gracenotesministry

MY JOURNEY OF FAITH, MUSIC, AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH by Sandra Parker

Discovering Jesus

I began playing the piano in church when I was 9 years old. During those early years, I sensed Jesus’ presence guiding me and creating abilities within me that were new and exciting. There was something different happening in my life, something beyond my own abilities, where God supernaturally guided me across the keys as I followed in God’s leading at the piano. This experience marked the beginning of a spiritual journey, where I recognized God’s presence in my life and enjoyed His presence as He developed my skill at the piano.

As I continued to study music and listen to sermons in church, I learned more about Jesus and His invitation to receive Him. Through my service at the piano, both in church settings and in social gatherings, I experienced the empowering presence of God. Each day my  relationship with God grew and it still does today as I surrender my all to His purpose and plan.

Using this gift brought me overflowing thankfulness to God. Playing the piano became more than a skill—it was a way to draw closer to God and it was a window of opportunity for growth both spiritually as well as musically. This gift not only enriched my life but also attracted me to seek a greater understanding of the One who gave it to me. God’s creativity fascinates me and I find His creativity in between each chord change and every musical scale. Specific patterns of notes lead to beautiful places when crafted by God. I just go along for the ride.

Accepting Christ and Pursuing Music

As time passed, my relationship with Christ grew and culminated in my baptism at age 12. Later in life, I also chose to be re-baptized as I drew even closer to God and understood more of His Word. I wanted all that He had to offer, which included the baptism of the Holy Spirit. This was a pivotal moment for me, as I made a conscious choice to allow God to empower me for continued ministry. As I matured within the body of Christ, I remained devoted to serving Him through music and playing the piano faithfully at church. My passion for music led me to pursue it professionally, and I eventually earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance from Longwood College, now Longwood University. My dream was to become a concert pianist.

I faced a significant crossroads after graduating from college: should I continue my education or focus on preparing for concert performances and scheduling events? Since academics were never my favorite, I decided to seek full-time employment outside of the music field while continuing to pursue music as a side endeavor. Despite this choice, I remained steadfast in my commitment to play in church throughout the years, and I was blessed with the opportunity to serve in a thriving church community in the Richmond area. Alongside my church service, I taught piano to numerous students, offering lessons privately and within the business sector.

It was through my church ministry that I was recommended for a gig to serve as an understudy to a concert pianist at a local concert in Richmond, Virginia. I was in my twenties at the time and worked for the FBI as a typist for undercover investigations. The FBI graciously allowed me to use some personal leave in order to participate in the concert. I used 4 hours of personal leave each day to rehearse with the show. In rehearsals, I performed every part, but when the actual show took place, I stepped aside so the featured pianist could take the stage. Despite not being in the spotlight, the gig was well-compensated and provided an outstanding opportunity to have inside eyes to the life of theatrical performances. At the time, I was still struggling with my career choice at the FBI so I was keeping my heart and eyes open to new possibilities in the music field. Prior to the opening show, I was able to spend time with the featured performed regarding the life of a concert pianist. He shared with me his personal feelings about his life as a performer and the lonely times of travel wtih no time for family. His words hit deep in the core of my heart, prompting me to reflect deeply on my own aspirations. At that point, I recognized that my greatest longing was not for success on stage, but to be married and start a family. I desired children and was inspired by my sister’s life. She was a devoted wife and mother who stayed home to homeschool her children. My sister consistentely supported my ministry, and I recall wanting to switch places with her during this particular gig rather than perform. It was a season of loneliness for me as I was searching for a companion and wanted to start a family.

God’s Faithfulness in Difficult Times

 I have made mistakes and poor choices in my life; however, even during the most difficult moments, God never abandoned me. His presence was constant and He patiently waited for me to turn back to Him. It was in the tough times that I found God’s guidance and strength. When I strayed from righteous living, God gave me daily promptings, daily comfort, and daily guidance along the way. I am deeply grateful for His mercy and patience. Worshiping a God who embodies goodness continually draws me toward what is right and pure. God’s protection even shielded me from harm when my own choices could have led me into danger. These experiences demonstrate the supernatural nature of God, reminding me that life is both physical and spiritual, and we are connected to God in ways that transcend the earthly realm

Living Each Day with Gratitude and Purpose

Each morning brings new challenges and opportunities, and I am excited to see what God has in store for me. There is a sense of richness knowing that God trusts me and provides opportunities to serve Him. Being loved is a blessing, and I have witnessed love among church members and within my family since childhood. Attending church together and rejoicing in God’s love taught me that our actions and words reflect Christ. This foundation has shaped my understanding of what it means to live as a reflection of His love.

