Cosplay For Christ
Cosplay For Christ
Episode # 42: Plans
Ever wondered how aligning personal ambitions with God's will can transform your projects into meaningful endeavors? Join me as I recount a summer filled with unexpected turns, from a delightful anniversary trip with my husband to a mix of productive and procrastinated sewing projects. Despite my best efforts to stay on track, the whirlwind of daily life had other plans, yet it also offered valuable lessons and moments of reflection. Now that the school year is here, I'm ready to embrace the structure and focus on what lies ahead for the "Cosplay for Christ" podcast.
We'll explore the exciting plans for the new school year and how this podcast aims to serve its ministry goals. I candidly share my struggles with staying focused, highlighted by my husband's humorous suspicion that I might have ADHD. More importantly, we reflect on the importance of partnering with God in our daily pursuits, ensuring our work remains impactful and purpose-driven. With gratitude for the platform provided by God, this episode is a blend of personal stories, reflections on faith, and a look at what's next for "Cosplay for Christ.
Proverbs 19:21
Many plans are in a man’s heart,
But the counsel of the Lord will stand.
Proverbs 16:3
Commit your works to the Lord
And your plans will be established.
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Or Email at Cosplay4christ@gmail.com
This is the Cosplay for Christ podcast. I'm Jess, your host, and I'm here to encourage and strengthen Christians in the cosplay world to speak truth and love, to embolden fellow believers to live proudly showing the love of Jesus Christ in their circles. And practical tips and tricks for my cosplayers out there All right, come on, let's do this. Cosplayers out there All right, come on, let's do this. Hello everybody, this is Jess with Cosplay for Christ. It's been a while, it's been a whole summer. Welcome back back to school. We're having all the back to school fun. Oh yeah, my girls started school last Wednesday. Today is the first day I have without them, including the youngest.
Speaker 1:I am in the house alone, unsupervised, and I decided to do the thing that I needed to do, which was talk to y'all, because it's been the whole summer. Last time we talked it was back in June. I was about to leave for a trip for me and my husband had our anniversary trip and that was so fun. Very good. Summer was fun. We had a great summer, very busy, very kind of chaotic, but fun. It's like no rest, but fun. So I was actually looking forward to school starting because I have all these ideas and plans in my mind of things I want to do. But I needed to start getting back into a routine because literally our summer was like everyone stay up late, we just make it up as we go. I mean, it was great, it was great. But I can only take so much of that until I'm ready, for I need a schedule, I need proper bedtimes, I need structure. I'm craving structure. I'm sure my girls in some way also maybe. I don't know, we'll see. I know my youngest is starting preschool this year, so it's actually pretty awesome. So she's I'm very excited for her to, you know, socialize and be in a school setting, because she's just been with me and grandma and and church on Sunday has been her experience with people outside of my house. So, anyway, yeah, so I have all these plans.
Speaker 1:Like today it was so funny I dropped the girls off and I have all these plans that I need to get done. But in the back of my head it's like, okay, I need to do this, this, this podcast, because it's been a while. It's my gosh, my anniversary for the podcast is September 14. And I was thinking of like waiting till then to start this. But I was like, no, you know what we're gonna, we're gonna just do it early. It's okay. Why wait? Just why. Why put off today what you could do tomorrow? No, it's the opposite, anyway, why put off tomorrow what you could do today? So I was like in my head I'm like, okay, I gotta do this.
Speaker 1:But then I also had all this other stuff in my head that I wanted to get done, and so I worked out. Y'all I've been working out, thank you. I've been working out for like a month solid. I've been walking and I actually went to the gym which is nice because I can go there right after I dropped the girls off at school. So I went there, I worked out, and then I went and got my car washed and then I went and got groceries and then I forgot something from the grocery place and now I've got to go back there. But then I went home and we were doing laundry, because you know, mondays is now when we wash all our bedsheets, so we're doing all the sheets and I'm going, going, going and I mow the lawn. I mean, I even mow the lawn. What was wrong with me? But I noticed I was like doing all this other stuff Because I was putting off the podcast.
Speaker 1:I was like, jessica, you need to do the podcast. So I was like, fine, okay, I'm going to sit down. And then I sit down, jessica, you need to do the podcast. So I was like, fine, okay, I'm going to sit down. And then I sit down, I've been praying and I'm like I've deleted. I've literally deleted three, four times what I've already recorded, because it's nonsensical, because I had an idea of what I wanted to say and I keep getting blocked. I'm like, okay, I'm not supposed to say that, okay, I'm not supposed to say that. And so I'm going to talk about plans, because it's beginning of the school year, we're settling down, we're getting in our routines, and I'm like, okay, plans, let's talk about plans. Let's talk about the plans that I had for the summer Shall we I, if you recall, I had this hey, everybody, let's, I'm going to go go through all my patterns and my fabrics. I have so much fabric and I'm going to start actually making things and planning out these patterns and actually do them. Right. You guys remember that, these patterns, and actually do them. Right. You guys remember that Cool, cool, cool, cool. So yeah, so, totally didn't do that.
