Family Restoration (Part 2)

Scroll Down . . . or go HERE for Part 1, if you missed it yesterday.

This is a continuation of my thoughts after Day #1 of our Women's Bible Study at Church.
We have just started Beth Moore's study of James:  Mercy Triumphs.


What will it take to bring Family Restoration to the Big D. Family?

What will it take to bring forgiveness?

How long do we have to wait before we can put the past behind us?

Will our family ever be restored?

Will there be a day when we will all be together again,
living in unity one with another?




"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen;
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke, 
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?

Is it not to share your food with the hungry,
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter -

when you see the naked to clothe him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;

then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.

Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say:  Here I am.

If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger and malicious talk,

and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,

then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.

(then) the Lord will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame . . .

Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins
and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

Isaiah 58: 6-12



God's Word tells us "not to turn away from your own flesh and blood".

And . . .

if we do this . . .

our "light will break forth" . . .

our "healing will appear quickly" . . .

"righteousness will go before you" . . .

and "the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard".


Isn't that what we all want?


If . . .

we do away with the yoke of oppression . . .


If . . .

we get rid of the pointing finger . . .


If . . .

we put off all malicious talk . . .


Then . . .

our lights will rise in the darkness . . .


Then . . .

the Lord will guide us  . . .


Then . . . 

the Lord will strengthen us . . .


Then . . .


Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins . . .

and will raise up the age-old foundations . . .

and you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls . . .




It sure seems as if our family lies in ruins . . . broken beyond repair.


Yet . . .


I believe that the Lord can rebuild the ruins.


I believe that the Lord can raise up and restore
the foundations that we built over the past 30 years.


I believe that the Lord so desires to call our family:

"The Repairer of Broken Walls".


I believe that the Lord wants to use our marriage and our family 
as an example of what He can do to "rebuild the ruins".


I believe that the Lord wants to use our marriage and our family
as a ministry of the work that only He can do to "repair broken walls".



Wow!

This study of James sure took me a different direction than I expected this week.

I can't wait to dig into my daily homework to learn more,

and I do look forward to studying,

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. . . "


Stay tuned for updates from "Mercy Triumphs".  I am certain that I will have lots to share.