New
Photo Credit: Piero Fissore
Recently I saw a picture on Facebook of a table someone refurbished. It was amazing what a little vision, paint, and elbow grease could produce. A magical transformation was made from old to new. On the very same day I saw another sequence of pictures documenting the process of an older, smaller house being torn down and built up again to become something stronger and bigger. It really inspires me to watch what can be done when someone is able to see the potential in a broken thing whether it's a rundown home or a piece of furniture on the side of the road. One man's trash becomes another man's treasure in the hands of the right creator.
The name of this church is Restoration. It's founded on the vision that God desires, through Jesus, to restore our lives, homes, community, and world. Just like the person who posted a picture of the freshly restored table and a newly renovated, more stable home, Jesus loves and longs to find that which is broken and make it whole again. He is the ultimate restorer. He is the right creator. Into His hands we commit our broken lives.
In the Old Testament, when the prophet Isaiah spoke of his calling in life he was also pointing to the restorative character of the coming Savior. "The spirit of the sovereign Lord is on me, because The Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor, he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives, and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion--to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair." Isaiah 61:1-3 & Luke 4:16-21.
Jesus was anointed and sent to preach good news to the poor. To bind up those whose hearts are broken. To proclaim freedom for those in prison. To release from the darkness those who are its prisoners. To trade mourning, grieving, and despair for grace, comfort, beauty, gladness, and praise. Talk about the best makeover! Come to Him with one messed up life and watch as he repairs, remakes, and renews one so beautiful it can hardly be recognized. The old brokenness is eclipsed by the new beauty and the new beauty gives way to overwhelming praise for Jesus, the One who did it all.
Our hope at Restoration Church is that you would experience, trust, and follow Jesus with every ounce of your being. Hear us when we say nothing you've done is beyond His forgiveness. He wants to restore you and by restoring you, He'll lead the way to restoring your present circumstances. A failing marriage? Lack of purpose? Sadness? Depression? Loneliness? Anxious? Weary? Scared?Ashamed? Proud? Angry? Bitter? Disappointed? Humiliated? Confused? Just fine without Him?
Whatever you'll give Him, He'll take it and restore it to new. Not "like new" but totally new. A kind of new you didn't know was possible. That's a trustworthy promise.
Behold, I am making all things new. Revelation 21:5