Tag: #christianblog

Restorer Of Lost Years

In the world of advertisements, promises to restore damaged things are many. From restoration of old photographs, to restoration of flooded homes, the possibilities seem endless. However, they all lack one thing: the ability to restore the years that are lost.

In the Bible we see a time when the Israelites needed a restoration. Locusts swarmed in, wrecked their hard-earned harvest, stole their daily food, and even took a bite out of future harvest by devouring the seeds.

In the midst of these seemingly unending years of disaster, depression, and destroyed hope, the word of the Lord comes through prophet Joel:

Joel 2:25-26 (ESV): I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten …And my people shall never again be put to shame.

The verses preceding this provide its context, revealing that these events are God’s response to rebellion and disobedience. Even in seasons of punishment and correction, we can find assurance that it all rests under the careful control of our loving Almighty God.

The hope of restoration bestowed by God is unlike any the world can offer. His restoration process turns devastation into unparalleled beauty, leaving no remnants of its previous condition.

Let’s look at two examples of people whose lives were restored.

Abraham and Sarah

For a quarter-century, this couple patiently awaited the fulfillment of God’s promise for a child. Despite moments where they deviated from the divine plan, causing a delay, God’s faithfulness remained unwavering.

Genesis 23:1: Sarah lived 127 years; these were the years of the life of Sarah.

Sarah is the only woman in the Bible whose years are mentioned at her death. Have you wondered why? It is to demonstrate to us that Sarah had 37 years to spend with, to laugh with, to enjoy the promise of God – Issac!

Peter The Disciple

Peter’s walk with Jesus resembled a roller coaster ride, complete with moments of triumph and despair, including his denial of Jesus at the time of crucifixion. Yet, the Lord wasn’t done with Peter. On the shores of the Sea of Tiberias, where Peter had resumed fishing, Jesus appeared, initiating the restoration of their relationship.

John 21:17 (ESV): He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter…said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep”
John 21:19 (ESV): … And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”

Peter was given a second chance to follow Jesus, and this time he did not disappoint. Acts 2:17-41 describes the Day of Pentecost when Peter stood up and gave his first speech. Three thousand people were saved and became followers of Jesus!

Do you see the restoring power of the Lord? The man who denied Jesus 3 times, was asked 3 times if he loved Jesus, and in his first evangelism sermon, 3000 people signed the pledge card!

Peter writes in his epistle about the restoration power he experienced.
1 Peter 5:10 (NIV): And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ … will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

Life Application
Maybe you’ve been the one who let Him down repeatedly, and you don’t feel like you can be restored. Perhaps life’s trials, loss of a loved one, ongoing ailments, or shattered dreams have made you lose focus on Him. God is still doing miracles and restoring lives. So allow the Master Renovator to restore your lost years. Regardless of why the years slipped away, He has the power to revive, refresh, and transform you into something truly beautiful.

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Christmas Chaos and Clarity

Christmas is a time of celebration and festivities. However, we are all familiar with the chaos that happens at Christmas time. Everything from delayed flights, delayed gifts and children getting sick, we’ve all had our share of chaos in the most wonderful season of the year. Did you know that the very first Christmas was filled with chaos beyond measure?

Meet a small town young girl named Mary. She lived a low-key lifestyle, kept herself pure, and served God faithfully. One day as she was going about her day, doing the mundane day-to-day things, she got the biggest surprise of her life: a visit from angel Gabriel!


News that rocked her world
Mary received news that turned her life upside down, throwing her into confusion and chaos. She learned she was chosen to be the mother of the Savior of the world, but there was a big problem—she wasn’t married yet! To complicate matters more, she was engaged to a man named Joseph. This revelation meant she was about to become the town’s hot topic, the target of jokes, and the subject of ridicule from family, friends, and neighbors. She may even be stoned, given the cultural and societal rules of the day. Her iPad calendar kept reminding her of things she had to do that day but she was now stuck in a dilemma.

Mary’s right response
Luke 1:34-35 (ESV): And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
It is important to note her response. She did not ask, “why?” She did not respond with: “why me”, “why now”, or “why not someone else.” Her response was apt and to the point: “How shall this be?” Mary’s response was the right answer God was waiting to hear. God knew that it came from a sincere heart that accepted the news but has a genuine question. Nothing like this has ever happened before (or ever after!)

Clarity in Chaos
Luke 1:35 (ESV): And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.

Mary’s heartfelt painful question was answered with a soothing answer from God: you will be overshadowed by the Almighty! In other words, Mary you don’t have to do anything for this take place. Mary, you can trust the Almighty to take care of every step ahead for the fulfilment of this promise.

