                                        
Lessons.
Some can be so hard to learn. Case in point….
Refinishing wood floors. Doesn’t sound like too difficult of a project. Heck, HGTV makes it look like anyone can do it pretty easily. Well….
 ………………….. almost anyone.
And if you are sure to read all the directions before beginning the project. Miss one step or minimize the importance of one step & you get to go all the way back to start. Like in start over. Do it all over again.
Lesson learned yesterday….
                                         Read & obey all the directions.
This morning in reflecting on our “project” of the last few days, I realized there is much to be said about the importance of obedience. God was sure to instruct His people:Â
“These are the commands, decrees, and regulations that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you. You must obey them in the land you are about to enter and occupy, and you and your children and grandchildren must fear the Lord your God as long as you live. If you obey all his decrees and commands, you will enjoy a long life. Listen closely, Israel, and be careful to obey. Then all will go well with you, and you will have many children in the land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you.” (Deuteronomy 6:1-3 NLT).
God was serious..”if you obey”…”then” you enjoy long life, then all will go well with you, then you will have many children in the land of promised. There are results that come with obedience. The instruction manual, God’s Word, must be obeyed.
Refinishing the wood floors has taught me three important lessons:
- Starting over is hard & painful work. The first time around, I was not in pain. At all. Second time round? I have raw knees & sore arms reminding me of the work that was done yesterday.
- Starting over gets you back on the right track. In order to get the floors right, we had to start over. We had to undo what was done & begin anew. Only now we had an understanding of where we erred, what to avoid & what we MUST do.
- Starting over is worth the outcome. I am so grateful that we could start over. Anew. And get it right. Time consuming? Yes. Painful? Yes. But worth it when the beauty of the floors will be enjoyed.
Do-Overs. They have gotten a bad rap in my opinion. Yesterday I was most grateful for the opportunity of a “do-over”. To correct what was wrong. Today I am grateful that God gives me the opportunity for a do-over as well.As a matter of fact, I get a fresh start, a do-over each day:
“Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.”               (Lamentations 3:23 NLT)
With that fresh start, that do-over I receive:
- forgiveness
- unfailing love
- hope and my personal favorite…
                            FULL REDEMPTION!!!!
If you doubt that, read Psalm 130. Verse 7 tells us:
“Put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love, and with him is full redemption” (Psalm 130:7 NIV).Â
Various versions state it a little differently but make a beautiful point:
“plenteous redemption” (AMP)
“redemption in abundance” (HCSB)
“generous redemption” (The Message)
“is more than willing to save” (NET)
“abundant redemption” (NKJV)
“His redemption overflows” (NLT)
 Any way you slice it, any version, His redemption will cover everything in our life. Every situation, trial, problem, sin, and mistake, He covers anew each time I come to Him & humble myself before Him. He will make sense of it all. In His time. In His own way. He will use it all for His glory. And to my much needed relief!!!
                          Who said old wood floors can’t teach a few good lessons?
