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

All Things for Praise

"Thou rushing wind that art so strong, Ye clouds that sail in heav'n along,
O praise Him, Alleluia!
Thou rising morn in praise rejoice, Ye lights of evening, find a voice,
O praise Him, O praise Him,
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!"

2 Thess. 3:5

"May the Lord bring you into an ever deeper understanding of the love of God and the endurance that comes from Christ."

Home Again

Yes, I'm taking advantage of the fact that I am 3.5 hours away from home rather than 17. Easter weekend became another break for me as I was able to spend 4 days at home. Home becomes more and more special each time I return.

Love, Faith, and Hope

I have encountered each of these three qualities over the past few days--not as the standard set, but individually in my own devotions in I John, and in the celebration of Christ's Resurrection. The command for faith and love in 3:23 is clear. Yet chapter four also makes clear the fact that, apart from the Spirit, we cannot produce either one. God's Spirit is the Spirit both of faith (4:1-6) and of love (4:7-16). Christ promised to send the Spirit. After His resurrection, He told His followers to wait in Jerusalem until the were "endued with power from on high" (Lk. 24:49). This was fulfilled, and every believer now, at the moment of salvation, receives the indwelling Spirit. What hope, to know that we are being conformed to the image of Christ through the power of His Spirit Who dwells in us!
The resurrection provides many aspects of hope--all of which give us reason to live the Christian life with abundant joy and thanksgiving. The world does not have this hope. They live for the moment's best, which never quenches the longing for purpose. I thank the Lord that, by His grace, I have a hope that will not be deferred.

Grateful Impact

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
When it is in the power of your hand to do so.
-Pr. 3:27

"The price of leadership remains high and hard; it may be cheap and easy for the dictator, for the hireling, but never for the shepherd. The dictator dominates; the hireling flees; but the good shepherd loves his sheep and is loved by them. He lays down his life for the sheep. True spiritual leadership involves this principle: 'Death working in me works life in you' (2 Cor. 4:12, Cony.)
"It is the quality of leaders that they can bear to be sat on, absorb shocks, act as a buffer, bear being much plagued. Moses put up with the complaints and the waywardness and revolt of the people. He pursued a steady course, enduring as seeing Him who is invisible. The wear and tear and the continual friction and trials which come to the servants of God are a great test of character." F.M.

As my uncle says, "It's lonely at the top." Leaders, especially spiritual leaders, need to be thanked and encouraged and prayed for. I am grateful for each one who has made an impact on my walk with the Lord.

Lights, Light, and More Light

Me with my "Amys"--AmyRose Castillo and Amy Lawrence

Light--maybe a theme for the past 24 hours? I enjoyed a quick but very refreshing visit with Northland's vocal ensemble, the Northern Lights, yesterday. They did another Spring Tour as I had done with them last year, and I was able to drive to Glen Burnie, MD, see their presentation at Calvary Baptist Academy, and then spend a few hours with them before they got on the road again. I thank the Lord for them, for their ministry, and for my time of encouragement.
This morning, I came across a challenging quotation by J.B. Stoney in None But the Hungry Heart dealing with a different perspective of Light.
"The true value of anything is known only when it is wanted. For this reason bright days must be succeeded by dark ones. In the dreary and desolate hour to nature, we begin to know the value of the truth communicated to us in the bright day. The learning is at one time, and the proving at another. In fact, we ought to be prepared for the dark hour; so that, though it be dark, there is something so blessed, so suited, pouring its comfort and sustenance on our souls, that, after all, the dark and dreary hour becomes a more really festive time to the heart, because of the virtues of the truth now made know, than the time of its reception, which was so happy and exhilarating."
Light is also a key theme in I John. Describing God as "Light" displays Him as the Revealer of His holiness. It also points to Him as Exposer and Condemner of sin. But "if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another." (1:7) This is the truth that amazes me. "Light" is the connection between sinful man and a holy God. Because God is light (and therefore also is Christ) and Christ dwells in us, we are allowed fellowship with the Father. Only by the Cross has this been made possible. A time of darkness followed by the greatest light and joy we could ever and will ever experience...

Oh How I Love Your Word

Dr. Jack Clem gave a message a few years ago at Colonial Baptist Church on the overview of Ps. 119. It was a very timely encouragement to me, so I thought I'd pass it along.

Celebrate with Chocolate Cake

My aunt makes a wonderful chocolate cake, and my cousins Callie and Caitlin, and Elizabeth, came over to enjoy it with me. I received the pleasure of cutting it...and even more so, of eating it! But no pictures for that part.