I love paradoxes. They are the story of salvation.
Tonight I heard the statement, "Jesus fixes all our problems when we trust Him, and then we can just enjoy life." We don't have to try to enjoy life - we just do when we focus on trusting Him with everything.
I love analogies as well. I'm going to use one right now.
As a vocalist, we have to be actively passive. In other words, we have to choose to be passive.
Our diaphragm is one of the main muscles that allows for breath flow within a phrase. It is attached to the bottom of the lungs and regulates how much air is being let out. The funny thing about the diaphragm though is that in order for it to work properly, it must relax. When you sing, you are not working that muscle, but rather letting it go free.
The problem is that when we sing we don't trust our diaphragm to regulate us throughout a phrase, and so we tense up and hold on to our breath - which only makes us lose it. But when we focus on letting the diaphragm do its job, then everything falls into place. Even though it feels like we're not in control anymore, we feel such a sense of freedom because something else is in control and all we have to do is trust it and come along for the ride.
Now you can see where this is going.
Jesus Christ is our diaphragm. He is our anchor that guides us through life, if we would only trust him. When we take our eyes off of Him like Peter did, and see the winds and waves of this world, we become fearful and we try to find refuge in our own strength - only to fail again. Matthew 10:39 says, "Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." Our life is not our own, and freedom will only come through conscious surrender.
And even though giving our life over to Christ may seem like a rollercoaster, if we trust Him it'll turn out to be the best ride we've ever ridden. He may not "fix our problems" like how we expect - but that's the fun of it. Just like the diaphragm, we must dive off into the abyss and trust Him to carry us through. Just don't be surprised when He takes you someplace you could've never even imagined. :)
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Poetic interpretations of my paradoxical ironic life
Since I also have been writing songs for the past half of my life, I thought I would post some up here. Only when it is the appropriate occassion of course.
This song is called "Pity Party Kick-off" - and yes, it is supposed to be satirical. It makes me laugh at myself when I like to grumble in my little closet of doom and gloom. If performed, it would be accompanied by a 300 year-old violin that is out of tune with itself, and the occasional scrape of nails on a blackboard choked with chalk. Enjoy.
It's like lemonade that's only sour
Being sweaty and nasty without a shower
It's like being stuck in traffic during rush hour
And being in a house without power
Turn the lights off
Bring the thunderclouds on
It's my pity-party kick-off
Anybody wanna come?
We'll drink from our tears
Hey maybe this one will last for years
But let's not be optimistic
Cause it's the law of physics
That what goes up must come down
It's the story of my life I've found
This song is called "Pity Party Kick-off" - and yes, it is supposed to be satirical. It makes me laugh at myself when I like to grumble in my little closet of doom and gloom. If performed, it would be accompanied by a 300 year-old violin that is out of tune with itself, and the occasional scrape of nails on a blackboard choked with chalk. Enjoy.
It's like lemonade that's only sour
Being sweaty and nasty without a shower
It's like being stuck in traffic during rush hour
And being in a house without power
Turn the lights off
Bring the thunderclouds on
It's my pity-party kick-off
Anybody wanna come?
We'll drink from our tears
Hey maybe this one will last for years
But let's not be optimistic
Cause it's the law of physics
That what goes up must come down
It's the story of my life I've found
Friday, March 16, 2012
NOTHING/EVERYTHING
I am Nothing.
Easy to say, hard to believe.
I have no part or share in my salvation.
I cannot fulfill anything on my own.
I am of no matter or significance.
I have no value, worth, or meaning.
God is Everything.
Easy to say, hard to believe.
He contains the entirety of the universe.
He is a great deal, something extremely important.
Nothing finds its ultimate fulfillment in Everything.
Eternity will never outlive Everything and everything that Everything lives and stands for.
Everything cannot help but encompass and surround Nothing.
Therefore, Nothing now becomes Something through the grace of having Everything present in its life.
Easy to say, hard to believe.
I have no part or share in my salvation.
I cannot fulfill anything on my own.
I am of no matter or significance.
I have no value, worth, or meaning.
God is Everything.
Easy to say, hard to believe.
He contains the entirety of the universe.
He is a great deal, something extremely important.
Nothing finds its ultimate fulfillment in Everything.
Eternity will never outlive Everything and everything that Everything lives and stands for.
