The Development of a Knight

Once, there was a hero. He was brave and knightly, and there came a day when he set out to find his true love. He sought her and sought her until finally, he had almost reached his destination. He then encountered a ginormous (original word) dragon! *Gasp*. He fought the dragon and slew it. The hero then wandered distant lands looking for his love, whome he could not find. In the end, this imperfect hero had developed in character and strength, and he came to be truly complete. He and his love lived happily ever after.

This a very cool way to look at the "Eroica" Symphony, Beethoven's Symphony No. 3 in E-flat Major, movement. 1. You should listen to the story for yourself!

Rebirth of Freedom

It's time this blog was given a new identity. I feel as though I have a new identity, so the transition should be easy :)
Something new and great is happening within me. I can just feel it. Finally the expressions of my heart are learning to come out of me in motion and words. I thought it was the right thing to do to keep things inside...I'm very much a thinker...but there is a balance of thinking and expression that I have learned for the first time. This makes life exciting, but challenging. Sometimes I'm still not sure wheter to speak or remain quiet, whether to act dramatically or in a calm way. So much thought can go into just a few secons worth of spoken word or deed. For me, anyway, the transition is quite hilarious. Thankfully, I have good friends to help me learn that thinking is not always the right decision. Sometimes you just have to let it out! Speak, squeal, laugh out loud, jump up and down, and don't worry about how it reflects or what people think! It is honestly so freeing. That is the word I was looking for: FREEDOM. That word defines what I have learned this semester.

Enough about my inner turmoils over self expression :) The reality of the past semester is that it was a lot of work, but very rewarding. I spent more time in the practice rooms then I ever have before. The results of the long and many times frustrating proces was a performance that I felt good about compared to the past, but that also gave me new challenges to move into the future with. The real performance comes with my senior recital some time in April of 2008. That is when everything I've leanred in four years comes together to prove that I am worthy of a Bachelor of Music. Kind of a scary thought!

I think that's enough for now, but I intend to be a bit more faithful to the blog now. We'll see how that goes after school starts next week!

Refreshing the Heart

The price of purity is a vulnerable heart. That's not a famous quote, but a summary of the past two weeks of my life. God has brought me through a journey of discovery and renewal of my convictions this semester like I haven't experienced in a while. I began by reading "Passion and Purity" by Elisabeth Elliot, which focused my heart on the Lord. That was before the pursual began. Can it even be called a pursual? Well, yes, that is what I will call it, because no matter how the world defines these things if a man expresses interest I will say I am being pursued.

During this experience I gave way to doubts about what is right and wrong in the world of "dating". There are certain things that seem a little ambiguous like the traditional "let's get coffee" question. What does that mean? Is it always an expression of interest or is it simply a harmless way to get to know new people? So the first time it happened I did go out for coffee. I felt like I was on a date...I had exposed my heart and I knew it. I really felt for a few days that meeting a guy one-on-one for coffee would be completely harmless, that I was just overanalizing because of my lack of experience, but now after some good discussions with the Lord and close friends, I know a full committment is what God is calling me to. I don't think that everyone has a revelation of a walk that seems this...well, the world would call it extreme..but I know with all my heart that this is how I will walk until the day that I say "I do".

Edit: These thoughts and experiences really and truly brought me to a place of contentment. The Lord taught me to let every mental entanglement go, and to simply trust Him. This was not the defining experience of my semester, but a good time of learning and renewal. I know I can always trust God to remind me when he has called me to walk a certain way, and he has done just that. These are my thoughts on the issue, and they may not be the calling of most, but it is my calling, and it is from the Lord. That is enough to give me peace and confidence in God's direction.

