Restoration

June 2nd – Psalm 36:6

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Psalm 36:6

“Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, Your justice like the great deep. You, LORD, preserve both people and animals.”

Each morning brings with it a fresh, clean slate in the eyes of God. Yet chances are at some point in the day we’ll sin, breaking His Law. But thankfully when we stand before the Lord in true sorrow and repentance, we can trust in His perfect justice. Unlike worldly judges who let their opinions and decisions be swayed, nothing can change the unwavering righteousness and forgiveness of the Lord. When others are unjust or unfair, we can trust that God never is. Just as the mountains stand firm and the deep sea is vast, His forgiveness knows no bounds. And He offers redemption and restoration to all who humbly seek His grace. In His unfathomable love, God saved us from the chains of sin, offering His own Son to pay the debt we owed. All to offer us eternal life and a renewed hope. So with thankful hearts may we always turn to the Lord knowing that in His forgiveness, are found healing, freedom, and the assurance of a life reconciled with Him.

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May 22nd – Psalm 98:1-3

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Psalm 98:1-3

Growing up I remember listening to America’s Top 40 with Casey Kasem. Each week I was excited to hear who held the coveted spot of the new number one song. And each week we too have a new song to sing. One of praise and worship to the Lord for His blessings, glory, and gift of salvation. Because His goodness and mercy are new each morning, (Lam. 3:23) how can we help but sing of the marvelous things He has done. All of creation cries out in worship to God’s glory, splendor, and majesty. The heavens, earth, sea, fields, and even the trees, sing to the Lord a new song. For one day God will restore everything His hands have made to its original perfection. From the beginning, God has had His master plan in motion. And with the birth of Jesus Christ, that plan was made real before all mankind. In His amazing love, God planned to once and for all destroy evil and reconcile everything back to Himself, our great Creator. And one day soon, all will sing a new song praising and giving glory to Him alone!


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May 17th – Ezekiel 36:8

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Ezekiel 36:8

The land of Israel was nothing more than a malaria filled swampland. It suffered years of destruction and desolation. Yet God promised to bring His people back home. And in 1900, He did just that. Now today there are over 5 million, and growing, Jews living in their homeland. A homeland that is longer uninhabitable. Instead, God has made it beautiful and bountiful again. Once more a land of milk and honey, God kept His promise to His people. Because God keep His promises to all of His people, including us. So when He pledges a great transformation in our lives when we receive Jesus as our Savior, He means it! Once we too were as desolate as Israel. Full of dead bones and withered branches that produced no fruit. But just like He did with the promised land, God will do for us. No matter how useless, barren, or broken we feel, if we let Him, the Lord can and will turn us into lush, bountiful, abundant fruit trees who produce a surplus of good fruit for His kingdom.

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May 4th – Job 42:10

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Job 42:10

The phrase, don’t judge a book by its cover doesn’t just apply to people, but also situations. When Job’s friends saw his misfortune they were sure he deserved it. They assumed, incorrectly, that Job was suffering because he had sinned against God. How many times as Christians do we do the same? How many times have we thought that those struggling must have done something to deserve it? But the truth is there many be a variety of reasons for someone’s troubles. And it isn’t our job to judge. But rather to encourage, help, and love them through the storm. To remind them of God’s great love, goodness and mercy. And that success and growth are not always immediate. We work in God’s timing. Which mean we may encounter setbacks and obstacles along the way. But if we remain steadfast and persevere through these challenges, like He did with Job, God will bless us mightily, repaying us twice what we lost.

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April 5th – Galatians 6:7

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Galatians 6:7

Only those who hate God would dare mock Him right? Preacher Charles G. Finney wrote, “To mock God is to pretend to love and serve him when we do not. To act in a false manner, be insincere and hypocritical in our professions, pretending to obey, love, serve, and worship Him, when we do not.” No true believer has to pretend to love God. Yet even though our devotion to Him is strong, we’ve all been guilty of behavior that could be called many things, except godly. I myself have disobeyed God, not walked as Jesus teaches, and at times acted more like a Pharisee than a Christian. But thankfully we serve a loving God who, when we confess our sin and repent, is faithful to forgive and restore our fellowship with Him. The world is constantly looking at us to see if we practice what we preach. By living lives of integrity, sowing seeds of the Spirit, and being examples of the grace of God, instead of seeing mockery and hypocrisy, the world will see shining lights that glorify our Father! (Matt. 5:16)

