Awake My Soul

I know I have not written a new blog post in a while. I actually have a few things I would like to write about and post, I just have not found the time yet. Hopefully soon, but for now, I will leave you with a quote from one of my favorite books. I pray that anyone who reads this will meditate on the idea that Kauflin is trying to express, and examine their own personal time with the Lord.

"Gettting to know God is time-consuming. We live in the age of instant everything. We want a life-changing devotional in fifteen minutes max. And why shouldn't God fit into the slot we've allotted him? After all, he's God; he knows how packed our schedule is! We open our Bibles and get bored if nothing grips us after two paragraphs. We want everything abridged, dumbed down, and in today's lingo, so we don't have to think too much or examine our lives too closely.

"Those attitudes are unacceptable if we want to display the glories of God through song each Sunday. Given our small minds, our absolute dependence on revealed truth, and the immensity of God, how can we think there's an easy path to knowing the God we worship?

"There are no shortcuts. Only a grace-motivated, steadfast, lifelong pursuit of the God who created and redeemed us for his glory."

Worship Matters Bob Kauflin 2008

We are all a part of the iGeneration. The i has two meanings: 1. individual, meaning everything is about me and how it effects me alone. 2. instant, how fast can I obtain what I am seeking for myself. This way of thinking has deeply affected me with my spiritual life. I do have a need for instantaneous revelation and gratification from the Lord. But God, the eternal, unchanging being, is not a part of the iGeneration and he expects so much more from me as his child.

Awake My Soul

Mumford & Sons

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As Long As You Are Glorified

As my time at Bryan has now been drawn to an end, I look back and see how I've grown through the past four years. I entered as an opinionated, immature, independent young girl ready to take on a new world. With this definition it does not sound like much has change, huh? Yes, I’m still opinionated, immature, independent and young. Now my opinions are more educated, based in truth and the godly wisdom of my professors. My immaturity is more visible to myself as I seek to develop in the Lord. My independence is stronger, yet with an understanding that it is not always a bad thing to rely on someone for help and I also understand my weaknesses more to know when to seek help. My youngness fades every day, reminding me that though I’m still in my early years, I only have one life to live for Christ.

I entered Bryan with the goal of being a music producer. I wanted to spend the rest of my life creating music for the world. Spending late hours in a studio, recording music, editing it, polishing the sound, perfecting the outcome, it was all a part of my dream for years. The last thing I ever wanted to do was enter a full-time Christian ministry. I refused to be a music education major because the thought of being in school for the rest of my life was less than thrilling. Knowing I’d eventually have to get my masters if I wanted to continue teaching was overwhelming. I had no desire to be a part of school post my undergraduate career, whether sitting at a desk taking notes or standing in front lecturing.

Now, I have a degree in Music Ministry. Ministry! The last thing I wanted. Now, I’m pursuing a degree at seminary. A MASTERS! More school! Now, I want to work as a Minister of Music in a church. I hope to one day be a college professor, training other hopeful Ministers of Music. TEACHING! I want to dedicate my life to helping the church of the Lord understand how to worship Him wholly, what HE wants from us as worshippers. Francis Schaeffer would be so proud if he knew how much his book inspired me. It’s crazy how far I’ve come in just four years.

As I look ahead to the next two(ish) years at Southern Seminary, I am so excited to begin imagining how God is going to shape me there. I will have the benefit of studying under some of the top professors in their field (not that I didn’t have that at Bryan. Thank you Dr. Luther and Dr. Wilhoit). I will be studying along side people who, like me, are fresh out of their undergrad, ready to grow some more. I’ll also be along side those who have spent years of their life in the ministry already and have come to earn the degree that their experience well deserves. I’ll be along side people who are preparing a life of service to Christ. This learning experience is going to be at such a higher caliber from Bryan, the growth the Lord has in store has to be just as great. I hope I’m ready!

Oh, Let Your will be done in me

In Your love I will abide

Oh, I long for nothing else as long

As You are glorified

As Long As You Are Glorified

Sovereign Grace Music

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