He Makes All Things Work Together For Our Good

"The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps." ~ Proverbs 16:9 (ESV)

I have some exciting news to share with all of you! This is going to be a longer post than usual, so please bear with me. :)

 It all started about two weeks ago when my parents and I were sitting on the patio talking one night. We were just talking about my first year of college. Not long after, the course of our discussion started to change as I told them that I had been thinking about switching majors.

As many of you know, I am currently working two jobs: one as an architecture intern and one as a tutor helping little kids. However, many of you probably do not know that I have been praying and giving some serious thought as to whether or not I should switch majors. I've been seeking God's will for my life and asking Him for guidance on what He wanted me to do. As my parents and I talked about this, things began to become more clear.

All my life (and when I say that I truly mean as far back as I can remember), I had wanted to become an elementary school teacher. When I was little I had this corner in the room my mom and I shared where I would play "class" with my stuffed animals. I remember how I had it all set up like a classroom and how I went so far as to buy things from actual school supply stores. I would sit there in my corner (or classroom, as I had called it) until my legs cramped up and I couldn't sit there any longer or until my mom told me to go to bed. Whenever I had free time, you were guaranteed to find me in that corner. Not only that, but whenever I imagined what I would be like in the future I always pictured myself as a teacher.

So that was my plan, I was going to become a teacher, until my senior year of high school when I took ROP Architecture. I fell in love with buildings and architecture. I found architecture to be very intriguing. I loved that class and felt like God was calling me into that particular field of work. It wasn't until this summer though that I seriously began to question if this was indeed the right field of work for me and began to truly ask God for guidance.

As I prayed about all this, God started to reveal His plan to me. This debate of whether I should change majors or not soon became the thing that occupied most of  my thoughts. I began to feel a little confused and frustrated because I didn't know what God wanted me to do. Before long though I could here God whispering in my ear, "It's all okay. I have a greater plan for you and will guide you through this. Even though you might not see it now, I have amazing things in store for you."

Throughout the following week, I weighed all the pros and cons of both majors in my head. As I did, I began to discover that I love working with children and that I don't love architecture, but rather just appreciate it. My dad helped me to see that when he told me: "I think you like building things, but not necessarily actual buildings." I found that quote running through my head for that entire week (and still to this day).

Not long after the conversation I had with my parents, I knew that I wanted to become a teacher and at that point it just became a matter of it that's what God wanted me to do. As I sought His will, things just began to fall into place. I realized how much happier I was going to my tutoring job when compared to my architecture internship. On the days when I went to tutor, I could not wait to get there and teach the kids! I also kept thinking about how much fun I had during VBS week singing and playing with the kids and how sad I was to see that week end. And it was then, on a Sunday while I was leading worship at church, that I heard God's answer to my prayers.

So it is now with great excitement that I announce that I have switched majors! I am now majoring in Liberal Studies so that I can become an elementary school teacher and help to build homes inside my students' hearts rather than physical buildings.

You know, it is truly amazing how God works. He blessed me with two jobs this summer. Not just two random jobs that would give me a source of income, but rather one in each field that I was debating on going into. He helped me to see this summer that architecture isn't really what I want to do for the rest of my life and that my heart truly wants to teach little kids. Man, just the thought of me being a teacher brings a smile to my face and tears to my eyes (which is a feeling that I never experienced when I pictured myself as an architect)! God is so good!

So thank you to all of you who have been praying for me. Words cannot describe how much I appreciate it! Please continue to pray for me as I embark on my journey with this upcoming school year.

And if you are having a hard time with anything, stop and pray! Wait on and trust in Jesus! By waiting on Him, you'll grow closer to your Creator as He reveals His plan for your life, which will blow your mind away!

Crazy Fun at VBS Week

So the fact that I'm writing this right now is proof that I made it through VBS week alive! It was a busy and hectic week, but oh so much fun! Leading worship was a blast! I will never forget seeing the kids' smiles as they sang and danced while praising Jesus. The week prior to VBS was just as crazy as the worship team and I tried to learn ten brand new songs...that's right ten! We were all a little worried going into the actual week of VBS, but those worries soon went away as we just began to have fun praising God.

 The first day of VBS we were all a little nervous. I remember getting on stage, looking at the 70 kids that made up the audience and feeling nervous. Then, one of my little friends, Rachel (who's about eight), called my name and motioned for me to come to her. I rushed over towards her (because we were about to start soon) and with a big smile she handed me a folded piece of paper. I got back onstage and opened it, only to find that it was a picture that she had colored for me. It was the sweetest thing and I could feel God just saying, "See, it's all going to be alright!" After that, I could just feel all my nervousness go away. As the rest of the worship team and I started to play our songs I could see that we all weren't as nervous. Sure we messed up, but we were all just having fun as a band, praising Jesus!

This year's VBS was set in the medieval times, so most of the leaders dressed up (which made it more fun for us and the kids). I got the awesome opportunity of bonding with some of the little ones at church as we played games and learned more about God through the Epic Bible Adventures each day. Throughout the week, the kids learned that God's love, family and friends, prayer, trusting in God and the Bible helps each of us to stand strong when the storms come. Sir Kermit and Lady Tamara each did a great job as they acted out the epic Bible story each night. All the kids learned a lot and man, so did I! 

This whole week has been such a blessing as I bonded with the worship team and the kids! Man, I've thought this before, but now I'm thoroughly convinced that the biggest blessings come in the smallest packages! God taught me so much this past week...now if only I could get those songs out of my head!