Remembering to Praise

Well as we have begun the month of February I have to say a lot has happened. The past week of school was full of assignments and nights when I was so totally stressed by how much needed to be done I didn't think I could make it through. But I did, like I always do, one way or another. And while it has truly been a much busier month school wise than it was before this month has also been much busier with life. But life in the great ways that make me stop and just thank the Lord for what I so often neglect to remember he has given me. Now I don't say this to try and sound super spiritual, trust me, I am not good at this but I am learning. I have so much to be thankful for in my daily life, I have great friends who are here in town with me, and amazing friends that are out of town and can still be counted on in every way. I am so thankful for the people God has put in my life. I am excited to share in major life events for those I have known since forever, and also to get to know more about the people I am just now getting close to and beginning to understand. I have been so blessed to be at the college I am, even if I am very ready to move onto my teaching career. Oh and I am so thankful that this college prepared me well and that through that preparation and God's grace I am now certified to teach! I passed the GACE and it is such a HUGE blessing to be able to say that, I may be finishing up random core classes but next semester I go into student teaching knowing that I really can do this for my career. It is an incredible feeling. I also know that I am so blessed by the family that I have and how they love and support me through everything. This stands out to me in particular since the last year has certainly been a trial when I never expected it to be one, health problems, life events, and all kinds of crazy have happened this year that I never could have gotten through without the help of my amazing family and the assurance of their unconditional love. Like I said before, I am not telling y'all these things to sound super spiritual, it is just on my heart tonight as I thought about the fact that I wanted to write here. It is so important to reflect on these things and remember how amazingly blessed you are and how the Father cares for you. I forget this so easily and tonight this serves as a reminder to myself more than anything.
I am reading the Jesus Calling devotional book that has become so popular recently. It is great and I love her short but direct method of writing. The other day the page said this:

"Come to me for rest and refreshment. The journey has been too much for you, and you are bone-weary. Do not be ashamed of your exhaustion. Instead, see it as an opportunity for me to take charge in your life.
Remember that I can fit everything into a pattern for good, including the things you wish were different. Start with where you are at this point in time and space, accepting that this is where I intended you to be. You will get through today one step, one moment at a time. Your main responsibility is to remain attentive to Me, letting Me guide you through the many choices along your pathway. 
This sounds like an easy assignment, but it is not. Your desire to live in My presence goes against the grain of 'the world, the flesh, and the devil.' Much of your weariness results from your constant battle against these opponents. However, you are on the path of My choosing, so do not give up! Hope in Me, for you will praise Me for the help of My Presence." (Sarah Young, Jesus Calling, 2004--> just so it is clear that I did not write this section, it is a quote from her book!) 

The red I added in so that you can see what stood out to my in particualr. I can't even remember how many time I re-read this page on that day and how it has stuck with me sense then. She always includes scripture at the end of each day and for this day she included these two:

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

Psalms 42:11"Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation, and my God."

I don't know about you but that is super encouraging to me! Today in church the sermon was on learning to live a life of praise. How we should try to pass on the virtues of looking up, not looking down on others, and of being a commercial for God. It was a great sermon to make me think about how much time I spend simply praising God, and that I need to remember that I am a member of the royal priesthood of God, as a member of the family of God. Each member of his family is part of this priesthood and as such we ought to reflect God. God has pity on us and that is what makes us his people, nothing else. The Father has mercy on us simply because he does. It is amazing isn't it! And it is a freeing thing to realize too. 

Anyway, I have probably written for too long now and I do have classes tomorrow. I just wanted to share the encouragement I have been receiving in the midst of a lot of hard emotions that I am dealing with and re-addressing for what seems like the 7 thousandth time! So lastly I want to share one of my very favorite worship songs. Listen and remember how beloved you are by the Father in Heaven and thank him for his new mercies every day!

"How Deep the Father's Love for Us"

So this video might not be my favorite but the important thing is the lyrics

not the pictures that someone put with them. Personally I recommend listening to the song

while doing something else and not watching the video necessarily.