Thursday, May 9, 2013

Redemption for a Family {Part 2}



Read Part 1 here.

Spring is here! I've always been in a rush for summer to come, but God seems to want me to find rest in the wonders of spring. As my husband and I prayed before dinner the other evening, these words from my mouth surprised me, Thank you God for spring and the promise of new life. Before we prayed (it was my turn to pray) I gave a slight sigh as I wasn't sure what my prayer would be. I love how if we begin with a single word and full surrender to God, He will do the rest.

This passion of mine to capture spring through the lens of my camera has me in awe of the new life blossoming before me. There is beauty in watching life appear through the dirt. Maybe I'm still overflowing with gratitude from the impact of this past Easter. I wondered as Easter ended, what comes next? As I write the answer comes. The promise of new life comes next.

We come to the cross and surrender our old life to Christ and we are made new.

Do you think this is what God intended with spring? He gives us new life springing up all around us, and all shortly after when the resurrection of Christ took place. I'm still feeling like the new girl on the block when it comes to my faith, so pardon me if I seem late to this revelation.

As I find rest in the wonders of spring, God reminds me of the new life He has given me and also my husband and children. I'm not always sure if I can include my children because they are not believers, but as my husband and I were filled with joy and peace from trusting God, hope overflowed and touched the lives of our children (Romans 15:13).

I see this new life Christ has given us with fresh eyes. God really does redeem. Memories of pain begin to fade and they are replaced with moments to celebrate. Some are small moments but the small are worth rejoicing over. Then there are those moments where time seems stands still and I hear God whisper, "Don't miss this. I'm doing something new."

"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." ~ Isaiah 43:19

Now I understand why He directed me to find rest in spring...to see how He made a way.

  • He made a way for a father and son to learn how to love each other. A relationship that spent years in turmoil has been made new. To witness a recent embrace sent my heart leaping with joy.

  • He made a way for another son to realize his full potential as both a musician and a student. I'm blown away by his talent.

  • He made a way for a marriage to not only survive, but to bring together a union that was never fully made...a marriage that joins man, woman and God. I would have never imagined our evenings would be spent praying together.

  • He made a way for a family to find healing — to be made new.

I'm still humming these lyrics over and over again, "Thank You Lord. I just want to thank You Lord." My heart is overflowing with gratitude.

"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."

~ Ephesians 3:14-21


 

13 comments :

  1. Beth, you and I have so much in common. I am thankful we have met and become "friends" through the web. I hope one day we can sit down and chat or even talk on the phone would be great. I hope one day our relationship with our oldest son can be restored just as you have seen in your own family. Hugs to you..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hugs to you Angie. Praying for you that redemption is found. Much love.

      Delete
  2. Dear Beth
    I firmly believe that God saves families. Not necessarily all at once, but He nevertheless does. He says somewhere that the children of a believing parent are holy in His sight. Look at Jacob. One would never have thought him a believer as you look at how he cheated, lied and stole. Yet, in God's eyes, he was the son of Isaac; therefore God saved him! So, just be patient with yours for God works I'm mysterious ways His orders to perform.
    Blessings from Emily's
    Mia

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mia, you have warmed my heart with your comment. I'm holding tightly to believing "children of a believing parent are holy in His sight." Thank you for your always kind and encouraging words. I'm grateful for you.
      Many blessings to you.

      Delete
  3. "He made a way ..." LOVE thinking about this and filling in the blanks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I could have gone on because our God is so good. Happy Mother's Day my friend.

      Delete
  4. oh what a gift you are, Beth. your blog is so perfectly named and it is a lungful of fresh air. keep writing. the blogging world needs you.

    this especially grabbed me: "I love how if we begin with a single word and full surrender to God, He will do the rest." hold on to that one with both hands.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kelli, you have blessed me by stopping by and with your kind, kind words. THANK YOU!

      Delete
  5. Beth,
    Once again, thanks for sharing from your beautiful heart. Just curious, since we have a lot in common, what instrument does your musician son play? - mine is a drummer :). You and your family have such a testimony and don't ever doubt your newness to faith - just look at Paul (a new believer) who went on to win countless hearts for Christ. You are in good company!
    Love,
    Bev

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bev, my son primarily plays the guitar and then dabbles some with the piano. Right now his passion if the classical guitar. One of these days we will have that coffee and our kids can bless us with music. Wouldn't that be wonderful!
      Thank you for your kind words!
      Happy Mother's Day to you.
      Much love. Beth

      Delete
  6. I'm so glad you ended up commenting on my blog so that I would find your blog in return.

    Thanks for sharing this. Looking at your bullet point list at the end it makes me think of the song "God Will Make a Way."

    I've watched as someone who's prayed faithfully for me daily since I was in her preschool class at age three has prayed just as faithfully (and I'm sure even far more fervently) for her own kids to come to know and walk with Jesus. It's taken awhile, but the beautiful story of what God's done in these years and in their lives is just amazing. When we get together now, it's always in rejoicing of what God is - and continues - to do.

    I pray that the same will be true for you, too!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for leaving a comment! I love hearing from you and I read every one. Be sure to subscribe to comments or check back as I try to respond to all comments. I also do my best to hop on over to your blog for a visit.
Much love to you.