God, The Chief Restorer

“So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the crawling locust, The consuming locust, and the chewing locust, my great army which I sent among you.” Joel 2:25

 I love getting old stuff, cleaning it up and repurposing its use. My eyes light up when I spot a “treasure” while perusing the aisles of a thrift store…I can see the potential in what may be someone else’s cast off.  Now don’t get me wrong, I like new stuff too, but I seem to get so much joy out of things that have been around for a while. To me they have a story and even though they are inanimate objects I wonder what they have witnessed in their “lifetime”.  Some old things have aged gracefully and show little wear, which means they may have been in a china cabinet or a room and never really used; while some pieces are what I call all “jacked up” and look as if they have been kind of thrown around.  Were they cared for and appreciated? Are some of the questions that run through my mind… Sounds weird huh?  I used to think it was weird too that I really loved old furniture, china, glass, etc., but now I have accepted it as one of the simple pleasures God has so graciously given me. 

When I look at some of the furniture and things that I have rescued, I am reminded of how God is the Chief rescuer and restorer.  2 Chronicles 16:9a speaks about how God is roaming to and fro the earth looking for those that have a heart for Him, to show Himself strong. My interpretation: God is perusing the aisles of the thrift stores of humanity. Looking for those that are crying out to Him to be restored, those that have been oh so hurt, those that have been abused and rejected…those that have been cast off.  I believe that He delights in picking us up, wiping our tears, cleaning away the dirt, shining us up by whispering encouraging words to our hearts. And the icing on the cake so to speak is: He delights in repurposing  our lives!  Some of us may have thought we have blown it the first time around, but God can and will use us again for His glory as we submit our lives to Him!

God is a God of compassion and renewal!  He wants to restore to us what the enemy of our souls has tried to steal away! Our joy, our peace, our confidence in Him and love for others and even ourselves. He wants to see us being used for His Glory! The scripture in Joel 2 is about God declaring to a people how He is going to restore them after they had suffered very much, some of which was brought on by their own disobedience. But God who is so forgiving still promises to restore them!

It is silly but true to say that I love seeing the old treasures I find, in a place where I can look at them and am happy that it is being used and admired. Well how much more is God delighted in seeing His children once again in a place in life where they are being used for His purpose and Glory! I don’t believe that He gets joy out of seeing us living out the rest of our lives sitting on the trash heap of life or the aisles of the thrift store of humanity. (I know I’m pushing it with that statement again, but I couldn’t resist  ;-)

When I started this Blog back in December 2007 while visiting in California, I said and I even posted on it that I wanted to begin “Learning from God’s Word through everyday experiences”, and it is so true…I DO!  He has been so faithful in helping me to see HIM in just plain everyday life.  I don’t need an earth shattering, open the Red Sea experience to know that He is here and loves me…and you also.  AND He wants us to know and love Him too.

So you see my quirky love for old things have a purpose, it actually has given me an insight to my calling on this earth; one of which is to have more compassion for, love, help and pray for the hurting, lost, rejected and cast off folks in this world. No one in their right mind wants to be or feel that way and I pray: Dear Jesus, wherever they are, whether in my neighborhood, or afar, whether in my daily or occasional path, make me aware of them, let me feel their heart and may I be obedient to be your Hands and Heart extended in this old world to show them that You are the Rescuer and Restorer and can make all things new!