Looking on the bright side

Posted on October 16, 2005 by Sarah

One of my ABSOLUTE favorite things is singing worship songs around a campfire, and I got to do that very thing last night. Every Saturday night, a group of college kids from Bethel Baptist Church gets together to worship, fellowship, and pray for the service the next day. I had never gone, and all week I had been planning to go this week. I missed Thirst No More on Wednesday night because I was sick, and when yesterday came, I was still sick.

I debated whether or not I should go, but then I found out that it was a special night last night because they were driving to Daniel’s house in Kersy to have a bonfire and sing worship songs and pray around the fire. I REALLY wanted to go even though I felt terrible half the day. So I decided to go anyway. I was losing my voice, but that didn’t stop me from talking to my friends and helping people make s’mores. The worship music was AWESOME! I couldn’t sing, but I got the priviledge of playing the little hand drum while Adam played guitar. It was SO much fun to be a part of the music even though I couldn’t sing. Even if I did have my voice, I still would have wanted to play the drum, but it meant so much more BECAUSE I couldn’t sing. It was the awesomest thing EVER!

This morning at church I still couldn’t sing, but I tried to focus on the words of the song more. Sometimes when I’m singing in church I find that I focus more on the music than the words, and the words are the most important. I’m always wanting to harmonize, which isn’t bad, but sometimes it does take my focus away from the words that I’m singing. Even without a voice, I can still worship God with singing in my heart!

“Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord.”
~Ephesians 5:19b

Categories: Perspective, Spiritual Growth | 1 Comment

Just where God wants me

Posted on October 7, 2005 by Sarah

“An orchestra is only as good as it’s last chair player.”
~Martha Agee

There is great competition in the music world. Being a music minor at the University of Northern Colorado, I don’t work as hard as the music majors, but I definitely love music. Most the time when people ask me what my favorite class is, my answer will either be Music Theory or Symphony Orchestra. Dr. Guyver, our conductor, really keeps us on our toes–after every concert, we have chair auditions of the new music. It gets to be stressful at times, practicing so much music.

We had our first concert last Thursday, and, of course, the audition followed on Tuesday. The piece we had to prepare was Symphony 1 by Shostakovich, and it is a difficult piece, let me tell you. I started practicing a page a day about 2 weeks before the audition, and I practiced 7 hours total in the four days between the concert and the audition. I felt like I was pretty prepared for the audition, but I was still nervous. My audition acutally went pretty well. I’m sure I was way below tempo, but for the most part I got all the notes and rhythms. Afterwards, I felt good about the audition, and Dr. Guyver told me that I was well-prepared and that I hit all the high notes. I still have a lot to work on, but I felt like this was one of the best auditions I have had.

It was suspenseful and somewhat nervewracking waiting until the chair listing was posted on Wednesday. A group of us stood outside the orchestra office waiting. We jumped every time the door opened, and finally Dr. Guyver came out and posted the list. My eyes scanned the list of names under the 2nd violin section, and they stopped at the bottom where I finally found my name. Yes, I am last chair. I was immediately disappointed, but after thinking it through and talking with friends and family, I know that this is the best chair for me. I am a music minor, and I am still in the orchestra! The reason I am last chair is definitely not because I had a bad audition. Everyone was well-prepared for this audition, and as a result, our string section is going to be so much better! I have so much to work towards, and I am not going to let my seating in orchestra discourage me. I know that I played my best, and just playing with this awesome symphony under the direction of Dr. Russel Guyver makes me happy!

Job said to the Lord, “I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted.”
~Job 42:2

Categories: Peace/Contentment, Spiritual Growth | 2 Comments

It’s a good day

Posted on September 26, 2005 by Sarah

“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
~Psalm 118:24

With two tests and no break from 7 am-5 pm, rejoicing was the last thing on my mind. I was definitely not looking forward to today. Every Sunday I pick a new verse to memorize as “verse of the week.” It’s usually just a random verse that I think of or one that I read the past week. The verse of the week this week is Psalm 118:24, and it really applies to the entire week (plus part of next week) as my life is crazy right now. I knew it wouldn’t be good to start out the day with a negative attitude, so I recited this verse to myself literally all day long in order to make myself willing to try to have a good day.