The burden of my heart

I don't think anyone reads this lately, but it helps me to articulate my thoughts, knowing someone may read them sometime. I feel like God is changing my heart in a new way. It feels broken and empty in the most astoudingly good way. It's that broken feeling where I know that He's bringing me more to the end of myself than I have ever been so I simply have to trust Him more. I've been realizing lately how large this battle against flesh really is. It seems even with my closest and dearest friends I must be guarded, and I realized tonight that I'm not guarding myself against them, I am guarding them from me! This battle against flesh makes me so weary and no matter how many times I come to this place, I always hear the same answer. "Trust me more. Hold on to me tighter. Hug me harder. Love me more," He always says. It's not about finding a cure for our lonely hearts in this world. The more lonely I am, the more I love Him. The best part is that He is so gracious, loving, forgiving, merciful, and understanding. My life is no longer a childish idea about having that church described "relationship with Jesus." I really know Him now. He is my Father, friend, comforter, brother, keeper of my heart, and so much more. Who am I that my God would be my Friend? I am so thankful.

The Body of Christ

"And he gave some as apostles, some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fulness of Christ. As a result we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by that which every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love." - Ephesians 4:11-16

The Lord gave me this scripture while I was praying last night. I felt His presence so strongly while I was reading it, and I really felt that He was telling me to be encouraged. I'm at a time in my life when my faith in the walking out of the works of the Holy Spirit is being challenged, and during this time God has been immensely faithful to keep me strong. He never fails to encourage me just when I begin to feel overcome with doubt, and sometimes even despair. I don't know if anyone will read this, but if you do I want to encourage you in this one thing: the LIFE of Jesus Christ is something we are meant to walk in every day! This one seemingly small fact is something the enemy tries to steal from us constantly. He's always telling me that real life lies in the world or that my true happines will be found when I truly discover who I am. But through the faithfulness of Christ, I must always realize that my contentment lies in knowing who I am in Him, and that means being willing to step out on a limb and walk in faith.

I don't know about you, but sometimes the things of the Spirit absolutely terrify me. No matter how much I want to experience everything that Jesus has for me, I still wonder at Him speaking through someone else, or giving someone another language, or filling the room with a "spiritual" presence. The conclusion He always brings me back to is this: I am finite and He is infinite! I don't think I'll ever be totally comfortable with His ways because my mind isn't able to wrap itself around HIM. I don't understand Him, and that is why He has given us all of eternity to delve into the depths of His character. This I do know, that we are meant to walk in abundant life, and if you walk in anything less than abundant life, you are letting Satan steal not only your happiness, but more importantly you are letting Satan steal God's glory. Let God teach you to renew your mind every day, and as you learn to listen to His voice and follow the leading of His Spirit, I promise you will be ultimately fulfilled.

Your sister in Him,
Ruth

Abundant Life

God has given us so much to enjoy in this life. I was reminded only a few days ago of how precious my friends are and what a blessing it is to be with them. I really don't have many words right now, but I just wanted to say that I am enjoying life and I am very thankful for all of God's blessings. Have a wonderful week :)

My heart tonight...

I wish I could explain the place that God has put me in for you, but because of who He has me interceding for, it is important that I don't speak of my mission field. I do say, though, that it has become evident that He is calling me to greater spiritual warfare that will effect my personal life as well as my ministry time. God is calling me to speak truth into an area where His word is misunderstood. I am so blessed that He has put me in this place because I can tangibly see that through the testing of my faith my heart will develop endurance. It is such a blessing for my place of ministry to also be a place of fruitful trial. I do want to say that although this theme seems annoyingly repetitive in my thoughts, there is still something that feels empty in my heart. I am continually learning to know my heavenly Father better, but as He gives me places in my life to intercede and minister to people, I find myself more strongly desiring a husband to share my heart with. I suppose it is a part of character development to learn to solely rely on Him, but it seems that to share what He is doing in my heart with parents, sister, and close friends just is not the same as it would be to share it with a life partner. There is something about the role of a husband as a protector of my heart that I wish I had, and I guess that means I need to just continually trust my heart to God. I know He has me in this place for specific purposes, and I don't (or try not to) doubt His will. My heart is so assured of the perfection of His purpose right now. It's just on my heart to express that even as I desire Him more, I still desire that lifelong purpose of marriage. I don't even know how to express what my heart is feeling. I can only say that my faith and trust is in the Lord, but my heart is frail and weak. I can't accomplish this purpose without Him, and He quietly whispers that He will always be there, but something in my heart wishes I was also ready for the earthly "other half" He has prepared for me. I feel like now that I'm kind of grown up I've realised that I'm missing part of myself..I think I'm just rambling now. Thank you for listening and I hope that somehow the trials of my heart have encouraged you in your life.

