HE SHOUTS RESTORE OVER OUR LIVES!

You will surely be encouraged and touched by this post by Michelle Haswell.  She is a great friend to us at Hope at Home, a constant source of wisdom and godly counsel, not to mention faithful friendship! Michelle has been married to Greg Haswell for 25 years. They have one married daughter, Nicole. Michelle has spent a number of years in education as an elementary school teacher and as head of faculty. She enjoys ministry to women, prophetic ministry and seeing lives restored to wholeness. Michelle travels with her husband Greg, ministering with him in churches around the world. Greg and Michelle currently live in Atlanta where Greg is the pastor of Northlands church. www.northlandschurch.com

You will have the opportunity to hear more from Michelle at Hope at Home 2011. Register HERE.


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The Need for Restoration

The month of June held much excitement and intense emotion for our family as our daughter Nicole married our wonderful son in law, Tyler. After months of planning and working towards this day of celebration, we found ourselves rather exhausted and in need of restored strength and energy for the busy Fall lying ahead. We were able to spend a relaxing week at our favorite vacation spot.

Jeremiah 30:17 “ But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds, declares the Lord...”

Some reading this might be in need of something as simple as a vacation to refresh and restore your soul. For some there might be a much deeper need of the restoration of hope or of a broken relationship, or even faith that has been shaken because of a long and difficult season.

So, What is RESTORATION?

I decided to look at the dictionary definition of this word, RESTORE.

It means to bring back or return (someone or something) to a former condition , place or position -- to re-establish.

In Isaiah 49 :8 the Lord promises the restoration of desolate inheritances.

In Isaiah 61 :4 He promises to renew and restore places of devastation and ruin

Not Based on our Circumstances

Though vacation times are wonderful and necessary , there is a much deeper source of restoration and that is the Lord Himself. Times in His Presence enjoying worship music or remembering a promise found in a scripture verse are like a long , cold drink on a hot day.

There will be times in life where we all need to recover from times of “heat”. One of my favorite bible verses that speaks to this is found in Acts 3:19.
 “So repent ( change your mind and purpose) ....that times of refreshing (of recovering from the effects of heat, of reviving with fresh air ) may come from the presence of the Lord."


My Story

There have been times in my own life where painful circumstances have  caused me to lose my footing. Years ago I gave birth to triplets, Sheraya, Ryan and Jason. After six grueling weeks we lost them and it took time to be restored to our former condition of strength, joy and faith. I know that today we walk restored and healed only because of the love and faithfulness of our heavenly Father.

While writing this I was reminded of the story of the man with the withered hand found in the gospels.  
“Then He said to the man, 'Reach out your hand,' and the man reached it out and it was restored, as sound as the other one.” Matthew 12:23

If you are reading this, there is an invitation to you to bring the places in your life that are withered and even in ruin and to hear your heavenly Father shout “RESTORE” over your marriage, your relationship with your children, your finances, your physical body and maybe your relationship with God Himself. He longs to see you whole and full joy and He has already made provision for you to walk in restoration!

“Then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you.” Deuteronomy 30:3