“My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you.” Job 42:5
Restored. I love restoration. I love restored houses, restored antique furniture, I delight in seeing the finished project. My middle son, Kristopher, knows how to take something that looks like it should be thrown out on the sidewalk for anyone to pick up, and turn it into a beautiful antique treasure that others would want to have in their home.
About six years ago, he attempted his first piece. I had bought an old church pew, I mean 100 year old church pew, in southern Kentucky for $100. I was ecstatic to get it but it was in terrible shape. It looked its age. I wanted to have it refinished but knew it would be expensive.
Enter Kristopher. “I can do this, Mom.” Yikes! But I figured I didn’t have much to lose, it couldn’t look any worse! Then he started taking it apart…oh my…there were pieces everywhere. I was terrified he wouldn’t get it back together correctly.
It took a while; he is very detailed and particular. But the finished project?
You can see for yourself! It is a gorgeous antique piece that I simply love.
He didn’t stop there. A couple of years after that he bought an old drafting table. I thought for sure he was in over his head. But once again, he could see the finished product. He took his time, took it all apart, piece by piece and again, the result is just beautiful. I love the two-tone!
Then the monster of all antiques caught his attention. His grandmother had a 1965 Magnavox stereo in full cabinet, sitting in her basement buried under “stuff”. Lots and lots of stuff. Untouched for years, it looked literally impossible to tackle.
In its glory days, while it was nearly brand new, a family member accidentally dumped a whole glass of Coca Cola inside the cabinet. My MIL said it never worked right after that. So it was relegated to (insert scary music here)…
THE BASEMENT.
But that didn’t deter Kristopher. He could see a treasure, a priceless treasure. He gets permission from “Mamaw Tava” and begins taking it apart. This time? It wasn’t like the church pew, nor the drafting table. There were PARTS.
Lots and lots of PARTS! He took pictures, he wrote it down, he numbered, he figured, and he had it scattered all over the place. Every single piece, inside and out, was cleaned and refinished. Watch this short video of my sons Kristopher and Korey, with The Sweetheart, attempting to put it back together and check out the sound all at the same time.
But his efforts paid off and once he was finished, had inserted a new needle and turntable and a few technical gadgets for the working of the radio, he had a masterpiece.
What was the motivation? What was the passion inside to want to take “nothing” and make it into “something”?
His love for seeing “old things made new”!
Isn’t that what our God does? He reaches down from His home on high, and sees a crumbled piece of pottery: ME, or YOU. He sees we are broken, we have fallen apart, we are weary and worn out, rusted and scratched up. But that doesn’t stop Him! He can see the end result! He can see the finished product.
What does God want to do for you today? Do you need healed? Delivered? Encouraged? Are you in need of spiritual restoration? He is waiting to do that for you! Surrender to Jesus and let Him take your broken pieces and not just put them back together but let Him restore them. He will heal them, bless them, shine them up and get all of the dirt and debris and impurities out, then put them back in one piece.
The finished product? Rejuvenated! Restored! Refilled!
When God does the job, He does all things well.
Back to Psalm 51, it is a plea for restoration. And once that restoration is complete the next scripture follows up by saying,
“Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.”
After that healing takes place we are able to teach, to love, to reach out and make a difference in our world!
Surrender today…He is waiting to restore.
Do you have a favorite piece or treasure that has had a facelift? Share with us today! Have you been in need of restoration and surrendered to God your all? Encourage someone else with YOUR STORY!
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He is learning Mel! With no training or help I think he did pretty well. Thank you!
Wow, Nanette, your son is really talented! I love the analogy you have made here about how God restores us. Thanks for linking up at Essential Fridays.
Blessings
Mel from Essential Thing Devotions
How Sweet Emma! Thank you so much, and thank you for coming by Hope in the Healing. ♥
Oh He is merciful! Thankful He restores! Blessings for your thoughts. ♥
I love pinterest but, when I see sight like yours it trills me we serve a Restoring Father Our Healer!! The scriptures minister…thank you God bless you!! And of course your work is inspiring of what we can do to Restore!♥
I’m so glad we serve a God who doesn’t discard what the world deems worthless, but restores us to a condition ever better than we were when we started!
Thank you Lyli and thanks for tweeting me! Love Thought-Provoking Thursday and loved your post about the clock. ♥
Amen Emily! Wonderful scripture. I am thankful He doesn’t give up on us. Blessings.
