Okay...this is the meat of my journals...

Days before I turned 26, I took some time to think about some things. A little bit of this and that, and I've determined that a good number of things in my life need to be changed. More specifically, my priorities. Between a few years and now, I'm not exactly sure what happened...I used to be very serious about doing the important things first and having time to play; now it's been more like play time and then "I'll get to it" time. That changed a few days ago...lately, I have greatly changed my priorities, but I am still far from being sufficiently disciplined in my routine. The main thing is my time with God is central and must remain central (as I talked about Wednesday night). Also, I need to do a more serious Bible time with God during the week (probably on Sunday, I'm still working this out) instead of just having the so-called "quiet time" with God. Granted, a chapter a day is very helpful and powerful, but it's not enough for me, given what God has taught me and the maturity that I have. What I do with my time now is enough to depreciate the time and value of the work my professors have spent in presenting the material of Scripture to me. So, I want to change that and honor what they are teaching (which is Biblical, most times) so that I can grow effectively for the leadership in ministry as well as a man of God.

Aside from my spiritual priorities, I am taking time to developing my gift of writing. I'm returning to the world of journaling more frequently like I did in high school (I wrote about almost everything ranging from a couple times of day to about 3-5 times a week) but limiting to maybe a few times a week or when something is on my heart. From here on out, though, all my blog entries will not disguise how I feel as I am going to express what I feel in almost any regard (which some censoring to intensity and as wisdom will allow me). To help with this, I have created an official blog for both blogging (regularly) and showcasing my writing talent on a creative writing blog. So, here on out, expect more and more notes from me (for those on facebook) and blog postings. To make it easier, I would ask that if you are interested please subscribe to one of them so that you can easily be updated and don't have to be overwhelmed with reading all of them (cause all my blogs, except the writing one, will have the exact same information). The links to those new sites will be posted below. In all, though, I have decided to make my day include the following activities with varies time intervals (for some):

Intimacy with God/Prayer (Morning/Evening)
Personal Bible Study (weekly)
Writing/Journaling (2-5 times a week, varies each day)
Videogames (after all other priorities have been cleared; varies from day to day)
Reading (varies; still deciding on this)

This is the list in which I'm trying to incorporate each day or week (as much as possible), with the first two being always definite (non-skipping items). All of this is designed to help me discipline myself in taking of important things first and developing more of an academic lifestyle (time for studying, regurgating information received, teaching, etc) and being effective in demonstrating the wisdom and grace God has given me throughout these years. In other words, I'm increasing my quality of living by being more responsible for my time since God has given me to so much to be responsible for. Certainly, though, I'm not satisfied with my level of understanding (in some areas) and others continue to be an inner struggle (i.e. singleness, age-concerns, personality development, acceptance, greatest fears, etc). Nevertheless, the first part of wisdom is to fear the Lord. That is something I greatly need more of, so I could really use your prayers (see...I'm being more personal already!). So, as I continue my life of being 26 for the next 362 days, I am expecting things to change in my life where I can be more responsible in many areas as well as more open and aggressive (gently and in the Lord) as my 27th year approaches my life. The goal: by 30, I want to clock that with being the time in which I have developed my patterns for life but enough to still make changes that will better those that have been made) as well to have a final plan, a layout, of what the rest of my life may be like (based on the will of God Scripturally and personally). I invite you all to pray with me on all these things; I'm not worried about anything, but just want to put my life so much into God's hands that He will use me well in preaching and teaching His Word (with me trembling and shaking inside and out). Thank you so much...have a blessed day!

P.S. The links I mentioned are below with their written destinations. God bless!!

My Official Universal Blog -- Vox.com
http://ninjaearth.vox.com/

Writing Blog
http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/user_id/ninjaearth

My Primary Site for my work online
http://www.fictionpress.com/~authorninjaearth