WITH GOD....

With God…
“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” Matthew 19:26

As I was reading one of the few daily devotionals I receive via email, I was reminded of the following story:

Wishing to encourage her young son's progress at the piano, a mother bought tickets to a performance by Ignace Paderewski. 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 failed to notice her son slip out of his seat. As the house lights dimmed and the spotlight came up on the piano, the woman gasped as she saw her son on 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. Leaning 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.

Have you ever started something knowing you did not have what it took to complete the task, yet when the Lord took over amazing things happened? I feel that way everyday. The Lord gives us talent. He gives us gifts. He gives us passion. But without the power of the Holy Spirit working through us, they are all for nothing. My abilities are as good as “Twinkle, Twinkle”, but when the Lord steps in to take over, a symphony occurs. It is our job to do our very best in preparation, but it is God’s job to produce the results. That is the very reason Wednesday night rehearsals are so vital. In order for us to give our best so that the Lord can use us, we must be prepared. As we move into the next few months of Summer, let’s commit ourselves to being at choir and orchestra rehearsal every Wednesday so that we can offer our best worship each Sunday!

I also wanted to share with you some of the statements I received following the song we did last Sunday. I am amazed how God can use us to minister each week through song. One person stopped me to say that they were touched by “My Life is in your Hands.” And another person stopped and said that while we were singing that song, she got a text from a family member telling her that a relative had just had his leg blown off by a bomb in Afghanistan. She wanted me to tell you all thank you for reminding her that God is in control. See what happens when we allow God to use us? Symphonies occur!

Aaron Hodges