Renew. That’s my job. I renew chairs. The work of removing the old and applying the new is very rewarding. I enjoy the challenges, and the variety of materials chosen to complete each transformation.

However, it’s the stories…the family history behind the furniture…that is my absolute favorite. It’s such an honor to get to hear the special memory nuggets shared by a client.

In my work I see many similarities of old and new in the lives of people. Myself in particular. But also the precious few people who trust me with the stories of their life’s journey.

Anyone in Christ is a new creation… ¹

Renewing. We, too, need to shed the old tatters for a new robe. Just as I strip a chair down to the inner padding and the true form of the chair, our loving God removes the layers of our lives that have been tainted, faded, worn and abused. The old has gone away.

What’s left a clean slate…like a blank canvas, a washed chalk board, a seashore wiped clean by the surf. Removing the old makes room for the new. The removal is necessary. We don’t like the process. It’s painful. It takes time we don’t think we have.

Really, most of us we just don’t want to do the hard work of surrender. We don’t want to give ourselves over to admitting there’s a problem. We don’t want to go through the painful stripping of forgiveness.

…The old has gone, the new is here! ¹

Renewal. I have worked on difficult chairs. They are time consuming. The ones that have been covered over. And over. And over. I remove the top fabric only to find the previous old fabric. I remove that layer, doubling the time and effort. Sometimes there’s still more underneath.

The layering ultimately has to be removed. The true form of the chair has been lost. It’s necessary to get all the old stuff off and find the true image. It’s then, after the stripping away, that renewal can take place. This is also true for people. It’s been true for me. How about you?

Jesus tells us that our lives surrendered into His hands will become new. The old will be removed and we will wear His new. He is the true master artisan. Will we submit and receive? I choose to…Renew!

Eyes on Jesus…you’re shining! 

 

Lisa
 

 

 

 

Lisa Brittain and her husband, Randy, live in Lilburn, Georgia, with their three puppies…Nole, Liberty, and Victor. Follow Lisa’s blogs and current events at EyesOnJesusAndShine. And check out her book, 31 Days of Gleaning with Ruth—Questioning My Way Through a Famine Season, available now on Amazon.com. 

 

 

 

 

Footnotes: (1) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17 TNIV.
 
Pictures: Banner Photo: New Beginnings, from “Becoming Who You Are” by Curry Blake (1-24-2017), John G. Lake Ministries. (1) 2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT, LF Radio, Daily Verse (9-3-2019). (2) Renew by Lisa Brittain.