Ecuatorial Recaps

I've been contemplating all week long how to best convey my experiences in Ecuador, but have yet to devise a way that justly suffices. So, over the next few days, I plan to recap the highlights of each day, providing some photos that will hopefully enhance your ability to taste of at least a bit of what I did. It was a great week that evidenced God's presence and power from beginning to end. In my own prayer for patience and gentleness, God answered by providing delays on both ends of our flights, yesterday's resulting in the purchase of another ticket, another night in Ft. Lauderdale, and arriving home today rather than Saturday evening. But even in that, I felt the joy and peace of His presence, not getting anxious as I usually do about delays and unknowns. And also, we got one more night with our leader's atheist parents and another couple who was interested in hearing about the work we did. As much as I trusted God to get us home on time, I had even greater confidence in His timing, and the greatest avenue for His glory. Those attitudes are a work of the Spirit, I know!

From North to South

Dad and I fly to Ft. Lauderdale tonight and then to Quito, Ecuador on Friday. After having been on an extended short-term mission trip to Russia last summer, a week-stay seems less significant. But I don't want to have that mindset. God is not limited by time, nor even by other barriers such as language or culture. I am praying that the Lord would give me opportunity to testify of Christ, not simply in my service, but also in verbal witness. The time with Dad is also something I look forward to. Finding true fellow laborers with whom to serve the Lord together is a rare yet refreshing joy.

The needs of the Quechua Indians are both physical and spiritual. I hope to witness both being met this next week.
"Often all we think of is, having our need met; but how little a thing that is with God! It would cost Him nothing, we may say, to meet the need of a lifetime in a moment; and a lesser love than His would supply it at once, and get rid of the constant burden.
But that is not His way. To supply the need is a small thing; but to supply it in such a way as to make us feel in each seasonable supply the Father's heart never withdrawn from us, the Father's heart ever employed about us--that is what He means. 'Give us our daily bread': is it not much more than to ask, 'Give us now, that we may not have to come again?'"

-From NBTHH 6.14

Father's Day

My pastor's Father's Day message yesterday on "The Passions of a Godly Man" was one that came clearly from his heart. As he went through each point, I became increasingly grateful for a dad who exemplifies them all. God has blessed me, foremost, by adopting me as His own, so I can call him "Abba, Father." Without that relationship, all others mean nothing in eternity. Yet He has provided so much more in giving me a dad who loves me, who loves my mom, and has a heart for the Lord. And if that weren't enough, my life has been radically impacted by many other godly men--relatives, pastors, teachers, friends--models of Christ.

Cause for rejoicing

"Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous! For praise from the upright is beautiful.
Praise the Lord with the harp; make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings.
Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully with a shout of joy.
For the word of the LORD is right, and all His work is done in truth.
He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD."
Ps. 33:1-5
Why do we rejoice? Because of God's character and its consistent outworking. Righteousness, truth, justice, goodness...these stand unmarred by earthly circumstances, good or bad.
I am rejoicing for the opportunity to visit my "home away from home" this past week. Evidences of God's grace laced each day's experiences. Sarah and I gave their apartment a great spring clean; Allie and I enjoyed many tea parties, owl-spottings in Winnie-the-Pooh, and outside explorations; I re-visited a few of my favorite nature spots and got in some great trail runs--Charity and I saw the bear tracks, but never got to see bear; and most encouraging of all was the time I got with my family and friends that both refreshed as well as challenged me. I wasn't able to see everyone I had hoped to, but am grateful for those I did. The level of spiritual interaction is something I have greatly missed this past year. But God has faithfully supplied all my needs thus far. His unchanging character secures the impossibility of failing now. Rejoicing continues!

Home and Away

We got home from VA Beach around 4:45pm today, with enough time to speedily get unpacked, eat dinner, and prepare for the small group that meets here every other Tuesday night. Back to life at the Moore house! I really am thankful to be home for the summer.

My grandmother got much worse after Friday, but she is finally improving. She developed an acute kidney infection and could not get her blood sugar below 300 for about 4 days. The doctors never admitted her, but she did go to the ER Sunday night for several hours. The Lord sovereignly ordained the timing of our being there. And we are all very grateful she is doing better today. Her blood sugar was 154 this morning!

I've just about unpacked, but am repacking for a plane trip to WI on Thursday. I'll be at Northland until the 12th, mainly to visit my family and help out with my cousin Sarah's two little ones. I'm sure I'll have cute pictures to display soon! I'm also hoping for some great sunrise shots. The most beautiful ones I've ever seen have been there.

