This first
section is called: “Crafts Deanna Makes When She Has Free Time.” I started by
making 14 or so friendship bracelets to give to friends this summer. I made
bracelets for my mom, my best friend Mary, and a couple of camp people (that
I’ll see in only a week!). I also made 8 different bracelets for all of the
girls on HeartSong based on their favorite colors (I think I tweeted a picture
of them earlier this month). Which leads into what I did next: I took after
Katie and made goodie bags for all of the girls touring this summer! What’s in
the bags, and what the bags look like, will remain a surprise for now, but
putting them all together was one of the most fun things I did this month. When
I was done with those, I started writing more encouragement cards to different
friends at home and that I’ll see on tour. Then, in between cards, I decided I
needed to do something about all of my old Camp Carl T-shirts that I haven’t
worn in a year. So I made a blanket out of them. After a couple of setbacks, I
figured it all out, and now it’s on my bed (pictures to come on Twitter). It is
one of the most fun projects I’ve made, especially since I didn’t expect to get
it done this month.
Next we come to
“What Deanna Reads When No One Tells Her What To Read!” First, I finished up
Colossians and part of 1 Samuel (the life of David). I also read all three of
the Hunger Games books, only because this summer I’m sure to run into many
campers who have also read them. My strategy is always to be able to relate to
the campers as much as possible (this is why I learned the dances to High
School Musical and the Hoedown Throw-down a few years back…). Finally, I’m
currently in the middle of Radical by David Platt and Crazy Love by Francis
Chan, hoping to finish them before I leave for tour Wednesday. This summer I
want to read through 2 Samuel and all of David’s Psalms, and I’m also bringing
Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge (courtesy of Katie) and Forgotten God by
Francis Chan on tour with me; we’ll see if I have time to get through both of them!
Now I’ll talk
about “Places Deanna Went.” Although church is sort of a given, I count it
because it was so fun to be home and to play piano at church. Our worship
pastor gave the regular piano player and the worship band the whole month off,
and the two of us and a bass player led the congregation in hymns all month. I
didn’t realize I’d be doing that until I got home, and I think it was so fun
that I got to give everyone a break after they had worked really hard all year,
coming in extra early on Sundays because that’s the only time that works for
everyone to rehearse. I also went to choir rehearsals to accompany, which Matt
said was a huge help to him, too, and today when the choir and full band played
one more time before the “summer season,” I got to be a part of it. So fun!
I also took a road
trip to Indiana with my mom! It’s not very often I get to say that; I think
this may be the first time we’ve taken a trip together besides her taking me to
college. Mom’s best friend lives near Indianapolis, and her best friend’s
daughter Alyssa is rooming with my old roommate Rachel next year, who lives
about an hour away. Alyssa, Rachel and I met up for breakfast halfway between
towns. It was the first time I had seen Rachel in person since last December!!
It was so nice to have some time with her in person to give and get hugs and
enjoy sharing food. I also got to see my good friend Susannah again, since she
lives about a half-hour away from Alyssa. I was the first time I’d seen her
away from Lake Ann or Cedarville (where she usually visits me), and she was so
excited to see me in her hometown! We had an awesome time, as we always do when
we’re together.
Okay, next comes
the greatest section: “What God Has Been Teaching Me.” The first thing I
learned is that I am never in a position to make a decision about something
important unless I have spent enough time in prayer about it and have approval
from enough trusted Christian mentors. After being very dry spiritually for a
while, I was in great need of guidance from the Spirit; I said no to something
that I wanted to do, but after a lot of prayer I knew that my mentors were
right. Secondly, as I continued to fill myself with God’s word, I began to
learn AGAIN that my life should never be about me; it should be about serving
others and bringing glory to God’s name. I am only truly happy when I am fully
surrendered to God’s will: to be a servant to others for the glory of His name.
Thirdly, I
learned about the power of a good conversation. Sometimes a good conversation
with a friend can bring you both closer to God. When I talked with Susannah, we
shared what we had been going through and what we believed God had for our
futures. We prayed for each other and grew closer together, also growing closer
to God as we surrendered our futures to Him. I also got to talk to Dexter on
the phone a few days after he got back from a missions trip to Haiti. I just
sat and listened for about 45 minutes, and by hearing what God was teaching
him, God was teaching me what kind of faith I needed for Him to use me to move
mountains. I told Dex what God had been teaching me, too, and hearing him get
excited about it got me even more excited about it! Lastly, I’ve been talking
to my friend Rachel Lowrance over Skype, continuing a Bible study we started
last semester. Having more free time to focus on the study has given us both a
better understanding of what the author meant and what God means to show us
through the study.
But the biggest
conversation I had was with my uncle, who is a missionary home on furlough. I
wanted to talk to him about how he stared as a missionary, what opportunities
he thought I would have as a musician in missions. He knows me very well (he is
an expert at stalking me on Facebook) and knew what kind of questions to ask
me. After asking him a bunch of questions, he started asking ME questions,
trying to get a sense of what kind of ministry I would want to be involved in
and what I’d be best at. Long story short, when we got to the topic of teaching
music at a missionary school, we both started getting excited! He was excited
because he knew that teachers in missionary schools (for children of
missionaries) were hard to come by, and the schools were often short-staffed,
making the need very great. I was excited because I knew that this was
something I would love doing: ministering to kids whose lives were about
ministry, discipling them and serving them and their parents, not to mention
using my pedagogy degree and incorporating my love for music. Frederick
Buechner said, “God’s will is where our greatest passion meets the world’s greatest
need.” For the first time, I got really EXCITED about the idea of being a
missionary, because I knew that I could use my passion to meet a great need for
a lot of people. Ever since, I’ve been praying about this possibility, for God
to give me the right direction at the right time, and that I can trust Him to
take me where He wants me.
Finally—and I’ll
close with this—God taught me that He loves me and wishes to spend every minute
with me. He wants to be at the center of attention, and life is best that way.
When our lives are about His glory and not our own, what we do is suddenly not
as important as the One we give credit to. Life becomes simpler because our many
goals change into one goal: the glory of God. That is the attitude I want to go
into this summer with; I want to serve everyone I meet, to live life to God’s
glory.
Colossians 3:15-17
Let the peace of
Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to
peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach
and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and
spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do,
whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks
to God the Father through Him.
Soli Deo Gloria!
~Deanna
Excellent post, dear Deanna! Wow - I didn't know that you were considering missions, but it sounds like it would fit perfectly. God is so amazing! I can't wait to see what He will do in your life in that regard. :)
ReplyDelete~Rachel L