Auditions, Running, and Hope

Thankfully, I am past auditions, at least for the time being. But 481 students have auditioned for JMU's School of Music over three days this semester. My role--a much calmer and nearly stress-free one--has been to give Class Piano placement tests. Every music major must complete or test out of 2-3 years of these classes designed to teach them the basics of keyboarding (scales, arpeggios, chord progressions, harmonization/transposition, and sight reading). I am currently teaching a MUS 101 class, so I, along with two other TA's and the pedagogy director, Dr. Pat Brady, met with many of these prospective students to determine what level they will be placed in if they are accepted into the program. A 25% acceptance rate makes the competition rather stiff.
With two of the three audition days being last Saturday and today, my recent schedule has been a little different, but a nice change. Since I am not quite as buried by my own studies this semester, I enjoy variety a little bit more! I get to babysit Wednesday night, and I even had time for an outdoor run this afternoon. But a front is blowing in, and my lungs reminded me of how much they do NOT appreciate wind. Oh well--signs of spring give me hope for running days to return. :)
Hope is a wonderful thing.

February 13th and Faithfulness

This date last year, I was anticipating the completion of my senior recital. Now, I'm one year away from a graduate recital. Wow. In thinking of all the changes that have taken place in the last year, I value even more the solid, unchanging, and faithful character of the Lord. One of my favorite promises He made to Israel is found in Isaiah 54:10: "'For the mountains may depart and the hills disappear, but even then I will remain loyal to you. My covenant of blessing will never be broken,' says the LORD, who has mercy on you." While the promise was made specifically to Israel, this loyalty of our God has many parallels in the NT--Phil. 1:6, I Thess. 5:24, Heb 13:5--to mention a few.
Life is a vapor. And even my sincerest loyalties must seem insignificant in light of God's eternal faithfulness. Yet what a Model! How thankful I am for this and other attributes that reveal His unfathomableness.

Worth Waiting For

"As a gift of grace, sanctification is conferred on each believer as soon as he believes. But it is a gift yet held on deposit, 'hid with Christ in God,' to be appropriated through daily communion and gradual apprehension. So, while the believer's realized sanctification appears painfully meager, at most a thin line of light, like the crescent of the new moon, yet he sees it ever complemented by the clear outlines of that rounded wholeness which is his in the Lord Jesus, and into which he is to be daily waxing till he grows to 'the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ' (Eph. 4:13)." -A.J. Gordon

"And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God you whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (I Thess. 5:23).

Ice Effect

Time to Fall

I made it through four years at Northland with no falls on ice. Now I am in Virginia and today, I hit the ground! Thankfully it was right after I crossed the street, and not during. What came down as rain last night hardened into a thick sheet of ice. Although I had to chisel the Trooper this morning, the roads seemed fine. My first encounter with ice was the curb onto which I stepped, or tried to step, but had absolutely no footing! I'm fine. Nothing hurt. My hands stayed clear of the whole thing as one maneuvered the umbrella and the other held the cell phone. My peaceful conversation with Mom was soon interrupted by a "eeaaahhh...(thump)...I just fell...After four years!...I'm fine." Haha. Glad I can laugh about it. Although the only other potential amusers were those driving by. Oh well.
Beside that (or maybe even including it :), it has been a good week. I have missed Northland more, as this week is HEART Conference--something I always looked forward to. But I must say that I didn't miss the -40 degree windchill. The cold, the snow--those bring back good memories. But the wind is not quite as inviting!
I've added an accompanying recital for April, working with a violin/viola player who attends the Sunday night Bible study. He's doing the Copland Sonata and a set of Ralph Vaughan Williams pieces. It is some challenging music with polytonalities and changing meters, so I look forward to working on that. Also, I believe I will be able to participate in the music worship at church on occasion, starting in March. I'm very grateful for this opportunity.
I keep waiting for the busyness of last semester to hit, but so far, I am accomplishing everything I need to, as well as having extra time! Teaching is going well, although I am facing many of the typical challenges of education. This has provided an opportunity for me to stimulate my creativity (or more likely my problem-solving skills!) and try to come up with ways to face them effectively. How thankful I am for the peace of God's continual presence, His active work in my life, and His wisdom. Just this morning, I was refreshed by the simple truths of the gospel.
I did nothing! I deserve nothing. Yet I have been given everything! And I am here to share that with those around me:
"I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers...that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus." Philemon 4,6

Truth Encountered

In reading through Colossians this month, I've been amazed at all the "new" themes and patterns that seem to surface each time I read it. One of the most recognizable motifs is the truth that Christ is ALL because the fullness of God dwells in Him. "In Him," "by Him," "through Him," "for Him," "to Him," "before Him"--and if that weren't enough, we are complete in Him, for He dwells in us!
Whether that truth causes you to minimize the earthly things you don't have (or even do), or to simply give God praise for further blessing you with "unnecessary" blessings, I have experienced both. This weekend was refreshing in many ways as I got to spend time with family and friends in Va Beach. Devotional time around the breakfast table with Gramps and Gram and Grace was a highlight of each day. The picture is of Kirk and Celinda Lehner, long-time close friends from whom I have been privileged to receive wisdom and prayer and fellowship. With five kids and an otherwise busy life, any time we can get is special--even Arby's and slot-car browsing! Having extra time to read and to catch up with other friends was also an encouragement. Christ is the Head of something very important--the body. Another blessing.
Off to another week of school, but one that I pray will be impacted by truths encountered.

