6/26/97 Restoration
Dear Friends:
(If it is welcome and a blessing, send it on to others,Lee)
Yesterday began some restoration for me. If you preach it, you have to walk in it. I met with a former pastor of mine and I feel comforted about it. Part of it was just that the more time you are away from somebody, frequently the enemy has the ability to move in.
Restoration has begun quite important to me lately. I see that part of it is the Spirit of God moving upon me and others, part of it the urgency of the times and part of it our desire to remove walls, so that we may be at peace and God's Kingdom may come.
I am not great at restoration, but God is. As I have submitted to Him, there are walls within and between myself and others that come down. My dad is now in the hospital, and one of my goals has been to be sure there are no remaining walls between Him. Since my acceptance of Christ, there has been a desire to restore what had been broken.
A few weeks ago in a group of 20-30 people, I got a ball of yarn, and called it "resentment". Each person in this circle, got "mad" at someone, until the yarn had crisscrossed the circle numerous times. Then with the remaining person, I had kept aside, I told him, He was the Spirit of God, and to go "minister" to 3 or 4 people. His first attempt was stymied by trying to step over, to remain untangled. The point was, that where there are lines of bitterness and anger, God's Holy Spirit's ministry is stifled.
I personally want to be open to the work that God wants to do. Too many of us resist His presence when it comes to seeing lines of communication opened, restored. Too many things do not happen in churches because of this problem.
Today, look at your life. Are there areas that could use mending? Ask forgiveness of the Father and reach out to Him. Let His Spirit guide you and direct you to reconciliation and restoration. We are brothers and sisters, and the Word of God clearly records that when one of us hurts the body of Christ hurts.
For some this process may involve family, friends, and associates (pretty much covers it!), but the act of moving towards them is a freeing process to you as well. Let me encourage you to set your sights on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Let His direction and His Word be your guide. As you set these individuals free, the power and the might of God are able to move upon them in a greater realm. They are released from the bondages of anger and unforgiveness.
God's Grace is ministered in your life as you open doors to Him, releasing the years of destruction. I pray that you will see the areas, and the solutions as God opens your eyes and ears to them. Restoration is a God process. It brings much fruit with it.
Selah.
Shalom.
We pray for you, each and every day. If this is an encouragement to you. Please tell us, and please email it to someone else. If you have a prayer request, please mail it to us. We want to stand with you, battling spiritual wickedness, seeing people made free. We want to serve our brother and sister.
In the Service of Christ for His Glory,
Lee Johndrow
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Springfield, Vermont 05156
For those who support us in prayer and deed we appreciate it.
Thank you,
Lee & Tina Johndrow
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