Touch Ups

“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.” Isaiah 40:31


 

Ihate to waste anything.  You can call me frugal (ok…cheap).  I’m very much into repurposing and reusing everyday products as much as possible.  I think it comes from valuing every hard-earned penny I’ve ever made.  And now that the family income is even smaller, I do my part to stretch every dime whenever possible.

 

Take for instance our patio furniture.  It has seen its better days and most certainly isn’t the latest and greatest in design…but it works.  The set was bought years ago and has held up quite well.

 

Last summer I decided to touch up the furniture with a coat of paint.  The set was looking dull and the rust was creeping up some of the support legs.  It worked well. They turned out nice and gave us another season.

 

photo: Renae Bowman

Last week, the weather turned nice for a short time and I ventured outdoors.  I noticed some spots I missed previously, as well as other chairs needing a new coat, so I grabbed a couple of $4 cans of paint and started sprucing it all up for the coming season.

 

Do you think that God could use those spray cans to make a point?  In my best northern accent…You Betcha!

 

In our walk with Jesus, in this living-out our faith journey, we, too, MUST get touch ups.  We are, in essence, used furniture that wears down and needs sprucing and polishing in order to get ready for the new season. A season that will be full of new bumps and turns with let downs and heartaches and trials.  A season of the proverbial rain, snow, harsh sunlight, and everything in between.  Can you see how our lives closely mirror that furniture sitting outside!  Did you ever think you would?   Welcome to my brain!

 

So how do we touch up our faith?

 

Time.

 

Pure, unadulterated, time.

 

More specifically,…time with the Father.  Time with the Prince of Peace.  Time with Jesus.  Alone.  Focused.  Given all over to Him.

 

How?

 

Your choice.  Your doing.

 

However, there has to be a deliberate act to disconnect from the noise in order to focus on the Source.

 

The Son of Man understood this:

“But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”  Luke 5:16

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary

place, where he prayed.” Mark 1:35

 

Touch ups. Renewal.

 

I put my money where my mouth is on this one.  This isn’t just “advice.”

 

Yesterday, I unplugged.  I went off grid.  I purposely gave my day to the One who gave me my day.  It probably won’t happen again for another year, but I cherished every moment.

 

Taking advantage of my husband being out of town, I set my heart to a day of respite and retreat with Jesus.  I alerted the kids, notified the family, and told friends that I was going offline.  Not out of haste towards them, but out of love towards Jesus.  I needed my own day focused solely on him.  I immersed myself in everything Jesus.  From my morning coffee at sunrise sitting outside thanking Him for the day, to laying blankets out on the grass to read The Word and meditate in the afternoon sun, I gave Him the day.  Not in form of endless prayer requests or lamentations of life, but endless thoughts of praises and connection.  Of reading and understanding and even journaling love letters to God.  It was glorious!

 

view from my pillow, on the blankets, on the grass.

view from my pillow, on the blankets, on the grass.

And in it, I was renewed.  I gave Him my time and in return He refreshed my soul.  He put upon my heart and mind thoughts to weather the coming season. He gave me respite.

 

Oh how I pray that you can all do this.  In some form or capacity, I hope you will. Be it a weekend retreat, a day away in seclusion, a couple of hours alone on a blanket in your back yard, Jesus is calling you to meet him there.  And there you will be given a new coat of paint.  A new coat to stop the rust and to guard against the elements.  I’m certain of it.

 

 

 

 

Dear Lord, thank you for my special day but bless the woman who is reading this with her own day.  Open her schedule, clear her calendar, send the family away so she can be with just You.  Put upon her heart to reconnect with you and to be painted with your protective barrier.  Give her respite in your shelter.  Thank you gracious Father.  Amen.

7 Replies

  1. Laviale Wald

    Thank you for a refreshing thought, I’m finding that every minute you spend with the Lord is given back to you and in wonderful ways. Spending time with just Him is the best time of the day for me and find that the remainder of the day seems to go much smoother no matter what the circumstances THANK YOU AGAIN

    PS new email address cancel the comcast.net one if you will please

    1. Yes Vi, the day is so much different when we start it off with Him. The days are so rare that I can just escape to being with Him..not sure why but it was a gift from above. I am glad you share my sentiments!

      As for the email on this site, you will need to unsubscribe and then re-subscribe with your new address. should be fairly simple. If not, let me know.

      Thank you for stopping by and chatting.

      renae

  2. Carrie

    Love your inspiring words of wisdom! I absolutely need to make time to immerse myself in Him so I can be renewed as Romans 12:2 says: “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

    1. Thank you Carrie! I almost put that verse in the post. Great minds…. Thank you for stopping by, reading and leaving a comment. We appreciate it beyond words!

  3. Monica Rojas

    Loved it!!!

    1. Thank you Monica! Thanks for following us. 🙂

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