Fun stuff :)

There are a few things that especially bless my heart and lift me up and a few others that are just fun. I would like to share them with you so here they are, in no particular order:

1. Panoramic views of Germany
2. Music from the heart of an artist
3. A writer who has an inspiring gift with words
4. Nemo, with a twist (click here, then click on trailer)
5. Explore and listen..I think you can hear parts of the sound track here

The great division of doctrine

There are many things that we consider to be so important in our spiritual lives. These things are what define us when someone wants to know who we really are. They are how we pray, how we spend time with our creator, what our walk with Him really looks like, how our friends are involved in our Christianity, or how they're not. Sometimes we place too great an amout of importance on what we will hear on Sunday morning, and not enough on what it means to know Jesus. We bicker about what the pastor said or didn't say, or sometimes, knowing myself, we sit for hours and discuss doctrines of predestination, election, closed and open covenant, faith, grace, the list goes on and on and on... But what is it that we really need to know in order to walk with God? This question has been on my mind for quite some time. Each time I return from one of those hour-long discussions I find that there is one thing that never changes. He never ceases to use those times of thought and reflection to draw me closer to Himself, even if they only push me further from the answer to my specific question.
It is so important to me to really know what I believe. I find myself in moments of fear wondering how I can ever get married because what are the chances of me agreeing about the "important things" with anyone? But there is one thing that my Savior keeps bringing me back to. He is always reminding me that His grace will never run out, that his provision is everlasting, and that if I don't know the answer, He does. This doesn't take away from the wondering and the pondering. I struggle even now with the issue of closed covenant. I don't believe it. The church I'm called to attend teaches it. What do you say when you've seen a miracle and someone tells you they don't happen? What do you say when you've heard the voice of God and someone tells you that He doesn't speak? But in the end God continually shows me how amazing it is that we all love Him. We all see him a little differently through the lenses of our experience and upbringing, but we all love Him. Some of us find grace easier to grasp, others understand the law more readily but struggle with grace. Through these discussions and times of questioning I have learned this one thing: He has taught me a greater love for His Church. Maybe it seems odd that doctrinal discussion has brought me to that conclusion, and I don't want to sound like I'm saying that doctrine is not important, but we must know first our love for and relationship with Christ, and second, through that relationship we must allow Him to teach us the Truth, because when we come to the end of ourselves, we realize that He's the only one who really knows it anyway.

Summer

Tomorrow I enter the first day of a new season of my life. I plan to know God more, know myself even less (isn't it funny how the more you learn, the less you understand?), and allow my body to finally rest. I want to read a lot of Tolkien, Jane Austen, perhaps some Dumas (it's been a while sence I read "The Count of Monte Cristo") and maybe even explore an author or two that I've never read before. Next week I'll spend the week in Florida with my church learning how to die to sin and live for Christ...as well as swimming on the white sand beaches. I have some violin students, and an assignment to learn the most amazing violin concerto ever written. Am I ready? I think so. Lord, take me on an adventure!

