Restoration
I wanted to post this yesterday in honor of my friend Pat's birthday, but I was stuck with computer problems.
My dear friend Pat has a terrific talent for transforming trash into treasures.
Certainly Pat possesses many other skills and abilities as well. She also has the endearing attributes of compassion, insight, sensitivity and a delightful sense of humor. To be sure, there are lots of reasons Pat is a cherished friend.
I marvel at her meticulous makeovers. Pat rescues items from the garbage heap and restores them to their intended beauty and function. A mutual friend told me how Pat repaired an old lamp. This light fixture, which was destined to be discarded, is now a lovely addition to her home.
The ability to restore is valuable. The dictionary defines restore as:
Return to its original condition
Return to life; get or give new life or energy
Restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken
Bring back into its original existence or use
As I read the beloved Psalm 23, I was reminded of the significance of “He restores my soul”. My attention was arrested there as I pictured a competent carpenter, one with the skills and talents of my friend, working with a precious piece of furniture. Sandpaper smoothed out knicks from rough handling. A soft cloth buffed the shine which may have faded over the passage of time. I pondered how The Master Craftsman lovingly and skillfully restores someone to become beautiful and useful.
Admittedly, I knew nothing about the profession of restoring items to their intended grandeur, so I did a bit of research. I found a few interesting principles, suggested by experts.
· Know its value
· Clean it
· Use appropriate Tools
These factors can be symbolic of the process God may employ to bring about the restoration of our souls.
Know Your Value
In order to decide whether it is worth investing time and energy into old furniture, it is helpful to know the value of the object in need of restoration. If it is discovered that an item could warrant a hefty price tag, it can be motivating to do whatever it takes to restore it to its original luster. We may wonder at times whether we deserve the blessing of God to heal our wounded hearts or repair our broken lives. It brings us hope to “know the value” God has placed in us.
God promised through the prophet Jeremiah that we could be renewed through His unending love.
Evidence of our worth in God’s sight is the fact that a very high price, the blood of Jesus, was paid for our redemption.
God places greater value on humanity than all else in His creation. Jesus taught this truth.
Get Clean
An awareness of value is an integral part of the restoration process. Also, being cleansed is vital. When someone wants to fix up something and return it to its original condition, it needs a good scrub. The grime accumulated over time and neglect must be washed away. Just as it is essential to wash away the dirt from an object in need of repair, it is imperative to cleanse our hearts from the filth of our sinfulness and futile attempts at self-righteousness.
The agent of our cleansing is the blood of Jesus.
God’s Tools for Restoration
In addition to an appreciation for the value that our relationship with God gives us, and an awareness of our need to be cleansed, a knowledge and application of the tools God can use is important. When working on a priceless piece of furniture, my friend Pat and others who share her skill may use instruments such as sandpaper, putty or a screwdriver. God has His own set of tools to bring about restoration of our souls. These include trials, the Word and other believers. Trials, challenges and the suffering in life can be used by God to help us become complete and enjoy fellowship with Him.
The scriptures are also important in God’s work to restore us.
It is crucial that we recognize that besides the trials of life and the truths in His Word, God also uses “togetherness” to facilitate our restoration. Fellowship and companions are key elements for us to reach our destinies and become who we were created to be.
As we consider our desperate need for restoration, whether caused by our own careless choices or the cruelty of others, we can be assured that the Shepherd of our souls is fully able to complete the process. He gives us value, cleanses us, and uses effective tools in His skillful hands.
My friend Pat’s impressive talent to restore damaged things can serve as a reminder of God’s awesome power to restore our souls.
My dear friend Pat has a terrific talent for transforming trash into treasures.
Certainly Pat possesses many other skills and abilities as well. She also has the endearing attributes of compassion, insight, sensitivity and a delightful sense of humor. To be sure, there are lots of reasons Pat is a cherished friend.
I marvel at her meticulous makeovers. Pat rescues items from the garbage heap and restores them to their intended beauty and function. A mutual friend told me how Pat repaired an old lamp. This light fixture, which was destined to be discarded, is now a lovely addition to her home.
The ability to restore is valuable. The dictionary defines restore as:
Return to its original condition
Return to life; get or give new life or energy
Restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken
Bring back into its original existence or use
As I read the beloved Psalm 23, I was reminded of the significance of “He restores my soul”. My attention was arrested there as I pictured a competent carpenter, one with the skills and talents of my friend, working with a precious piece of furniture. Sandpaper smoothed out knicks from rough handling. A soft cloth buffed the shine which may have faded over the passage of time. I pondered how The Master Craftsman lovingly and skillfully restores someone to become beautiful and useful.
Admittedly, I knew nothing about the profession of restoring items to their intended grandeur, so I did a bit of research. I found a few interesting principles, suggested by experts.
· Know its value
· Clean it
· Use appropriate Tools
These factors can be symbolic of the process God may employ to bring about the restoration of our souls.
Know Your Value
In order to decide whether it is worth investing time and energy into old furniture, it is helpful to know the value of the object in need of restoration. If it is discovered that an item could warrant a hefty price tag, it can be motivating to do whatever it takes to restore it to its original luster. We may wonder at times whether we deserve the blessing of God to heal our wounded hearts or repair our broken lives. It brings us hope to “know the value” God has placed in us.
God promised through the prophet Jeremiah that we could be renewed through His unending love.
Evidence of our worth in God’s sight is the fact that a very high price, the blood of Jesus, was paid for our redemption.
God places greater value on humanity than all else in His creation. Jesus taught this truth.
Get Clean
An awareness of value is an integral part of the restoration process. Also, being cleansed is vital. When someone wants to fix up something and return it to its original condition, it needs a good scrub. The grime accumulated over time and neglect must be washed away. Just as it is essential to wash away the dirt from an object in need of repair, it is imperative to cleanse our hearts from the filth of our sinfulness and futile attempts at self-righteousness.
The agent of our cleansing is the blood of Jesus.
God’s Tools for Restoration
In addition to an appreciation for the value that our relationship with God gives us, and an awareness of our need to be cleansed, a knowledge and application of the tools God can use is important. When working on a priceless piece of furniture, my friend Pat and others who share her skill may use instruments such as sandpaper, putty or a screwdriver. God has His own set of tools to bring about restoration of our souls. These include trials, the Word and other believers. Trials, challenges and the suffering in life can be used by God to help us become complete and enjoy fellowship with Him.
The scriptures are also important in God’s work to restore us.
It is crucial that we recognize that besides the trials of life and the truths in His Word, God also uses “togetherness” to facilitate our restoration. Fellowship and companions are key elements for us to reach our destinies and become who we were created to be.
As we consider our desperate need for restoration, whether caused by our own careless choices or the cruelty of others, we can be assured that the Shepherd of our souls is fully able to complete the process. He gives us value, cleanses us, and uses effective tools in His skillful hands.
My friend Pat’s impressive talent to restore damaged things can serve as a reminder of God’s awesome power to restore our souls.
Comments
i agree w/everything you said about pat & i thank you for reminding me about God. love you mb.