Musings

Over that past year I've found myself wearily asking: why does God keeping asking for more?

I know that all that I have belongs to God. But I look back at growing up and think about how content I was to know God and live my faith as best I could. Yet, God wants so much more. I see how God relentlessly pursues us and seeks for us to surrender ourselves fully to His Headship. I thought that I was living a full life in the Lord, yet God invites us into even deeper intimacy. Am I really willing to give up everything? Yeah sure, I'm ready to go to Kenya. But am I willing to give up my sleep? (I really only function with at least 8 hours) Am I willing to look foolish for Christ?

I am thankful that God has been transforming us little by little. The other week we had the opportunity to dance before the Lord as a part of worship at our church. Praise God that He used our movement to bless others! Today we had an awesome prayer time where we were able to not just pray next to each other, but battle together in prayer for God's work in our lives and the lives of our loved ones. We had been pondering the power of prayer together and felt that just alternating in prayer wasn't all that it could be. We just got a brief taste of the power there can be in joining forces in prayer. What does that mean? What does it look like? Can we continue to pray like we did today, or was it just luck because we both were well-rested and focused?

In our ministry class we have been learning about the work of satan and the demonic in order to know how to fight back against our foe that has already been defeated! I am someone who thought I understood who satan was, but have always been intimidated by spiritual warfare or the idea of taking back ground from the evil one (such as casting out demons). Yet, the Bible says that we have the full power of God on our side against satan. That when we confess our sin, and are willing to obey to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, God will prevail. I pray that God will increase my faith to believe that if He so chose, He could so the same through me.

Fall frenzy

The school year has begun well for me, but as predicted, I am swamped with lesson planning, curriculum development, private piano students, and homework for our ministry survival training course. I've also had the happy luck of getting allergies and a sustained sinus infection for the totality of the school year so far. However, I am finding great joy in seeing how I've improved as a teacher, and getting to share in the day-to-day progress and development of my students whom I cherish deeply. Matt, meanwhile, has been bored and continually seeking new ways to use his time. I've struggled with coming home exhausted and yet wanting to spend quality time with my man who hasn't had much of anything to do.

Every weekend has been continual excitement, from watching Penn State and the Phillies to joining a chamber choir (about 25 singers), which has been such a pleasure to be making music at a high calibre again. We've been in State College with my whole family together discovering our artistic side, painting pottery and being a part of worship at church. And next weekend we head home to the Kistler farm for Oktoberfest for all of the apple and pumpkin picking, playing in leaves, hearty food and family festivities that come with it.

We look forward to all that fall will bring (except learning how to drive stick)....