Concerning Transition

Concerning Transition

Dear readers, prayer partners, and donors,

As you already realize, we are in a season of transition for our Overseas Outreach mission. Thank you from the depths of our hearts for your prayers, encouraging notes and letters and generosity in financial support. We thank God for you – often. Please pray earnestly for God’s wisdom for every step we take, and please stick with us through the end of this year. We are not done yet!

However, it has not worked out for a transition to Good News Productions International, based in Joplin, Missouri. Our plan now is to give all of you a list of our primary ministry partners in outreach and in humanitarian aid to destitute individuals and families in Ukraine (and scattered as refugees). We hope and pray that you will choose one or more of them to pray for, support financially, and encourage with notes and letters if you possibly can. We plan to send that list to you in December in our prayer letter. Please stay with us.

Lord, I love You more than anyone or anything! Why?

1. The beauty of Your magnificent creation all around us. No one else can do what You have done or are doing.
2. The beauty and joy of how You answer our prayers. The check in the mail for Overseas Outreach from June Kirk at this very time in answer to our prayers is the wonderful assurance that You were already working this out for us even before we prayed! I’m also reminded that You answered my first, earnest prayer to spare my dad’s life even before I knew enough about his accident to even pray that prayer. You used his tragic accident to get my attention and win my heart to love You, follow You, and obey You! I was a young boy then.

Lamentations of Rick Deighton for America

Al Cinnamon is both our preacher and good friend. He is preaching through the Bible and is now in the Book of Lamentations. Here is a message I sent him: “Hey Al, yesterday I determined to read the Book of Lamentations in one stretch. I didn’t make it! After reading the three paragraphs of introduction to the book, I got up and wrote my own Lamentations for America – Oh, sweet land of the free and home of the brave, you have been infiltrated with the lies of Satan and the filth of this corrupt world! Your schools indoctrinate children with confusion and corruption, so much so that many of them don’t know if they are male or female. Far too many don’t know who their father is! Suicide among young people now consumes more lives than car accidents or drugs and alcohol. Your presses pump out porn and perversion like a broken sewer pipe to feed a multi-billion-dollar industry of destruction. The kidnapping and sex trafficking of children runs rampant, and your porn industry perverts other nations as well as this one! Listen to the pleas of our suffering Savior! He died for you and His arms are open.

Almighty God has allowed storm after storm, disaster after disaster, fire after fire, mass shooting after mass shooting to wake us up and jolt us out of apathy. When, oh, when are we going to see the massive spiritual awakening we so desperately need? He is faithful to His promises, and He is waiting for His people in this almost God-forsaken nation to respond. When, oh, when will we see millions turning to our Lord Jesus Christ for salvation? “if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” 2 Chronicles 7:14. “’Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.’ Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Men and brethren, what shall we do?’ Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.’ And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, ‘Be saved from this perverse generation.’ Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles… Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, … And he brought them out and said, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ So they said, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.’ Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized” Acts 2:36-43; 3:19; 16:30-33 (NKJV).

Shortly after writing this, I listened to a radio news report that included a search for a woman and her daughter who were lost from a nudist camp. Nudist camp? Is that what America needs? It sounds like a gathering of very confused, lost souls! Yesterday, I heard the news about polluted apple juice; this morning, polluted meat products that need to be thrown away because they contaminate and sicken those who consume them. Are we now so spiritually dense that we do not recognize that the moral and spiritual pollution of America is far more dangerous and sickening? Eight years ago, investigative journalists David Daleiden and Sandra Merritt uncovered, exposed, and filmed Planned Parenthood’s horrible practice of brutally killing nearly full-term babies and marketing their body parts. What happened? California Attorney General, Kamala Harris, sicked her “dogs” on them with lawsuits and multi-million-dollar battles they are still fighting in court. Was the sacrificing of babies to the pagan gods in Canaan and later Israel actually any different than this?

Through conniving vote manipulation, Kamala Harris became Vice President under Puppet President Joe Biden, and now is running for President of the United States of America with abortion throughout all nine months of pregnancy as her rallying cry! At the recent Democratic Convention in Chicago the Democratic Party set up a portable clinic to perform free abortions. Sickening! Heartbreaking to realize how low-down our beloved America has become (and representatives of the USA are manipulating foreign nations into abortion factories if they want American dollars)! Yes, there is much to lament over concerning the USA!