The Space in Between Us

Ich bin gestorben...this is German for "I have died", my teacher's classic example of a past participle, and one that we can never use at that. All this to say that this phrase best describes how I feel right now. My body is so worn down that I feel the weight of all the stress and late nights from the whole semester dragging me down as I attempt to finish my finals. I think it might be more of a spiritual feeling affecting the physical, because this week marks the end of a year long battle for closeness with the Father, trusting my heart to Him, and spiritual warfare. It is also a relief to see what a different person I am after having been through my trials, but still, I feel empty. Do you know that song "The Space in Between Us?" That song reflects my thoughts when it says "All I want to do is to fall into the emptiness that is the space in between us." I feel that the more I know my God, the more I realize that I don't know Him, the more I read his Word as living and breathing, and the more I sense His peace even in the midst of my struggles with sin. Those are my thoughts, and with that I go to bed, hoping to rest a few hours before my last two finals begin. I leave you with these words that have been comforting me: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in all things, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, and the peace that passes all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

Seasons

The weather is changing. Summer is in the air, in Texas anyway. There are only four days of class left, then finals. We just performed Mahler's "Resurrection" symphony and even through our imperfections God spoke, so much so that we received rave reviews in Ft. Worth. For the first time in my life I feel like next fall is not just another semester...it's an adventure. But God has my curiosity because I don't know what kind of adventure. I sense a changing season in my life.....what will He bring next? He has filled me with hope for the future!

He is faithful!

My wonderful community of girls that I study God's word with every week had just finished praying when rain began to pour down outside. I stepped onto the front porch to find out how fast I would have to run to my car when my friend pointed out a rainbow. My first thought was how pretty it was and how long it had been since I had seen one. But as I ran to my car in the rain, staring at the rainbow all the while, I felt God speak to my heart the way he has been doing so often lately. He said "I am faithful." Just as with the first time I felt the revelation of my own sin, or the meaning of certain passages of scripture, this simple statement resounded within my heart. How is it that I have seen rainbows all my life and known that they were a symbol of God's faithfulness, but never really grasped the meaning? I felt the signifigance of this tonight because we had just finished praying for each other's deepest needs, and this was God saying "I will answer your prayers because I am faithful." What a blessing!

I love how every day my life becomes more about Jesus and less about myself, but as I receive each new astounding revelation I am more floored by my own sinfulness. My heart is excited because of Truth one moment, but in the next moment my heart breaks because of what this Truth reveals of who I am. What a journey life can be! I feel a calling of hope, not just on my life, but on all of ours lives. No matter what is happening, whether we be discouraged or excited, whether we feel loved or alone, God is calling us to hold fast to his Word and step into battle each day. His faithfulness never changes though our attitudes and feelings change moment by moment. He is faithful in all things and through all situations.

Just as a side note, I have the honor of performing (with the Baylor Symphony, Baylor Combined Choirs, and Schola Cantorum Choir of Ft. Worth) one of the most evokative Symphonies in existence. Mahler's resurrection symphony speaks clearly of our faith in Jesus bringing us into new life. He says it much better in the text of the 5th movement, so I'll let you read it yourself.

O red rosebud!Man lies in deepest need!
Man lies in deepest pain!Oh how I would rather be in heaven.
There, I came upon a broad path;
There, came a little angel and wanted to send me away.
Ah no! I would not let myself be sent away!
I am from God and will return to God!
The loving God will give me a little light,
Which will light me into that eternal blissful life!
Rise again, yes, rise again,
Will you My dust,
After a brief rest!Immortal life! Immortal life
Will He who called you, give you.

To bloom again were you created!
The Lord of the harvest goes
And gathers in, like sheaves,
Us together, who die.

O believe, my heart, O believe:
Nothing to you is lost!
Yours is, yes yours, is what you desired
Yours, what you have loved
What you have fought for!

O believe,
You were not born for nothing!
Have not for nothing, lived, suffered!

What was created
Must perish,
What perished, rise again!
Cease from trembling!
Prepare yourself to live!

O Pain, You piercer of all things,
From you, I have been wrested!
O Death, You masterer of all things,
Now, are you conquered!

With wings which I have won me,
In love’s fierce striving,
I shall soar upwards
To the light which no eye has penetrated!
Its wing that I won is expanded,and I fly up.
Die shall I in order to live.
Rise again, yes, rise again,
Will you, my heart, in an instant!
That for which you suffered,
To God will it lead you!

