A Week of Updates

One more week now in the past. One more week of claiming dependence out of self-inability. And one more week of God's love and faithfulness proved. The past two Sundays I have visited a new church--and been refreshed. We sang Great Is Thy Faithfulness this morning, and heard a great message from I Thess. 2:17-3:5 about having an affectionate love for the body of Christ that is motivated by the confident hope of the Lord's return. (Col. 1:5) Thank you to those who have been praying about more opportunities for my interaction with fellow believers. He is answering in ways that I can trust are best.
Thank you also for praying for my wrists. After cutting back on practice time, this past week went much better. I plan to see a hand therapist over Christmas break, and until then trust that the Lord will provide all I need to faithfully complete what He calls me to.
I haven't talked much about academics, but my classes are going well. Research Methods and its semester paper project has consumed about 90 hours thus far, but I turn in my rough draft on Tuesday, 11.13! My study of Beethoven's last 5 string quartets in light of his severe physical ailments has been extensive, though I feel I have only learned a fraction of what exists. Maybe that is normal!
I am motivated to work as much as I can on my other paper/presentation that is due the Wednesday after Thanksgiving break. I want to be able to enjoy time with my family. So this week I will be immersed in the variations of Beethoven and their influence in Brahms's.
My biggest struggle this past week was dealing with the worldly influences. While I am thankful for the protection the Lord has given me for much of my life, my sensitivity somehow seems to make the impurities stand out more strongly. I find it difficult to replace them with eternal truth, rather than trying to eliminate the earthly. Focus on ridding the bad just makes it more prevalent. But I am thankful for God's Word that is able to renew my mind. I would be grateful for your prayers that I would allow Him to do that unhindered, and that I would continually respond in obedience to the mirror of His Word so that I can be a light to those around me.
"He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it." I Thess. 5:24