I also thought of a song that helped me get through the day. I’ve only heard the song once or twice, but the words of the chorus stuck in my mind. I don’t know what the song is called, but it’s on the album FFH released a couple years ago.

“Say hey! It’s a good day
even if things aren’t goin’ my way.
Jesus is Lord, and I am saved, so
say hey! It’s a good day!”

Before long, I was having a good day and enjoyed my classes and studying with friends. My tests went okay, and now I move on to studying for the test that I have tomorrow…

Categories: Perspective, Spiritual Growth | Leave a comment

My little shadow of grace

Posted on September 23, 2005 by Sarah

Everywhere I go this semester I have a little shadow that tags along with me–my violin. It’s not that I plan to carry it with me everywhere, but it hasn’t been convenient to use my locker in Frasier much. So instead, I carry my lightweight (thank God!) violin case everywhere. When I bought this new violin for college, I named it Grazia, which is Italian for grace. Ironically, the very first piece that I performed for an audience with this violin was an arrangement of Amazing Grace at church for offertory! So the name really fits. :) Today as I was walking down the hallway with my violin, I was thinking about the fact that I carry Grazia (grace) with me everywhere. It reminded me of God’s grace that He gave to us as a free gift. God also gave me my talent to play violin. Each and every day we are living saved by His grace. So instead of feeling burdened carrying Grazia with me, it will remind me of God’s grace that follows me everywhere I go.

Categories: Music, Spiritual Growth | 1 Comment

How deep the Father’s love for us

Posted on September 21, 2005 by Sarah

This is an awesome song! We sang it at Thirst No More tonight, and I just love the words!

How deep the Father’s love for us, how vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son, to make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss, the Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One bring many sons to glory.

Behold the Man upon a cross, my sin upon His shoulders.
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held Him there until it was accomplished.
His dying breath has brought me life, I know that it is finished.

I will not boast in anything, no gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ, His death and resurrection.
Why should I gain from His reward, I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart, His wounds have paid my ransom.

Categories: Spiritual Growth | 1 Comment

Girls retreat!

Posted on September 18, 2005 by Sarah

Pictures from the AWESOME girls retreat this weekend!!! :) (Can you tell that I love pictures?? hehe)


Sara, Ashleigh, Tiffanie, and Kristen


Julie, Sarah, Julie, Christen, and Brittany


Linsi, Sara, Julie, and Natalie


Jada and Ashleigh being silly


cramming into the van at midnight to go to King Soopers


Tiff, Sarah, and Ashlie


Ashleigh, Sarah, and Julie


Larissa driving


Kristen and Julie


Sara and Kristen


Sarah, Ashleigh, and Jada


junk food


Sara playing with the scanner gun


Sara at the checkout


standing in line


Sarah Babb


“Eve”


the van on the way back to Harvest Baptist Church


the group


eating the junk food


sleep time


I don’t like this picture–I look sad!


Julie and Emily


quiet time in the mountains view #1


quiet time in the mountains view #2


yucca plants


Boulder horizon


blue skies


beautiful view


wild daisies


mountain and valley


worship


more worship


all of us in the mountains


Sarah and Julie with wheat


after maneuvering the van through the parking garage, we successfully got it parked without hitting the ceiling or other vehicles!


clearance of 6.5 feet


it’s a tight fit


street performer on Pearl Street


hanging out on Pearl Street


Sarah, Sara, Sara, and Sarah


Kristen, Kristen, and Christen


the Julies


Ashleigh and Ashlie

Categories: Just Life | 1 Comment

Little sparrow

Posted on September 10, 2005 by Sarah

“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”
~Matthew 10:28-30

Categories: Spiritual Growth | 1 Comment