Everything cannot help but encompass and surround Nothing.
Therefore, Nothing now becomes Something through the grace of having Everything present in its life.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Stagnation = Gross; Separation; Illusion
According to dictionary.com, the word "stagnation" has several meanings. The first is, "having stopped, as by ceasing to run or flow"; another is, "a foulness or staleness, as one emanating from a standing pool of water". Another appropriate definition is: "a failure to develop, progress, or advance."
When I think of the word, "stagnation", I typically think of stagnant water - and how gross that is so I usually quit thinking about it after a few seconds. But today I have forced myself to maintain my thoughts on that unpleasant subject. What causes the stagnation? If it is a ceasing to flow, then what causes that cease?
The most common way for water to stop flowing is for something to be blocking its passage. Because of the blockage, the water loses its movement and energy and therefore starts building up bacteria that creates that nasty odor. Yay, Biology.
So how does this apply to life, you say? I have been experiencing what I believe to be stagnation in my life for some time now. I haven't had anything new and exciting pop up, or experienced some recent trauma, so what is the Lord doing with my life? I know that I'm a Christian, but I don't necessarily have a burning fire about to explode inside me 24/7. I'm in a second-semester slump where I don't really want to keep doing school, but I don't really want to go back home either because I will miss all the people from college. I go to church and listen to the messages, but none of them really move and change me. I want to be revitalized in my calling but I don't know how.
When you feel such a sort of separation from God, your first instinct should be to ask the question, "What is causing this stagnation?" Is there some build-up in my life (SIN) that is keeping me at a distance from my Lord? For sin is what caused the gap in the first place.
In my case, I do not believe there is one (or many) overarching sins that are bringing down my relationship with my Father. So why do I still feel like the Lord's not actively involved in my life everyday? Why do I feel as though I'm getting older but not growing?
I believe that every child of God goes through times like these. The thought to maintain during these times is that stagnation is an illusion. The Lord has promised that he will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).
One of my favorite passages from any of the Chronicles of Narnia books is from The Horse and His Boy. Aslan is conversing with Shasta for the first time, and the boy is telling Aslan how it was so terrible to meet so many lions along his journey - and Aslan tells Shasta that there was only one lion. Shasta asks, "How do you know?". Aslan replies, "I was the lion. I was the lion who forced you to join with Aravis. I was the cat who comforted you among the houses of the dead. I was the lion who drove the jackals from you while you slept. I was the lion who gave the horses new strength of fear for the last mile so that you should reach King Lune in time. And I was the lion you do not remember who pushed the boat in which you lay, a child near death, so that it came to shore where a man sat, wakeful at midnight, to receive you."
Even though it seems like God is not involved or at work in our lives at times, He always is there, even if it is in the sneakiest of ways - or we are just blind to it all. :)
Yesterday I was taking a nap outside and I happened to get a slight sunburn on the caput longum and caput laterae in the tricipitus brachii area of my left arm. Yes, specifics are important (and apparently so is Biology today). Someone asked me if I had put on sunscreen before, and I said no. The sun wasn't too hot, and I rarely ever burn, and I'm pretty sure I've never actually owned sunscreen in my life before. Anyways, (this is going somewhere, trust me), what was interesting was that I never really felt the sun on that certain area of my arm, or anywhere on my body really. It wasn't like I was constantly feeling the sun schorching and searing my skin over a 40-minute time period.
But nevertheless, it was there wasn't it? The sun didn't just come out one second, zap my tricep, and then disappear again, did it? No, of course not. The sun was there the whole time, shining brightly and doing its thing, and I was well unaware of the affect it was having on my arm. I actually didn't even realize that I had the burn until a friend pointed it out to me. And sure enough, it was significantly hotter and pinker than the rest of my skin. I would've taken a picture of it, but it's kinda hard to angle a camera at that part of your arm, you know? Oh the troubles I go through.
Anyways, the point of this analogy is to show that even though we may not feel it, God is constantly working in us, to will and to work for His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13). He may be starting a fire in a way such that we won't begin to feel the heat until it has already ignited and takes hold of our very being.
Sanctus Real has a song called, "Whatever You're Doing", and the title implies that the author doesn't really know what God is doing in his life, but as the chorus says: "It's hard to surrender to what I can't see / But I'm giving into something Heavenly." Most of the time we cannot understand what God has in store for us, and we never fully will until we reach paradise.
