Graduate School Transition

I arrived in Harrisonburg, Va, yesterday at my new home for the next two years. The Lord has shown His goodness to me through providing family nearby both for my college years and now my graduate. My dad's sister and her husband, Drs. Marilou and George Johnson, both work at JMU and live 1.3 miles from the university. So I will be staying with them, Lord willing, for the duration of my master's program.
Beyond knowing my living situation, I know very little about the rest of my fall! But I will soon find out my class schedule, my assistantship responsibilities (which are now in the music education department), and everything else that will fill up my time! I am praying about a church to get involved with and have a few options that I hope to begin visiting as soon as possible. Although much is unknown to me right now, I have full confidence in God's plan and anticipate His making much of that known to me over the next few weeks. I will keep you updated as I find these out!

Russia recap

For those of you who still check this after such a long period of inactivity, I am sorry! Limited internet access in Russia provided no time for blog updates. But I am home and ready to report of an incredible experience. No other time in my life have I felt so dependent on the Lord's strength and grace and yet felt so aware of His presence, confident of His goodness, and certain of His guidance. Everything from His clear direction of where I was to spend my summer to having my suitcase lost for 19 days pointed to the importance of waiting on Him. The most impacting education I had was a chapter from Andrew Murray's book Waiting on God. The chapter, entitled "To Know His Goodness," opened my eyes to the importance of waiting -- not to receive the gift, but to learn of the Giver's goodness whether He gives the specific gift or not. This was a confrontation to my thinking, yet satisfying resolution of a long-held tension.

Every day in Russia was an adventure. The culture is extremely laid back, so I rarely new what each day would hold. I spent most of my time taking care of Caleb and Ricco, the 9 month old twins. During my stay, the Vogel family moved from their 9th story apartment to their own home. This wonderful change was also very stressful due to the amount of "fixing up" the house needed, as well as the demands of four children under four years old! I have returned more able to relax about things that before would have caused me great frustration. I am praying that I will be able to appropriate these lessons as I continue on now with school this fall.

I enjoyed just about everything I ate there, especially when I was really hungry! The Russians eat bread at every meal, drink hot tea like water, and have much later meal times than I am accustomed to. Mu last week in Russia, we were at an English Language Camp that Peter organized, and our meal times were 10am, 2pm, and 7pm (or 8, depending on if the meat people delivered on time!). Flexibility was key to my time there. : )

Because I spent most of my time with 2 babies, I did a lot of the normal dressing, changing, feeding, cleaning, and watching. Even though this was a full time job, the times of sitting on the floor with them or taking them for a walk gave me opportunities to pray and review Scripture, things that were wonderfully refreshing and sustaining in my frequent state of fatigue.

I don't think I even saw a piano while I was in Russia, but I was able to play the keyboard each Sunday at church. This ministry was one of my favorites, and, although I don't feel any more prepared for grad school in the sense of increased musical knowledge or ability, I wouldn't trade my time there for anything. I am looking forward to seeing how the Lord uses the lessons and experiences I had this summer in my next step at James Madison. I believe they will be many, and I am thankful to be able to praise the Lord for these.

Soldiers of Christ

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may stand against the wiles of the devil." Eph. 6:10-11
"Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. . . . The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives is the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." I Cor. 15: 24, 56-57

The music for our service tomorrow is centered around the soldier theme, and I have been contemplating my role as Christ's soldier. Life is certainly a mighty conflict against unnumbered foes, but courage can rise with danger because the strife will not be long. And I have the assured hope of total victory. The Victor's song is sure, but today is the noise of battle. I must fight now, confidently sure of the crown of life promised to the overcomer, as well as a future and eternal reign with the King of glory.
I must put the armor on, yet I am only strong in the strength God supplies through Christ. Soldiers must give all: total commitment, total abandonment to self. And soldiers must protect all -- full armor of God -- to "fortify the whole." The awaiting result is standing complete at last before Christ.
I must go to war with the Cross before me. If not, I fight a losing battle. The Cross is the reason I have victory, for on it Christ paid my sin as my Substitute. He rose again, conquering sin and death, so that I too might be a conqueror through Him. The battle, though intense, has the promise of triumph, giving way to a joyful song into battle.
This kind of soldier does not get to pick his battles, nor his battlefields. I am under the mercy of a loving Commander who knows what is best for me. This soldier must obey completely. Though ultimate victory is guaranteed, my disobedience results in enemy gains. This soldier must continue to fight, even if exhausted, wounded, or conflicted. I must remain faithful, trusting in God's faithfulness to me, His strength, and His merciful forgiveness of my failures. This soldier finally needs other faithful fellow soldiers. No soldier is sufficient in and of himself. I alone cannot stand up against the enemy temptations. I need what God has provided, and one of His provisions is the body of Christ.
Our sovereign Commander leads us to triumph. May we follow in joyful song, trusting every step of His battle plan, and learning to work with our fellow soldiers to bring ultimate glory to the Victor.