Then I went back and read Scripture. Here is the result! Now for the most refreshing passages I found in the Book of Lamentations: “This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I hope in Him!’ The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord… Let us lift our hearts and hands to God in heaven… Turn us back to You, O Lord, and we will be restored; renew our days as of old,” 3:21-26, 41; 5:21 (NKJV).”

Concerning Facts, Faith, and Science by Wallace Wartick

“Now part of the point of this lesson is on fact and faith as regards Christianity. Part of it is on science. It is relevant to state that there is no quarrel with what we commonly call ‘science,’ either as a field of study or as a discipline that has produced many things of value to us all. Rather, it is more accurate to state that the discussion is about scientists, some of whom we agree with, others not. Some scientists are Christians, and as a norm, we are in agreement with them. Some scientists, by profession, do not believe in the Bible or Christianity, and thus, we are in disagreement with them. I have a book in my library, entitled In Six Days. It was the product of some fifty scientists, all of whom accepted the book of Genesis, and its presentation of creation in six days (which is from Genesis Ch. 1). And another by some forty scientists, with the same position. There are schools in the U.S. that are staffed with scientists that adhere to the Bible and its teaching about creation, and other positions that the Bible teaches as being true, including data about Jesus.

Now, from this position, it is true to state that ‘some’ scientists believe the Bible, while others do not. And that ’science’ as a term includes both believers in Christianity and some who are not believers.

Let’s state this: all scientists must trust their thinking, reasoning and conclusions, just like the rest of us do. Many a scientist, over the centuries, has had a conclusion or position disproved. Just ask Einstein about Heisenberg’s ‘Uncertainty Principle.’ The book by Thomas Kuhn entitled The Structure of Scientific Revolutions will help you think about this point in great detail.

As a matter for thinking, most of us have heard about the atom. But the atom was denied by scientists until about 1900. Point: one can be wrong, if ever so certain of one’s beliefs. Another ‘fact’ was that the earth was the center of the universe. Was, until about the 1500s, when Copernicus, Kepler, and Galileo disproved the belief. The data was all available, but the wrong world view skewed the data for some, until others came along and showed a better position from which to view the universe.* Just in the 1960s, the prevailing view (it is often called a paradigm) of the earth changed, in that how the substrata of the earth affected the surface, and ’plate tectonics’ became the prevailing paradigm. All things like these, and many more, can be found in books in print, if one knows where to look. Point: scientists live by faith, just like the rest of us do. It is no shame to live by faith; as stated earlier, all of us do, in little ways our whole lives.” *(Note: the idea that the earth was the center of the universe came from the obvious fact from the early chapters of Genesis that the earth, as the home for those created in His image, was the center of God’s attention. Actually, no one knows [except God Himself] whether the earth is the center of the universe because the astronomers have never found an end of the universe in any direction. What Copernicus, Kepler, and Galileo actually demonstrated was that earth is not the center of our solar system – the sun is. 😊 R.D.)

“Normally the issue of faith and facts is most apparent in the field of biology, with Charles Darwin’s position on evolution most apparent. One hears, either in print or on TV that ‘evolution is a fact,’ If one means ‘change is a fact,’ agreed. If one means Darwin’s position, then disagreement will arise. As noted before, the argument is not with science, but with some scientists. They are, like the rest of us, human. They, as noted in the preceding paragraphs, can be wrong, and think they are right. Then, too, much of popular programs on TV, in most secular colleges, or in books, is evolution-oriented. Even some speakers who are biblically-based hold to evolution. There is a myth that continually circulates that ‘science’ is value-free, and that science provides a level field for everyone. Science is anything but value-free, and that level-free idea is part and parcel of the myth mentioned above.

