Light Bearing

I am officially "old" at the graduate thing now. No longer am I supposed to be the one with all of the questions. The new students who are bold (or maybe humble?) enough to ask look to me for answers. There is an element of relief contained in the fact that I am past the transitional stage, and that I am currently 8 months away from graduation. But I also have been confronted with my calling as a believer here at JMU. "You are the light of the world....Let your light so shine" (Matt. 5:14, 16).
But I thought Christ was the Light--"I am the Light of the world" (Jn. 8:12). How can a sinful creature produce something equal to the pure Light of God? It can't.
I am not called to be a light producer; my calling, and the calling of every other believer, I might add, is to be a light bearer. Christ in us--the Light shines. Nothing I do creates light. Only as I interact with the Light will it carry through to light up the darkness around me. My responsibility then becomes a removal of any inner obstacle that dims or diffuses the light from its intended strength and purpose.
Praise God for using imperfect vessels, yet ones that He has redeemed and called His Own! I am excited about the opportunities to transfer the Light this semester. Whether facilitating a weekly Bible study for musicians, accompanying at church, or simply interacting with other graduates, students, and teachers, God has made me aware and eager to make the most of my time here.
My first week went well. Between classes, research, recital preparation, accompanying, office work, and teaching, my schedule is full, but not overloaded. I am teaching a class of 16 the beginnings of piano keyboard skills. The planning requires creative thought and careful consideration, but the product is rewarding--at least for me, and hopefully for the students as well!
I will make a point to keep my readers informed of God's work this semester. Recounting His greatness deserves to be shared. And I value your prayers highly, knowing that the battle is not against flesh and blood.

Thoughts to Leave By

Summer, as I have known it, has come to an end. Tomorrow morning, I drive up to Harrisonburg for a few days of various meetings, unpacking, lesson planning, and preparation for Monday, the start of my final year of school. Without knowing my entire schedule, I already see the potential for a very busy semester. But God has recently opened my eyes to the unhealthy extremes I naturally live by. My goal-oriented drive enables me to accomplish a lot, but often at the expense of a greater good. Graduate school and "busy" are somewhat intertwined, but I am praying that the Lord will give me wisdom in how to eliminate the unnecessary busyness. I also desire to enjoy and benefit from the process of each responsibility and relationship the Lord brings into my path.
Mom, Katie, and I did a study together on the kings of Israel and Judah. The most impacting lesson for me came from the kings who started out well, but then really messed things up. They started out humble, dependent on God, seeking Him, and walking in obedience. But then, they got strong. They became comfortable, won their battles, got more land, gained a lot of wealth and status. . . and then, they didn't "need" God. Other attractions turned their heart away from God. So, knowing my tendencies, I recognize that I need to see my weaknesses in order to stay dependent on the Lord. It is His GRACE that exposes the ugliness. But then, I see the beauty of Who I am in Him. And, while the tension remains now, I have the hope of eternal resolution when I will be glorified and no longer struggle!
But until then, I praise Him for His wisdom, His mercy, and His strength that enables me to live the life He created for His glory. And whatever weaknesses I face this semester, I pray that the lessons from my summer will not have been in vain.