Of course the biggest struggle in my life is my fallen nature. God says in Jeremiah 17:9 that "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked." From the beginning of my life, my heart has been bent towards evil: lying, anger, bitterness, deceit--everything that is unholy and sinful. It is only through God's saving grace and glory that I am made clean. I am miraculously forgiven by my Lord Jesus Christ.
Every year that I am in Christ's arms, I pray that I grow to love Him more. I pray that I can be like Him in all that I do, say, and act. For I am not supposed to "be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of [my] mind so that [I] may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:2).
So, you must be wondering why I call this blog "In the Life of a Musician." Well, that is because that is what it is. That is what I am.
I call myself a musician by the grace of God. I am so thankful he gave me the gift of music. I don't say this to be prideful, but to recognize that God knew I needed music. To help me deal with my, um, very dramatic and slightly emotional tendencies, but also that I may glorify Him to the fullest of my abilities.
He gave me this wonderful (glorious, amazing, and so on...) instrument called the piano to play and de-stress on. He gave me the violin, another beautiful instrument, and guitar...
But best of all, He gave me the music itself. The words, the notes, all of it. My "Amazing Grace," "Be Thou My Vision," and "Great is Thy Faithfulness." I believe God has touched my life so many times with this gift called music. Besides the classic hymns of the faith, I love one or two other artists as well. The first, that shall always remain a first, is Steven Curtis Chapman. There are so many good times and memories associated with his music in my life. My parents listened to him a lot, so naturally I grew up singing and dancing to most of his songs. Besides him, there are a ton of other people that I like to listen to, to many to list actually. Really, I am serious...(Dario Marianelli, Josh Wilson, Andrew Peterson, Rachmaninov, Harry Gregson-Williams, Brandon Heath, Chopin, Eden String Quartet, Yo Yo Ma, Beethovin, JJ Heller...told you it was a weird mix--and I am just getting started!)
"Next to theology I give to music the highest place and honor. And we see how David and all the saints have wrought their godly thoughts into verse, rhyme, and song."-Martin Luther
"Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is...speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord." -Ephesians 5:17,19
I am also a bookworm. It took me a few years (you had to drag my feet to get me to read when I was little), but once it finally clicked, I could read for hours. First and foremost remains the Bible. But I also enjoy many other books as well. In fact, I decided to write a book list to try and catalog all the books I have read, am trying to read, or want to read. It constantly changes as I add new books, or take off books, as I see fit.
So that is a little about me. Just a daughter of the King who tries to glorify Him. Thanks for stopping by.
So that is a little about me. Just a daughter of the King who tries to glorify Him. Thanks for stopping by.
"The heart, which is so full to overflowing, has often been solaced and refreshed by music when sick and weary." -Martin Luther King
"Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, a charm to sadness, gaiety, and life to everything. It is the essence of order, and leads to all that is good, just, and beautiful, of which it is the invisible, but never less, dazzling, passionate, and eternal form."-Plato
"Use what talents you have; the woods would have little music if no birds sang their song except those who -sang best." -Reverend Oliver G. Wilson
 |
| All photos taken by my friend Katarina from Always and Forever Photography. |
