Restoration Redefined

I made her baked eggplant parmesan. French baguette with mozzarella and bruschetta. Sauteed spinach and tomatoes. Homemade banana bread.

I stocked her fridge shelves, her closet spaces, her pantry cupboards.

I listened to every frustration, every heartache, every tear bent word.

I slept by her side to ward off the dank cold and the creeping loneliness.

I didn't come to give answers. I didn't come to be a heroine.

I came for restoration.

Or rather: I came to display the Father's restoration...the only true restoration...the One with the greatest love and everlasting peace.

My dear sister went through a very difficult event last week, and that Wednesday night asked me to come back home for the weekend. Did I want to see her? YES. Did I want to comfort her? HECK YES. Was I willing to put my plans on hold to selflessly serve her? Hmm....well that's where God has to tell us yes, folks.

Restoration is not us "fixing" a person. It is coming to someone, being a representation of Jesus Himself, and out of love holistically meeting their needs. We are to repair walls. To restore streets. To answer the cry of the oppressed. Yet, this list isn't about "fixing"--that's far too temporary. Restoration is showing a soul the peace of God and, thus, the blessings of God.

It also happens that this past week my school celebrated Missions Conference carrying the theme "INCARNATE." The entire week was spent learning about various mission needs, studying under people who actively do ministry, praying in every tongue for every nation, and coming together to worship the God of the world (not just the U.S). In one session, this teacher who works in inner city Memphis said one of the most poignant things I've ever heard concerning life, incarnating Christ, being the church period:

"You DON'T need the American dream right now. The big house, luxurious yard, sweet job, fancy car....because you're going to have a mansion and treasures in heaven forever. So for the few years we have here, let us live in the dark places. Let us live in housing projects, in scary neighborhoods, in discomfort. Because our comfort will be in heaven, our rest in heaven--but on earth, let us suffer for Christ."

If I claim to believe in Jesus, I must live to restore things back to Him. I must live selflessly. And all these things should be manifested in both small actions and larger ways. Yeah, it's a hard pill to swallow and completely goes against my nature...but it's the truth.

Decorating project I finally completed! White walls just looked like an asylum.

This how you work with not being able to paint anything :)

Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did...Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 1 John 2:6 & 3:18.