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Tender Mercies

For the past couple of weeks, I've been really trying to observe the tender mercies of the Lord in my life. I've had a few simple, but really meaningful experiences as I've done this! This semester I have gotten into the great habit of writing in my journal every day. I have recorded these experiences there, but I thought I'd share them here too!

The first was last Monday. I was doing my reading assignment for New Testament in the hour break I had before class, procrastination at its finest. I was reading in Romans Chapter 8 in the New Testament. If you have a chance, please read it. It's amazing. The apostle Paul was an incredible person. The verse that hit me the hardest was verse 28 which reads, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purposes."My other favorite verse was the last two verses of the chapter (38-39) which read, "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus or Lord." I'd never read these verses before and they really struck me, to the point when I was tearing up sitting in the McKay building. At this phase of my life, I have a lot of really crucial decisions ahead of me, and honestly sometimes just thinking about them is enough to cause me to be overcome with fear and anxiety. These verses put it so plainly, things will work out for the good for the righteous. Yes we will face trials and difficult decisions, but nothing will ever separate us from the love of God. If he is on our side, what do we have to fear? Discovering these verses was such a blessing!

Then this Sunday we had one of the best choir rehearsals ever! Or at least for me it was! Our bishop requested that we sing "Behold the Wounds in Jesus' Hands." I wasn't really familiar with it, but it's beautiful. I felt prompted to tell the choir that we have the opportunity to bear our testimonies through the lyrics. The last time we ran through it, I was moved to tears! I felt the Spirit so strongly bearing witness of the Savior! Music is one of the ways that I feel the Spirit the most and that is such a blessing! I am so grateful for the opportunity I have had to help direct our ward choir! I have learned and grown so much and had so much fun! 

Finally today I misplaced something pretty important. I may not be a neat freak, but I am usually really good at keeping track of things, so naturally I was FREAKING out. After tearing apart my room, I said a prayer. Immediately, the thought came into my mind to move back my dresser, which is against the wall in my room, and look behind there. I never in a million years would have thought to look there. It took me more tries than I'm proud of to move my dresser back, but moral of the story is what I was looking for was right there. I almost cried I was so relieved. I'm so thankful for the tender mercies of the Lord! I am so thankful for the opportunities I have to see his hand in my life! 

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