The Master Musician & Master Craftsman = Restoration of Things....and People

"Before & After" photos of a very used, scratched and abused piano bench -- the accompanying piece to the baby grand piano that my grandson had been praying for. Neither piece is new, but when Payton plays it, it sounds like a Steinway -- at least in this Nana's ears. And his Mom restored the piano to beautiful condition and it has a prominent place now in the Wallace Family home.

But, that poor piano bench looked beyond hope. Staci's plans were to go out yesterday and buy a new bench, but, I told her we could "restore" that damaged and pitiful bench to look brand new. We set out to buy some foam, fabric, paint, and stapler gun, and whoa la -- in just a little while -- that's what you see here.

The piano looks and sounds great, and its bench looks great, too. It just took the touch of a musician and the craftsmanship of two "crafty" women!
That makes me think of those of us who had been used, abused, or unused and neglected -- forgotten and beyond hope. But then along came the Master Musician and made a beautiful symphony of our lives.....and He restored us and turned all our brokenness into something of beauty. And, better than just "restored".....we were made to be BRAND NEW. 2 Corinthians 5:17 "This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!"

This beautiful "Gaither" song explains it perfectly:

And He made something beautiful, something good,
All my confusion, He understood,
All I had to offer Him, was brokenness and strife,
But He made something -- beautiful of my life.

Before -- Barren; After - Oasis -- What is Your Before and After?

BEFORE -- I was the first to receive the "Certificate of Occupancy" to move into my new home back in Nov, 2012. When I bought my lot in this new community -- only dirt and earth-moving machinery were here – no streets, sidewalks, or other houses – just signage with a photo of what would be here in the future. I simply trusted that the developer and my home builder were making a promise they would keep.

AFTER -- and, here we are – just two years later, and you can see the progress by my house and the other houses on my street. And, now, there are paved roads, sidewalks, many other houses throughout the subdivision, a huge clubhouse with pool, tennis courts, pickleball courts, library, dance & aerobics room, fitness room, etc., beautiful landscaping throughout, and lots of friendly neighbors who have joined me.

I could have taken the safer route to purchase here AFTER the roads, sidewalks, other houses, and the clubhouse were all in, but then I wouldn’t have been able to choose this lot which has a lovely lake view (and my grandkids love that it's stocked with fish -- fishing poles are always ready to go in my garage) -- a lot that others refused, because they wanted to "wait and see" if what was promised, would happen.

Oftentimes, in life, we are presented with opportunities that just seem “too good to be true” and we prefer to take the easier, more cautious, proven, no-risk route and, when we do, we may also live with regrets when we see others who were willing to venture out into the great unknown. "WAIT & SEE" just shouldn't be a part of our mode of operation! We have just one life to live – why shouldn’t we be living it with all out gusto? I’m quite surprised at myself, actually. When my husband/business partner was here with me, we’d make these decisions together, but here’s the really awesome thing – Jesus (my partner/counselor/guide) said “I come to give you life and more abundant life.” Why shouldn’t I take HIM at His Word – He who NEVER promises something that He doesn’t deliver on. Living in His abundance continues to produce BEFORE and AFTER pictures in my life. And, He always delivers on His Word. What may be barren, desolate and “just dirt” in your life – could be a flourishing oasis once you take Him at His Word and live with complete and total trust in Him. I know He does it daily for me!