Stagnation occuring in water is simply gross. Stagnation can also be misread as a separation from God which is caused by our sin. If it is neither of these two areas, stagnation is an illusion. The Lord will never leave you nor forsake you, and the Holy Spirit is and will always be at work within you. 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 says, "And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee."
And with that, I'll leave you to your work, Lord Jesus!
When I think of the word, "stagnation", I typically think of stagnant water - and how gross that is so I usually quit thinking about it after a few seconds. But today I have forced myself to maintain my thoughts on that unpleasant subject. What causes the stagnation? If it is a ceasing to flow, then what causes that cease?
The most common way for water to stop flowing is for something to be blocking its passage. Because of the blockage, the water loses its movement and energy and therefore starts building up bacteria that creates that nasty odor. Yay, Biology.
So how does this apply to life, you say? I have been experiencing what I believe to be stagnation in my life for some time now. I haven't had anything new and exciting pop up, or experienced some recent trauma, so what is the Lord doing with my life? I know that I'm a Christian, but I don't necessarily have a burning fire about to explode inside me 24/7. I'm in a second-semester slump where I don't really want to keep doing school, but I don't really want to go back home either because I will miss all the people from college. I go to church and listen to the messages, but none of them really move and change me. I want to be revitalized in my calling but I don't know how.
When you feel such a sort of separation from God, your first instinct should be to ask the question, "What is causing this stagnation?" Is there some build-up in my life (SIN) that is keeping me at a distance from my Lord? For sin is what caused the gap in the first place.
In my case, I do not believe there is one (or many) overarching sins that are bringing down my relationship with my Father. So why do I still feel like the Lord's not actively involved in my life everyday? Why do I feel as though I'm getting older but not growing?
I believe that every child of God goes through times like these. The thought to maintain during these times is that stagnation is an illusion. The Lord has promised that he will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).
One of my favorite passages from any of the Chronicles of Narnia books is from The Horse and His Boy. Aslan is conversing with Shasta for the first time, and the boy is telling Aslan how it was so terrible to meet so many lions along his journey - and Aslan tells Shasta that there was only one lion. Shasta asks, "How do you know?". Aslan replies, "I was the lion. I was the lion who forced you to join with Aravis. I was the cat who comforted you among the houses of the dead. I was the lion who drove the jackals from you while you slept. I was the lion who gave the horses new strength of fear for the last mile so that you should reach King Lune in time. And I was the lion you do not remember who pushed the boat in which you lay, a child near death, so that it came to shore where a man sat, wakeful at midnight, to receive you."
Even though it seems like God is not involved or at work in our lives at times, He always is there, even if it is in the sneakiest of ways - or we are just blind to it all. :)
Yesterday I was taking a nap outside and I happened to get a slight sunburn on the caput longum and caput laterae in the tricipitus brachii area of my left arm. Yes, specifics are important (and apparently so is Biology today). Someone asked me if I had put on sunscreen before, and I said no. The sun wasn't too hot, and I rarely ever burn, and I'm pretty sure I've never actually owned sunscreen in my life before. Anyways, (this is going somewhere, trust me), what was interesting was that I never really felt the sun on that certain area of my arm, or anywhere on my body really. It wasn't like I was constantly feeling the sun schorching and searing my skin over a 40-minute time period.
But nevertheless, it was there wasn't it? The sun didn't just come out one second, zap my tricep, and then disappear again, did it? No, of course not. The sun was there the whole time, shining brightly and doing its thing, and I was well unaware of the affect it was having on my arm. I actually didn't even realize that I had the burn until a friend pointed it out to me. And sure enough, it was significantly hotter and pinker than the rest of my skin. I would've taken a picture of it, but it's kinda hard to angle a camera at that part of your arm, you know? Oh the troubles I go through.
Anyways, the point of this analogy is to show that even though we may not feel it, God is constantly working in us, to will and to work for His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13). He may be starting a fire in a way such that we won't begin to feel the heat until it has already ignited and takes hold of our very being.
