Christ’s Love for us

When we talk about the subject of Love, I am drawn to one topic, Christ’s love for us. The love God has shown us by sending His son, Jesus.  It may seem strange to you that I associate that with DIY, so let me try and explain.

I like to pick up curbside finds and bring them home.  You can often see how they need work and care to make them useful again.  For my example today, look at this rocking chair that I picked up at a garage sale.  It needs some work and as a drove it home it literally began falling to pieces in my truck.  I could hear the boards falling off and hitting the bed of my truck. 

If we are honest, I think most of us have had periods of time in our life when we felt that way.  When we felt like our life was coming apart at the seams.  I know for me it happened when I was working a high stress job being on call 24/7.  It felt like everyone who supported me was leaving one by one and I wasn’t sure I could hold all the pieces together.

Seeing the Imperfections

When I rescue a piece of furniture and take time to look it over, I see all of the dents and dings, the areas where the daily stresses of life have placed its marks upon the life of that furniture.  This old wood rocking chair has seen the elements. It has been drained of all it’s moisture and strength due to the weather.  The wood has shrunk causing the joints to fail and causing the individual parts to fall away from each other.

Isn’t that what happens to us.  As we deal with the stress, hurts, bruises and pain of life we pull away from others.  But what I have found is that it is only thru Christ’s love and the love of others that we can weather the storm.  Just like the chair we survive better with help.

As I work on the rocking chair, I apply Furniture Tonic to help replace the oil and moisture that the weather has drained from the wood.  These oils work, nourishing the natural fibers of the wood helping give it renewed life.  

Being Renewed

Think about that, that’s what Christ’s love for us wants to do for you and me.  When life is hard and draining, sapping me of all my energy, Christ is there every day, waiting to renew me and rescue me from the cares of the world.  All that I have to do is seek Him, spend time with Him, studying His word and in prayer.  Just as the Psalmist wrote, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalms 147:3

Another inspiring thing about working with lumber is creating useful and beautiful pieces from small scraps.  Pieces that so many overlook and throw away.  Therefore, took some scrap lumber and created this frame and picture backing. 

Kayla then designed a stencil with the scripture verse and we painted it on the rustic looking boards.

It reminds me of the times in life that I felt useless or unusable.  You have probably been there.  Maybe things just aren’t going right; others are being successful and you still struggle.  Maybe a family member or friend is ill and you just can’t seem to find a way to help.  Maybe you’re the one who is ill.  Maybe it is your marriage.  The list could go on and on. 

Christ’s Love Can Replenish Us

Christ’s love for us can guide us through those struggles. God is there and He can and will do amazing things for us and through us.  But we must be willing to listen to His voice.  “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”  Matthew 11: 28-30

Sharing Christ’s Love with Others

When it comes to love, think of your friends and family.  How you can be there for them through the good, the bad and the ugly.  Think of those in your community who are hurting and in need.  I know that I can’t fix every piece of furniture I see; I don’t have the time or the resources.  We can’t solve every problem in the world. 

But with God’s help I can help those I encounter each day.  Those who need to know His love.  You can point them to the One who can rescue and restore their life. 

Most of all, I would ask you to accept the challenge of bringing beauty to the world, not just through DIY but by caring for others?  You will be surprised how helping someone else will change your life more than theirs. 

One of my favorite verses says “But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong.” 1 Corinthians 1:2.  When I reach out to help others it many times seems crazy but in the end it is wonderful.

If you have a prayer request, send us a message through the comment page.  We would appreciate the opportunity to pray for you.

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