January 7, 2011

restore

In 2010, I chose a word to define the year ahead.  That word was equilibrium (see posts here and here).

For 2011, I have chosen to build upon last year's word with the following:

Restore
re·store   
[ri-stawr, -stohr]  –verb (used with object), -stored, -stor·ing.
1. to bring back into existence, use, or the like; reestablish: to restore order.
2. to bring back to a former, original, or normal condition, as a building, statue, or painting.
3. to bring back to a state of health, soundness, or vigor.
4. to put back to a former place, or to a former position, rank, etc.: to restore the king to his throne.
5. to give back; make return or restitution of (anything taken away or lost).
6. to reproduce or reconstruct (an ancient building, extinct animal, etc.) in the original state.

Not only does this have physical ramifications for my life (see previous post-- gain) but also dramatic spiritual implications.

How so?

Restore-- to rest in silence and solitude with my Father, my God.
Restore-- to attune my spirit to the whispering of Jesus in everyday life with everyone.
Restore-- to be a peacemaker in my home binding us together in harmony by love.
Restore-- to join with God in the reconciliation of all people to Himself.
Restore-- to provoke the comfortable to adventure, the apathetic to curiosity, the sojourning to                         
                 seeking.
Restore-- to receive grace.
Restore-- to be made new again and again and again.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!  All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5:17-21