Do you ever have days when you wake up feeling just "bugged"? Like, everything and anything bothers you and you can't help turning even positive experiences from your day into somewhat negative ones.

I don't know why we have these kinds of days, but I definitely can say that I've experienced them. The days when you can't help but doubt yourself - questioning who you are, your abilities, and feeling as if you're all alone and that nobody cares. Yikes.

But let me tell you something: this is a complete and utter LIE.

You matter. You have countless gifts and abilities and people DO care. However, sometimes as humans we tend to be just a little self-centered and egocentric, and don't do the best job at showing that we actually DO care about our friends and those around us. We think about ourselves and what makes US happy - instead of the other way around.

So here's a little reminder: the people in your life DO actually care, and even more importantly, God cares about and loves you at a level that is incomprehensible. He wants you - all of you, and He desires you to always come to Him in the bad (but also good!) moments.

On the days when I am feeling "bugged", I try to remember Isaiah 41:10.
It says, "Fear not, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes I will help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Cast any negative emotions or thoughts you may be having on Him. He cares - He wants you to lay it all on Him. Surrender unto Him, and ultimately, He will give you the strength to push forward with whatever it is that you need to do.

A little over a week ago I returned to Moorhead after fifteen days of touring the eastern half of the United States with the Concordia Choir.
 
Our trip began in Baltimore, Maryland and quickly spiraled back towards “Moorhouse” (aka Moorhead) Minnesota over the span of two weeks. (A poster at one of our concerts said we were the Concordia Choir from “Moorhouse”, and it has since then become an inside joke between the choir members). We saw many places, sang in the most beautiful of spaces, and met countless kind faces. Each day when we would arrive to the church we would be singing at that night, I consistently felt in awe of the venue and the people’s incredible hospitality. I remember arriving and thinking each day, “Wow. There’s no way that tomorrow’s site can top this. This place is perfect.” But every day I was continually amazed. The entire tour was a plethora of unique experiences, experiences that one does not quickly forget. By giving a concert each night we had the chance to touch lives and in turn be touched and changed ourselves. 
 
This past week as I've had the chance to reflect on this experience, I have realized just how awesome touring with a group can be. Going on a tour is an incredible experience for a variety of reasons:

1. Although it is only one trip, it allows you the chance to visit multiple destinations.
2. You end the trip with a set of diverse new experiences and interactions from these various places.
3. You get to be part of a community! J
4. You have the chance to get to know so many people in a relatively short amount of time. 5 hours on a bus? A chance to sit and get to know a new person. 2 hours at a random mall? A chance to go to the mall pet store and look at puppies with someone new. 1 hour of carrying risers and setting up in a sanctuary before a concert? Another chance to talk (and vent about how heavy that riser is) with someone you may have not known prior to the tour. POINT BEING: there are countless random moments of unscheduled time which you can choose to take advantage of and get to know those you are in the group with.
5. Touring is a giant road trip! Aside from great conversations on the bus, there are so many cool places passing by outside your window!

 
I could go on and on about the perks of going on a tour; these initial five just happened to be the first ones that came to my mind.
 
However, upon further reflection, I find myself feeling incredibly thankful for the opportunity to sing in the Concordia Choir. It wasn't until the night after our home concert that it finally hit me just how blessed I am to be able to sing with such a talented group of people. My best friend recorded a part of the concert from that afternoon, so that night I had the chance to hear a recording of us singing for the very first time. It’s rather ironic, but up until that point I had obviously heard feedback that we sounded great from people, but it wasn’t until that moment when I finally heard us in that recording that I realized just what people were getting talking about. Because I too was in awe of how we sounded, thinking to myself, “I’m a part of that choir? There’s no way I have a voice that is capable of that!” However that’s the beautiful thing about being a part of a choir or any group in general – when individuals come together to form a whole the power and accomplishment of that group has the potential to be incredible.

Today, nine days following an incredible tour, I feel thankful. I am thankful for everyone who was on the tour and who I had the chance to interact with on the trip; I am thankful for those who put in countless devoted hours to make it happen (I know more work went into it than I can even begin to imagine.) I am thankful to those who turned up at our concerts wanting to simply to hear some good music.

Finally, last – but never least – I am thankful for the original creator of music himself, our awesome God. God, thank you for creating music in the first place, because singing unto You brings such unfathomable joy.