Restored, healed, and NEW yet the same

Do you remember the shattered patio table from yesterday’s blog? Since the shattering of glass, tears, and a vision our table has transitioned from wasted material to a fully functional and beautiful addition to our deck. Some will say, “That was quick! It only broke on Thursday and you already have a new table?”

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My answer, “Not exactly…” After my sister’s abduction, I blamed God and walked away from Him. He did not leave me, I left Him. This is an important point for you to realize. God never leaves anyone, especially YOU! He loves us all but sometimes we need to be broken and shattered before we recognize the magnitude of our need for His love, healing, and strength. In essence our shattered and shard patio table’s glass looked like the inside of my heart for the first decade after Heidi’s disappearance BUT thankfully others saw the light reflecting from the shards and shared the greatest hope a person can have, Jesus.

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Once introduced to the person Jesus was and IS I realized I could not do it on my own. Jesus shed His blood on the cross for you and me. There was no reason for me to live each day with the shards of anger, grief, hurt, confusion, frustration, and so many more tearing at my heart. God sent His One and Only Son, the least I could do was accept I couldn’t do it on my own, admit I choose to follow my own accord, and recognize all Jesus sacrificed for me (and you) on the cross.

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Just as my table did not break on Thursday and become the beautiful restored table it is this evening, I too needed time. The peace and love I felt was instantaneous but the healing is continuous. I am a work in progress. I am still the same Lisa M. Buske I was on April 3, 1994 when Heidi was taken from our lives at the hands of her kidnappers BUT I am restored, healed, and new person with my eyes fixed on Jesus instead of the shards.

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"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.  We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.  Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.  After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin."
Hebrews 12:1-4

Thanks to a team effort our new table top is near completion! Mom, Dad, and I measured and inserted the new plywood top. Mary, Ed, and I went through our family photos to find some for the collage. Then we all placed them around the table and glued them down. Then four coats of ModPodge over the pictures, four coats of Polyeurathane (a fifth one within minutes of posting this blog), and about fifteen - twenty hours of work total.

The wind lifted and smashed the glass on our original table BUT the Lord used a friend's idea for plywood and the Holy Spirit to create the table top you see above. A priceless, restored, healed, new and improved table. The framing is the same but the rest is new.

Have you ever felt restored thanks to the Lord's leading in your life? Would you share in a post below?

Do you have any comments about yesterday and today's blogs, as it pertains to the table?

Thanks for sharing!