Sanctus Real has a song called, "Whatever You're Doing", and the title implies that the author doesn't really know what God is doing in his life, but as the chorus says: "It's hard to surrender to what I can't see / But I'm giving into something Heavenly." Most of the time we cannot understand what God has in store for us, and we never fully will until we reach paradise.
Stagnation occuring in water is simply gross. Stagnation can also be misread as a separation from God which is caused by our sin. If it is neither of these two areas, stagnation is an illusion. The Lord will never leave you nor forsake you, and the Holy Spirit is and will always be at work within you. 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 says, "And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee."
And with that, I'll leave you to your work, Lord Jesus!
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Saint's Crossing
These last two weeks have been an emotional rollercoaster. Whew. God has revealed just a few tiny specks of His glorious plan to me, and I have been completely blown away. You know it's intense when I've actually prayed for the Lord to let up on me. Now that things have cooled down a bit I can actually get some of my racing thoughts in order. ;)
I've seen sorrows and griefs recently that I didn't expect I was going to experience until I was much older - and much more mature in my Christian walk. But a test is not a test unless it requires some difficulty, and God was surely testing my faith and the faith of those around me.
There was a point where I just wanted to pretend that it was all a dream. Some people told me that they just wanted to go home - but I didn't. I wanted to take my family and friends from around the world to a place where we could all just live together - separated from the evil and hurt of the world. Then I realized that this place that I was dreaming about was something that actually existed - Heaven. I wanted to go to my true home, with my true family.
The sorrows of this world should bring about the realization that this is not our home, and that as Christians we must continually be longing for the place where we will be with Christ forever.
On the way to church this morning, I noticed that one of the streets that we passed was called, "Saint's Crossing". I thought that was an interesting name for a road, and that maybe a road in Heaven should be called that. Then I realized that Every road would be "Saint's Crossing" in Heaven! The saints from the past, present, and future will be everywhere! What a glorious sight that will be! And all we will want or need or have to do is worship our Savior together! Imagine every Christian you ever met coming into one place and singing "Amazing Grace" a capella! I know that if that happened now, I would be on my knees, chocking back sobs for my Savior's love. But He will "wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away" (Rev. 21:4)!!! It is hard to even fathom what Heaven will be like. All I know is that I want to be there. I want God to just take me away to be with Him like Elijah - in a chariot of fire or whatever other means He wants to use.
Sigh. But for right now my Father wants me here, to do His good work and bring glory to His name. Which is perfectly fine with me. :)
I just want to close with two quotes from some praise songs:
"One day the trumpet will sound for His coming, one day the skies with His glories will shine! Wonderful day, my beloved one bringing - my Savior Jesus is mine! One day He's coming! Oh glorious day! Oh glorious day!" [Glorious Day - Casting Crowns]
"There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, no more fears. There will be a day when the burdens of this place will be no more - We'll see Jesus face to face! But until that day, we'll hold on to You always." [There Will Be a Day - Jeremy Camp]
I've seen sorrows and griefs recently that I didn't expect I was going to experience until I was much older - and much more mature in my Christian walk. But a test is not a test unless it requires some difficulty, and God was surely testing my faith and the faith of those around me.
There was a point where I just wanted to pretend that it was all a dream. Some people told me that they just wanted to go home - but I didn't. I wanted to take my family and friends from around the world to a place where we could all just live together - separated from the evil and hurt of the world. Then I realized that this place that I was dreaming about was something that actually existed - Heaven. I wanted to go to my true home, with my true family.
The sorrows of this world should bring about the realization that this is not our home, and that as Christians we must continually be longing for the place where we will be with Christ forever.
On the way to church this morning, I noticed that one of the streets that we passed was called, "Saint's Crossing". I thought that was an interesting name for a road, and that maybe a road in Heaven should be called that. Then I realized that Every road would be "Saint's Crossing" in Heaven! The saints from the past, present, and future will be everywhere! What a glorious sight that will be! And all we will want or need or have to do is worship our Savior together! Imagine every Christian you ever met coming into one place and singing "Amazing Grace" a capella! I know that if that happened now, I would be on my knees, chocking back sobs for my Savior's love. But He will "wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away" (Rev. 21:4)!!! It is hard to even fathom what Heaven will be like. All I know is that I want to be there. I want God to just take me away to be with Him like Elijah - in a chariot of fire or whatever other means He wants to use.
