ORIGINAL ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

There are many reality shows today that deal with renovation and restoration of older homes in need of a lot of work. They might be homes like mine that are about 150 years old, or they could be new homes that have deteriorated as a result of storm damage or neglect. Changing the outside of those buildings can make them appealing to future buyers, but if the inside isn’t fixed, chances are the deal won’t be closed. The same is true with us. We can take action to slow down the clock with surgery or magical creams that restore skin to its original beauty. We might clean out some of the cobwebs stuck in our thinking. It might be necessary to do a complete overhaul in order to fill the bill, but where do we begin to sort through the mess inside?

Just like it takes a professional to clean up the outward appearance, the same is true for what’s going on inside. We could call on counselors or therapists to guide us through the darkness of our hearts. We could call on a friend for advice, but the only true way to cleanse the heart is through God – the One who made us. Sometimes the only cure is to return to the manufacturer.

The sketch above depicts a building in distress. Who knows what lurks within? If it was abandoned, it probably is home to many interlopers including the humankind. A lot of work has to be done to make it right again. Restoration requires discipline, diligence and patience. With God’s intervention, the work becomes doable. Trust His guidance, His wisdom, His love and care for all His children and His ability to make the impossible possible.

“Put off the old self and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, putting on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:22-24 ESV

A rusted pail, a broken wheel within a vacant field,

A house that once was filled with love, the hands of time has stilled,

These remnants of those days gone by, where bounty once did stand,

Show lives wrapped up in simple things as meaningless as sand,

To let them go is difficult, but go they simply must,

These worldly things are useless if in them we put our trust,

The only constant in our life, is Jesus, Christ our Lord,

We find our peace in knowing Him and studying His Word,

Our God will give the things we need when in that hope we trust,

But faith is vital to our hope, and talk to Him we must,

Our God knows just what’s right for us, He’ll never let us down,

Just open up your heart in prayer and you’ll receive a crown,

Those remnants soon will go away and new life will begin,

When we let go and give it up, and put our trust in Him.

THANK YOU, JESUS, FOR ANOTHER DAY!