Speaker 1:I laid out everything and then, right before my trip, I think. Now, to be fair, I think I started two or three different things. I did make a little like a cami shirt shrug type thing for two of my girls. So I did. I did make some things, but the piles of things that I had planned to do, it did not get done, and mainly because I ran out of time and I ended up cleaning up our ping pong table. That is my also my cutting station. I have a big cutting board I put on the ping pong table and that's where I mainly work is my work table. And so I had cleaned all that up because we were going on our trip and it literally just stayed clean this whole summer.
Speaker 1:I just I just didn't touch anything, but it was nice because we were just I didn't have time to sit down and like do stuff because we just kept going, going, going, going, and so I was like all right, I focus on my garden a little more this summer. Well, my tomatoes are doing good. I mean, I've got like tomatoes coming out of my ears. It's. It's pretty awesome, especially since I have like a very small space compared to what I had before. So that's where my focus was. With creativity. I was creating pretty things. I've grown. That's where I was going.
Speaker 1:So I had these plans and they totally just did not happen Because, one, I didn't stick with it. Two, I changed my mind. Because that's what I do. I changed my mind, or I last minute decided to do something else and I just didn't have time. I thought I did, but I didn't because I didn't map it out, I didn't plan it out and it just didn't happen. So I was like all right.
Speaker 1:So now that the school year has started, I'm like getting back into, like okay, I need to start planning again. I have a lot of like cosplay podcast stuff that I really want to focus on. I'm kind of excited. I'm going to go take a day and go sit and like really map out stuff and like partner with God, because the whole reason I do, the whole reason this ministry is here ministry I mean, it is a ministry. The reason I have Cosplay for Christ, the reason I have this podcast, is literally because of God. Like I would not be doing any of this stuff Still, I'll say still, I would have done it 10 years ago. Oh yeah, it was so fun and it's still fun for me, but it's more of a ministry now than it was, and I'm like, god, you tell me when you don't want me to do it. No, you know I'll step down, it's fine, but God has not released me from it. So I'm like, okay, well, if you're not releasing me, then you must have more plans for this podcast, for my, you know, instagram, whatever. You must have more plans for Cosplay, for Christ and which I know he does, because God loves us nerdy people and more people need to experience Christ, and right now God's, for whatever crazy reason he has, he's still using me for it. I'm like, okay, cool, not my, not my choice, but I will do it, god, and I'll smile and I'm grateful that he's allowing me to continue in a creative hobby that I do enjoy and I do love the people of the cosplay world. So I'm grateful more than anything, but I do.
Speaker 1:You know there is a good thing. You know we can make plans and not stick with them, and that's kind of like you know whims of us as people. But then there's also plans that, like when you're partner with God, that are like no, these are happening and these are what we're doing. It says it's Proverbs 19,. 21 says many plans are in a man's heart, but the counsel of the Lord will stand. Another way to say that it's how we feel, it's our will. Another way to break down our intellect the things we think of. We have lots of those in our heart, but God's counsel or purpose or plan or prudence, that is what will actually stand. And so there's a cool dynamic that happens when we take our plans and they actually align with God's plans, and when that magical, gloriousness happens, stuff gets done and the stuff that is partnered with God actually stands and will happen, will actually come to pass, because we're doing, we're walking alongside what God has called us to do.
Speaker 1:Another scripture in Proverbs 16,.
Speaker 1:It says commit your works to the Lord and your plans will be established.
Speaker 1:And so that's. It's like hey, I'm, I'm, I'm doing this for you, god. This cosplay for Christ, this is for you, this is for your glory, this is not for Jess's glory. There was a time where it was for my glory, when I younger and naive and learning things, and you know it was always a struggle. It always felt like it was work to put stuff out because it was all about me. And in 2018, god really shifted that in my heart to show me. No, this is about me and the people that need to hear of me and the people that know me but need to know how to act in this world of nerdiness and stuff. And you know I was like cool and that that really shifted my.
Speaker 1:The works I was doing shifted from just focused to God focused and I really feel like because I was obedient with listening to God in that moment and you know it's a daily thing, I still have to daily commit my ways to God but it solidified something and I feel like God gave me a platform that I wouldn't have had if I had just kept it about myself. So, and not that my platform is that big y'all, it's not and that's okay, like I'm. I'm kind of at that point where I'm like God, what, whoever or whatever you give me, is good enough and is sufficient. And if it's for one person, then thank you, jesus. It's for one person that needed to hear what I needed to say, you know, and it's. It's actually freeing when you, when you, look at stuff to that perspective.
Speaker 1:Anyway, so I have all these plans, but I'm wanting to make sure that when I start this new season so we're heading up on my third season of this podcast. I'm like, okay, god, this is the third, third year. What do you want? What do you want to do? And so you know what cosplay should I do? And I had, again, I had lots of plans for cosplays. I have three different. I have four, four, five, six, five, six. Oh my gosh, it's so bad. I have six unfinished cosplays that I have started in some capacity.