Sigh. But for right now my Father wants me here, to do His good work and bring glory to His name. Which is perfectly fine with me. :)
I just want to close with two quotes from some praise songs:
"One day the trumpet will sound for His coming, one day the skies with His glories will shine! Wonderful day, my beloved one bringing - my Savior Jesus is mine! One day He's coming! Oh glorious day! Oh glorious day!" [Glorious Day - Casting Crowns]
"There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, no more fears. There will be a day when the burdens of this place will be no more - We'll see Jesus face to face! But until that day, we'll hold on to You always." [There Will Be a Day - Jeremy Camp]
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Oh yeah! Thankfulness....
So I know that it's been a while since I've worked on my thankful alphabet. But it's probably time to start getting back into it. :) I've been thinking about the "H" one a lot recently, and my word for that is HOPE.
By this I mean the "hope of eternal life" described in Titus 3:7.
In Literature we have been recently studying Dante's Inferno, which basically describes Hell as a place without hope. Also known as the worst place you could possibly be. If you did not have hope, what is the point of living?
Hope is something that God gives to the Christian to keep them plodding along in their everyday lives. The promise of spending eternity with Jesus is usually well enough to get me motivated. Eternal life is the greatest gift we have received from our Heavenly Father, and the expectation of it makes life on earth worth living.
By this I mean the "hope of eternal life" described in Titus 3:7.
In Literature we have been recently studying Dante's Inferno, which basically describes Hell as a place without hope. Also known as the worst place you could possibly be. If you did not have hope, what is the point of living?
Hope is something that God gives to the Christian to keep them plodding along in their everyday lives. The promise of spending eternity with Jesus is usually well enough to get me motivated. Eternal life is the greatest gift we have received from our Heavenly Father, and the expectation of it makes life on earth worth living.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Pleroma
This culture is becoming more and more concerned with the phrase, "self-esteem". What does that even mean? According to dictionary.com (my favorite website ever), the word "esteem" means to "regard highly or favorably; regard with respect or admiration". Therefore, if we have a proper level of self-esteem, that means that we put ourselves in high regard with much admiration. Sounds a bit fishy, doesn't it?
The phrase "self-esteem" actually originated with Sigmund Freud, a famous psychologist during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. "Self-esteem" does not come from the Bible. The Bible does not tell us to hold ourselves in high regard in order to find fulfillment. Quite the contrary, actually. In Luke 9:23-24 Jesus says, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it."
Living for Christ and keeping our eyes on the cross is the only way we will ever find fulfillment. We must be "cross-eyed", as my Sunday School teacher puts it. :) Hebrews 10:14 states, "For by a single offering he [Christ] has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified." Not only do Christians find fulfillment in Christ when they are saved, but they are continually, eternally, and completely reconciled and fulfilled in Christ and His saving work!! Praise the Lord for the plan of the cross!!!
The Greek word "Pleroma" means to be completely and utterly fulfilled. In fact, it means to be even beyond fulfillment. Over-fulfillment. This is the word that is used in the Bible to describe what God does to the life of the Christian when He saved them by dying on the cross. Never can you find more abounding fullness than when you are engrossed in a relationship with someone who died for you.
These past few weeks my Father has been teaching me to lean upon Him in every circumstance, trial, emotion, etc. etc. etc. EVERYTHING! He wants to know about EVERYTHING in my life! Isn't that amazing?!??! I don't need to try and find fulfillment in my friends, boys, school, music, family, even my "faith" -- because my identity is with Christ! If I'm living and breathing with the Holy Spirit present in me 24/7....I won't need to turn to anything else for satisfaction, fulfillment, self-esteem, etc. etc. etc. :)
Now I want to go into all of the marvelous ways that God has orchestrated things in my life to continuously point me to finding my identity in Him. He does it with such detail, care and lovingkindness that I can't help but praise Him and smile with tears of utter joy.
Recently I have been reading an excellent book called, "Lady in Waiting" - it's about the awesomeness of being single woman the way that God intends for you to be. I just read the chapter about diligence, and the author says, "Do you believe that the abundant life is only for the married woman? Do you think that a woman with a husband, two children, a nice home, and two insurance policies is more satisfied with life than you are? Life is satisfying only when you diligently serve the Lord, whatever your circumstances." Wow. Well, that expels the thought of trying to find fulfillment in relationships/marriage.
