We all admire perfection, and are disillusioned when things dont measure up. Often quick to reject that which is flawed, we dont realize that, in working in spite of the flaws, some of the world’s most perfect masterpieces have been created.

A massive, solid piece of Carrara marble sat in a field, a large gash scarring its side. It had been abandoned and forgotten, discarded and left to the elements. Today, that same piece of marble stands in a massive quarter dome, resting on a tall pedestal. Visited by millions, the abandoned, scarred stone was transformed into one of the world’s greatest masterpieces.

In 1501, Michelangelo won a commission from the Florentine elders to work on the huge flawed block of marble. Other Florentine sculptors assumed the block would break under the strain of the huge gouge in its side. Yet Michelangelo was able to see behind the ruined surface something that no one else could see. With chisel and mallet, he worked around the flaw. Weeks, months, and years passed, as the master hammered and hewed the scarred stone, until finally there emerged from under his skillful hands the figure of a man which was said to be so perfect that it lacked only life itself.

After four years of painstaking carving, Michelangelo was able to release the beautiful image of “David” from flawed marble. In doing so he transformed the block rejected by others into the most striking sculpture in Florence. Davids eyes are watchful…the veins in his hands and arms reveal his strength…a stone rests in his right hand, his body, seems a reservoir of energy, standing poised for action.

When asked how he accomplished such an incredible transformation, Michelangelo said that “David” was already in the piece of marble…. he merely removed everything that wasn’t “David”, including the flaw.

In the same way that Michelangelo saw “David” in a block of stone, then chiseled away the flaw and the excess until David appeared, envision yourself, your life as God wishes it to be, and remove everything that is not true to that image. In doing so, you will discover that inside every person, even the scarred ones, there is a masterpiece waiting to be brought to life by the hand of the Master.

“..being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
– Philippians 1:6

Copyright 2003 by Ken Sapp

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200 page e-book that explains everything you need to know when planning your very own object lessons. It contains 90 fully developed object lesson ideas and another 200 object lesson starter ideas based on Biblical idioms and Names / Descriptions of God.

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“We are such stuff as dreams are made on” 
– William Shakespeare

Wishing to encourage her son’s dreams on the piano, a common story says a mother brought her son to hear the great Paderewski. Bored, the little boy left his seat and wandered away.

Seeing a door marked “No Admittance” he promptly entered. He found himself on a stage with a piano in the center. His attention was drawn to the beautiful ebony grand piano with its glistening white ivory keys.

Suddenly the curtains parted and a spotlight lit the piano. Sitting on the piano stool, reaching for the ivory keys, the young boy started playing “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.”

The audience’s amusement turned to curiosity when the world famous pianist entered the stage. He quickly moved to the piano, and whispered in the boy’s ear, “Don’t quit.” “Keep playing.” “You are not alone”

Paderewsky sat down beside him and put his arms around the boy and began playing a counter medley as he whispered more words of encouragement.

The audience was so mesmerized that they couldn’t recall what else the great master played.

It only takes just a few moments to inspire someone’s dreams – especially someone who looks up to you for encouragement and support.

The next time you see someone reaching for their dreams, come alongside them and whisper in their ear, “Don’t quit.” “Keep playing.” “You are not alone”

Step up to the piano of life and play whatever tune you know. God will sit down beside you and turn your music into something beautiful. God can take our small, limited efforts, and make them into a masterpiece that draws others to Him.

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:11

He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches.”
– Matthew 13:31-32

200 page e-book that explains everything you need to know when planning your very own object lessons. It contains 90 fully developed object lesson ideas and another 200 object lesson starter ideas based on Biblical idioms and Names / Descriptions of God.

Learn More…