Recovering What Was Taken........

"David recovered what the Amalekites had taken from him...." I Samuel 30:18

       I went to hear Jim Cymbala last night. If you have been in hiding for the last 25 years or so, Jim is the pastor of the Brooklyn Tabernacle Church in New York and has written many books on the Christian church. He encourages Christians to remember that the Holy Spirit is in them and that we have God's power in us to overcome the things we are struggle with. I admire his teaching because he is simple and to the point. Last night was no different. I was at a banquet for Harvest Ministries in Opelika, AL. They minister to men and women who are in some form of bondage including addictions. There were several testimonies of healing in people's live, the residents did a great presentation of the Cardboard testimony and the challenge was great. TELL THE GOOD NEWS to those who are struggling and God can restore that which was taken. 

(See this example of a Cardboard testimony..very powerful. http://youtu.be/JnKkw5F8drc)

Anyway, these verses got me to thinking about how God loves us so much that as we come into a personal relationship with Him, He can RESTORE what has been taken from us. He restored David's family and livelihood from the robbers(the Amalekites). He restored many others in the Bible. So...........

                                  He can help us as well. 

 

 I think of our two boys. A LOT was taken from them when they were young...stable parents, healthy living, the right to have a childhood. Even though they did NOT have those things, they CAN be restored and that "life" is being restored through our family. 

I think about the fact that though I did not have a "father" growing up, I found my Heavenly Father at the age of 12 and He brought "many father like figures" to me throughout my life. 

He CAN bring back what has been taken from you. 

When I was in NYC at Graffiti Community Ministries, I knew  A LOT of people who had had their life taken from them from either bad choices they made OR that others made for them and when they invited Jesus into their heart, their lives began to be be restored to wholeness. Was it the same life as before? No! It was a BETTER life...

 Here in Montgomery, I have been working with a woman whose whole life(husband, possessions,etc)was taken away in a flash because of someone else's wrong choices. She is being restored. Is  it the same life as before? No! It is a BETTER life. 

If God can bring back to David, his family and all his possessions that had been stolen, he can bring back what was "taken" from you!  

           I wonder what has been "taken" from you today?

  

 Here are a few verses to encourage you. They bring me HOPE!

Joel 2:25-26 ESV  "I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you. “You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame".

John 10:10 ESV "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly". 

Matthew 11:28 ESV "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest".