Competing for His glory.

A lot has changed since the last time I wrote an entry, let alone from the time I started this blog in January 2012 as a junior in college. After beating Oklahoma, the No. 1 team in the country and eventual College World Series Champions on senior day, as well as sweeping Iowa State the last three games of our season, we still fell shy of a Regional bid. While I was devastated and emotional that my career at Kansas was over, I knew that it was in the Lord’s perfect timing. I knew that He had plans for me beyond my four years at Kansas. My time wearing a No. 14 Kansas jersey was complete, but the legacy that the Lord left at KU is unfading. He produced fruit far beyond what I could have ever imagined or done by my own strength.

I now wear a No. 11 Chicago Bandits jersey. My role on the field at Chicago looks much different then my role at Kansas. But one thing has remained the same: I fight to Compete for God’s Glory.

I should also mention one more big part of my life that changed. On July 5, 2013, I married Kevin Tietz. I left for Chicago on May 27 for the first month of the National Pro Fastpitch season. I was allowed two weeks off in the middle to get married and spend our honeymoon together in Niagara Falls, N.Y. As a personal trainer, an athlete, and someone who walked with me through my entire college softball career, Kevin is the one who sharpens me and encourages me daily to continue to love my teammates, work hard, and remember how clearly God told us that Chicago is exactly where I am supposed to be this summer.

No one expects to spend their first six weeks of marriage 560 miles away from their husband. Many times I have cried to the Lord questioning Him, is this really in Your Perfect Will and Your Perfect Timing?

Then I remember that the life of the Christian isn’t supposed to be the typical life. In fact, we are called beyond normality with the sole purpose of bringing glory to Christ here on earth.

Jesus says in Luke 18:29, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.”

He may call us to where we least expect, away from home or family and friends, but all that matters is that we follow Him wherever that place is. When we place the Kingdom of God first & are obedient to His calling in our lives, He promises great rewards in this life and in the next.

In fact, an entire section in Matthew 6 is dedicated to how we should not be anxious or worry about tomorrow. The solution?

Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness…” and anything that you worry about will be answered.

God has a perfect plan. Our only job is to seek Him.

This is the truth that I hold on to. I am here in Chicago because God is bigger than me and He is Lord of my life. He orchestrated this: that I came into Kansas as practically a walk-on, but through the Lord and hard work, I became the career RBI and batting average record holders, making me on paper one of the best players to ever wear the Kansas jersey. In April, I was selected as the 11th overall pick of the 2013 NPF Draft to the Chicago Bandits. God opened up this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me, and I am so grateful and so blessed to be playing among the best of the best. I have formed incredible friendships and almost every day I get to meet and sign autographs for little girls that dream of playing professional softball.

Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.”

Lastly, I want to encourage you with the words that my twin sister and life-long teammate Rosie Hull encouraged me with as I left Lawrence and began this summer’s journey:

“TRUST in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Love HIM with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and with all your strength. This summer could be one of your greatest adventures…”

Indeed it has been. I’m back to work from a few weeks off, ready to finish God’s mission that I started here in Chicago.