I enjoy how in the spring bright colors return to the landscape.  Flowers begin to grow and trees begin too leaf out, bringing a fresh coat of green back to our yards and parks.  It stirs an excitement and hope of something new and beautiful about to SPRING FORTH!

It is also a season where we look around to catch up on spring cleaning, and remodeling projects.  It was on one of these most glorious warm days that my projects took flight.  As I surveyed our back yard immediately one of our iron benches caught my eye.  It was a handy down from another family member that didn’t need it.  I never turn away free. It did need some tender loving care.  The paint was faded and peeling.  The thought had crossed my mind to get rid of it – throw it out.  Then I thought I should at least attempt a remodel and see what I could do.  I got the supplies necessary to begin the process of restoration.  A wire brush to work on the peeling paint and then some new cans of spray paint.  After putting a little elbow grease to the project this once worn out piece of furniture TRANSFORMED into a beautiful useful outdoor seating.

The definition for the word RESTORE means:  to bring back into existence, reestablish.  To bring back to former, original or normal condition.  To bring back to health, soundness, or vigor.  To bring back to FORMER POSITION or rank.

I love how the Bible is literally loaded with amazing stories and testimonies of how looking to God as the answer can cause a tsunami of unprecedented change, and landscape in our personal lives.  One of my favorite stories is about Rahab, a town harlot.  Because of her faith and desire for God that totally transformed her destiny, and her entire family.  

In Joshua chapter 2, Joshua sends spies out to Jericho.  Rahab helps the spies and hides them.  It is amazing that she saw the power of God and desired that in her life.

“ . . . ‘I KNOW that the LORD has given you the land, and that the terror of you has fallen on us, and all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you.  For we HAVE HEARD how the LORD dried the up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt . . . as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.  Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the LORD, since I have shown kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father’s house, and give me a true token, and spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.”

Joshua 2:9-13

In Joshua 2:18 the spies give her a line of scarlet cord to put in her window.

“And Joshua spared Rahab the harlot, her father’s household, and all that she had.  So she dwells in Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.”

Joshua 6:25

Most people would think there would be no hope to be restored, or have their life reestablished after being a harlot.  God has the ability and desire to bring us back from a dead life to a NEW LIFE with HIM!  In Matthew it shows us how her destiny, and that of her families totally changed!  Look at the biblical lineage in Matthew.

“Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David THE KING.”

Matthew 1:5-6

Can I just be honest and say, I’m so glad God never looks at any of us as junk; something to be discarded or thrown out.  God always looks at our potential!  Because of the blood of Jesus that has already been shed for us, we can look to Him for our glorious transformation!

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a NEW CREATION; old things have passed away; behold, ALL THINGS HAVE BECOME NEW!”

II Corinthians 5:17