Sunday, Lynn and Nelson and their daughter Jane had me over for lunch.  Lovely.  Jane goes to the U. of Tennessee--majoring in performance in violin--on a scholarship.  I asked if she would play for us and she graciously said yes.  It was wonderful.  She is so talented.  After a classical number, she played some blue-grass.

It takes years and years to master an instrument.  You have to dedicate yourself to practice every day.  But most things that are worthwhile take practice, and sometimes many years to master.

In my Bible study group, I have been teaching from 1 Samuel.  Sunday, we read the account of King Saul being tortured with an evil spirit--a way of describing sickness of the mind.  The call went out for someone who could calm him.  One of Saul's attendants told him that there was a young man who played the harp and maybe that would help.  That boy was David, (who later became King.)

David was just a boy, a sheepherder, who spent hours and hours in the fields by himself with nothing to do but protect his sheep.  So while he was there, he spent those hours learning to play the harp.  And when the moment came that his talent was needed, he was ready.

And David learned one more thing during those hours and hours of boredom in the pasture.  He learned to kill wild animals who threatened his sheep.  He became expert--through practice--with a slingshot.  And when the moment came that this skill was needed, he killed Goliath with a stone and a slingshot.  If you don't practice, you won't be ready when your moment comes. 

"And whatsoever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men."  Colossians 3:23
God will use you.  Stay in there.  Perfect something and be ready for your moment.