Tag: cross

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Restoration

I’ve heard it on the radio, I’ve seen devotions about it and I’ve seen my Facebook friends do it – picking a word for their year.  A word that they will focus on all year and make that year about THAT particular word.  (What’s your word for the year?)  Yeah…I am late on this, but I thought I had my word….until I heard differently from God.  Yep…my word is kinda awesome: RESTORE.

The definition of restore per Merriam-Webster is “to give back (someone or something that was lost or taken) : to return (someone or something); to put or bring (something) back into existence or use; to return (something) to an earlier or original condition by repairing it, cleaning it, etc.”  The implications of this word are magnificent.

I have so many things in my life that I want to see RESTORED!  Relationships, finances, housing, ministry, life, health, faith, etc., etc. – for me and for my loved ones.  Can my God do it?  YES!  Whatever the situation may be, I know that God will do it…in a mighty way, too.

Let’s delve into some scriptures:

Jeremiah 30:17

I will give you back your health
    and heal your wounds,” says the Lord.
“For you are called an outcast—
    ‘Jerusalem for whom no one cares.’”

Joel 2:25-26

The Lord says, “I will give you back what you lost
    to the swarming locusts, the hopping locusts,
the stripping locusts, and the cutting locusts.
    It was I who sent this great destroying army against you.
 Once again you will have all the food you want,
    and you will praise the Lord your God,
who does these miracles for you.
    Never again will my people be disgraced.

Psalm 51:12

Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
    and make me willing to obey you.

Acts 3:19-21

 Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah.  For he must remain in heaven until the time for the final restoration of all things, as God promised long ago through his holy prophets.

1 John 5:4

For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.

Whatever you need restored, God can take care of it!  He has promised us RESTORATION and healing.  By HIS STRIPES we are healed, restored, made whole again.  Yep…because our Savior was broken, we are able to live a RESTORED life.  I’m so thankful for that!

What are you faithfully hoping that God restores this year?  Are you faithfully praying over that restoration and believing God will deal with it, no matter what the now looks like?

Pray this with me: Lord, thank you for your faithfulness in all things.  Thank you for the promise of restoration through the death and resurrection of your son Jesus.  Please touch the areas of my life that I and my loved ones desire and/or need restoration in.  Help me to have faith and stand on your word that all will be given back as long as I follow you!  I thank you for already doing it in my life and the lives of my loved ones.  We pray this all in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Be blessed everyone.

Restore

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Determination

There is a hill in Siauliai, Lithuania called the Hill of Crosses. It is just that, a hill covered in crosses. But, for something that simple, people from all over the world come to see it. Why? Because it is a symbol of determination.

After World War II, the Soviet Union took over Lithuania. In that time, the monument of crosses erected was flattened, burned, and disgraced. Each time, the people of Lithuania never gave up. They would replace the crosses each time. Finally, when they won their independence from communism, the hill became overwhelmed with crosses. A picture of the hill is below.

How many times does this happen in life? Our plans are trashed or things don’t happen like we think they should. It can make us discouraged or even cause us to give up and walk away. I encourage you not to do that. Be like the Lithuanian people and keep on rebuilding – because one day you won’t have to rebuild…

So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. (‭Galatians‬ ‭6‬:‭9‬ NLT)

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Information about the Hill of Crosses and picture from: http://sacredsites.com/europe/lithuania/hill_of_crosses.html

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Broken

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. (‭Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭28‬ NLT)

As a counselor, I saw a lot of broken people. One thing I witnessed was, in the times when my clients were the most broken – God would show up in a mighty way. It was beautiful and always moved me. That is the God we serve – God is Love (1 John 4:8).

If you feel like you are broken right now – know that there is a God who loves you & is there for you. He has already carried the burdens to the Cross so He is waiting for you to hand it over to Him (1 Peter 5:7). All you need to do is fully surrender it into His Hands!

Be blessed everyone. May His peace rule your life.

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The Gift Of A Lifetime


Then the whole community began weeping aloud, and they cried all night. Their voices rose in a great chorus of protest against Moses and Aaron. “If only we had died in Egypt, or even here in the wilderness!” they complained. “Why is the LORD taking us to this country only to have us die in battle? Our wives and our little ones will be carried off as plunder! Wouldn’t it be better for us to return to Egypt?” Then they plotted among themselves, “Let’s choose a new leader and go back to Egypt!” Then Moses and Aaron fell face down on the ground before the whole community of Israel. Two of the men who had explored the land, Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, tore their clothing. They said to all the people of Israel, “The land we traveled through and explored is a wonderful land! And if the LORD is pleased with us, he will bring us safely into that land and give it to us. It is a rich land flowing with milk and honey. Do not rebel against the LORD, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land. They are only helpless prey to us! They have no protection, but the LORD is with us! Don’t be afraid of them!” (‭Numbers‬ ‭14‬:‭1-9‬ NLT)

How many times have we done what the Israelites did in the passage above – doubt God & trust our understanding? Probably too many to count…at least it is that way for me.

One thing I have learned, though, is that most times when things look impossible, a miracle is just around the corner. If only the Israelites had trusted God, they wouldn’t have wondered the wilderness for a generation.

God likes to blow our minds – he likes to take situations that surely could not work out, even in the most positive of logics, and make everything work out for our good!

Take a look also at the gift of a child as the savior of the world. Isn’t it impossible to think that human kind can be reconciled with the Almighty by a lowly baby born in a stable? It is impossible without the help of faith.

No matter your situation, remember that God, our Abba, has it all worked out. He knows how impossible it seems to us, but He is in control…and nothing is impossible with God (Matthew 19:26).

Ponder with me how absolutely amazing the gift of Baby Jesus was to this world. How a baby, helpless and new, would one day be hung on a cross for all our sins and change the world forever.

Thank you Abba, for loving us that much. It is impossible for our minds to truly comprehend how magnificent this gift is.

Be blessed and Merry Christmas!

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