Awakening

"For You and You alone,

Awake my soul, awake my soul and sing

For the world You love

Your will be done, let Your will be done in me"*

I can't believe it is only a few weeks until my big departmental exam for school, man what a journey. I won't be quite done yet, but all the reading, studying, preparing for mid-terms & finals aspect of it will be. This is a journey that has brought its fair share of blood, sweat, and more than an ocean full of tears. I've been reflecting on the process and I can still remember the day I sat on the floor of my room in a house I shared with two of my friends and filled out my application to Amberton... little did I know the door I was about to open and even still I didn't fully step into it until nearly 3 years later. I've loved every minute of it, okay so maybe not every minute, but I do know for a fact that if I had it all to do over again I would.

In the last 24 hours God has revealed big things to me that ties into this journey I've walked. I had a moment over 2 years ago where I nearly froze and gave up. But then I was gently reminded of my capabilities and dream that God laid on my heart and I pressed through. When I say that this has been more than just obtaining a masters degree, I mean that it is WAY more. I never could have imagined what it would take to get to where I am today and I'm so grateful. These last 2 years (2.5 by the time I graduate) I've learned more about patience, love, gratitude, freedom, free-will, sacrifice, and pressing through. I have a fearful joy before me. Fearful in that I know when I walk through that door after graduation life is going to change in a big way and ready or not I have no way to go but forward. Joy in that I've finally finished... I mean this is really a big deal, one that I'm not sure I'll ever find the words for, but pray so daily.

I've seen what God can do with a life, what He has done with mine. For instance, I have an interview scheduled with a mental health facility for teens and children tomorrow for my student internship. The reason this is a big deal is that the last time I stepped into a facility of this kind I was the patient, now I'll be the "counselor." It almost seems a little surreal, but I know it was all a part of God's plan for me. Most often counselors and clinicians don't know the other side of the equation... I consider myself lucky to eventually know both sides.

He's awakened my soul and I don't ever want to go back to sleep for if I do, I only want to awaken in His presence.

"Like the rising sun that shines

Awake my soul, awake my soul and sing

Only You can raise a life

Awake my soul, awake my soul and sing."*

* Awakening, Chris Tomlin