I wouldn't still be standing on two feet moving forward with the complete renovation of my future life if it weren't for the faithful friendship of Jesus. He's been here every single moment of every single day for all these 4 years. Even before we knew we would have to completely tear down the old and rebuild from the foundation.
He knew though. And fortunately for us, He’s been our foundation. We, STFM and I, were counseled early that we would need a solid rock foundation for our marriage and family. We already knew His name, Jesus, and we even agreed it was true. We were living in Florida where the ground was more sand than rock or clay. Foundations and sturdy construction were key in that part of the country to surviving hurricanes with life, limb and home in tact.
Yet, no one truly can fathom the significance of a truth until they’re tested.
And just like old-time Floridians who’ve stayed and survived many a hurricane; our marital structure’s been severely tested a number of times over thirty years. Most recently, we’ve been tested right down to the firmness of the foundation.
He, Jesus, our Rock and our Firm Foundation, has tested true. All our dreams, plans and perceptions of our future life together may have fallen to the brutal winds of long term illness and being unwillingly career-ended. Yet, as we find our legs to stand up again, we choose to move forward. Me and STFM, we choose as an act of our will, because of His faithfulness, to trust His foundation for our lives.
You use steel to sharpen steel,
and one friend sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17 The Message
Jesus, my renovation friend, He’s got some great ideas for rebuilding. He knows the plans He has for us and they are good. So prayerfully, STFM and I are a bit wiser after thirty years. I believe we are a bit more mature and weather tested to submit our architectural plans before Him Who sees the future and knows the number of our days.
Gratefully, too, He sends His representatives to walk along side us with skin on. Oh our Father, and Master Builder is with us always. He delights in daily walk and talks about how plans and structure are taking shape as we continue to yield our way to His loving care and design.
Yet, daily He calls upon His other children in our local community, and even some who live afar, to encourage us and help with the practical things of life. These renovation friends have caught the vision - at least a glimmer of the vision as I am poor with my ability to adequately put into words the design our Master Builder is revealing to us.
Our foundation is secure. The Master’s design is good. Worker bees lovingly come along side as Holy Spirit inspires ideas for their contribution to the re-building of our future.
I truly struggle for words to express my heart for all of you who have given gifts of prayer, encouraging words, gift cards, dinners for our freezer, and financial contributions. And then those of you who have boldly chosen to embrace my desire and motivation to become a repairer and restorer of broken and worn out things, you have given me courage to keep getting up in the morning and boldly take steps forward to create and renew.
Thank you for the tool bag, dad, and the tools, but thank you most of all for taking time and energy to teach me how to use them. Thank you friends, for adding tools to my tool bag, but most of all thank you for teaching me how to use those in reupholstery and for giving me projects to work on. Thank you for offering your broken, torn, and worn out things so that I might be able to use my own hands to bless you with something new and beautiful.
Who doesn’t need a renovation friend?
I certainly do. I need friends who have spiritual eyes to see, and aren’t afraid to walk in the new thing our Master Builder is doing. I need my best friend, Jesus, all day long and every single day to keep me grounded in His firm foundation. Some days He carries me and other days He insists I get up and wash my face to move forward.
Yes, I need renovation friends. How about you?
~ Meet Lisa Brittain ~
For a number of years I’ve pondered the scripture - Isaiah 58:11-12 - and it’s relevance to my personal life as well as the streets in which I dwell. I’ve been asking Father God if He would allow me to be called a repairer/restorer as He describes here in His Word.
Me and STFM finding reasons to smile through the renovation.
I will always show you where to go. I'll give you a full life in the emptiest of places - firm muscles, strong bones. You'll be like a well-watered garden, a gurgling spring that never runs dry. You'll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew, rebuild the foundations from out of your past. You'll be known as those who can fix anything, restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate, make the community livable again. Isaiah 58:11-12
I invite you to join me in the repairing restoring work our Father wants to do - not just on the streets in which I dwell or the homes within my town, but yours as well.