Life's a Maze

Well I just want to thank my Jesus for a refreshing Friday and Saturday.

Right now I am a preschool lead teacher and also going back to school to pursue my Bachelor's in Early Childhood education. It's been busy juggling school, college, etc. But God has been soooooooooo goood. I am about to make some big transitions. One thing God has really shown me is not to over spiritualize things and just see that He is in everything.Too often I used to make lame excuses about why I was feeling this way or that way and why this or that was happening when some answers are so simple. This week I often just felt anxious, confused, exhausted and God so sweetly told me that I was just tired and about to make some big steps and that it was ok. Sometimes it's just the simple answers like go to school, plan a budget, eat right, get some sleep, enjoy friends and family, watch a movie, etc.

This weekend I got to sleep in, watch a wonderful movie- Real Steel- with my parents, hang out with friends and family, slept in, went on a corn maze, and talked and gave and received hugs. Truly God is in the simple things.

He's been teaching me soooo much about wisdom too. He's letting me see that wisdom is a good thing, a sweet thing that He has purchased for us on the cross. Imagine having the wisest man ever around to help you make decisions, deal with relationships, figure out schooling, etc. I think of how much trouble God saved me from founding me through my parents with a right relationship attitude toward guys. I feel I was saved from so much trouble and heartache and am truly happy. Wisdom is free wine too. Check out Proverbs 9:4-5....yum. It's awesome reading Proverbs through the framework of what Jesus has already purchased for us on the cross. He is wisdom. And He's even given us these minds to make wise choices and be creative! It's so fun. It was actually neat planning a budget with Him today.

So thank you Daddy for being so wise and kind. It's great being yours. I love you so much. Bless all my readers with refreshment and wisdom too. Even overflowing so we can pour your refreshment and wisdom to others from our unique way. Love you all. :)

As I was locating a picture for this... I just realized that a maze can be a truly wonderful and refreshing thing. We go through corn mazes for fun and to spend time with those we love and enjoy. It can take a long time to get through. If it doesn't you feel ripped off. And you all have fun working together trying to figure out how to get through it. Wrong turns become part of the fun. And during it you can't help throwing corn kernals at each other and just being silly. Everyone knows you can't take a maze too seriously. The point is to get lost and have fun through it. It's about adventure and good times. And the more the merrier.

Sometimes life can feel like a maze. We know it might take a while to get through but we don't know for sure. If you take it too seriously you'll miss out. But with Jesus and His wisdom and refreshment it is fun and enjoyable. It's truly a beautiful thing. Life is not about getting through it and figuring it out... it's about enjoying Jesus and all His blessings in it, learning about Him through it, and blessing others as well. It's the adventure of Jesus and His love experienced with others. Thank you Jesus for the mazes of our lives.

Hosting Benjamin Dunn and Friends

Well it all started with me and my sister in law Jodi running into two Jesus guys at Dunkin Donuts. Then we learn there's a new ministry run by a sweet Jesus couple called Love Drunk ministries and meetings they host called Kingdom Culture meetings right here in downtown. Who woulda thunk?! To fast forward a bit me, my brother, my sister in law, and my friend Alanna simply joined in with this family of believers and are all obsessed with Jesus and His grace. And just last weekend God worked it out for all of us to host Benjamin Dunn and Friends- a totally heaven manifesting Jesus band that are doing world-wide tours to raise money to build a leper mansion in India. Benjamin Dunn also wrote one of my favorite books called the Happy Gospel.
So the whole band stayed at my brother and sister in laws help and I simply got to help host. It was amazing meeting these people whom I just heard of about a year ago. They are some of  the sweetest, most chill, joyous, and truly talented people I know. It was such a blessing just getting to talk with them and hear the concert itself. God really worked it out and gave us an awesome location (the auricle in Downtown Canton, Ohio) and brought many people who were already there for Canton's first Friday of the month art festival. The energy, joy, uniqueness blew me away! This was honestly the first concert I've ever been to (I used to be very conservative with music) and it was beyond amazing!!! I felt God so much. The band told us too that it was one of the best shows they had on this tour so far. God is so good using little old us.
This song is one of the songs they do in the album circus of love. If I get videos and pictures up I will be able to show you actually footage from when they were here.
Ben told us at the concert this song "You're the sweetest thing" was given to them from God on the spot as they sang for this lady with leprosy. All I could think of when they played the song here were my preschoolers and other people God has used me to love on. Enjoy. And dream with God... nothing is impossible. You... yourself... are a miracle! :)