Summer Thoughts

So many thoughts drift through my mind as I begin this post, each one tumbling over another, begging to be put to words. Thoughts of all that happened over this summer tied with imaginings of what God has in my future. I don't remember there ever being a season in my life in which I've learned so much.

This summer I went on a mission trip to San Quintin, Mexico then stayed ten days in Temecula, California. Both such stark contrasts to each other, I kept finding my focus drifting to various thoughts about why some people are more "blessed" than others and why everyone can't have both the beautiful friendships of Mexico all inside the wonderful comforts of a typical California home. Why do so many Americans continue on complaining about their first world problems such as not having the pocket change to fix the scratch in their Mercedes while only a five hour car ride going south to a place where people would love to have any kind of car at all! Despite me and my scattered thoughts of life's injustices, God continued to show me that no matter what, He always provides. Not in the same way for everybody, but always He provides, so often with more than enough.

Picture I took in Tadoussac, Canada along the St Lawrence

I want to tell you about everything all at once! As I struggle to continue putting my thoughts of the summer and what happened into words I pause to examine why I desire to put what I feel into words. Why I want so desperately to share with you the experiences that made up my summer. Maybe because I'm the kind of person who thinks good things are meant to be shared. Perhaps it's because I want to share my experiences with you so that you might learn from them. Or maybe even it's because I myself understand things better when put to words. Whatever the reason for my desire to write, God reminded me that in the big scheme of things my words don't even matter; His words matter! No matter what pictures I paint, or sounds I play with my words, they are just noise if His love is not included in them. (1 Corinthians 13) So being successfully knocked off my self-righteous pedestal built by selfish ego I am on my knees in prayer begging God to let you see not me in these words but that you'd see a mirror reflecting my Creator. It is so easy to get caught up in all the "good things" we are doing and completely forget about why we are doing them in the first place. I don't want to forget that the focus of everything I do should be on showing and experiencing God's love.

Honored as I am that you made time to read my silly ramblings I pray you make time to read God's word. Anything I write is simply my commentary on what I've read mixed with stories and life experiences. That said, I have several blog posts coming soon inspired by my summer adventures.

Blessings,
Tiffany Raye

52 Summer Will-Do's

1. Play in the rain
2. Watch the sunrise
3. Climb a tree
4. Lie in the grass
5. Watch the sunset
6. Stargaze
7. Swim in the ocean
8. Jump from a rope swing
9. Write a short story, song, or poem
10. Build a sandcastle
11. Buy something silly and spontaneous
12. Help plan family vacation
13. Catch a lightning bug
14. Skip stones
15. Start a good habit
16. Make a playlist of summer songs
17. Run through a sprinkler
18. Turn the music up loud and dance with my brother
19. Watch fireworks
20. See a Tigers game at Comerica Park
21. Make s'mores
22. Fly a kite
23. Rollerblade with my daddy
24. Go on a picnic
25. Bike ride someplace new
26. Volunteer selflessly
27. Go to a farmers market or fair
28. Go mini-bowling in Canada
29. Restaurant hop
30. Take a hike
31. Drive to a Great Lake and visit a lighthouse
32. Draw with chalk
33. Help in a garden
34. Go to an outdoor concert
35. Try something new
36. Go to the Woodward Dream Cruise
37. Go to a drive-in movie
38. Light paper lanterns and sparklers
39. Swing high in a park
40. Play frisbee
41. Canoe, kayak, paddle boat, or jet ski
42. Read a comic book
43. Do a puzzle
44. Go for a run somewhere new
45. Try/conquer something new and difficult
46. Make ice cream
47. Read a non-fiction book
48. Witness/be part of a miracle
49. Have a water fight
50. Go on a mission trip to another country
51. Share my testimony with someone new
52. Make an album of all the things I complete on this list

Because this life isn't about me

Life is not about you. There. I said it. Life is about far more than that scratch on your car, that guy/girl that's being difficult, or that overtime you didn't get paid for. Life is about far more. In fact, if you step back (wayyy back) you'll see that the things that we get all hung up on don't mean much of anything at all. 

I don't know about you but this image makes me feel guilty about complaining that my clothes weren't in style anymore. Even more guilty about those times I had complained about being hungry and not liking the food my mother put in front of me. Guilty about saying that my life sucked and I wished for different; these children would do anything to have the life I seemed to hate so much. Should you feel guilty if you were born into a life that is so blessed? "Where I was born and where and how I have lived is unimportant. It is what I have done with where I have been that should be of interest.” ~ D.L. Moody "Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away." Matthew 5:42 
"Why in the world would I want to help them? It's not like they can do anything for me." "Because this life is not about me."

In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 If you woke up tomorrow with only what you thanked God for yesterday, what would you have? 

My desire and sincere goal is to show how thankful I am for God's blessings by giving and loving everyone I meet, in every way I can, in every moment I am given. It can be difficult but I want to love not just my friends and those who can benefit me but everybody. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Matthew 5:43-47

You Have Filled my Heart with Greater Joy

Serving has become a huge part of my life and is one of the most enjoyable and spiritually rewarding things I have ever done. When People say, "Blessed is the giver more than the receiver" they aren't kidding!

I began volunteering [at Woodside] with singing in the choir at age eleven and have since done anything from packing shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child, to leading groups of first graders through Kreative Kids Day Camp. Whatever the occasion I love volunteering. God has filled my heart with greater joy through volunteering and, though it seems backwards, I have become more outgoing through meeting people who share the same goal as I have; to reach out to the world as the hands and feet of Christ. Christ not only commands us to be His hands and feet but He came to set an example.* It is this example that makes me rush to AWANA every Wednesday to greet the precious faces of my Cubbies. I have learned more from their innocent hearts than I ever imagined and they never fail to make my day with smiles and laughter.

The friends I have made while serving have become some of the best. I would not be who I am today without these friends, or the experiences we’ve had together while serving. God calls us each to serve and there is a place for everybody. He wants to fill your heart with greater joy!

*Matthew 20:26-28 "...whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

John 13:14-15 "Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you."