Praise

   It has been about a week since I last wrote. The end of this school year is approaching so quickly and every week seems to come with more things to do than the previous one. A couple exciting things have happened since I wrote last. First, I got accepted to be an orientation leader for the incoming freshmen next year. I am looking forward to this chance to serve and encourage new students as they make their transition here to Northwestern. I have my first training tonight, and I am excited to see God work through this opportunity He has given me. Secondly, I have been doing a lot of thinking and praying about my major. I had felt that God was calling me into women's ministry, but I was not sure what direction to take with that, having either a ministry major or a business major. Yesterday I had the privilege of talking on the phone with a young woman who graduated from here a couple years ago. She was in the same position as I am her freshmen year. She was conflicted between ministry and business, as am I. After talking with her and hearing about her journey, I was very encouraged at the end of our conversation. I have changed my major to non-profit administration, and I am so excited to continue to pursue this as God reveals His plan for my life in this way. The woman I spoke with yesterday talked about a non-profit organization that she supports. It is called IJM, which stands for International Justice Mission. This is a human rights agency that brings rescue to victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression. My heart so goes out to people in these awful situations and I felt God confirming that this was part of His plan for me. This makes me so excited yet also very humbled to be used by God in this way. 
   That is a brief update on some exciting things happening in my life. However, there is one more exciting event that has happened. This past Sunday, my family went to the Chris Tomlin and Kari Jobe concert together. It was so much fun being with my family and talking with each of them. It was also a huge blessing to be able to worship God side by side with them. Worship music is powerful. When people come together and worship God, it is incredible. The words to these songs are so rich and meaningful, filled with so much hope. Sometimes, I don't even sing, I just listen to the words and let the meaning fill my heart. 

   As I stood there at the concert on Sunday night, I realized that praising God does not require perfect circumstances. We are to praise God in every circumstance and every situation. I went to that concert excited but also very tired from the busy weekend and overwhelmed by the upcoming week, yet I was impacted in a way I have never been before. God works in everything and He works everything together for our good and every day I am encouraged in that more and more. As I looked down the aisle at my family and then around the whole stadium, at all the people reaching up to God and singing praises to Him, I was overwhelmed by God's power and reassurance to me.
   We have a reason to praise God at our highest points and our lowest. He has rescued us and redeemed us and because of this, no matter what the present circumstance is, we always have a reason to offer our praises to our Savior. He has given us a purpose in this world and that is something to give praise to Him for every day.