in logging my time (although I will have been two full days late in posting it). ;)
  • worked on “Tally Ho!” in rationalizing the program and designing a first representation of its interface as well as worked on the solidifying of its illustrations in my mind.
  • made a $276 payment toward my credit card debts.
  • purchased a new (old) desk from the Salvation Army for the office which has translated into less strain on my eyes; a much-needed improvement which cost but $25.
  • finished 1 book of 40, as I mentioned earlier.
  • begun to look after myself by eating better foods, by eating more regularly, and by drinking almost one gallon of water daily.
  • watched one movie (The Prince of Egypt) (plus one today, but that will be counted toward Week 2). This is a huge improvement over previous time spent on entertainment, let me assure you.

More could I add to this list if I paid less heed to my old friends: Apathy, and Laziness. These two, it seems, join forces when I get tired. This week, however, (Week 2) they will find that I have discovered a defence against their complacent ways. This week, I will (and have already started to) create posters for each individual goal and hang them about the home. When one of these so-called “friends” pay a visit, I shall have a number of reminders at the ready to ward them off!

God has showed me much mercy, this week, as I’ve been tempted to squander the time He’s giving me. There are certainly hours this past week that have gone unclaimed. Pray with me, please, that I would be ever-vigilant toward these times and that I would place all of my hope in Him who is working a continual and great work in my life! None of this would be possible but were it not for His provision and grace. Blessed be the name of the Lord! The changes that I see taking shape in my life are, to me, nothing short of miraculous. I am truly overwhelmed right now by the sovereignty of the God I serve and the love He chooses to show me.

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Achieving Extraordinary

Posted on January 5, 2011 by Wilson

God used 2010 to show me what potential I had…and how much of it I was wasting. Through friends, family, and others, He opened my eyes and showed me what I had allowed myself to become: average.

Early 2010, I moved back home from a near two-year internship with CollegePlus! and finished my BSBA in General Management while continuing to work with CollegePlus! from home. I have since realized that, in the absence of externally-enforced schedules and deadlines, I lowered the expectations that I set on myself and “chose out” of self-discipline.

During the months that followed, I got a new job in, and moved to Springfield, MO. This meant living on my own for the first time. During the move and transition I, again, chose to act unrestrained and aquired nearly $3,000 in credit card debt (my only true experience of debt as I earned my degree debt-free).

The year 2010 was a full and good year. I admit, a lot was accomplished last year. God be praised, even as I was choosing a life toward rebellion, procrastination, and immaturity, He continued to work His good and perfect will in my life.

I pray that this year will be a year of remarkable results in my life: spiritually, mentally, emotionally, physically, financially, and whatever other “-ally” you can think of! This year is to be a year without time to waste. This year, I hope to achieve the extraordinary! To do the amazing! To be used of God, somehow, in the lives of others. One day, I hope that others might see the work that God has wrought in my life and that they too will be inspired to Christ-like greatness!

What follows is a list of a number of the goals that I’ve set for myself this year. There are more, but I’ve left them out as they would need further explanation. The reason I’m including these at all is so that you might hold me accountable to completing them. Also, the goals are not listed in any particular order.

  • Read through the Bible twice (read it the first time through in 90 days)
  • Read, at minimum, 40 books (I’ve already compiled a list of the books I’ll be reading)
  • Eat properly/healthy and start cooking again!
  • Learn Spanish with my younger brother
  • Start taking dance lessons (swing, initially)
  • Start taking piano lessons again (It’s been a while.)
  • Enroll in Animation Mentor (in the fall)
  • “Insanity” workout (at least once through) followed by P90X workout (at least once through)
  • Design and build a bookcase for the apartment
  • Write, illustrate, and publish a children’s book
  • Memorize scripture (especially Romans 6-9)
  • Create another Christmas-card-project
  • Save $10,000 for a down-payment on potential rental property
  • Pay off credit card debt before May
  • Family Camp

As I said, there are others but these are the goals that I feel to be the most public in nature.

There are 365 days in this year. Last year, I wasted so many of them. This year, I want every day to count for something incredible. I want to begin to claim every day, starting right now, for the glory of God!

As a way of encouraging you to do the same: A friend of mine used to pray like this: “God, you’ve given us this day: January 5, 2011. It’s the only one that ever has been or ever will be. Let us be good stewards of our time and spend it wisely. Let us glorify you today in all that we say and do.” May we, also, pray that prayer and live that life each and every day this year and forevermore!

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