God With Us

It seemed fitting to end the year with one of my favorites: the Piano Guys arrangement of O Come, O Come Emmanuel. Heavenly!

May we all experience the meaning of Emmanuel in the coming year!

God's Leading: A Testimony

God is amazing--in so many ways! Tonight I’m thinking in particular of the way He leads when we can’t see clearly to make out the path ahead. I want to share the following testimony on how God has lead in a particular area in my life with the hope that it can be an encouragement to others who might be facing something similar. This was God’s answer for me and the way He worked in my life. The details of your story won’t be the same, but God does have a plan for you and He will work it out if you wait on Him!

It was about two years ago that I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to do with violin. Should I continue taking lessons? Should I stop playing altogether and move on to something else? Were there any opportunities for me to use my playing to bless others? Should I teach? Should I form a little group to play with? I faced a lot of confusion and uncertainty whenever I tried to seek God's will in this area. What did God want me to do?

Fast forward two years . . .

I’ve officially been teaching violin (and piano) for a year and a half now and I’m planning to get certified as a Suzuki violin teacher next summer if things continue to unfold for that. I’m taking ten of my sixteen students to two nursing homes next weekend to do a Thanksgiving program. I feel so blessed and fulfilled in being the one to help these children discover the beauty of music. My life has been bettered in so many ways through the experience of being a teacher!

Two and a half years ago, I found out about Anabaptist Orchestra Camp through a friend. That is part of what set my course concerning the violin. I knew I wasn’t stopping after I went there the first year! So many of my dreams have been fulfilled through AOC and I’m grateful for those who birthed that vision and those who have helped to carry it out!

My older sister plays harp, and she and I have been working toward a goal of going to a nursing home once a month to play. Our desire is that we will be able to be a bit of hope and light in some hopeless and dark lives. It is more blessed to give than to receive, so we want to share what we've been given through the gift of music.

Two months ago, my violin teacher asked me to play in a concert that she does with friends every December. We’ve been practicing for just over a month now, and it’s been wonderful to play with other musicians who enjoy music as much as I do and are committed to practicing, rehearsals, and whatever it takes to make the concert a success!

My teacher is also working with some of her younger students in an ensemble setting, and she invited my younger sister (who I’ve been teaching) to participate and asked me to help lead one of the little groups within the ensemble. The experience has combined three of my favorite things when it comes to music: playing with others, sight reading, and . . . the simple joy of making music!

In December, I’ll be playing Christmas music at a local church on Christmas Eve. My teacher told me about the opportunity and said that she couldn’t do it and asked if I would like to. I was nervous as I’ve never done anything like that before, but I went and met with them and they said they’d like to have me. So . . . I’m going to do it!

Several of the things I’m involved in right now are short term, and I don’t know what (if anything) will take their place in the coming months. However, I do know how God has directed me for now, and I know that He will continue to lead and unfold my path before me as I follow Him!

So how did I get from A to B, from confusion and uncertainty to certainty, fulfillment, and joy? One big thing that happened is that God used my parents to answer questions, give input, and help guide me. I know I wouldn't be at where I am today if it weren't for my wonderful parents! God also tested my faith during this journey. Often I would step out, not knowing exactly where I was going, but God was always there to confirm my direction or shut the doors. As long as I stayed closely connected to Him, I knew I could trust Him to do that!

A Special Purpose

I’m so excited to finally be able to share this story with you! It’s a story of love, life, and loss. It’s a story of God’s redemption and healing. It’s a story I’ll remember for the rest of my life.

It was July 27^th, a typical Monday morning, which means I was at the abortion mill. One of our team members was gone that morning, leaving me as the counselor to go on the RV with any woman who wanted an ultrasound. I had the training to do that back in May, but had never had the opportunity to go on with anyone yet. I was nervous, but praying hard that someone would come for an ultrasound, and near the end of the morning, someone did!

She and her boyfriend came on and shared their story with the nurse and me. It was a story we hear often; she already had four children (all four from the same father, but a different man than her current boyfriend), was in school, and just didn’t know how in the world she was going to be able to have a baby right now. Besides, she shared that there were some relationship problems between her family and her boyfriend’s family and that her boyfriend had been physically abusive toward her.

We spent a while talking, addressing the issues that came up and giving help, support, and answers where we could. After a while we took the boyfriend outside to one of the men on our team so that they could give him some counsel from a man and so that we could talk with the woman alone with the hope that she would be a little more open without him there. She was, and we were able to have a good conversation. She shared with us that she had been close to God a number of years ago, but that some bad influences in her life and led her down a wrong path and she had been making some bad decisions. She then told us that she wanted to rededicate her life to following God right then and there, and she did.

Before they left that morning we gave her some maternity clothes and made a plan about how to follow up on her other needs. Among other things, we were going to get a 3D ultrasound to determine her baby’s gender so that we could plan a baby shower since it had been 5 years since her last baby and she didn’t have anything.

God had other plans. One week later as we were still discussing scheduling for the ultrasound, she texted me: she had miscarried. She sent a photo of her perfectly formed, 19 week old son. I was stunned. I cried. In a way, he felt like my baby. I had been able to see his life literally snatched from death only a week before, and now he was gone. Of course, I knew that he was in a much better place and would never have to face the trials of this earth, and I rejoiced in that. I also rejoiced that he had been able to be loved and treasured by his mama before he died, instead of dying a painful death at his own mama’s hands through abortion.

