Rise
In Greek mythology, the Phoenix is a bird that regenerates. The Phoenix obtains new life from rising from the ashes of its predecessor. In some sources, the Phoenix dies by bursting into flames and is reborn from its own ashes. I've always admired the ability to reinvent oneself. People do not have the ability to regenerate in the mythical sense, but we do heal. We do reinvent ourselves. We do rise from the ashes of our failures. We do rise and we have the ability to be reborn. We can always change our mind. We can change our trajectory. Every day is a second chance to get it right. What are some of the areas in your life that you can rise from today? What have you overcome? How have you reinvented yourself?
Remember
The Israelites built an altar of twelve stones when they crossed the Jordan. Elijah built an altar of twelve stones when he was in a competition with the prophets of Baal. The twelve stones represent the twelve tribes of Judah. The altars are memorials of God's faithfulness. When we get into certain situations, we may find it hard to remember what God has already done. We can't see the forest for the trees. We can't see past our own circumstances. We can't see beyond our own pain and disappointment, but God is still faithful. We just need to remember that God is a faithful God. What altars have you built in your life to remind you of God's faithfulness? If you haven't built an altar, I challenge you to build one, as a reminder of not only what God has done, but what he continues to do in your life. Remember!
Regret
Woulda. Coulda. Shoulda. We all have some things we regret. We all have some things we wish we would have done differently. Since time travel is not possible, we have to live with those mistakes. We have to glean the lessons and chalk them up as life experience. Every experience is not going to be positive. Every opportunity is not going to the end they way we may think it should, and that’s ok. Regret is a part of life. We just have to make sure we don’t live there. Forgive yourself and others.
Restoration
Joel 2:25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.
res·to·ra·tion
/ˌrestəˈrāSH(ə)n/
noun
the action of returning something to a former owner, place, or condition.
the return of a hereditary monarch to a throne, a head of state to government, or a regime to power.
Most of us can remember all the things we have lost in this life. For those of us who have experienced tragedy, the list might be in the forefront of our minds. We reminisce. We remember, and sometimes we regret. Loss has a way of bringing up all sorts of emotions, but how do we feel when we experience restoration? How do we feel when the claim check is in the mail? How do we feel when we buy another house? How do we feel when we get a second chance to get right? God is a restorer. He is a God of restoration. For everything you have lost, you should have an expectation of God. God is a God of more than enough. There are countless stories of restoration in the bible. My favorite is Job, a strong second is Elijah and the widow. Take time to focus on God’s word and ask for restoration in your life. What do you need God to restore?
Refurbish
Have you ever seen a piece of furniture that has a bunch scratches and marks on it and thought to yourself, it just needs to be sanded and fresh coat of paint? A fresh coat of paint can work miracles. A fresh coat of paint can make all the difference. A fresh coat of paint is usually the second to last step when you refurbish something. The last step is when you add the gloss or the sealer. The gloss is what makes it shine.
The interesting thing about refurbishing is that you use most of the original parts. You typically strip the original color and sand the surface. You want to make sure everything is even. You fix any surface issues, make whatever minor adjustments or upgrades, paint and you're done.
Now, think of yourself as this project. You are made of quality material, but along the way you've got some knicks and scratches. You might need a handle or two to be replaced, but overall you're a sturdy piece of furniture. Should you be thrown out or just refurbished? All you need is a small investment, some time, tlc and a fresh coat of paint. There are some people and things in your life that don't need to be discarded. They just need to be refurbished.
As/Is
In the last few years, I've become quite the bargain shopper. My husband and I have really gotten into "diy" projects. A lot of the items we purchase are "as/is," which basically means we agree to purchase the item regardless of its condition when it is sold. Interesting enough, there are a lot of people who have taken an interest in "diy," refurbishing, and restoration projects.
It's funny how people are willing to accept items they purchased in "as/is" condition, but not people. The truth is all of us are "as/is." There is no guarantee that we will grow and mature. People change when they choose to change. People change when they are willing to do the work. Accept people for who they are, without any expectations.Celebrate them when they choose to grow. Learn to love people in their current condition, "as/is."
Work
It's funny how people don't really understand that anything worth having requires work. Success takes work. Friendships require work to maintain. Relationships require a lot of work. Marriage, degrees, anything that comes with a title takes work. Blood, sweat, and tears type work. "I put my all in" type work. "I gave it everything I have" type work. "I wake up early and go to bed late" type work. I just don't get it. I do get it, actually. Things you don't work for, you don't value. They are disposable. So, people and relationships become disposable when you don't work for it. Things of little value can be discarded without second thought. What do you value? Who do you value? The answer to both questions is what or whom did you work for?