Letting Go: Part 2

"I do believe," said Mr. Winfrey, "that everything you do should be done for the Glory of God." "Why, yes of course," agreed Mrs. Winfrey, "But then I must pose a question. Why have you spent all these years so dedicated to your politics?" "Well," Mr. Winfrey replied, "it is because I am also called to give my best to everything I am called to do." "Yes," said his wife, "but have you consulted God on every decision? Have you been willing to follow his direction at the expense of your career?" A moments silent contemplation left the two alone in each others' company, but in the decidedly obvious company of a third Presence which had been desiring to penetrate thier hearts long before this sudden conversation. Convicted by the Holy Spirit, Mr. Winfrey replied to his wife's final question through the tears that rolled down his old cheeks. "My dear, I believe I have neglected to follow my Lord, using my striving for His glory as the very excuse for ignoring Him all together." "Yes, she said, I believe we have both done this. Let us ask our Lord to change our hearts now, in our old age." With that they both painstakingly nelt to the floor, grasped each others' hands, and began to call out to the God they had left behind.

I don't know why this touching scene came to mind, but it describes how I feel exactly. You see, I have just this moment realized that my search for aproval, honor and acceptance in my field of study is just the same as any sinner's empty search for honor in this world. I have used my striving for God's glory as an excuse to seek my own. My heart is deeply convicted of this now, as I realize that there is an extent to which I can give God control over my life which I never imagined possible. It is like I have been standing in this giant room full of possibility and all of a sudden a sky light has been opened and I see more endless possibility stretching beyond where I thought the end lay.

I am so deeply touched that the God I serve would take the time to open my eyes to the tragic way I have been living and teach me who I am really supposed to be. I have so many dreams for the future, but in following my dreams I have become blind to who I really am in Christ. The reality is that our life on this earth is so fleeting that the only thing worth while is to seek Christ with all that we have, and to live to bring the message of His Gospel to the ends of the earth. I thought I had to wait until I was finished with this task to do that, but I realize now that I can live the testimony of Christ right now! I can let go of the honor I have been grasping for and simply drink in His presence. It is really ok to let go.

Letting Go

When I get an idea about my future, plans I may have or places I want to go, I often grab hold of it with such fierceness that not even the word of God can rip it from my mind. Often several months later I realize that it was simply an idea and that I let myself run away with plans and dreams that were not His. That is what happened with my dream of going to Germany directly after I graduate. I know that I will go eventually, but God showed me that I was running ahead of Him with that idea. Much the same thing has happened in the past week. I realized that the main reason I was trying to play in a festival this summer was because I feel like I'm behind. It is expected by "them" that I would have participated in a major festival by now, and since this is my last summer before my senior year I feel very pressured to get everything done. I decided yesterday to let go of what others expect of me and simply follow the Lord's leading for this summer. I am auditioning for one festival and if I get in I will know it was God, because it is a world wide competition (for the Austrian American Mozart Academy during the Mozart Festival in Salzburg). I feel so free knowing that God has amazing plans for me this summer, even if that means doing office work in Waco. He knows what is best for my life...and I am learning patience and trust by the boatload :) I am so thankful that my Savior paid the price for my sin and takes the time to lead my life day by day. Happy Easter to everyone!

My Prayer

Lord,

Let your faithfulness fill my thoughts
and your holiness be the meditation of my heart

Allow me to minister to others
even if I don't know where my life is going

Never let my desire for man
supersede my love for God

Don't let fears steal my joy
or pain steal my hope

Let my utmost desire
be Your honor and glory

And never let me forget your faithfulness

Let my pain remind me of your sovereignty
and my sorrow bring your peace

When my heart aches, I know that
you are God, because you always hold me

Even if I scream "Where are you?"
when you're right by my side

I know that your love endures forever.