Ps. 62:5-6

The beach vacation is over, but I am still in Va Beach with my grandparents until tomorrow. Maybe working outside in the hot sun isn't typical "relaxation" but I have loved getting to help Gramps with the mowing and the hedge trimming (well, the clean-up from the hedge trimming). If I'm dressed to get sweaty and dirty, I love it. Sometime, I want to bale hay.

I had a refreshing visit with Kirk Lehner (youth pastor of Colonial) and his wife last night. We've been friends since I was 4. He used to visit our house on his way to and from college about 15 years ago, and we have continued to stay in touch, especially with his visits to Northland during my time there. Being encouraged, challenged, and refreshed all at once is a welcomed but privileged opportunity. I think that I will learn to appreciate that even more as I go to a secular grad school.

God's promises, not only about Himself but also about His work, remain unchanging even during the midst of circumstantial transitions. How thankful I am for this, and for His complete sufficiency whether we choose to accept it or not. But what greater peace and joy and fulfillment results from a life that is satisfied with Him alone!

"My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense: I shall not be moved." Ps.62:5-6

Our vacation week has come to an end. Mom, Buddy, and I are staying a few extra days with Gramps, Gram, and Grace, so we are still in the Va Beach area. The week was good, not only to relax and enjoy, but also to continue to grow in the Lord. I am thankful that He never takes vacation from His work in my heart. The more He works, the more I realize how much more transforming I need Him to do. I guess that is a good thing, but it is not self-satisfying. Then again, self-satisfaction minimizes need for Him, so I shouldn't want that to begin with! I have been sobered with the reality of sin, not only in me but around me. But I have been claiming His promises that He has given me everything I need for life and godliness (2 Pet. 1:3), that He is working in me giving me the desire to obey Him as well as the power I need to obey (Phil. 2:13). The life of a pilgrim is the one I am to be living. I want to, but the conflict is great. My mindset is not naturally eternal. But I praise my eternal God for patiently performing His purification of my life so that I will be a vessel fit for His unique purpose for me.

Vacation blessings

Another good day at the beach. The weather has been beautiful: not too hot, but warm enough to need sunscreen (well, maybe I discovered that a bit too late today). So, I've been thinking. . . how do I "vacation" when I am accustomed to always having something to do or somewhere to go? Reading is great, but I can only sit for so long. Working on blogs and facebooks can be fun, (and also waste a great deal of time), but this doesn't provide much lasting substance. Maybe no one else has this conflict, and for that you should be thankful. But today, after reading and thinking about a section in Lewis S. Chafer's He That is Spiritual on the concept of being dead to sin, I found Gramps and had a great discussion with him. He is so wise, yet very humble and practical. I walked away from our conversation with a greater thankfulfulness both for a godly grandfather and for a God who has given me everything I need for life and godliness.

Extended run

My cousin, Wes, and I decided to go for what we understood was a 7-mile run this morning. We got half-way and my nike+ipod revealed that we had already completed 4.09 mi. and we were just turning around to go back. Needless to say, after a 8.18mi. run, we are both a bit sore. But it was definitely worth it: early in the morning (well, 7-8am), sun shining but with a nice breeze coming off the ocean, wave noise in the background, and a cousin to run with. I did miss a few things though, especially some good hills. Those, however, are foreign to Virginia beaches. I did get to see a beautiful sunrise before we started. That was wonderful!

Beach vacation with the Olsons

This week is the bi-annual reunion of Gram and Gramps Olson's 50th anniversary. 20 of the 21 family members are enjoying a house almost right on the Virginia beach at Sandbridge. Katherine, my sister, has helped me create a blog. I hope to be able to post updates while I am in Russia (June 21-Aug. 6), and then on to grad school at JMU this fall. But until then, I will enjoy the beach, and let you enjoy as much as you can from pictures and posts.