Oct.17.04: Light for the Day - "Don't Quit -- Keep Playing"

-- Romans 15:4 
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

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God plus one is always a majority!

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Whishing to encourage her young son's progress at the piano, a mother bought tickets to an Ignace Paderewski performance. When the night arrived, the two found their seats near the front of the concert hall. The boy stared in wide-eyed amazement at the majestic grand piano on the stage. The mother began talking to a friend sitting nearby and she failed to notice her son slip away. As the house lights dimmed and the spotlight lit the piano, the woman gasped as she saw her son at the piano bench, innocently picking out "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star."

Before the woman could retrieve her son, the famous concert pianist appeared on stage and quickly moved to the keyboard. "Don't quit -- keep playing,” he whispered to the boy. Learning over, Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began filling in a bass part. Then with his right arm, he reached around the other side, encircling the child, to add a running obligato. Together, the old master and the young novice mesmerized the crowd.

No matter how insignificant or "amateur-ish" you may feel today, the Master has these words for you, "Don't quit - keep playing." He will add whatever is needed to turn your efforts into a masterpiece.


-- G's LDB

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-- Isaiah 41:10 
Fear not, for I am with you; 
Be not dismayed, for I am your God. 
I will strengthen you, 
Yes, I will help you, 
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

-- Matthew 28:19,20
19 "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

-- 2 Thessalonians 2:16,17
16 May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope,
17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.

-- James 1:2-6
2 Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy.
3 For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.
4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything.
5 If you need wisdom—if you want to know what God wants you to do—ask Him, and He will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking.
6 But when you ask Him, be sure that you really expect Him to answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.

-- Romans 5:3,4
3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us -- they help us learn to endure.
4 And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation.

-- Romans 12:6-9
6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.
7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach;
8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.

-- Proverb 22:6
Train a child in the way he should go, 
and when he is old he will not turn from it.

-- Psalms 71:18 
Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare Your power to the next generation, Your might to all who are to come.

-- 2 Thessalonians 3:5 
May the Lord bring you into an ever deeper understanding of the love of God and the endurance that comes from Christ.