Treasures

You never know what you will find here. Usually something to ponder ...
or cook ...

The Touch of the Master’s Hand

It was battered and scarred,
And the auctioneer thought it hardly worth his while
To waste his time on the old violin,
but he held it up with a smile.

"What am I bid, good people", he cried,
"Who starts the bidding for me?"
"One dollar, one dollar, Do I hear two?"
"Two dollars, who makes it three?"
"Three dollars once, three dollars twice, going for three,"

But, No,
From the room far back a gray bearded man
Came forward and picked up the bow,
Then wiping the dust from the old violin
And tightening up the strings,
He played a melody, pure and sweet
As sweet as the angel sings.

The music ceased and the auctioneer
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said "What now am I bid for this old violin?"
As he held it aloft with its' bow.

"One thousand, one thousand, Do I hear two?"
"Two thousand, Who makes it three?"
"Three thousand once, three thousand twice,
Going and gone", said he.

The audience cheered,
But some of them cried,
"We just don't understand."
"What changed its' worth?"
Swift came the reply.
"The touch of the Master's hand."

And many a man with life out of tune
All battered with bourbon and gin
Is auctioned cheap to a thoughtless crowd
Much like that old violin

A mess of pottage, a glass of wine,
A game and he travels on.
He is going once, he is going twice,
He is going and almost gone.

But the Master comes,
And the foolish crowd never can quite understand,
The worth of a soul and the change that is wrought
By the Touch of the Masters' Hand.

Myra Brooks Welch

When I started my marketing business in 2002, God told me it was to be His business, not mine. After all, He was setting me on a new journey, and it required this level of trust and release. For this reason, I have always been compelled to hand over my decisions, successes and failures into His hands and see what happens.

I'd like to say I was always brilliant at doing this, but ha ha, I haven't been! There have been times when my human tendency to worry has obscured His ability to do His perfect work. One day I was worrying and stressing about something, and God just simply said 'Perfect love drives out all fear' (1 John 4:18).

I painted these canvases as a reminder of this promise and I have them propped up on my desk right next to my laptop. Without fail, the times in the past 6 years when I needed to be quiet and not work, there has been little work coming in. The times when I have the capacity to work hard, the work comes in ... and it has NEVER been the result of my attempts to build the business! How's that for amazing? If only I could always trust and never fear!