John 6:57 – As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. (ESV)

I have a guitar bought years ago with money that my father gave me some time before he died. I cherish it because it serves as a remembrance of his love for me. Like the guitar that I bought and wrote about in June 2003, I have had the skills to keep it functional and in use, over the years, as an electrified-acoustic.

It sits with me in the office on its stand, like a faithful dog quietly keeping me company. In return, I like to look after it. It has a rich, orange-brown cedar face which I have just sprayed internally with furniture polish. The liquid silicone and wax feed the wood and serve to prevent the wood from cracking by becoming too dry under the varnish. In the process, it adds to the warmth of the sound. I pick it up and play sometimes when I have the desire to pray and worship.

As a guitar is regularly played, it seems to have an impact on the wood — to mellow and warm the sound that it makes. I guess that it has to do with the harmonics resonating in pure notes.

A guitar has to be handled before it makes a sound. Like me, it is getting older. As a result of my usage, I noticed recently that the fretboard has acquired some staining where my fingers have been playing for an extended period; it does not polish off. However, I know a little fix to remove these stains on the unvarnished wood of a guitar's fretboards. I take walnut meat, skin on, and rub it gently directly onto the wood. The rubbing removes the skin and releases the walnut oil underneath, which penetrates the wood and slightly stains it darker, feeding the wood with oil in the process.

Gone — no more fingermark stains.

I notice that the world and the evil one leave their fingermarks and stains on our lives, too. Now and then, we are just plain imprudent enough to make a mess of our lives all on our own, no help needed. Neither of these situations is a problem for our Saviour. He wants to bring us back to life and refurbish the stained parts of our lives, because He loves us and cherishes us. We can then carry on praising Him.

Jesus brings His own anointing for us, and with it, He desires to remove the stains by the power of the Holy Spirit. He will feed us with His Word, if we let Him.

Come, Lord Jesus!

Prayer: Hallelujah! We praise You, Lord, for Your victory. We love it when we are restored by Your presence and grace. You make us become whole again, loved and accepted. Please feed us today in and through the name of Jesus. Amen.

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About the author:

Rod Marshall <roderickhenrymarshall@gmail.com>
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England
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