Through God's providence I have also happened to be on the Chapel Worship Team this semester. I actually hadn't really thought about joining it until there was a need for another singer, and I was asked. I thought it would be an interesting experience since I've never sung with a praise band before, and so I said yes. Turns out that being a part of that group and singing on stage in Chapel every week has been one of the best things that has happened to me this semester so far. ("God moves in a mysterious way....") It has re-focused me on why I am doing what I am doing. My music at college has not necessarily always been self-centered, but neither has it been Christ-centered. I now am reminded every Tuesday morning that God is the one who has bestowed upon me my gift of singing, and that I should praise Him for it and consciously make every performance for His glory. Wow.
Those are just a few things the Lord's been showing me. I'll probably get some new glasses in a few days. :) He is so patient with me. I want to close with quotes from two songs:
The phrase "self-esteem" actually originated with Sigmund Freud, a famous psychologist during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. "Self-esteem" does not come from the Bible. The Bible does not tell us to hold ourselves in high regard in order to find fulfillment. Quite the contrary, actually. In Luke 9:23-24 Jesus says, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it."
Living for Christ and keeping our eyes on the cross is the only way we will ever find fulfillment. We must be "cross-eyed", as my Sunday School teacher puts it. :) Hebrews 10:14 states, "For by a single offering he [Christ] has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified." Not only do Christians find fulfillment in Christ when they are saved, but they are continually, eternally, and completely reconciled and fulfilled in Christ and His saving work!! Praise the Lord for the plan of the cross!!!
The Greek word "Pleroma" means to be completely and utterly fulfilled. In fact, it means to be even beyond fulfillment. Over-fulfillment. This is the word that is used in the Bible to describe what God does to the life of the Christian when He saved them by dying on the cross. Never can you find more abounding fullness than when you are engrossed in a relationship with someone who died for you.
These past few weeks my Father has been teaching me to lean upon Him in every circumstance, trial, emotion, etc. etc. etc. EVERYTHING! He wants to know about EVERYTHING in my life! Isn't that amazing?!??! I don't need to try and find fulfillment in my friends, boys, school, music, family, even my "faith" -- because my identity is with Christ! If I'm living and breathing with the Holy Spirit present in me 24/7....I won't need to turn to anything else for satisfaction, fulfillment, self-esteem, etc. etc. etc. :)
Now I want to go into all of the marvelous ways that God has orchestrated things in my life to continuously point me to finding my identity in Him. He does it with such detail, care and lovingkindness that I can't help but praise Him and smile with tears of utter joy.
Recently I have been reading an excellent book called, "Lady in Waiting" - it's about the awesomeness of being single woman the way that God intends for you to be. I just read the chapter about diligence, and the author says, "Do you believe that the abundant life is only for the married woman? Do you think that a woman with a husband, two children, a nice home, and two insurance policies is more satisfied with life than you are? Life is satisfying only when you diligently serve the Lord, whatever your circumstances." Wow. Well, that expels the thought of trying to find fulfillment in relationships/marriage.
Through God's providence I have also happened to be on the Chapel Worship Team this semester. I actually hadn't really thought about joining it until there was a need for another singer, and I was asked. I thought it would be an interesting experience since I've never sung with a praise band before, and so I said yes. Turns out that being a part of that group and singing on stage in Chapel every week has been one of the best things that has happened to me this semester so far. ("God moves in a mysterious way....") It has re-focused me on why I am doing what I am doing. My music at college has not necessarily always been self-centered, but neither has it been Christ-centered. I now am reminded every Tuesday morning that God is the one who has bestowed upon me my gift of singing, and that I should praise Him for it and consciously make every performance for His glory. Wow.
Those are just a few things the Lord's been showing me. I'll probably get some new glasses in a few days. :) He is so patient with me. I want to close with quotes from two songs:
"All of my ambitions, hopes and plans, I surrender these into Your hands. For it's only in Your
will that I am free; Jesus, all I am and have an ever hope to be."
Also:
"You are the One that we praise, You are the One we adore; You give the healing and
grace our hearts always hunger for. O, our hearts always hunger for."
MAY I ETERNALLY FIND FULFILLMENT IN YOU, O SAVIOUR!
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