Opportunity

"Thou sayest, 'Fit me, fashion me for Thee.'
Stretch forth thine empty hands, and be thou still:
O restless soul, thou dost but hinder Me
By valiant purpose and by steadfast will.
Behold the summer flowers beneath the sun.
In stillness his great glory they behold;
And sweetly thus his mighty word is done.
And resting in his gladness they unfold.
So are the sweetness and the joy Divine
Thine, O beloved, and the work is Mine."
--Ter Steegen

What I "accomplished" this last semester speaks not of its true success. Yes, I did spend about 200 hours at the piano, researched/analyzed and wrote two substantial papers, instructed 14 students in Class Piano, put together sight reading, harmonization, and 4-part hymn examples in Finale for future teaching use, and became very familiar with the office copier in my secretarial responsibilities. But apart from my recognition of God's glory, these are eternally insignificant.
Opportunity. This word best summarizes this past semester. Musically, academically, relationally, spiritually--every area evidenced God's gracious work. I've been able to share a few specifics, and wish I could recount them all for the purpose of giving Him sufficient glory. While I can't quite do that, I do want to praise Him for the multiple opportunities to testify of my personal relationship with Jesus Christ, both to saved and to unsaved, and to find more spiritual fellowship at church and at school than I did last semester. As a result, three girls often occupy my mind and prayers, and several others have become more than just faces that I tended to pass by unaware.
Meeting with other musicians each Sunday night to discuss biblical topics not only challenged my knowledge of Scripture but also provided an outlet to relate music to ministry, something I have largely missed since Northland.
After a very busy week of performances, paper revisions, recitals (attending!), and packing, I played my piano juries starting at 11:54am (EST) (just a few minutes behind my scheduled 11:40 slot), left the building, stopped by Starbucks and headed home! Every semester responsibility is completed and I look forward to the summer. It won't be boring. I've picked most of my graduate recital repertoire and will begin practicing as soon as the music comes. Babysitting requests have already come. A list of house projects begs to be crossed off, and three trips will break up each month I'm home. Time with my family will be wonderful. I trust my summer will continue to witness God's gracious work as I seek to be His will, rather than getting caught up in the doing.

Copland to Byrne

This weekend held lots of music: practiced, analyzed, written about, listened to, performed. I guess that comes with pursuing the degree. Being at JMU has made me more aware of the focus of my passion for music. And, although I was surrounded by music all weekend, my most rewarding experience was serving as the pianist with the worship team at church today. "Be Thou My Vision," "A Mighty Fortress," "Lord Most High," "Lion of Judah"--Our God has incredibly rich and descriptive names. And He never fails to meet their implications. He warrants glory simply because of Who He is. When I realize what He does for me, that should only increase my praise.
My understanding of Who He is comes only by His grace. I was reminded of that tonight during Bible study as our re-visiting atheist clearly proved that an unregenerate mind cannot fathom God. But how exciting to see the Spirit at work, and how comforting to know that, because of God's grace, He can enliven those who are spiritually dead. I've experienced the grace, and continue to as He chooses to work in and through vessels in order to extend that grace to others.

A week of follow-up

Last week was proof that God answers specific prayers. This week has caused me to dwell on another aspect of the truth. Sunday night's Bible study centered on 2 Cor. 12:1-10: Paul's vision in heaven, his humbling by the thorn, and his strengthening by God's grace. So, I prayed that this week I might see the reality of that gracious strength in my own life. Monday morning, I woke up with achy wrists that have continued their complaining since. By Monday evening, the stressful conglomeration of papers, performances and fatigue had surfaced. And then I realized, "Oh, maybe this is a specific answer." :) Dwelling on the matter of prayer, the Lord has caused me to see that the issue is not so much the specific prayer, nor the specific answer. It is the fact that I can pray, and KNOW that God will answer according to His sovereign, wise, and loving plan (both the nature and the timing of the answer). My rejoicing is not to be simply in the fact that I receive something I desire, but more importantly that I have a God who delights in hearing me, and who deserves praise regardless of the answer. In light of this, I am to "pray without ceasing"--develop the habit of uninterrupted practice of prayer regarding ALL matters--because the issue goes far beyond prayer material.
Recently, I have seen God answer specific things promptly. Yet I also pray for things that seem to have failed to reach their destination. But this is not a biblical understanding of prayer. God does hear. God does answer. God is all-deserving of all glory regardless of the answer or timing.
"Wait on the LORD. Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart: wait, I say, on the LORD!" Ps. 27:14
"Listen to my voice in the morning, LORD. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly." Ps. 5:3 (NLT)

A week of "God-things"

"What mighty praise, O God, belongs to You in Zion. We will fulfill our vows to You, for You answer our prayers....Though our hearts are filled with sins, You forgive them all. What joy for those You choose to bring near....You faithfully answer our prayers with awesome deeds, O God our Savior. You are the hope..."
Psalm 65:1-5
I've been trying to think of the best way to concisely share all of the specific "God-things" of the past 7 days, and I've come to the conclusion that I can't. For one, the stories are too complex to make concise, and secondly, some things I just can't put into words. But I want to give you a little taste--
One of the greatest blessings of the week was "happening" to meet Jen in Sunday school. Since then, I have been able to spend time with her on several different occasions, learn much about her, and identify the Spirit's work in her heart as she is experiencing a growing relationship with God. (Last Sunday's message on I Thess. 5:16-20 has transformed her understanding of biblical joy!) I am excited and sobered by the discipleship opportunities.
It seems that every day this week, I have prayed for something specific, and the Lord has answered in a way that proves His sovereignty as well as His faithfulness. Prayers for discernment, prayers for clarity, prayers for opportunities to share, prayers of intercession, etc. Should I be so surprised?
Beyond my times with Jen, I have been able to testify of God's work and His importance in my life both with believers and non, particularly in the music department.
I wish I could give you a fuller picture of all God's work He has allowed me to see this week. But I hope you can praise Him with me, not only for His work here, but also for His faithful work in YOUR lives as well!

Music or meteorology?

The first time to see all three weather reports reading the same temperature!
4.3.08 at 1:13pm
Harrisonburg, VA -- 46
Bristol, VA -- 46
Dunbar, WI -- 46