A Quick Visit

We didn't expect to be able to see Caleb, but he was able to come down for a day before heading back to South Carolina. Wes and I also got in a good (but hard!) run at Sugar Hollow. 3 miles topped off with a run up the dam. I have lost some momentum due to my lack of present accountability runners! I haven't felt so sick after running since my beginning runs at Northland, but it was great. And the day was beautiful as well--no sign of the winter storm warning for tomorrow. So much for more running this week. But I'm thankful for one good day. Today has been encouraging in many ways, beyond benefiting from God's creation. I have also become aware of answers to prayer, been reminded of important promises from God's Word and from godly brothers and sisters in Christ, and been challenged to press on to know and love God in deeper ways and also to testify of Him more boldly this year. Being at a secular university will provide many potential opportunities for that. Please pray for me as I depend on God's grace to see these desires become a reality.
Happy New Year!
2 Samuel 22:29-35

Wrist Update

I saw an occupational therapist before Christmas to see if she could detect anything beyond what I know--it hurts the more I play. Yet I have enough inconsistencies with my pain to suggest that there may be something else wrong. After a series of questions and observations, she believes the pain might be resulting from weak upper back muscles. The muscles between my shoulder blades are apparently much weaker than they should be, and than the other muscles in my back which have been compensating. (I guess tae-bo doesn't target everything :) Because of my size combined with the weakness, she said that the nerve cavities running from my spinal cord to my arms are possibly constricting the nerves. The positive thing is that the solution is exercise! She gave me several strengthening exercises to try and said it could be up to twelve weeks before I see the desired results. Whether this is it or not, I'm thankful for the possibility of help. If not, I know God has something better planned than a pain-free semester. Isn't it comforting to have such assurance?!

Home and .25 Completion

I am home after completing my first semester of four. What a 15 weeks! Apart from the confidence that I know I am where God wants me to be, I'm not sure I would be able to look back over the whole and call it a success. From a human perspective, I had many hindrances. But in trusting a sovereign God, I have proved his faithfulness, love, strength, and grace.

Needless to say, I believe I am looking forward to this break very much. It is not as long as Northland's, as I start back January 7th, but the three weeks will be wonderful. I'll be able to be home until I leave for Va Beach to play for a wedding Jan. 5th. Gramps and Gram Olson will be coming after Christmas, along with Charity Chen, a student at Northland who will be spending her break with them. The Davey's will also come New Year's Eve for a few days. I'm hoping to get some good runs in with Wesley as we did last Christmas. If we can't have snow, it might as well be nice enough to enjoy being outside!

I'm sure I will be able to give more information about my spring semester once I start, but I do know that my classes as well as my work will be quite different. I will be taking a theory class called Analytical Techniques, a music history seminar on jazz, and a class piano credit due to my new position as a class piano teacher. This will replace my accompanying jobs. While I will miss the accompanying, I'm excited about being stretched in the department of classroom teaching. From what I know, the course material is well-organized, and all in a folder complete with lesson plans and materials. I believe it will be a good first-experience.

I want Christmas to become more special to me each year, not because of its accompanying break, or even because I can be with my family. Those things are meaningful, but not without the focus on God who came to earth in human form that He might die for my sin, conquering sin and death so that I can live eternally with Him in heaven after my brief life. I easily forget the significance of this truth--yet it is why I am here. My prayer is that the break from busyness will allow for more contemplation on these truths, and result in a life that "walk[s] worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him." Col. 1:10

Merry Christmas!

I Samuel 13: the morality of timing

In reading I Samuel 13 this morning, I was struck by the importance of timing. Samuel had told Saul that he would arrive in time to offer the burnt offerings. Saul waited, and upon Samuel's delay, decided to go ahead and perform the supplicatory act. Right after he finished, Samuel arrived (hmmm...prophet). And in response to Saul's disobedience, Samuel announces God's plan to end his kingdom and give it to another man, one who followed after God's own heart.
God's holiness justifies any seeming injustice or harshness. But what challenged me is the fact that Saul wasn't performing something inherently sinful. In fact, the act itself was one of supplication to God. The sin lay, rather, in the timing. Saul had been ordered to wait. And he didn't.
Even when the timing seems wrong, I must remember that God's timetable is much different (not to mention more perfect) than mine. I can rejoice as I wait patiently, knowing that he will fulfill His will at the right time. Until then, I am to be walking in His will for me right now.
Speaking of day-by-day, I am scheduling my final days of the first semester of grad school! 3 more performances, one recording project with a flutist, and a major listening exam over Beethoven's piano works. Not much left! I hope to be home by Wednesday night or Thursday.
I am so thankful for God's day-by-day strength and guidance. And thank you to those of you who have prayed for me this semester! My arms are not so happy with the extra practicing, but the Lord has been faithful to provide strength as well as times of rest.

Timely Truth

A good truth for a cold and windy Monday:

"The Old Testament believer had joy for God's gifts to him. God's power made things here contribute to him. But the Christian's joy is in heaven and springs from what the Father is to him there. He demands nothing from this world, but in the life of the Lord Jesus he contributes to it, of the grace that nourishes and comforts him outside it." JBS

"Blessed are the people that know the joyful sound; they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of Thy countenance. In thy Name shall they rejoice all the day." Ps. 89:15, 16

Know or not?

A seeming paradox?

"For 'who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?' But we have the mind of Christ." I Cor. 2:16

*We can't know:
-"How unsearchable are His [God's] judgments and His ways past finding out!" Rom.11:33
-"'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,' says the LORD." Is. 55:8

*We can know:
-"But we have the mind of Christ." I Cor. 2:16b

How is this knowledge/(or lack thereof) reconciled?
*"No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from my Father I have made known to you." John 15:15

-We don't know it all--and never will. Yet God in His gracious wisdom has revealed through Christ and His Word all that we need to know for "life and godliness." (2 Pet. 1:3) As frustrating as a lack of knowledge can sometimes be, the lack is not a mistake on God's part. He has promised not to withhold any good thing from those who walk uprightly. (Ps. 84:11b) Everything given, the Spirit helps us further understand the truths as we seek to know Christ more.