Dear Friends and Family,
Hello from the Dominican Republic! I arrived yesterday afternoon after a fairly smooth day of traveling! Today has been great, it rained most of the afternoon but gave me a good amount of time to just refocus and prepare myself for the next 2 months of "unknowns" (if that's possible!!!).
A couple days before I left I went to visit my grandma. At the end of our visit she gave me a couple little books to glance at when "had the time." Not thinking much about the books I threw them in my luggage real quick and went about my business. Today as I finished unpacking I took out one of these books. I was planning on just setting it aside until later, but felt compelled to read it. It's a very short book called "The Finishing Touch" by Charles Swindoll. As I read it I was somewhat surprised. It totally caught me off guard, but gave me such a new, powerful sense of hope and perseverance, this my grandma probably already knew was coming. I want to share a short part of it with you tonight.
"Ignace Jan Paderewski, the famous Polish pianist and statesman, was once scheduled to perform at a great concert hall in America. It was to be an evening to remember, with the audience in black tuxedos and long evening dresses--- a high-society extravaganza. Present in the audience that evening was a woman who had brought her nine-year old son, hoping that he would be encouraged to practice the piano if he would just hear the great Paderewski at the keyboard. Weary of waiting for the concert to begin--- and being there against is wishes anyways--- the lad squirmed restlessly in his seat. Then, as his mother turned to talk with friends, he spotted the ebony concert grand sitting alone at the center of the huge stage. the boy slipped out of his seat and down the aisle, strangely drawn by the majestic piano. Unnoticed, he sat down on the tufted leather stool, placed his small hands on the black an white keys, and began to play "Chop Sticks." Suddenly the roar of the crowd hushed as hundreds of frowning faces turned in his direction. Irritated and embarrassed, some began to shout: "Hey, get that by away from there!" "Where's his mother?"
"Somebody stop him!" Backstage, Paderewski heard the uproar and the sound of the simple tune. When he looked out and saw what was happening, he hurried onto the stage. Without a word to the audience, he walked up behind the lad, reached his arms around either side of him, and began to improvise a counter-melody. As the two made music together, the master pianist kept whispering in the boy's ear: "Keep going. Don't quit, son. Keep on playing... don't stop... don't quit." And so it is with us. We hammer away at life--- and sometimes it seems about as significant as "Chop Sticks." Then, about the time we are ready to give up, along comes the Master, who leans over and whispers "Just keep going. Don't quit. Keep on... don't stop. Don't give up," as he provides his finishing touch
of grace, love, and joy."
Is this you? I have to say, sometimes this is me. Sometimes I need to just sit and hear my Master say "Don't quit, hold on a little longer, push forward, don't give up." But I am reminded of what Paul wrote to the church in Philippians 3:12-14 - "But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." My friend, as Paul sat in that prison cell, did he not have every reason to give up, to call it quits? But he didn't, because he found joy and peace in the fact that though he was in prison, he was sharing the gospel. He focused his faith on the Father, on serving even in the hardest times.
As I prepare to take another step here in the Dominican Republic, I desire to minister, for the Glory of my Heavenly Father. Things may not always go my way and I may not always get what I
WANT, but as we are told in James "Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient." Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at
hand. " With patience come perseverance!
My friends, be patient, be faithful and filled with hope. Persevere even when you feel as though you can not go any further. Your God is waiting for you, whispering softly "Keep going,
don't stop, press on." Wherever you are, know you have a Father who is there with you. He is not waiting outside the door or around the corner, He is standing at your side. Take hold of his hand, and Don't give up!! The reward for faithfulness and perseverance far outweighs the consequences of giving up! I look forward to sharing this new part of the journey with you all! Be blessed!
Jessica
Hello from the Dominican Republic! I arrived yesterday afternoon after a fairly smooth day of traveling! Today has been great, it rained most of the afternoon but gave me a good amount of time to just refocus and prepare myself for the next 2 months of "unknowns" (if that's possible!!!).
A couple days before I left I went to visit my grandma. At the end of our visit she gave me a couple little books to glance at when "had the time." Not thinking much about the books I threw them in my luggage real quick and went about my business. Today as I finished unpacking I took out one of these books. I was planning on just setting it aside until later, but felt compelled to read it. It's a very short book called "The Finishing Touch" by Charles Swindoll. As I read it I was somewhat surprised. It totally caught me off guard, but gave me such a new, powerful sense of hope and perseverance, this my grandma probably already knew was coming. I want to share a short part of it with you tonight.
"Ignace Jan Paderewski, the famous Polish pianist and statesman, was once scheduled to perform at a great concert hall in America. It was to be an evening to remember, with the audience in black tuxedos and long evening dresses--- a high-society extravaganza. Present in the audience that evening was a woman who had brought her nine-year old son, hoping that he would be encouraged to practice the piano if he would just hear the great Paderewski at the keyboard. Weary of waiting for the concert to begin--- and being there against is wishes anyways--- the lad squirmed restlessly in his seat. Then, as his mother turned to talk with friends, he spotted the ebony concert grand sitting alone at the center of the huge stage. the boy slipped out of his seat and down the aisle, strangely drawn by the majestic piano. Unnoticed, he sat down on the tufted leather stool, placed his small hands on the black an white keys, and began to play "Chop Sticks." Suddenly the roar of the crowd hushed as hundreds of frowning faces turned in his direction. Irritated and embarrassed, some began to shout: "Hey, get that by away from there!" "Where's his mother?"
"Somebody stop him!" Backstage, Paderewski heard the uproar and the sound of the simple tune. When he looked out and saw what was happening, he hurried onto the stage. Without a word to the audience, he walked up behind the lad, reached his arms around either side of him, and began to improvise a counter-melody. As the two made music together, the master pianist kept whispering in the boy's ear: "Keep going. Don't quit, son. Keep on playing... don't stop... don't quit." And so it is with us. We hammer away at life--- and sometimes it seems about as significant as "Chop Sticks." Then, about the time we are ready to give up, along comes the Master, who leans over and whispers "Just keep going. Don't quit. Keep on... don't stop. Don't give up," as he provides his finishing touch
of grace, love, and joy."
Is this you? I have to say, sometimes this is me. Sometimes I need to just sit and hear my Master say "Don't quit, hold on a little longer, push forward, don't give up." But I am reminded of what Paul wrote to the church in Philippians 3:12-14 - "But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." My friend, as Paul sat in that prison cell, did he not have every reason to give up, to call it quits? But he didn't, because he found joy and peace in the fact that though he was in prison, he was sharing the gospel. He focused his faith on the Father, on serving even in the hardest times.
As I prepare to take another step here in the Dominican Republic, I desire to minister, for the Glory of my Heavenly Father. Things may not always go my way and I may not always get what I
WANT, but as we are told in James "Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient." Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at
hand. " With patience come perseverance!
My friends, be patient, be faithful and filled with hope. Persevere even when you feel as though you can not go any further. Your God is waiting for you, whispering softly "Keep going,
don't stop, press on." Wherever you are, know you have a Father who is there with you. He is not waiting outside the door or around the corner, He is standing at your side. Take hold of his hand, and Don't give up!! The reward for faithfulness and perseverance far outweighs the consequences of giving up! I look forward to sharing this new part of the journey with you all! Be blessed!
Jessica