restoration

This last weekend was an extravagant culmination of restoration realized.A baptism celebration of a man once lost, now found. A wife and daughter clinging to Jesus by his side. Beautiful beyond description because of their hope in Christ, which although shaken would not be swayed. Standing and seeing the Lord deliver, they together now stand a threesome reconciled. Husband and wife united in trust restored, a love beautiful gift from the Lord. Father and daughter now bonded deeply, a little girl’s heart free from bitterness.The celebration of a sweet new life. A friend and a friendship healed. After years of doctors unable to heal, Jesus healed. And where sickness prevailed in her depths, a new life is coming. And the woman I knew and loved is now known again, only more radiant with beauty shining more than ever before.And a wedding, a joining together, of two hearts and two families who have walked through the heart of darkness. Yet they have seen, and are seeing, Jesus reach down and redeem. By His Word and the power which God alone can supply, they are being transformed. As clearly as they can see how to, they are together choosing this very day to serve Christ.With the sweetness of the weekend, the glory of the Lord’s goodness so evident, it reminds me of lines from “Don’t You Want to Thank Someone” by Andrew Peterson:“And when the world is new againAnd the children of the KingAre ancient in their youth againMaybe it's a better thingA better thingTo be more than merely innocentBut to be broken then redeemed by loveMaybe this old world is bentBut it's waking upAnd I'm waking up”Maybe it is a better thing. So let’s wake up and press into redemption. Tenaciously fight for those we love. Together seeing restoration realized. I know I won't always get such concentrated glimpses of restoration fulfilled, but I will celebrate the moments I do see to the full.