Amazing Love

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13

(Jesus speaking) "As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Now remain in my love. " John 15:9

John Chapter 15 is one of my favorite chapters of the Bible. In it, Jesus is teaching his disciples before his death about how they are to love each other just as He loves them. Jesus is the ultimate example of love - he loved us so much that he was willing to lay down his life. And he didn't just lay it down for his friends, he laid it down for his enemies as well! No wonder we sing of His "Amazing Love."

Jesus also calls us to love each other with the same kind of amazing love. In John 13:34-35, He says, "A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." [italics mine] There it is, clear as day. We must love one another as He has loved us!

This is a tall order, for sure. How can I love others as Jesus loved me? I can't sacrifice my life for them, can I? No, we can't actually die for those around us like Jesus did, but we can sacrifice things for them such as our time. Pray today and ask God how you can show His love, His amazing love, to those around you - even if they're not particularly lovable. Who knows what God can do through you if you're willing to show His love to others?

Audition Time!

Recently I've been trying to practice piano for three hours a day, and I think it's affecting me. Both yesterday and today, I've dreamed in vivid detail about practicing piano; with my dreams usually involving a mistake I made, or some part where my hands wouldn't obey my brain.

I bet you're wondering why I'm getting crazy about piano all of a sudden. Well, it isn't really all of a sudden. I've been preparing for this time for months, years even. You see, next Thursday I will be auditioning to get into the music school at Cedarville University.This is a big event for me!

Since I've been preparing these pieces for so long, I've kind of felt like I "had arrived". I mean, I've had a lot of instruction on them, and I think I can play them pretty well! But recently, through a new teacher, and a group class, I've found that I can improve a whole lot more. I've been realizing that I can't treat the piece like an untamed colt, to break and master and then move on. Instead, I must treat it like going on a journey: uncovering layers of sound, touch, technique, dynamics, phrasing, and beauty. And even after my audition the journey will not end. For when does music ever end?

The three pieces I will be playing are Bach Prelude & Fugue in B-Flat Minor (which is considered one piece), Haydn Sonata No. 59, and Schubert Impromptu Op. 90 No. 4. (I've given you links to listen to the songs so you can get an idea of how they go, though I couldn't find one of the Bach piece.) The Bach sounds like it's meant for organ, with slow, chordal passages and a very measured beat. It's very solemn and proud, in a tragic way. The Haydn is very jumpy and capricious, almost like Haydn is just playing around on the piano having fun. That one's probably the hardest for me, just because it's so fast and hard to maintain control. I much prefer slower pieces like the Bach. The Schubert is my favorite, because it's just so beautiful; like a vivid painting cascading down like watercolors from a painter's brush. I especially love the middle section where it switches to the minor key. It's so sad and touching - almost melodramatic!

So I am very excited, and of course nervous for this audition. I am trying to take the advice a good friend gave me: to keep my thoughts focused on God, and the beauty He has created in this music, rather than on myself. That way, I won't be as nervous. I would definitely appreciate prayer for all of this!

~Melody

Blue

Though my first loves are music and writing, my second love is photography. I bring my camera with me wherever I go, because I can find so much beauty everywhere! So, to share my love, and some of my pictures, I'm going to be posting some of my pictures on here for you to enjoy (but please don't copy them). And I thought it would be fun to group them by color. So this week, the color is blue.

(taken out of an airplane window)

This is me, but I edited it to make it so I have blue eyes ;)

 

This reminds me of the verse: "The Heavens are declaring the glory of God!"  

 

I also thought of a little challenge for you all. Since all my pictures are blue (or mostly blue), I'd like to challenge you to come up with a quote from a song that has the word "blue" in it (just make sure to keep it wholesome). Also, feel free to use my idea - but please link back to me! :D

~Melody

The Grey Havens

This last Friday night, my brothers and I watched The Return of the King. I do think that one is my favorite of the three movies, though The Fellowship of the Ring is a close second (I don't like The Two Towers as much - too many battles). I always cry at the end, when they're parting at the Grey Havens. Just that look that Frodo gives the other hobbits... and the sadness in Sam's eyes...

Anyways, tears aside, seeing the scene of the Grey Havens got me thinking about heaven. Just like at the Grey Havens, there will be partings, even of friends. Thankfully, though, Sam also went to the Grey Havens towards the end of his life. So he and Frodo were together once more. But I'm sure for many of us, there are people that we know, even good friends, who are not Christians and will go to hell. That will be really horrible - knowing they're going to the worst place imaginable and can never escape! When you think of it that way, how can we keep from telling them about God's salvation? It's pretty much a life or death situation!

In the song, "Into the West", one of the lines is "White ships have come to carry you home." For Frodo, the elves, and Gandalf, they were going home. Middle Earth actually wasn't the elves' real home - and for Frodo, Middle Earth was a place where he could never truly be at peace. After all he had gone through, he was permanently scarred with the burden he had carried. So it is with us. This earth isn't our real home; we are citizens of heaven. Though we can experience God's peace here on earth, it will always be at war with our flesh. We are never truly whole until we come into the presence of the Almighty God and worship at His feet.

Thinking about heaven really puts things in perspective, doesn't it? It makes me want to witness to others and put aside my insecurity about how they will judge me. Because really, the way people view me here on earth isn't going to matter in heaven. What does it inspire you to do?

~Melody