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God is a Rehab Addict

March 4, 2015 / Cindy Barclay / "Treasure Trove" Blog Roll
15

How in the world is it March 3rd? I’m in denial because I actually skipped January. 🙂   A nasty battle with influenza kept me bed and couch ridden for about 4 weeks.  At first, all I did was sleep, but after a week or so way to dozing, getting up only for necessities, and watching HGTV. More HGTV than anyone should be allowed to watch. 😉

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[Tweet “Do you need an extreme #spiritual #makeover? Ask- you shall receive! #AwesomeGod”]

 

I’ll admit it.  I’m an HGTV addict.  There is such a “rush” watching something dilapidated become transformed into something beautiful.  I never get tired of watching the process yielding the final result.   From Property Brothers to Love it or List It, to Fixer Upper or My Big House, to Income Property or Holmes on Homes. The similarity of their mission stokes my creative fires.  Jeff says, “You’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all.”  Gotta disagree babe. 😉

 

As I watch, I’m caught up in the excitement.  I want to do what they do.  Take something broken and make it beautiful.  It always surprises me how each and every project is unique and the outcome is amazingly different and exquisite.

beforeafter

On Netflix, I found I could watch series after series without commercial interruption!  Holy Moley! Can you say mother lode of my deep need to see “happily ever after”?

 

One new to me series I fell in love with was Rehab Addict. (can you say obsession 🙂 )  I found myself drawn to Nicole Curtis, a single mom whose passion is to buy old, abandoned homes. Tirelessly, she hunts for ramble shack, broken-down, decaying homes.  She’s drawn to damaged and neglected homes and compelled to restore them to their former glory.

She doesn’t just gut and remodel.  She painstakingly restores each and every room.  Leaving the original “everything” as much as possible and revitalizing it to be everything it was built to be.

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She’s a rehab addict.  And as I watched her passion and dedication to old houses, a flash- a deep knowing exploded in my little brain.

An addict, by definition is one who is devoted or given up to a practice or habit or to something; obsessed and given over to-

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“Why, God is a Rehab Addict”.  I realized. He’s wholly given over  is to rescue and restore. “I’ve been gutted by life.  Demolished and damaged.  I felt like I should just be torn down because I wasn’t really a “house” anymore. But God bought me.  He saved me from destruction.  He is committed to my full and complete restoration!  And He’s doing it room by room!”

 

 [Tweet “God is a Rehab #addict- wholly given to #rescue and #restore #humanity.”]

But God! He is the Master of all Rehab and Restoration Architects. I think it’s only amazing that Jesus’ earthly job was a carpenter! 🙂

 

He is on the hunt for anyone who is broken down and in need of restoration and/or transformation.  God looked down and saw my decaying, ramshackle of a life.  With His Designer’s Eye, He looked through my messiness and visioned my transformation. His skill and tender care began the work of reconstructing my “house” to it’s intended beauty.  And He’s not done with me yet! He won’t take short cuts.  He’s committed to my full restoration.

And God!

He sees individual potential and inherent beauty in each and every person He’s made.  The Creator is drawn to His broken-down creation and His compassion compels Him to restore them to their former glory.  He doesn’t just gut and remodel.  He painstakingly restores every area of our lives.  He doesn’t destroy our identity or make us over to look like everyone else.  Instead, He revitalizes and renews the old to become new.

 

God lives and loves to REHAB His people.  He’s “addicted”to making all things new.

[Tweet “I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me? #salvation #awesome #God”]

 

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surprisingtreasures logoSurprising Treasures: Colossions 1:20 Amplified

20 And God purposed that through ([q]by the service, the intervention of) Him [the Son] all things should be completely reconciled [r]back to Himself, whether on earth or in heaven, as through Him, [the Father] made peace by means of the blood of His cross.

John 3:17
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

New International Version
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free,

New American Standard Bible
“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”


New Living Translation Revelation 21:5
And the One sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then He said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.”

