Family Weekend

The coming week's schedule doesn't exactly match the wonderfully relaxing weekend I enjoyed with my family, but I was able to set aside the books and the piano practice just fine and spend a refreshing 40 hours with Dad, Mom, Katie, and Buddy here in Harrisonburg. The Saturday night JMU POPS concert went well -- I joined the symphony orchestra for an exciting performance of four Star Wars movements. Three other music ensembles along with the orchestra provided a very professional but fun evening. The weekend was full of enjoyable things -- like Thai food Friday night, a Scrabble game with Mom, a Cribbage round with Katie, grilling, wonderful coffee with even better people to share it with (thank you, Pastor and Mrs. Kimbrough!), and beautiful weather to enhance it all.
Although I have my first test in the morning, I was reminded how the Lord provides exactly what I need, even if it doesn't match my own ideas. I am refreshed and ready to face my week in the strength of the One who has called me to it.

Good and Perfect Gifts

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning" James 1:17.

Some gifts come packaged and wrapped, but some can't be confined to such, like a beautiful sunset or answered prayer. Some are anticipated, others surprise. Some are small while others overwhelm. As the receiver of a variety of gifts this week, I want to praise the Giver. His goodness is not determined by His gifts. In fact, it seems that His goodness is better realized in the waiting. Yet when He chooses to reveal His goodness through His gifts, He is the One to whom all praise is due. So I must testify of this as I think back through my week. I received gifts such as physical strength to persevere through weariness, emotional strength to deal with pain, energy for a class presentation and performance, a clear answer to a prayer for wisdom and direction, opportunities to testify of His work in me, restful sleep, spiritual refreshment from His Word, and even "little" things like chocolate, and the anticipated arrival of my family for a weekend visit!

I'm not the determiner of the goodness of the gift. That is the decision of the Giver. How thankful I am to be able to confidently trust that He will not withhold any good thing from those that walk uprightly! (Ps. 84:11)

After a Busy Week. . .

I decided to climb a tree. Yes, the life of a graduate student has enveloped me for the past week, and I needed an outlet. My aunt and uncle have an apple tree in the back yard, and no one enjoys its gifts except the bugs and one groundhog who makes appearances for each meal. I have gone out to pick them, but most have been either hanging beyond my reach or already infested. This evening, however, after eating my dinner on the screened-in porch, I walked out to assess the possibility of climbing up, and then the extent of the reward for my labor (which turned out to be quite satisfactory, not because of the number of good apples, but because of the refreshment of a challenge completed and enjoyed). Since I was home alone, I decided not to go for the best apples which happened to be hanging farthest from the trunk and highest from the ground. But I did find a few that the insects had missed.

What does this have to do with graduate school? I'm not really sure. Maybe it is my way of keeping some balance in my life! This week has had its challenges: accompanying for a senior vocalist preparing for a very quickly-approaching recital, deciding on and researching for a large project, preparing a Beethoven sonata presentation and performance for which I have not had the length of time nor the wrist cooperation to perfect, health concerns in my family members and friends, and my own struggles of wrist pain, exhaustion, and other personality "weaknesses" (yes, these are good for me, but hard). The Lord has been so good to put these things in my life in order that my weaknesses would magnify His strength. And I also praise Him for the time He gives to take a break from graduate school life and enjoy His creation, even in an apple tree.

Painful Rejoicing

Because I had no access to a piano this past summer, adjusting to a four-hour practice day has been difficult. I have thanked the Lord for the minimal pain that I was sure would accompany the rigorous schedule. And now, in His goodness, He has seen fit to test my "continual thanksgiving" by allowing me to experience that pain. Although not substantial in light of many others' pains, I am dealing with both a physical and emotional struggle in this. For one, my fingers, wrists, and elbows hurt! But also, I believe the Lord has given me the gift to play, the opportunity to further develop it, the love of playing, and also the desire to do so for His glory. When I am hindered in furthering those pursuits, my finite mind wonders how such a hindrance could bring Him the glory I want to give. But truth reigns supreme, and I now have the opportunity to dwell on His promises of sovereignty, peace, hope, faithfulness, grace, and many others that sustain through difficult seasons. Would you pray with me that His glory would shine through this struggle, that I would joyfully persevere, and that others would see Him more clearly in my weakness?

Retreat to the Mountains

One of my friends from my homeschooling years has a "mountain house" 13 miles away which she and her family enjoy frequently. After not seeing each other more than twice during our college years, I had a great time catching up with her my second weekend here. This weekend, her mom has planned a "girls-get-together" to belatedly celebrate her birthday and graduation. Some of her aunts and cousins are coming as well, and they have invited me to join the family. So, tomorrow, I will put aside the studies of Beethoven, the piano books, the research, and enjoy a much needed respite in the beautiful mountains. Whether a small flower or a vast mountainside, God's beauty permeates the earth. I hope I never lose my appreciation of such blessings.

Beauty in Quiet Places

Today was the start of my third week of classes, yet not one day has been "routine." I have seen the Lord continue to develop the lessons He taught me in Russia. This is something I have prayed for, and something others have been praying for, so I praise the Lord for His work, and thank those of you who have had a part. The more I experience in life, the more grateful I become for the intercession of believers. What a privilege to lift up a fellow soldier before the Lord, asking Him to be the strength for the battle, the energy for the race, and then knowing that the Lord will not fail to answer according to His perfect will!
One struggle I face in the midst of the busyness is finding time to stop and appreciate the small blessings, like the beauty of a flower. The picture above is a lily from the pond in the back yard. This is the second one that has bloomed, gone through its open and close cycle according to the sun, and then withered after the third day. Its present beauty reminds me of the Lord's intimate and loving care, even of creations that quickly fade. How much more is that same care manifested to those He is conforming into His own image. I pray that I will continue to make time to be reminded of the truths found in quiet places.

Graduate School

By this Saturday, I will have been a graduate student for 13 days and will be thankful for the weekend -- in order that I might have time to begin treading through the seemingly insurmountable amount of work and piano practice. My daily schedule is full between an ideal 4 hours of practice, classes, and my assistantship work, which includes accompanying for the Madison Singers, accompanying for the symphony orchestra, and working as a secretarial assistant to Dr. Ritcher, head of the music education department. My nights are then devoted to all the reading and researching and more practicing!
The Lord has provided a good church for me to attend -- Freedom Baptist Church. Only 1/2 mile from where I live, this small but friendly group of believers has already welcomed me. I am thankful the Lord so quickly answered this prayer. It will be a needed as the opportunities for spiritual fellowship are now much fewer. But the Lord has been faithful in the past to provide what I need, and I have the confident assurance He will continue to do so, even if the needs and provisions to meet those needs are different than what I am used to or even think are the right ones. His ways are not mine, and for this I know I am to be grateful.