Joy and Strength (Christian life and music)

I wrote this song many years ago.  Or rather, it came to me as a gift. It is the first song I ever wrote.  I was reading in Isaiah chapter 12 and started hearing this song in my mind.  I just started singing it.  It was such a special moment.   I hurried over to my piano and started playing it.  My roommate came out to the living room and shared in this special moment.  We were both sort of awed by the whole thing. I had been a professional accompanist working at the University of Delaware.  It was my first job after graduating with my Master's Degree from the Manhattan School of Music.  I was on the "classical music" track. But God had other plans. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever want to be a songwriter.  That wasn't in the plan.  After all, I was a classically trained pianist.  But once I finished writing this song, "Isaiah 12," I was hooked.  I wanted to write more songs. I was now a songwriter. Did this mean I was to give up being a professional pi

Have you ever gone through a crisis and when it was over think, "Finally!" only to meet with a new crisis?   Just when I think the bad times are behind me, something else pops us to try and derail my composure.  It is frustrating, to say the least. I whack one proverbial mole only to find another one popping up. Where is the rest?  Where is the peace?  Why is God allowing trial after trial in my life? God promises us calm in the midst of the storm.  He promises peace not as the world gives - not through the "security" of money or possessions which deep down we know are here one day, gone tomorrow.  His peace is powerful.  His peace is permanent.  It calms emotional storms within us. When will it all let up?  When will your own struggles end? I wish I could tell you that it will let up soon.  Very soon.  But I know that we will all be "whacking moles" probably right to the very end - either the end of this earthly life or until Christ returns and takes us u