As I was thinking of the sadness that I felt at this loss and texting with the mama, I thought of something that we often tell women at the abortion mill: that God has created their child for a special purpose. That includes this little boy, even though he never lived outside his mama’s womb. I think that some of the purpose of his life was what God wanted to do in his mama's heart, and in mine. I know I haven’t been the same after this experience, and his mama hasn’t either. His short life accomplished so much for God and when his purpose was fulfilled, God took him home.

I have been able to keep in touch with this mama, and we were able to go out to lunch together shortly after her miscarriage. It was a good time to connect and share. She recently asked to go out with me again, so we plan to do that. She really wants to follow God and do what is right, but she has very little encouragement from her friends. I’m so thankful for the opportunity I have had to show her some love and support during a difficult time in her life. Please continue to pray for this mama as she cares for her other children, continues her schooling, and seeks to do what is right. And please pray for me (and our whole team) that we could continue to reach out and touch lives for Jesus!

Giving for Life

I have a post in progress about the exciting things that God has been doing through the pro-life ministry that I'm involved in. There have been a few women who have changed their mind about abortion in the past few months whose decisions I have had the privilege of witnessing! I look forward to sharing their stories with you.

This post is different from the content that I usually share here, but a financial need has arisen with one of the women who chose to let her baby live recently, and I would ask you to prayerfully consider whether you can donate a gift towards this need. Due to confidentially, I cannot share more details in this post. If you feel led to contribute, please leave a comment with your email address (I will not post any comment with an email address in it on this post) and I will send you an email with some details of the story/need and give instructions on how to donate online. Every gift of any amount will be greatly appreciated!

Thank you for your consideration of this need and may God bless you in your giving . . . for LIFE!

Quote For Today - Nate Saint

“People who do not know the Lord ask why in the world we waste our lives as missionaries. They forget that they too are expending their lives ... and when the bubble has burst, they will have nothing of eternal significance to show for the years they have wasted.”

~Nate Saint

One of "Those Moments"

I had one of those proud big sister/teacher moments this morning while giving one of my younger sisters her violin lesson . . . she has officially graduated from learning songs by ear to reading the music (I am using the Suzuki method with her). This big sister couldn’t be more excited! I can’t wait for the day when we get to play Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven together. :-)

It is incredibly fulfilling and exciting to be teaching my younger sisters to play the violin, something that I enjoy so much. But I had to think . . . I am “teaching” them things all the time, even when I am not purposing to. In fact, they probably learn more from me when I am not specifically teaching them.

Although not exactly on the subject of teaching and example, this poem came to mind as I was writing just now. Since it is such a good one, I’ll include it anyway.

The Bridge Builder

An old man going a lone highway,

Came, at the evening cold and gray,

To a chasm vast and deep and wide.

Through which was flowing a sullen tide

The old man crossed in the twilight dim,

The sullen stream had no fear for him;

But he turned when safe on the other side

And built a bridge to span the tide.

“Old man,” said a fellow pilgrim near,

“You are wasting your strength with building here;

Your journey will end with the ending day,

You never again will pass this way;

You’ve crossed the chasm, deep and wide,

Why build this bridge at evening tide?”

The builder lifted his old gray head;

“Good friend, in the path I have come,” he said,

“There followed after me to-day

A youth whose feet must pass this way.

This chasm that has been as naught to me

To that fair-haired youth may a pitfall be;

He, too, must cross in the twilight dim;

Good friend, I am building this bridge for him!”

~Will Allen Dromgoole

AOC 2015

Orchestra Camp just gets better every year! This past week two of my sisters and I traveled to Indiana for that and on the way we stopped in Kentucky to see some friends. We made a lot of special memories together as sisters and with the other musicians at camp. One of my sisters and I played violin and my other sister helped prepare food for all of us. Once again the weekend inspired me musically, so I’m looking forward to putting some things in place that have only been dreams before now!

Practicing

I liked these little name tags on our chairs :)

When I saw this I just felt like it deserved a picture . . .

Sisters, best friends, violinists . . . it couldn't get better!

Between songs during the final concert

Enough Is Enough!

It has been almost four weeks since I had a memorable and life-changing experience at the abortion mill where I currently minister, and I’ve been trying to find the time to write that story up! But, it will have to wait a bit longer since I am going to write about today while it is still fresh on my mind.

Today, in response to recent videos exposing some of the horrific atrocities of Planned Parenthood (PP), thousands of people gathered outside PP buildings all across America to pray for an end to the slaughter of innocent children, protest the crime and injustice, and raise public awareness. I am thankful to have been able to be a part of the gathering outside the PP in my local city. This was my first time at an event like this, and what an experience it was! The zeal and dedication of those who take a stand for life and truth is contagious!

I am blessed to know and work with some very godly, passionate brothers and sisters in the pro-life ministry that I am involved in, and a number of them were there today. A few of them spoke and as I listened to them, I thought of how thankful I am for their example in this ministry. One woman in particular who spoke today has been such an inspiration to me (thank you, Mrs. W.!). These thoughts inspired a question that I want to ask myself, and that I think we should all ask: what kind of example am I leaving to those around me?

Mrs. K. and I at the protest

Have you been disgusted and saddened by the recent Planned Parenthood videos? Do you believe that all life is precious? Are you ready to say “enough is enough”? I would encourage you to step out and take a stand for life and the gospel of Jesus Christ right where you are. All it takes is a willingness to be used by God! Go to Sidewalks4Life.org to get involved.

I do want to make a little note here that what we did today at PP is different from what we do when we minister outside the abortion mills on a daily basis. Our specific goal was different (although proclaiming truth and life is always our goal in general), so we used a different approach. When we go out to the abortion mills to offer hope and help to the moms who come, we do not protest. We talk to them, pray for and with them, and show them what resources we can connect them with to help out with their needs.