Finding Strength in Lord

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord."

2 Corinthians 4:16-15:8

This past weekend I got a very distressing call to let me know that my beloved choral director, Ron Shirey, had passed away due to a heart attack. I want to take a second to remember and honor this wonderful man.
Shirey (we always left off the Mr.) found me during my high school years and tracked me down during a Texas Music Educators Association conference in San Antonio, TX. My voice teacher at the time, Mary Drayer, had studied under him during her years at TCU and was more than happy to introduce the two of us. I remember him taking me by the arm (as he did quite often in my years at TCU :) and told me that I would be auditioning for him and some of the music staff at TCU. There was no question in his statement :) I adored him immediately!! He was the reason I went to study music at Texas Christian University and the reason I recieved scholarships. He believed in me during the most uncertain time in my life. He was a confidant and a wonderful director. I learned more musically from him than I have ever learned with anyone else.
I can remember the wrath of Shirey during rehearsals when our group of friends would see just how much we could get away with and I can remember after each class hanging out with him at his podium and laughing about exactly that! He was a precious man and I will never, never forget him. The Lord has his angel with him now... and I KNOW he is singing and conducting that heavenly choir, hope they can handle it!! :-)

All My Love,

Courtney