Always Reflect, Always Be Thankful
November 22nd, 2011
Hello everyone! Wow, it’s absolutely crazy to think that this semester is practically over!! I was telling my team the other day that this Thanksgiving break feels like it should be Fall Break; this semester has gone by so fast that it only feels like it’s halfway done. With 17 credits, a junior recital to prep, 5 new piano students, and a plethora of clients for piano accompanying, alongside my commitment to HeartSong, I’ve had barely any time to breathe, much less pause and reflect on what God has done. But with a bit of a breather before exams, I take this time to reflect on the many things that God has done this semester that I am thankful for.
It started back in September, where our first performance of the year was on my birthday! 
The weekend after that was Brownsburg Weekend, our traditional traveling teams retreat. Practicing like crazy and bonding as a team made that an amazing kick-off weekend for the year. But not long after that, my team underwent a member switch, leaving us with 3 returning members and bringing our “freshman count” up to 4. Fall Break Tour in October became our team’s “Brownsburg” as we reworked a few songs and bonded together in a different way.
But despite the sudden change, our team hardly skipped a beat. On our way to our first school on Thursday we had some fun times in the van, including a Wart-Head Challenge and stopping at an Amish market in the middle of nowhere to use the restroom. Musically, we improved as the weekend went on, and spending time with our host families was a huge blessing as it always is. Something unique about our team’s tour was that we didn’t have a venue every day, so we weren’t quite as busy as we had anticipated. It was a HUGE blessing to be able to have some time to relax and feel a little like we were on a break. It also gave me some time to reflect, read my Bible, and pray for my team members and the other teams on tour.
With November came Family Weekend! Most of our team had family coming to visit, so we decided to combine team time with family time on Friday night. 6 of the 8 of us went to the Cracker Barrel together, bringing our families with us, and reserved a table for 18! (under the name “Green,” of course). It was awesome to hang out as a team, meet each other’s families, and fellowship together. The family weekend concert the next day with One Voice and Jubilate was AMAZING as well! It was so incredible to worship God with my two families: my parents and grandparents, and my HeartSong family.
God has been working this semester in really personal ways as well. All 5 HeartSong teams have been going through a Bible study together about the Gospel; what it is and how it should penetrate our lives. We hear wisdom from Jim or Brandon, talk as a large group, and also talk as teams about how we can apply what we’re learning as we interact with each other. Letting the Gospel transform our lives is a huge part of what makes HeartSong such a powerful ministry; it would never be possible to do what we do if it weren’t for Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, and His amazing grace poured out for us.
With Thanksgiving coming up, I’m in a thanking mood! I am so thankful for this semester, as fast as it seems to have gone. I am thankful for every member on my team, past and present, and for the ways God is using them in my life constantly. I am thankful for the ministry that we share and the opportunity to use our gifts to bring glory to God. And I am beyond thankful for the reason for our ministry: Jesus and the Gospel. My prayer is that I will always be thankful, always praising God for the good things He has given me, and that I will always make time to reflect on what He’s done in order to praise His name even more.