It is relevant to mention that ‘fact’ is often equated with truth. Perhaps, but we have previously noted some ‘facts’ that proved false, and untrue. If one defined the term evolution as simply ‘change,’ then no argument. But, as noted, that is not Darwin’s position. Some church leaders have made statements that evolution and the Bible are harmonies, but that position is fraught with definitions. Again, define terms. Then, some scientists are not believers in God, as the Bible presents Him, and that position is unacceptable to most Bible believers.

Let’s take a bit of time and space, and suggest some positions that some scientists accept as facts, which most Bible believers do not.

1. The big bang – This expression currently sums up the operating principle for the origin of the universe. It is not the Bible position, as presented as factual in Genesis Ch. 1.

2. ‘The present is the key to the past.’ – This phrase is known as uniformitarianism and has been held by various ones for many years. The phrase is open to criticism. What of the present is key to the past? Then, a question that needs asking is this one: give us just one example of something coming from nothing. When does a scale become a feather? Or an elephant turn into a manatee? Or when do fruit flies turn into anything else but fruit flies? Some 3,000 mutations have been noted for the fruit fly, but nothing produced but fruit flies. Look at Genesis Ch. 1.11-12, where God is creating trees and vegetation. Each was to ‘bear after its kind.’ We don’t know of any exceptions to God’s rule. It is as horticulturalist Walter Lammerts said, ‘One can cross roses in many ways, but a limit will be reached; no black roses.’

There are many more illustrations that could be suggested. But of the many ‘ideas’ (these are known as ’faith positions’) that have been suggested, things still ‘bear after their kind.’ No known exceptions from Adam and Eve until 2024. If you are married, or will be, what would you like to think about the man/lady you are marrying? That you and your mate will ‘bear after your kind’ of what would be your idea of a product from your union? …

Folks: to repeat, each one of us lives by faith, not by sight. God created us this way. Whether rich or poor, famous or not, red, yellow, black, white: all are descendants of Adam and Eve. And we all, if we produce, bear after our kind. Really, we ought to give thanks that this truth applies to us humans and all else besides.”

“I do not know just why He came to love me so.

He looked beyond my fault, and saw my need.

I shall forever lift my eyes to Calvary,

Where on the cross my Savior died for me.

How marvelous the grace that caught my falling soul.

He looked beyond my fault, and saw my need.”

~ Dottie Rambo

Wallace Wartick was one of our professors at Ozark Bible College in 1965-66. I’ve been back in contact with him for the past year or two, and he has been sending us his written lessons. At the conclusion of his September lesson about the faith of Abraham, he wrote: “Friends: my health is worse. I cannot continue this task. This is the last lesson. May God bless you all. WW” Then he closed his letter with this quote:

“Day by day, and with each passing moment,

Strength I find to meet my trials here.

Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,

I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.

He whose heart is kind beyond all measure,

Gives unto each day what He deems best.

Lovingly, in its part of pain and pleasure,

Mingling toil with peace and rest.”

~ Carolina Sandell Berg, 1865

(tr. Andrew Skoog, 1931)

Please join us in praying for Wallace, and if you want to send him an encouraging note, his address is 2230 Sue Lane, Independence, KS 67301

Admissions by Charles Darwin Concerning His Most Famous Book On the Origin of Species

1. “Darwin himself, in a letter to Asa Gray, admitted, ‘I am quite conscious that my speculations run quite beyond the bounds of true science’.” [N. C. Gillespie, Charles Darwin and the Problem of Creation, p 63.]
2. “To suppose that the eye with all its inimitable contrivances for adjusting the focus to different amounts of light, and for the correction of spherical and chromatic aberration, could have been formed by natural selection, seems, I freely confess, absurd in the highest degree.” [C. Darwin, On the Origin of Species (London: J. M. Dent and Sons Ltd., 1971), p 167.]
3. In a letter to T. Huxley, Charles Darwin writes, “It (natural selection) is a mere rag of an hypotheses with as many flaws and holes as sound parts.” [The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, (Cambridge University Press), vol. 7, 1858-1859, p 301.]
4. “I (Charles Darwin) have now considered enough, perhaps more than enough, of the cases, selected with care by a skillful naturalist, to prove that natural selection is incompetent to account for the incipient stages of useful structures; and I have shown, as I hope, that there is no great difficulty on this head… “The belief that any given structure, which we think, often erroneously, would have been beneficial to a species, would have been gained under all circumstances through natural selections, is opposed to what we can understand of its manner of action.” [Charles Darwin, On the Origin of Species, 1872, pp 178-180.]
5. Darwin states in the introduction to Origin: “For I am well aware that scarcely a single point is discussed in this volume on which facts cannot be adduced, often leading to conclusions directly opposite to those at which I have arrived. A fair result can be obtained only by full stating and balancing the facts and arguments on both sides of each question; and this cannot possibly be done here.” [Darwin, On the Origin of Species, 1990, p 20.]
6. Darwin states: “Even if the fitting variations (mutations) did arise, it does not follow that natural selection would be able to act on them, and produce a structure, which apparently would be beneficial to the species.” [Darwin, On the Origin of Species, 1872, p 222.]