Christian family, God of Grace, joyful journey, special needs parents

15 comments on “God is a Rehab Addict”

  1. Mid says:
    March 5, 2015 at 11:42 am

    This just touched me to the core! So true of my life . . . and your mention of how Jesus was a carpenter~how fitting to the message~reminded me of the short story God gave me for the Faithwriters Challenge, “Shavings”. While He is restoring us here, He is building our mansions “there”!! Shivers!!!
    ♥ you, Cindy,
    Mid

    Reply
    • Cindy says:
      March 5, 2015 at 2:05 pm

      You are beautiful dear Sister! A palace under construction by the loving hand of our Father! I love that- “while He is restoring us here- He is building our mansions “there” ” Our God is a Builder and Restorer extraordinaire! I love being under His “construction”. Thanks for stopping by! <3 hugs and blessings

      Reply
  2. Lori Brennan says:
    March 5, 2015 at 12:01 pm

    I’m right there with you about being an HGTV addict!! I love those shows! This is a great analogy about how God restores and transforms us. I remember like it was yesterday wondering if I was going to be “me” when God started doing His work in my heart. The Lord gave Jeff insight to how I was struggling with this and he said to me that I would still be “me”, but changed. It’s amazing how God does the things he does in our lives. Oh how I love him for it!! Thanks Cindy!

    Reply
    • Cindy says:
      March 5, 2015 at 6:18 pm

      You’re welcome, Lori! I remember thinking that, too! I love that God isn’t using a cookie cutter or one blueprint for all of us! He delights in our uniqueness and loves restoring us to be all He created us to be!!! Woohoo! hugs sweet friend!

      Reply
  3. Susan Hughes says:
    March 5, 2015 at 12:28 pm

    What a delightful way to start my day! This is an amazing little treasure, Cindy. One of my favorites!

    Reply
    • Cindy says:
      March 5, 2015 at 10:36 pm

      Thanks Susan! You started my day with a blessing just by visiting and sharing! I love comments but most of all I appreciate your loyal encouragement and support! hugs and blessings

      Reply
  4. Sam Eaton says:
    March 5, 2015 at 5:48 pm

    Love HGTV and this post! You are so right, God is totally a rehab addict! Just last night at small group we went around and shared one change we’ve seen in our life since coming to Christ. Everyone around the room had something incredible from addiction to suicide. God is all about restoration! Thank you for your beautiful writing!

    Reply
    • Cindy says:
      March 5, 2015 at 6:23 pm

      Thank you, Sam for stopping by, reading and taking the time to comment! I love like-minded rehab brothers and sisters! I think sometimes people are “bored” with God because they haven’t needed Him to do a total overhaul in their life. Once you’ve been touched by His skill and love- look out world- we have something to shout about! blessings Sam!

      Reply
  5. Edy says:
    March 5, 2015 at 6:39 pm

    No wonder we’re so thrilled by rehab programs – we’re part of God’s workmanship and we delight in His restoration making “all things new!” Whoop-de-do! I love the way your mind makes all these beautiful connections, Cindy! Thank you, sweet sister!

    Reply
    • Cindy says:
      March 5, 2015 at 10:37 pm

      A lot of hard work- vision- patience with a plan for our good- a Masterpiece in the making! So joyful He knows what He’s doing and I can rest in His grand plans for my life! hugs back sweet sister! 🙂

      Reply
  6. Jeff Barclay says:
    March 5, 2015 at 11:00 pm

    Jesus–full of grace and glory. Jesus accepts what is and sees what could = Grace. Jesus tears out all the old, worn-out, broken, and “cheap” fixes and restores with the fresh and new = Truth.
    Same house, reborn!

    Reply
  7. Julie Garmon says:
    March 5, 2015 at 11:07 pm

    Beautiful analogy, Cindy! Agree!!

    Reply
  8. Cindy says:
    March 7, 2015 at 2:07 pm

    Thanks for stopping by and sharing, Julie! Hope things are going great for you and yours. hugs and blessings!

    Reply
  9. Kathryn Shirey says:
    March 14, 2015 at 2:54 am

    I’m such an HGTV fan too! Definitely my go-to. Love the parallel to God as our rehab addict! Great post! #BloggerCareGroup

    Reply
  10. Cindy says:
    March 15, 2015 at 6:16 pm

    Thanks so much Kathryn! I just love God’s commitment to transforming our lives! Have a wonderful week! hugs and blessings <3

    Reply

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[panel style=”default” title=”My Surprising Journey” text_align=”left”]

What is God’s Surprising Treasures?

“I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who calls you by your name.” Isaiah 45:3

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[panel style=”default” title=”About Cindy” text_align=”left”]Jeff & Cindy

Hi, I’m Cindy- 35 years of “livin” with my prince charming, Jeff. I’m a home maker, not a house wife, parent of 7, memory maker, mama bear, Nana to 11 & counting, Pastor’s wife and I’m daily amazed by the depths of God’s love.

I love reading, home schooling, encouraging others, playing the piano, worshiping, dating my husband, and planning parties and retreats for our clan. Someday, I really want a horse and learn to play the cello and viola.

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