Results of surrender
Did everything go smoothly after she accepted the assignment? No. She still had to face an innkeeper with no room, find a manger to put her baby in, and move to another country because of King Herod. But she persevered, trusting God with His plans. The result of it all? Christ was born!

Life Application
1. Trust God: When faced with tough life-altering challenges we should accept the plan of God and ask Him, how we will He do what he has promised.

2. Talk to God: God doesn’t get angry when you ask sincere questions. He is there to answer every doubt you have.

3. Walk with God: Just allow the Lord to walk you through the process. Allow God to work out the details, allow Him to change the hearts that need to be changed, and let Him do what only He can do!

Doing so, you too can abide in the shadow of the Almighty (Psalm 91:1) and have clarity in your confusions.



Raise Your Cup!

In America, raising a cup is a universal symbol of celebration. Whether it is a toast at a wedding or the victorious hoisting of the Stanley Cup in the NHL, these moments are etched into our collective memory. Cameras capture every angle, ensuring that whether you’re a fan at a Championship game or a joyous wedding guest, your smartphone is poised to help you treasure these memories forever.

Bible talks about raising another cup. It is called the Cup of Salvation.
Psalms 116 verses 13-14 (NIV)
13 I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord.
14 I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people.

The first 5 verses of this psalm says God has heard. The next 5 verses says God has helped.

Vows during distress
In the Old Testament times, when a Jewish person goes through distress, he would cry out to God and makes vows to the Lord. It was like saying, “God, if You help me through these hard days, I promise to do something special for You.” Jacob did this when he ran away from his house, fleeing from Esau.
Genesis 28:20 (NIV) Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking …. then the Lord will be my God …and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.”

Celebration of gratitude
So when the difficult days are over, the one who made the vow to the Lord would go to the temple to offer up a sacrifice. It was called the peace offering. It is a way of saying thank you to God for all the good things He gives us. This was a costly sacrifice because it has to be an animal without blemish. In the New Testament Jesus became our sacrificial offering and thus gave us the Cup of Salvation that we can raise up to God with thanks.

Life Application
The last week of November is often called the Thanksgiving Week. We gather with friends and family, enjoy good food, and have a time of celebration. As our Instagram feeds turn into a mouthwatering feast for the eyes with a variety of turkey dishes and savory apple ciders, let’s not forget to lift our cups of gratitude.

Deutronomy 8:10-11 (NIV): “When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God…”

Pause for a moment, flip through the pages of your calendar, and reminisce about the tough times—the stressful days, the weeks of sickness , and the periods of worry. Recall how, through it all, the Lord delivered you. Let your sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving be the secret ingredient that transforms your Thanksgiving Day into a truly unforgettable celebration in the eyes of the Lord.

Turning Marred Pots Into Marvels

A beautiful mural that stretches across the wall, that blends colors and shapes, a sculpture in the park, or a food display created by a world renown chef. All these things capture our attention. We are mesmerized by the beauty and skills of the artist. But have you wondered how these masterpieces were created?

There was once a famous master potter. Let’s call him Jim. He was the go-to guy for all pottery needs in his town. Jim’s pots were used in palaces, weddings, and national events. His team carefully took his pots, painted and decorated and packed them for their destinations.

But there was one pot that had a problem. It was marred, disfigured and destined to be ignored.

Jeremiah 18:4 (NIV): But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands;

In our hustle-and-bustle world, fixing what’s broken often takes a backseat. In a factory, anything out of line usually ends up in the trash. For an artist, a mistake might mean reaching for a fresh canvas. A worn-out pencil? Easily replaced with a shiny new one. And when it comes to vehicles, the old ones make way for newer, sleeker models.

But this pot wasn’t in our hands (thankfully!). It was in the hand of someone better than Jim – God! He was patient with it. He had invested considerable amount of time finding the soil in the mountain area, carefully removing the rocks, and adding just enough water to make the clay. He wasn’t going to give up on this pot. The next part of that same verse says:

So the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.

Clay Pot repair

The pot now has hope! It has a new chance at life. It shall no longer be called ugly, outcast, or useless. The Master has a new plan for the pot. We are not told why the pot was marred in the first place but what matters is that the Master saw the plight of the pot. He knew that this pot still had potential. So he created a new masterpiece out of the marred vessel.

Today I want to remind you that you too have hope! Paul, Peter, Jacob, and Moses are some examples of marred pots that were turned into shiny new pots.

So be encouraged as you remain in the Master’s hands. He has a plan for you! Commit your brokenness, limitations, and failures to Him. He can transform them into something beyond your dreams.