Good, but not that good

The new shoes are great, especially for stability. I ran in them for the first time today. For unbroken shoes, they felt pretty good, although not good enough to run to Va Beach tomorrow!
With no school on Monday, and most of my family out in Colorado, I am going to spend my long weekend with Grace and my grandparents. This will be a wonderful time--to get lots of reading as well as visiting in (and maybe some piano practice too. :)
Tonight, I was able to share much of the gospel with a girl I have befriended at school. We are in two classes together this semester, and I accompany her for flute. I have been praying for such an opportunity, and I believe many of you have as well. Thank you, and please pray that the Spirit will use our conversation to lead to others.

Spiritual Fellowship

What a great weekend of encouraging, spiritual fellowship. Thank you to those of you who have been praying specifically.

1/2 Way Through Week 1

Even though I am only 1/2 way into my first week, this semester is going to be much different than last--in a good way. Both my theory and jazz classes are going to be good. One is very hands-on, and the other, reading-intensive with the bulk of class being discussion. Even though they are both evening classes, they meet once a week, giving me more time in the day. My mornings aren't going to need to be as rushed, and I am very thankful for that. The more I think on last semester, the more I realize the insanity of my schedule! I'm grateful the Lord allowed me to experience it, to see the pitfalls, and to graciously provide me with a semester more conducive to a healthier lifestyle.

As for teaching class piano, I think I am going to love it! I have had two classes and have left energized! 13 boys and 2 girls--nearly a full lab.

Because my Uncle George is on sabbatical this semester, he is helping my grandparents drive their RV out west (as they do every year) for their two-month stay. Aunt Marilou and I miss him, and so does "his" cat, Thistle. Neither of us give Thistle the loving attention Uncle George does. (Conveniently, my allergies prevent that. :)

Many things make it hard to believe it is January...especially the 70-degree weather over the past few days. But when sunshine invites running, I have no problem with having to double-check my calendar. "Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest, sun, moon, and stars in their courses above, join with all nature in manifold witness to Thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love."

Born Crucified --L.E. Maxwell

"The birth-mark of nature must be contradicted throughout by the death-mark of the Cross. Let us, then, ask the Lord to mark His Cross upon all our natural choices.

Lord Crucified, O mark Thy holy Cross
On motive, preference, all fond desires,
On that which self in any form inspires
Set Thou that sign of loss.

And when the touch of death is here and there
Laid on a thing most precious in our eyes,
Let us not wonder, let us recognize
The answer to this prayer.
-Amy Carmichael

But thanks be to God, this yet-not-I kind of a Christian life is no lifelong funeral procession. Nay, verily, for Jesus said, 'He that loseth His life for my sake shall find it.' What could be more wonderful than that the Son of God, glorious and eternal, Creator of all things, 'who loved me and gave Himself for me,' should stoop down to make me His own, His very temple, allowing me to say, in a language of a living faith and reality, 'Christ liveth in me.'"

Joyful Reunion

Saturday, January 5, I was thankful to be part of Stacy Potocska and Austin Bell's wedding ceremony as the pianist. Seeing Northland friends again was special. The ceremony was beautiful, although a large Christmas tree obstructed my view of the entire stage! I played for Suemi and Catherine Harrison, both of whom I had enjoyed working with before. The theme of their songs was God's grace. It was refreshing to be once again clearly using music for ministry. Studying music at a secular university does not promote that. During the exchange of vows, I played one of my favorite Jim Brickman pieces, Angel Eyes. I guess this one wouldn't fall under the sacred category, but it is a lovely piece. :)

Despite the reunion, it had to be brief, and I am back in Harrisonburg for a meeting this afternoon regarding my teaching responsibilities this semester. And everything begins tomorrow. Christmas break went by much fast than previous years. I believe I enjoyed being home with little school work to accomplish more than any other time! It also made me thankful that I will be home for the majority of this upcoming summer. Outside of a trip to Ecuador with my dad and Global Health Outreach, a week of vacation with my dad's family in WV, and a week of "projects" at my grandparents house in Va Beach, Lord willing, I will be home babysitting, keeping up with practice, and enjoying time with my family. Grace is going to Cambodia for six weeks, but the others are planning on staying close!

Each day is a new blessing, and I hope that the Lord in His grace allows me and you to see that no matter what they hold.

Charity and Other Blessings

I mentioned in an earlier blog about Charity, a Chinese girl who would be coming with Gram and Gramps. The Lord used clothes to connect us this past semester. And I mentioned how I would like to meet her. Little did I know she would be at my house for 5 days! God's grace is so evident in her testimony; she was a joy to get to know.
The time with Gram and Gramps was also special. I love the morning devotion times when they are around to discuss and offer godly wisdom. Having family that loves the Lord and desires to continue to grow is both challenging and refreshing. I thank the Lord for such a family.

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