Speaker 1:Okay, so let's talk about laziness, let's talk about procrastination. Yeah, oh, okay. So I'm just being real with y'all. This is, this is my brain. My husband okay, you guys my husband was like Jess, do you have ADHD? He's like what? He's like you? Because he had just asked me about something I left on the counter. I'm all over the place, y'all. He's like why? Why is this here? What's going on with this? And I'm like, oh yeah, I started doing that, but then I forgot because I got distracted and I started and I totally forgot about and I've not said that to him one time, I've said that to him at least, at least a dozen times. And he's just like what Are you okay, do you? I think you have attention deficit disorder. Like I do not Shut up, I do not, but it made me laugh because that is like my brain just goes. I'm like focus, quit, with the shiny squirrel, distraction and focus, because I feel like I get so distracted with things that I'll just go off and then I forget what I was actually committing to.
Speaker 1:And so all that to say it's good to write down plans I think that's a good thing. I think it's good to dream and to think of things that's a good thing. I think it's good to dream and to think of things. I'm not talking about a vision board, where you're, like, where you're, I'm going to speak this into my life and this is going to happen. You're not. We're not manifesting anything that is new age crap. We're not manifesting. We're not speaking things into existence. We're talking about putting out a plan so that there's a spirit of excellence with what you do. So if I have direction and a plan, then I can actually, like, make steps towards that plan.
Speaker 1:And and sometimes the plans change, as I've said, like sometimes it's not going to work, but sometimes, or sometimes it gets put off longer than you thought it would be, sometimes it completely changes. But, and when you put your thoughts to paper or put it down in a calendar or give yourself some things you're doing, some good due diligence to make sure that you stay on track. That's a good thing. That's not a bad thing to be organized and to have plans, but it's also good to have flexibility in those plans. That, hey, it may not go exactly how you think it is and most of the time it doesn't go the way you think it does. But having stuff as stepping stones to where you want to go is always a good thing.
Speaker 1:And when you partner with God with those things I have, honestly I have more motivation to do them. I mean, it's funny how, if it's just left to me by myself, I will, I don't know, I might get stuff done. I might not, and I'm talking about like cosplay builds, obviously, like my Roz from Monsters Inc has been. I started her five years ago. Six years ago she I am still no further. I mean, I have ideas of how I want to do her, but I'm still no further in the build of her than I was six years ago. But that's because it hasn't been an important thing. But then if I'm given or not an important thing, it wasn't a priority for me and no one was holding me accountable to it.
Speaker 1:So when I feel like I have someone else that is depending on me for something, that's when I'm, that's when I'm like, well, if I have plans, then I'm holding myself accountable to the things I want to do and ultimately, if God is partnering with me in those plans, then he's the one that I feel I'm being held accountable to to do the things that I feel he's calling me to do. It's just the same thing with like. Back when I made that Fallout Lucy costume, I had no plans to make that costume but because two different ladies said they wanted to see me and one said, suggested I should enter the cosplay contest, I literally made something in less than a week Because I wanted to like. They said something and so I knew that they were looking forward to seeing me in that contest or at that Comic Con. I wasn't even going to go to the Comic-Con. So like, there's something about like when I made the Rapunzel and the bell costume, I made those for our school for their carnival.
Speaker 1:Well, I had external pressure and accountability that I had to live up to in order to get those done, and so I know sometimes that can cause stress, but there's good stress and good pressure. And then there's bad stress and bad pressure. Good stress motivates you to keep going and to get the project done, to get the things to where you need them to go. That's good stress. Bad stress is when lack of planning, lack of whatever, and every time you touch the thing you're like crying, like that's bad, that's bad pressure. We try to avoid that, if you can Like. If you're crying as you're making a project and it's not for anyone but yourself, just put it down Back away. Come back to it in a week, a day, a year, six years. Come back to it in a week, a day, a year, six years. Just come back to it. It's okay, you'll be okay. Sometimes things are not worth the trauma that is inflicting on you. To finish, sometimes it's okay to say you know what? I don't think this is a good project for me and move on or come back to it later when you've had more sleep.
Speaker 1:So all this to say I'm excited about this new year. I'm excited about the plans that I'm working out with God. I have not quite on paper, but floating in my head that I'm going to sit down and really spend some time to evaluate what goals and things I need to do for this this next season, for Cosplay for Christ, and I think it's gonna be good. I'm kind of excited. I'm a little expectant of some cool things that are going on. So I would love to travel more. I'd love to go to some comic cons outside of Missouri maybe, and so I'm just gonna see how it goes with schedules and school and, you know, family life, but I think it's gonna be good and I'm excited about this next coming year.
Speaker 1:So tell me what you're working on, what your plans are, what your goals are. I would love to hear about them. Just DM me on Instagram or Facebook, you know, and tell me what, what, what are you all working on? What are your plans? What are you excited about that's coming towards the future? What? What Comic Cons are you attending that you are stoked for? No, dragon Con is coming up and I'm again jealous. Someday I will. That's one of my goal Comic Cons that I will go to at some point in my life, but the timing has always not been quite right. So it will be right at some point in my life. So, guys, tell me what stuff you're excited about. Remember to commit your works to the Lord. So your plans will be established, and remember that we have lots of plans in our heart. The plans of God are the ones that are actually going to stand. Yep, yep. So until next time, be blessed, know who you are in Christ and take ground for the kingdom, see ya.