Truly Blessed

I thank you all so very much for praying for the recording of my CD on Tuesday. The whole day was filled with blessings beyond compare - from the start to the end of the recording session.

Even though at times it got to 87 degrees in the sanctuary (because we couldn't have the A.C. running while recording), God saw us through. Even when we got tired, or frustrated with the squeaky pedal on the piano or our own performance, He strengthened us and helped us be patient and calm. I could tell from the moment we prayed together at the beginning that God had His hand upon the endeavor.

The awesome violinist and singer

Yes, the recording is "less than professional quality" (because it was done in my small church, with the best equipment we had), and I know there are minor mistakes (which only I would catch) in many of the songs. But I also know I serve a great God, who is able to take whatever I create and use it. And I pray that He will multiply my small loves and two fish into enough to feed thousands.

For nothing is impossible with God. ~Luke 1:37

Me - pianist, composer, and background vocals

Here is an excerpt of the prayer I wrote in my journal the day after the recording:

Lord, I praise You, for You alone are good and righteous and there is none other like You. My life's goal is to worship You, and this CD is only just a part of that. 

Thank-you for bringing this dream together - for giving me the talent and the inspiration to write these songs, blessing me with such willing, helpful people to perform and record them, and providing the right equipment and knowledge. You knew how this all was going to happen even when it was just a dream of mine - a castle in the sky. Thank-you, Lord, for working all these things out for Your glory. 

So I ask you - would you join me in continuing to pray for the CD as I prepare it for selling? I know God can and will use this for His glory, if I commit it to Him.

Today's the Day!

Today is the day for the recording of my CD!

I'd like to ask you to pray over this endeavor - for strength and patience for me, for harmony between me and the other musicians, for the sound to be captured as well as it can, and for God's love and my thankfulness to Him to shine through the songs. I want this to be for His glory, not for mine. He alone deserves all the praise for my talent - I'm only giving back to Him what He has given to me.

Soli Deo Gloria!

What Would My Life Look Like?

Those of you who have done NaNoWriMo will know that winners get a coupon to "publish" a free proof copy of their book with CreateSpace. I have been editing the book I wrote for NaNoWriMo last November, but as it came up to the cut-off time for the offer (June 30th), I realized I was not going to get it all finished by that time. I cast around for another thing to publish, and then I thought of my poetry!
A few days (and late nights) later, I came up with this:

When it was shipped to my house a few weeks ago, I could not stop grinning. Seriously, I was so excited! The book looked much more professional than I had expected, and it was just so cool to hold a book of my own poetry in my hands!

This is only a proof copy, and I'm not planning on selling it or anything (at least not now). But it is still really cool to have something so professional-looking to lend to my friends and have on my bookshelf!

In honor of this grand occasion, I thought I would share another poem with you all. This one is very dear to my heart, and is truly my heart's desire:

What Would My Life Look Like?

What would my life look like
If I humbly obeyed God’s will,
Walking in His light
And listening to His guidance?

What would my life look like
If I refused to judge those I meet,
Instead, looking at them in the light of God’s love,
And treating them with kindness?

What would my life look like
If I used my gifts to build up the church,
Became an encourager, a supporter and server,
Doing all for Christ?

What would my life look like
If I radically changed my lifestyle
So I would always put others first
Instead of myself?

What would my life look like
If I discarded all idols and distractions,
And became so fully in tune with God
That He never left my thoughts?

What would my life look like
If I abandoned myself to furthering the gospel
Unashamedly taking every opportunity to tell the truth
Because it is my highest goal?

What would my life look like
If I was willing to stand up for Christ
Speak the truth to those who need it
Even if it meant death?

For I know that death with Christ is life evermore.

Copyright Melody 2008

Something I've Been Neglecting

Remember this? An Inspired Young Woman's Daybook?
I just checked, and the last time I did it was in May. Somehow summer slipped by without me remembering about my daybook! But I have decided to start it up again, possibly every other week on Saturday or Sunday. :)

But before I begin, I would like to direct your attention to two things:

1. I wrote another guest post today for Elizabeth Rose at Living on Literary Lane. It's called, When You Need a Little Humbling... I would love if you went over there and read it. :)

2. I have a friend in real life who started a blog not too long ago called My Musings and Other Profound (or not) Thoughts. She would be greatly encouraged if y'all went over there and checked her blog out!

Okay, now on to the daybook:

Find out how to do An Inspired Young Woman's Daybook here

Today the number one question I was asked by people at church was: "Are you all packed yet for college?" :P
I'm feeling contemplative from playing piano, and also a little stressed out from too much multitasking.
My outfit is a turquoise tee and light-colored shorts.
Outside my window it's overcast and dreary... the type of day where mosquitoes are having a party and everyone else wants to stay inside. ;)
A song that's stuck in my head is "Shine on Us" by Michael W. Smith, which I played an arrangement of for the offertory at church.
Something (a book, song, movie, person...) that's inspired me recently: the amazing, humbling love of my family and friends as I'm preparing for college.
A prayer of my heart this week is to trust in God for everything - knowing He has my life in His hands.
I am creating a CD of my compositions, which I'm trying to complete in the next couple of weeks before I go to college. (AAHHH!!)
I am reading Passion & Purity (yes, still), Start Here (almost finished), and I'm hopefully gonna start one of the many fiction books that have been on my shelves just waiting for me to read them!
I am thinking about all the different things I'm multitasking on at the moment - mainly just how I can use the rest of my day most productively.
A scripture verse or passage that's stuck out to me this week: 1 Peter 1:8-9 "Though you have not seen him [Christ], you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls."
A spiritual lesson I'm learning is to trust God with ALL aspects of my life. Each new worry, new fear about college I'm having to lift up to God
An attribute of God I've seen this week is Father. He loves me like a child, and cares very much about all the details of my life that could easily seem insignificant. And unlike my earthly father, who cannot be with me everywhere I go, my God will be with me, even at college.
A picture I’d like to share: This is the picture I'm thinking of going with for the cover of my CD. What do you all think?

A creative goal for next week well... there are a few compositions I have left to work on and get totally complete. A couple of which I have to work out with the violinist. So my creative goal would be to get all my songs for the CD finalized and ready to record!
Did I complete my goal from last week hehe well... it's been a few months. ;) 


I hope you all are having a great Sunday! :D