Our friend, field paleontologist Stan Lutz, shared these quotes with me and told me that by the 6^th Edition of his famed book, Charles Darwin publicly admitted he was wrong about natural selection and renounced his own “theory.” It’s true! I checked it out myself, and I invite you to do the same! 😊

From Our Mailbox

“I really like your lamentations brother…so true…but the good news is that Jesus.. is waiting at the door for another knock…and another knock…. Praise His Name!!! And praise Him for allowing us to participate in the mission. Rick Karaffa”

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Dear Rick: Thank you for your faithfulness in staying in touch. I know it has been some time since I’ve sent a response, and for that I apologize. A couple of out-of-the-ordinary projects have been occupying my attention, pulling me away to a significant extent from my normal correspondence role. At any rate, it has been good to hear from you, as always.

Working remotely today, I’m looking at your July newsletter (I’m thinking I left your others at the office). It was good to see you addressing the issues America is facing – these are sobering days, to be sure. We appreciate seeing your thoughts as well as the enclosures you included. In light of the prayer requests you mentioned, we have added our prayers to the many others (we’re sure!) that have been launched, asking our gracious God to stir the Church and prompt believers to make their voices heard via voting and speaking out about the critical cultural issues we’re facing. In addition, we have prayed that He indeed will continue to provide His guidance for Overseas Outreach as well as to protect and provide for the needs of your colleagues in Ukraine and other locations.

Again, thanks for writing. If we ever can assist you in any way, please don’t hesitate to let us know. May the Lord richly bless you, Della, and your entire family in the days ahead.

Sincerely, David Harleyson, Office of the Chairman” (James Dobson Family Institute)

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Faith Votes

It is our sincere hope and prayer that God’s people will respond with fervor to this upcoming election. As Dr. Dobson has stated, ‘America’s future hangs in the balance. The choices we make on November 5^th will send this nation down one of two dramatically different paths.’ Samuel Adams, one of the courageous men who signed the Declaration of Independence, believed our civic responsibility to vote was a divine one.

‘Let each citizen remember, at the moment he is offering his vote, that he is not making a present or a compliment to please an individual—or at least that he ought not so to do; but that he is executing one of the most solemn trusts in human society, for which he is accountable to God and his country.’

Please share Dr. Dobson’s newsletter with everyone in your sphere of influence—your family, friends, church members, and community. It is a now or never moment in our nation’s history, and Christians must make our voices heard.” From Dr. James Dobson Family Institute

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“Our Judeo-Christian Heritage”

“As a former college professor with a doctorate in history from Duke University, I continue to enjoy professor Rob Natelson’s excellent series of essays, ‘The Ideas That Formed the Constitution.’ He shows that the Founders were heavily influenced by classical Greek thinkers such as Plato and Aristotle. However, the Founders were likewise guided by our Judeo-Christian heritage. After all, they cited the Bible more than any other single source.

  The Library of Congress, the official keeper of our country’s history, offers major evidence of this Judeo-Christian influence. The Library hosts a documentary internet exhibit, ‘Religion and the Founding of the American Republic,’ loc.gov/exhibits/religion. Its introduction makes a direct connection from the Great Awakening of Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield to the American Revolution, and then on to the consequent founding of our democratic republic.