Changing Seasons

I feel a slight sadness that I would not expect to be mixed with all the joyful, wonderful and happy feelings on my birthday. I am sad to leave my teenage years behind because in some special way they symbolize childhood, and I'm not sure that I'm ready for the monumental work Christ has prepared for me. I do rest in this comfort that He has also prepared me for this work. I'm ready to move forward into adulthood, but still holding on to that little girl within me. I think she will allways be there inside of me somewhere.

I know that the age of eighteen is traditionally when one becomes an adult, but I have decided that in my life it was more of an "adult trial period". I felt like so much of an adult when I turned eighteen, but the things the Lord has brought me through in the past two years have shaped me so much that I don't even recognize that girl who was finishing her freshman year, and now I'm moving into my senior year. I think that, yes, I am sad to leave a part of my childish innocense behind, but I know that a part of walking with Christ is experiencing changing seasons, and this new season will be more exciting than I could ever imagine. I will follow Him wherever He leads me, and as I walk I hope that I can find the strength to hold my tongue, quiet my mind, and listen to His voice speak to my heart. I can feel Him reawakening the dreams of my heart!

Floored

Yes, I am totally floored. I suppose I should have been paying more attention to what is going on in the world of homeschooling, but I haven't. I tuned into the "700 Club" by chance and heard an alarming story from abroad. Homeschooling is being challenged in the most disturbing of ways - a family has lost their daughter.

A young teenage homeschooled girl, 15-year-old Melissa Busekros, has been placed in a foster home after a year or more of psychiatric testing and evaluation. The strongest statements in defense of her "mental disorder", which has been diagnosed as "school phobia", are these: Melissa is "a highly disturbed girl who obediently and faithfully obeys the idealistic statements of her father and who describes the State as being despotic and 'fascist-like'." The CBN report also says that "Melissa demonstrates loyalty towards her father and unconditional solidarity with her family."
"They say I am influencing the children too much…," said Hubert. "They want to stop any influence of the father."
Joerg said, "If you have a good relationship to your children -- a very close relationship like in the Busekros case, it seems to be in the eyes of the officials, something which is dangerous."

If you want to read the news report you can find it at http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/117053.aspx

I am horrified that families are still enduring this kind of persecution. Please keep the people of Germany in your prayers and pray that the Busekros family will win the current court battles to get thier daughter back. They have five other children who are also in danger of being taken. There are as many as 400 homeschooling families in Germany who currently have no political rights in this area.

Eclecticness...

There is a thunderstorm outside and I am enjoying it very much. I just saw "The Ultimate Gift". It is very inspiring, and although they mostly left God out of the story, the values of work, friendship, family, and love were very well expressed. I'm feeling kind of eclectic right now...I think it's because mom and dad have been gone for so long and, although I've spent some time with Grandma I feel like I've been by myself since Tuesday. Also, I feel like I've been lost in thought since Tuesday. I love what is said of Daniel in his book, chapter 7, verse 28, "...As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly troubled me and my countenance changed, but I kept the matter in my heart." Daniel felt the pain and fears of his situation (after having seen an amazing vision) but his heart remained steadfast. He stood firm. In my very eclectic mood I wrote a song with, I must say, a very basic chord progression, but the words are from my heart. I thought you might like to read it.

You were my first love
You were the one who wanted me
You were my wounded heart
The one who gave me eyes to see

And You are still here
in all my sorrows and all my pain
You still love me
even though I walked away

You are my comfort
The one who holds me when I cry
You are my heart beat
Even if I should die

And You are still here
when I hurt and when I cry
You give me joy
in everything in this hard life

You were my first love...

A short note...

Dad is doing really well and should be coming home from the hospital on Monday or Tuesday. Thank you so much for your prayers!

My peace is slowly returning as I enjoy a beautiful, restful Saturday. And, seemingly in response to spring break, all of the trees have decided to blossom. It's beautiful!! Happy spring break!