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March 6th – Psalm 106:6

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Psalm 106:6

Comedian Flip Wilson was famous for always using the phrase, “The Devil made me do it!” And he isn’t the first. After eating the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden, Eve too tried to lay the blame squarely at the feet of Satan. But that excuse didn’t work for her, and it won’t work for us either. Now that’s not to say the Devil isn’t responsible for tempting us to disobey God. But we alone are ultimately responsible for the choices we make. And there will be times God allows us to face the consequences of our disobedience. But when we come before Him in true sorrow for our sins, our Father will never turn us away. For the Lord generously gives us the blessing of His forgiveness and restoration to those who acknowledge their disobedience, repent from their wickedness and seek His forgiveness through faith in Jesus Christ.

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March 5th – Jeremiah 30:11

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Jeremiah 30:11

As God’s chosen people, Israel faced some pretty big storms. And like her, we too will have times of trial and tribulation. Yet whether the Lord allows these storms because He’s trying to teach us, or like Israel, to bring us to repentance, remember this. Though you may feel lost and battered, God is always in control. And no matter what we face we can claim the same promises God gave to the exiled Jews. The Lord had Jeremiah write a book containing His blessings of deliverance and restoration. A book the people could turn to for hope while they waited for the storm to pass. God blesses us with a book as well, the Holy Bible. And in it we’ll find the same promises of hope, deliverance, and restoration. So trust God to shelter you from the storm until it passes and the sun shines again. And remember, the One who created the storm, also created the rainbow that is sure to follow.

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July 30th – Leviticus 25:10

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Leviticus 25:10

For Israel, every 50th year was set apart as the “Year of the Jubilee.” Literally meaning, “ram’s horn”, it was a year of rest for both the people and the land. The Jubilee was filled with celebrating and rejoicing, for it was a time of freedom and restoration. Both slaves and prisoners were released, all debts were considered paid in full, and property was returned to its original owner. And the people refrained from their labor, trusting God to provide for their needs. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, for believers every day is a Jubilee. Because of His work on the Cross, the Lord paid our debt, freed us from the bondage of sin, and restored us back to God. And no longer do we have to work in our own strength. For God promises to, “supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:19)

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April 13th – John 21:15-25

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John 21:15-25 

Imagine how terrible Peter felt when he betrayed Jesus three times; as the Lord predicted he would do. No wonder it struck a chord deep in Peter’s conscience when later Jesus asked him three times, “Peter, do you love me?” Knowing the Lord knew his heart and his regret, Peter answered, “You know that I love you.” Even though the apostle had earlier denied Christ, Jesus had forgiven Peter and restored him to a place of trust. As evidenced by the Lord’s commandment for Peter to, “Feed My sheep.” And just as He did for Peter, Jesus will do for us. The Lord knows our failures even before we commit them. And, like Peter, when we humbly seek Him in repentance, will be faithful to forgive and restore. God has a purpose that is uniquely ours. And He will help us fulfill that purpose. And no life, no matter how broken, can be beautifully transformed to bring glory to God. Today Jesus is asking you, “Do you love me?”

Blessings,

Becky

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April 12th – Luke 22:54-60

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Luke 22:54-60

Have you ever made a promise and failed to keep it? Let another down? Swore you would never do something and then did that very thing? If so, have you received the gift of a second chance? Do you know the power of being forgiven? The story of Peter is one of failure and forgiveness. He suffered the brokenness of sin, shame, and guilt. Because even though the Lord had warned him, and Peter’s determination not to, he failed Jesus. Peter denied His precious Savior. And seeing Jesus look his way the moment he failed, must have crushed Peter’s heart.

I’ve had moments like that. Moments when I’ve dishonored the Lord and let Him down. It could be something as simple as promising to spend time with Him each morning. Time in His word and in prayer, but instead I rolled over for a few more minutes of precious sleep. But Peter’s story is our great reminder that our failures don’t determine our future with our Lord. And just like He did with Peter, God can take those times we’ve fallen short and make something good come from them. We all matter to Jesus, and He wants to make sure our relationship with Him is blameless and untarnished. And while our failures are not part of His plan for us, the Lord will take those slip ups, and restore us back into His plan.

Blessings,

Sue

April 12th – Luke 22:54-60 Read More »