Restoration

Websters Dictionary defines restoration as this:

1. an act of restoring or the condition of being restored as
a: a bringing back to a former position or condition: restoration of peace
b: a restoring to an unimpaired or improved condition
2. something that is restored; especially a representation or reconstruction of the original form

I have had restoration on my mind a lot lately and a funny thing happened today at work. One of our regular vendors came in and we had a short chat about the normal things... the weather, wishing it were Friday....blah blah... Then I said something to him that opened the door for him to share with me a story that I had JUST read over the weekend. I simply said, "I am sorry for rushing you". That was the simple statement I made. He said, "Honnie I have gotten in trouble so many times bc I was in a hurry". I said, "Yes you have to slow down and take thtime to enjoy life or you miss so much".

We talked about a story in the bible. A story about David, awe a man after God's own heart, it was during the reign of King Saul. David had every chance to kill Saul upon his betrayal. But bc he had his FATHER's heart...he still loved Saul despite everything. David and Jonathon (Saul's son) loved one another as brother's did. David made a covenant with Jonathon that he would watch keep over Jonathon and his descendants, a covenant which God blessed. King Saul and Jonathon both died in battle and David became King David. While in the kingdom King David stood and said, "Is there no one here left from the house of King Saul". David knew not of Jonathon's son bc he had been hidden and his identity kept secret. His nurse feared for the boys life bc she was sure that David would want to kill Saul's descendants. BUT the son was brought before King David - and David said to the son - "Come and eat at my table".

I realized today that this is a story of God's restoration. Saul basically betrayed David's love. BUT King David's heart would not allow him to break his covenant with Jonathon. His love was so strong that King David still wanted to do nothing but bless Jonathon's son. And so he did.

This story paints of picture of God's beautiful heart for us. He desires to keep covenant with us and to restore all things to former and even greater measure than all things former. God wants to restore everything the enemy has taken from us and even those things that we have freely given to the enemy.

Just a thought. I am in the process of seeing my dad's restoration process and it is a most beautiful thing. God is restoring all things to a greater measure of the former. Dad picked up a new puppy on Monday. She is six weeks old, mother picked her out and we all adore her. She is the smartest German Shepard already. Very responsive and most gentle with the kids. She knows that she is home. I helped them find a name for her. Her name is Shivah pronounced (shy-vah). It is the indian word for restoration. She is the foundation and the start to a new beginning - a new start. She is the first of many for the soon to be established - Shiloh7 kennels. Welcome to Shiloh Shivah. Shiloh - means God's property and a place of peace and rest!