Ryanne Molinari

An Active & Imaginative Life

christian

March 4, 2020

Half Cadence

An audio recording of this article is available here: As an accompanist, one of my favorite things to do when a rehearsal needs some comic relief is to begin a cadence but stop before the final chord. Hearing a dominant chord ringing without resolution drives my fellow musicians insane. I revel in this small rebellion.… Continue reading

Faith, literary living, Music, Musings

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February 4, 2020

Question and Answer: Anticipating Christ in the Book of Job

In rereading the Book of Job, I once more find it both wonderful and troubling. Job is, at its core, a terrifying book: a man is selected for the worst trials imaginable (loss of family, livelihood, and health) not because he is wicked but, indeed, because he is faithful. The Book of Job is, in… Continue reading

Faith

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October 29, 2019

Jesus is King: A reflection on the man and the music

Furthermore, we must be careful that we do not perpetuate the assumption that those particular songs represent the genre as a whole. Kanye’s conversion is not only revealing deep-seated hypocrisy within our hearts as believers but prejudice toward an entire artistic genre. However, the release of Jesus is King offers the remedy to both biases,… Continue reading

Faith, Music, Musings

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February 16, 2019

Radical: A Reflection on 1 Corinthians 10-11

“Radical” is a risky word to apply to scripture; it often signals controversy, anticipates antagonism, and puts hearers on edge as they consider the violence associated with many forms of radicalism. But to be radical is not necessarily to be selfish, violent, and angry. In fact, in this turbulent age, it might just be to… Continue reading

Faith

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January 12, 2019

On Prayer: 1 Peter 5:5-7

This is probably the first year since I could hold a pen that I didn’t make New Year’s Resolutions. After recently taking the enneagram and discovering myself to be the “Reformer” (wing “Achiever”) this is rather surprising. I love goals and lists and plans and I work, practice, study, and exercise consistently. However, while I… Continue reading

Faith

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September 25, 2018

Eating Disorder, Reordered

In many previous blog posts, I have alluded to it. I have used it as an example of the dangers of perfectionism, as evidence of my own prideful nature, and as a point of reference to show how I’ve grown. The “monster,” as my journal refers to it. The eating disorder. It’s something I can… Continue reading

Faith

anorexia, body image, christian, eating disorder, eating struggle, God’s Image, image, inspiration, overcome, Saved by Grace, struggle
September 12, 2018

Preeminent Performance

In my “Redeeming Culture through Music” class, we were asked the following question: “Which is most important in music: the composer, the performer, or the listener?” The class more or less unanimously expressed that the three persons are equally important. After all, if there is no composer, there is nothing to perform and if there… Continue reading

Faith, Music, Musings

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July 22, 2018

A Poem to the Church of St. Edward King and Martyr

The words that lie written beneath our feet, Titles of saints, these graves in graven stones, The echoes of reformers’ gracious tones Which once and still all sinners here would meet. And still these words evoke fascination Of both pilgrim and poet’s seeking hearts, Quickening with the spirit each their arts, Knowledge grown into Imagination.… Continue reading

Faith, Poetry

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June 13, 2018

Pride and Conviction

Well, it’s that time of year again… We find ourselves nearly in the middle of June and, as such, thoroughly entrenched in National Dairy Month, Adopt-a-Cat Month, Safety Awareness Month, and Accordion Awareness Month. We also are (supposedly) to rally together in June to promote camping, candy, roses, and vegetables (https://nationaldaycalendar.com/june-monthly-observations/). However, while I bet… Continue reading

Faith

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April 18, 2018

Mariners

We are mariners, mariners we, made for the land, parted from sea from that second day and still – striving as on the earth to fill- drawn by its alluring, billowy waves- we drink down the depths to find watery graves. . We hear the call, that age-old call, a whisper first, a breeze enthralls,… Continue reading

Poetry

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April 2, 2018

“Easter morn rose grey with fog”- A Poem for Easter Sunday, 2018

Easter morn rose grey with fog -anticipation hid- No dawn’s light to testify to what the Savior did. . Still we know and sing aloud of the Risen Son And yet the part that strikes me most was that on Friday done. . Rising up is natural; the sun never stays down. What is more… Continue reading

Faith, Poetry

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October 19, 2017

Unarmed Battle: Insights on Ephesians 6:10-18

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this… Continue reading

Faith

Bible, bible study, christian, devotional, ephesians, faith, faithful woman, millennial

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Five years ago, Billy and I were engaged and wondering where the Lord was calling us. We certainly didn’t expect it to be a small church in Iowa—a church that began in a barn and moved into an old acupuncture clinic, that dared to stand for truth even when it was costly, that welcomed us with open arms and lots of chocolate. I admit that I wasn’t sure what would happen to this little church, but God had big plans.

In my experience, pastors and ministry leaders often stock their libraries primarily with prose. Systematic theologies and concordances line my husband’s office. Our basement library is largely populated by Christian living resources, and our upstairs shelves are loaded with volumes on church health.

Have you read “Spirit-Filled Singing” yet? Which fruit of the Spirit do you most associate with musical worship?

From my latest blog post. 💛 May you know the astonishing love of our Lord, whose mercies are new each morning.

Instilling a love of reading as early as possible. 📚 I did have to pause Les Mis, though, because a 10 lb baby and 1,000+ page book were too much for my back to handle just now. 😬

A blessed Ash Wednesday to you all. ✝️

Spent Martin’s first nap of the day making a playlist of hymns I hope he grows to love. Thank you all for the beautiful recommendations! I hope you enjoy. 🩵

Introducing Martin Molinari 🩵

Anyone else get shy when asked to share their “boring” testimony? I hope this post encourages you that there really is no such thing. After all, coming to Christ is not the end but the beginning of the adventure! Read the full post on my blog or Substack (links in bio), and consider supporting my work by subscribing for free.