  ‘The nation’s first major religious revival in the middle of the eighteenth century injected new vigor into American religion. The result was that a religious people rose in rebellion against Great Britain in 1776, and that most American statesmen, when they began to form new governments at the state and national levels, shared the convictions of most of their constituents that religion was,’ to quote Alexis de Tocqueville’s observation, ‘indispensable to the maintenance of republican institutions,’ it states.

  The Library of Congress’ exhibit then provides about 200 documents by the Founders to prove this claim.

  Historian Thomas Kidd supplies further evidence in his book, ‘God of Liberty: A Religious History of the American Revolution.’ He writes in his introduction that while the Founders disagreed about doctrines of personal salvation, all of them believed in what they called ‘civil religion.’

  This had five tenets: 1) God intervenes in the affairs of nations (therefore no Founders were true deists); 2) God gives us our basic human rights, including ‘liberty’ (see Declaration of Independence); 3) human sin threatens these rights; 4) a moral people is therefore required; and 5) therefore, government must safeguard the free exercise of religion without favoring a particular ‘denomination’ (see First Amendment).

  The Founders got their view of human nature chiefly from the Bible. They believed that human beings, made in God’s image, are capable of both great goodness and great wickedness. The Federalist Papers and the Constitution reflect this view of human nature: Power must not be concentrated. Instead, it must be divided among the three branches of the central government, between populous and less populous states, and between central government and state and local government.

  We therefore see that the Founders, following the example of the Pilgrim’s Mayflower Compact (1620), claimed that their authority to create (1776) and re-create a government (1787) came from the Creator God, not from any human institution or political or economic arrangement.

  As the Declaration of Independence declares: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness; That to secure these rights Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed—That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government.’” ~ Howard R Killion, Ph.D., California

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Spiritual Warfare by Dennis Petersen

“In Jesus Christ, we’re commanded by our Commander to conquer every enemy, trusting Him to win the victory in His strength, not in our material weapons alone. The irony is that He still expects us to bravely do our part in the ongoing battle. Christ’s chosen disciples… you and me… are called and assigned to be soldiers who entrust our entire lives to the King of the universe. Like David, we learn that our LORD teaches our hands to do the tasks required for victory. We double down into the disciplines that make us mature soldiers, willing to bravely risk our lives for the sake of others. We feed the hungry. Clothe the naked. Shelter the homeless. Heal the sick and teach the ignorant. Do whatever it takes and whenever it’s required to be the hands and feet of our Savior, to bring glory to our Heavenly Father… by letting Him reveal His strength through our obedience.

For President Trump or any representative of the American people in the congress to not aggressively defend our nation’s borders against invaders is no different than defending the integrity of every legal vote in any election. That is simply a matter of following our Constitution. To do otherwise is immoral, dishonest, ungodly, and disgraceful. Worse yet, it rightfully deserves the full vengeance of not only the American rule of law, but of Almighty God Himself.

Jesus set our example. It is completely acceptable and appropriate for every God-fearing citizen of a constitutional republic to exercise their duty in every possible way. They must strongly, but respectfully, voice their disdain and disapproval for every cowardly civic non-leader or hypocritical religious minister who does not publicly voice their contempt for the disregard of the rule of law and the civil order of God’s Biblical design for society.

This is a strong position. It’s from the same spirit shown in the apostle Paul’s letter to the Corinthians. And it was displayed for the world to see last week when President Trump rose after a coward’s attempt to kill him when he raised his fist for the crowd and showed who is our country’s true leader when he voiced to everyone… ‘Fight… Fight… Fight.’