Necessary Loyalty

"Let your heart therefore be loyal to the Lord our God, to walk in His statutes and keep His commandments, as at this day." I Kings 8:61

Mom, Katie, and I are doing a Bible study together this summer in 1&2 Kings/2 Chronicles. Looking at the beginning of Solomon's reign, he seemed humbly determined to remain loyal to God and exhorted the Israelites to do the same. So what happened between this and the end of his life where he was creating temples for and offering sacrifices to other gods? Not being at the end of the study, I've only been surmising based on previous studies and discussions--but could it be that he had it too easy? Israel was in a state of peace. Unlike his father David, Solomon was not running for his life or fighting enemies. Peace is good, but I wonder if the lack of "helplessness" created a environment of comfort in which he wasn't forced to walk in daily dependence on His God. Certainly this would only be one facet, but it has caused me to think more about the value of difficulty and seemingly impossible situations. David was not perfect, yet he was a man after God's own heart. He recognized and acted upon his helplessness without God by seeking Him. How much greater to be in this position then that of a man who had it all, yet sadly concluded at the end of his life that it was all vanity.

My heart it prone to wander. How gracious is our God to keep us in need of Him.

VA Beach

We're mid-way through our week with Gramps and Gram. It has been a good but unusual visit. Grace is in a block class at the seminary each morning; on Tuesday night, Katherine had a sudden onset of a mysterious respiratory illness/allergy that even the doctors today couldn't diagnose; yesterday, Gramps had a second cauterization of his colon to try to fix some post-radiation damage; and last night, Gram developed a severe urinary tract infection. So far, Mom, Buddy, Grace, and I are fine! Dad couldn't join us for this trip, but he is also doing well (he has recovered from the calf muscle spasms that our running brought on :).

But that's all about health--we have had much more rewarding subjects of which to write about. I've had some time to sit both with Gramps and Gram and benefit from their fellowship. Gramps and I had some good discussion on Milton Vincent's book The Gospel Primer. The discipline of preaching the gospel to myself every day is something I want to cultivate. And to hear of practical out-workings from a godly man I respect so highly was very encouraging.

I am currently sitting near Gram who is resting on the family room couch. Her infection has wiped her physically, but her first comment after waking was, "I am so thankful for the hope of a new body." Only a Spirit-filled mind responds that way to such difficulties. We are listening to hymns--right now "Now Thank We All our God."

"The more we abide in the Lord on the other side, the less disappointed we will be here, for when we are there we import new joys and new hopes into this old world, from an entirely new one, and we therefore in every way surpass the inhabitants of this lost world." -J.B.S.

"Stand fast in the Lord" (Phil 4:7).

(I can't take credit for the incredible sky picture. Thanks, David Broughton.)

From MI to KY

Fall of 2005 I traveled with Northland's ministry team. One of our Sunday evening services was in the small town of Coral, MI. Neither the size of the town nor the church attendance reflected the warmth with which we were welcomed. Andrea and I (the two girls on the team) stayed with Val Gates (the pastor's daughter) and her family. She and her husband have 7 children, one of whom came to Northland the following year. The 4 boys on the team stayed with the pastor and his dying wife. Despite this incredibly hard time for their families, a mutual heart-to-heart ministering took place during our short stay.
I have kept in touch with them and recently found out they would be in Emmalena, KY at Camp Nathanael for a missions trip/work week. Being only 2.5 hours from my house, I was able to drive up and spend the day working alongside them. We painted 138 fence sections! The work was enjoyable, the camp was beautiful (mountains, rivers, and even a 4-foot snake!), and the fellowship was a blessing. I didn't know if or when I would see them again, but I am grateful to the Lord for His allowing it today.

Into May

Last weekend, we celebrated my cousin's graduation from JMU, another cousin's outstanding role as "Annie" in her community musical, my Dad's 52nd birthday, and my brother's 13th. Having all of my dad's family together for the events was wonderful. My family also got to visit the church I have been attending in Harrisonburg, which was a blessing.
Now, we're back home and Katie and Buddy are in the final stretch of their school years. My days have been the good kind of full-- researching/ordering/practicing my new repertoire for next year's graduate recital, one-by-one crossing off of the 3-page "Home projects" list for the summer, catching up with a few friends, and having some extra time to read and do Sudoku puzzles. :)

The Cross

I recently finished John Piper's book The Roots of Endurance. It explores the lives of John Newton, Charles Simeon, and William Wilberforce in light of their individual struggles through which they displayed unequaled perseverance. Being a runner as well as a natural "driver," the concept of endurance has challenged and invigorated me both in my physical as well as spiritual life. Since high school, I have seen God's grace in allowing me to come to know this endurance experientially. How thankful I am for the growth, even when it hurts!
The overriding thrust of Piper's book was not simply to endure, but to know why we can and should endure. We have a hope that we press toward with assurance--the goal of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Phil. 3:14)--we run with endurance the race set before us, looking to Jesus (Heb. 12:1-2). Christ is the reason we have hope, which is the reason we can and should endure. Whether suffering or not, our hope can remain intact, undefiled. But all this is possible only because of the Cross. Christ's death, burial, and resurrection make this a living hope (I Pet. 1:3). The Gospel should be as real and important and fresh in my mind today as the day I first accepted its truth. The Cross provides the hope which leads of joyful endurance. I am not able nor responsible for conjuring up enough "energy" to sustain my level of endurance. My energy is sourced in the living reality of Christ's cross.
"But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of out Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." Gal. 6:14

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)