Why I Love Jesus

The question, “Why do I love Jesus?” is answered by the many ways I have met the Lord throughout my life. I have seen Jesus in the kindness of strangers, the love of neighbors, unexpected visits from strangers, generous offers from friends, job opportunities, and daily blessings.

One specific blessing was a job opportunity which opened up in Powhatan County while I served as accompanist for the high school’s choral program. For years, I had a desire to teach music in the public school system, but it never came to fruition. I was approached by the school’s assistant superintendent regarding a new Music Technology class she wanted to open for the students at the middle school in Powhatan County. She asked me if I was interested in teaching it. At the time, the county had never had a Music Technology Class, and this would be something completely new and I would be sent off for training in California to be trained for the program. To teach, I needed to complete about 6 more classes in education to complete my teaching certificate. This was a major change in my professional career, and I was very excited over the opportunity. God knew I had a desire to teach music in the public school system, and this position was a God send.  I was privileged to accept the position and introduced Music Technology to many students during my 17 years of teaching. I remained faithful in my service teaching students how to read music, compose/create music, and work with music software which allowed students to create/edit music to videos. There were many miracles that happened in my classroom. One was when students continually got out of their desks to collect bible verse cards from my teacher desk. They consistently inquired about the verses on the cards. God told me one day to place the bible on my desk and just watch what would happen. I did just what God said, and beside my bible were the bible verse cards. Some students had never even seen a bible verse and began asking me what they were. I kept the Bible on my desk for the remainder of the school year and every single day a student took a verse. They were fascinated over those bible verse cards. They were attracted to them like a bee is to honey.

I remember a specific student who cried each day from family drama. Every day that student cried I took him aside and asked what I could do for him. I’ll never forget his face. He was so hurt at the time, and his pain was so real. In my spirit, God taught me to be gentle and kind. I’m sure he thought this stage of his life was never going to pass. I remember telling him that his life was not always going to be this hard and to have faith in that. I truly felt his pain. I speak of this memory because God was building within me a place of development for my faith as well as introducing faith to this student.

Growing in Faith and Seeking More of God

At the age of 66, I have witnessed numerous supernatural encounters orchestrated by God, leading to spiritual growth and greater confidence in my walk of faith. Sometimes, it takes just one small move of God to ignite the desire for deeper worship and connection with Him. Experiencing Jesus personally drives me to seek more of Him each day. Every day is a unique creation by God, filled with new challenges, opportunities for growth, and chances to serve in ways I never imagined. Each day is an open door to new ministries, excitement in the Lord, and reflection on my personal journey with Him.

Experiencing and Sharing God’s Love

There are countless reasons why I love God, and I could spend hours expressing just how profound and genuine His love is. Although seeing God face-to-face will only happen when I reach my eternal home, the depth of my experiences with Him while on this earth have been genuine and so very real. I could speak endlessly to convince others about the magnitude of God’s love, but the truth is that I have personally felt and witnessed it. His love stands incomparable to any earthly affection.

I encourage each person to seek God and ask Him to provide strength, open new doors for opportunities, and foster spiritual growth. This pursuit allows us to discover His love and sense His presence as we step into new ministries. It is important never to limit God; instead, move forward each day with confidence, knowing that He is the wind beneath your wings. He will lift you up during difficult times and gently guide you through the process of serving Him.

By stepping out in faith and embracing new challenges, God will help you grow, and others will witness the humility that is being cultivated and revealed in your life.

I certainly want God to look at me and say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” I can’t wait for the day when I can wrap my arms around God and thank Him so much for loving me.

-Sandra Parker, Director of Grace Notes