What do you think will increasingly happen as more and more modern American Christians wake up and realize the abundant opportunities they are being given right now? Outside the walls of corrupted institutions, the organic family of God’s humble messengers are bringing the light of the world to expose the darkness and the salt of the world to reverse its putrid rottenness. ‘Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.’ 1 Cor. 16:13 As Soldiers, we realize we are constantly involved in a war for the souls of others… not just to rescue them from the danger of destruction, but to train (disciple) them for the work of expanding the kingdom of our Master. It’s not just a personal battle. It’s a kingdom battle. We’re a thankful small part of the big operation in this global war. He called His Ekklesia… His Church… His Family of committed soldiers… to equip themselves with the tools of victory found in the wisdom of His Word. So, ‘having done all we can to stand… keep on standing therefore’ to fight the good fight. It’s a spiritual war as well as a physical and psychological war. That’s why our Lord has given us weapons of warfare that we must ‘take up.’ They are prepared for victory for those who will devote themselves to their faithful use… ” 

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“Hi Rick! A few weeks ago (amazing how quickly time flies!) we met at the Nampa post office, and you kindly gave me a copy of the May issue of your newsletter. Thanks for that! I did enjoy reading that and, while doing so, I discovered you had authored a book. I try to read as much as possible, so I ordered a copy from Amazon, and it recently arrived. I’ve got it in my reading stack and am looking forward to finding out what you have to say. I just wanted you to know I appreciate you and what you do! All the best, Dave Edwards”

“Hi and good morning, Rick! I would be thrilled to receive the prayer letters! I prefer print… as I’m older and enjoy reading something I’m actually holding. But I understand that email is so much cheaper… so email is fine. Oh sure, feel free to share my letter. I just glanced over the June edition… I’m very much looking forward to reading and learning from this. I am pretty much a book reader and have read some Marx… and have many more books yet to go on this topic. I always appreciate information and thoughts from others to help me figure out what’s really going on. Enjoy your blessed week, Rick! Dave (Edwards)”

The Law of the King, by Jonathan Cahn

“James 2:8 says, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ It’s called the Royal Law. It’s the royal law because it’s God’s law that He Himself followed. The gospel is God manifesting the Royal Law. He looked at us with love and said, ‘If I were them, what would I need?’ God was your neighbor in the universe, and He loved you with all His life, heart and soul. He gave Himself for you. He put Himself in your shoes. He loved you as Himself. It’s the Law of the King of the universe. Live by it. As He did for you, you do for others. He loved you; love them. He put Himself in your place; put yourself in their place. He lowered Himself to raise you up; lower yourself to raise them up. Ask ‘What would I need if I were them?’ Then give it to them. Because this is the Royal Law of the King of the Universe. Those who live by it will be blessed by the King. Their lives, their souls, their heart, their journey, everything in their life, everything in your life will become royal.

Today’s Mission – Seek opportunities today to love, to bless, to minister, and to bring healing to those around you. Let the love of Messiah strengthen you to be royal like Him. “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:12 (NKJV)”

Prayer Requests

Please continue in fervent prayer for America, Israel, and Ukraine!

Della’s Page

Your Life’s Partner

Wishing to encourage her young son’s progress on the piano, a mother took her boy to a Paderewski concert. 

After they were seated, the mother noticed a friend in the audience and walked down the aisle to greet her.  Seizing the opportunity to explore the wonders of the concert hall, the little boy rose and eventually explored his way through a door marked “No Admittance.” 

When the house lights dimmed and the concert was about to begin, the mother returned to her seat and discovered that the child was missing. 

Suddenly, the curtains parted and spotlights focused on the impressive Steinway on stage. In horror, the mother saw her little boy sitting at the keyboard innocently picking out “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.”

At that moment, the great piano master made his entrance, quickly moved to the piano, and whispered in the boy’s ear, “Don’t quit.  Keep playing.”  Then leaning over, Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began filling in the base part.  Soon his right arm reached around to the other side of the child, and he added a running obligatio.  Together, the old master and the young novice transformed a frightening situation into a wonderfully creative experience.  The audience was mesmerized.

That’s the way it is with God.  What we can accomplish on our own is hardly noteworthy.  We try our best, but the results aren’t exactly graceful flowing music.  But with the hand of the Master, our life’s work truly can be beautiful. 

Next time you set out to accomplish great feats, listen carefully.  You can hear the voice of the Master, whispering in your ear, “Don’t quit.  Keep playing.” 

Feel His loving arms around you.  Know that His strong hands are helping you turn your feeble attempts into true masterpieces.  Remember that God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called.  And He’ll always be there to love and guide you on to great things.

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