Great post! Reminded me of Philippians 1:6 ” . . . he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” 🙂
I am so thankful that our Father is into restoration. Holding on to the that sweet promise today!
So glad you linked up at Thought-Provoking Thursday! 🙂
Beth, I would love to see some of your treasures! I am sure you do that in your work too. I wish I were closer, I would love to sit and let you counsel me, lol. I need it! ♥
Oh yes Carie! You are right! I heard a minister say lately that in these “trials of life” God can either Undo it, Overrule it, or Redeem it for His purpose! I loved that! I’m going to write a post on that soon. He WILL use you because you can minister to those that have been there. Blessings friend.
I am praying for you today too Sharon, I am sure it has been so difficult for you. Spring is coming, praying that will put LIFE back into you! ♥
Your son and I share a similar passion. I LOVE turning basically “junk” into a beautiful new piece of furniture–often repurposed in a way unlike its original design. I think I do that as a counselor/life coach as well. I love the transformational process that God wants to do in each of us. I’m so grateful that He has chosen to use me as one of his instruments in that redemptive process. I’m so grateful that He’s chosen you too, Nannette! You have a true gift for bringing new insights to life as well!
About a year and half ago, I had my name drug through the dirt, both professional and personally. It was very unexpected and it hurt terribly. Just in the past few months, I have began to pray for those who hurt me so badly and I have been able to begin to heal. I do feel this healing/restoration has put me in a better place to minister to others.
I thoroughly enjoyed this post. There’s definitely some talent in that family of yours! I especially loved the church pew – that is on my antique “wish list”.
Praying for the Lord to restore my weariness right now. It’s been a long couple of months…
GOD BLESS!
LOL! I should know you would have caught the music in the background, love it. My boys love music…all kinds! The younger one, in the Yellowcard t-shirt, is a worship leader, a great acoustic player. God has blessed him with a gift. Kristopher, in the red shirt, plays bass with Korey at their church. He is an RN, working in IT at a hospital here. I have another son, the eldest, who is married to the “little girl I never had”. He is also a worship pastor. I am thankful for what God has given me! Thanks for stopping by Floyd, your comments always bless me!
Wasn’t that wild! I would love to see your pictures too Holly. I do think God is trying to tell us something 🙂
Thank you Piper! I appreciate your comments. I do love it so much, although I have told him when he gets married and has his own house (he’s in an apartment right now) that the pew is his. I have always loved having a church pew in my home. They have so much history and character. My husband reminded me this pew is closer to 150 years old. Love it. You are welcome here!
Thanks Heather for getting my scary music!! LOL. In our beloved old house that My Three Sons grew up in (it was also the house that my husband grew up in, his dad had built, seven acres of heaven!) it had a basement that deserved scary music…or at least one side of it did. It even had a “Secret Room”, all concrete that was underneath the porch where my MIL used to store her canned goods. It was also a great tornado hideout! But the boys were terrified to go on that side of the basement 🙂 it was early 1960’s and pretty spooky! Thanks for the memory and for stopping by friend! ♥
Good morning Cheryl…blessings to you my friend. Hope you are doing well. So glad you found a blessing in this post! ♥
How cool is that? Great analogy, a gift and desire from God above. We’re all in need of restoration.
I so respect and appreciate people who do good and honoring work. It speaks so much to their character. Oh, and how appropriate to hear the Who singing “My Generation” with the generations of your loved ones working together… it doesn’t get much better than that!
This is beautiful, Nannette!! Our posts are so similar today…must be God trying to drill home a lesson for me. Thanks for linking up to Testimony Tuesday!
I love this!! I can imagine every time you look at that pew….that you are proud of your son, as well as the reminder that God restores all things.
All things are made new!!
Thanks for sharing… hopped from Titus 2sdays
I smell constantly of God’s restorative cleaners. Wouldn’t want it any other way!
Hugs, Nanette!!
~ Heather
Ps – beautiful furniture!
Pss – I actually heard in my brain the ever popular … Dun, dun, dun … At your scary music prompt. 😉
What a wonderful post! I NEEDED this tonight! I am still waiting on God for the healing I so desperately need. I know He is able! Your post was so edifying and needful. Thank you so much for being faithful to God and for the dear blessing you have become to me! Love, Cheryl