I love the story of Mark Twain’s wife, Olivia, who was often pained and embarrassed by her famous husband’s habit of swearing. Mark Twain learned to cuss with the best of them, -- from the shipmen of the Mississippi steamboats, and all the way to the miners of California and Nevada. 

One morning, Mark Twain cut himself while shaving, and he let out with a long and loud blue streak, -- the kind of verbiage that could curdle milk. When he had finally stopped, his beloved “Livy” tried to shame him by repeating verbatim all the profanities he had just uttered. When Mark Twain heard her, he remarked, “You have the words, my dear, but I’m afraid you’ll never master the tune.”

Friends, what “tune” are you trying to master in your life of faith? Is it the flat tones of selfishness, greed, anger, and frustration? Or will it be the joyful expression that comes in giving and generosity, kindness and peace? Jesus says there’s only one way to master the tune, and that is by giving of ourselves completely to Him.

This week, let’s live with joy, and on working in mastering the tune, -- in our living, our giving, and our loving of Jesus Christ.