I love to take pictures!  As a matter of fact, I have about three years worth I am trying to organize so we can actually look at them!  So, naturally, when we had a LARGE limb fall from one of our trees, and my husband, Shane, was sawing if off, I grabbed my camera.  I got some great shots of him, up high on the ladder with his tools in hand.  He even cooperated with me and smiled.  I thought I would then join my husband in conversation as he went on being a lumber jack.  When we were finished cutting the limbs into logs, and were ready to go in, I forgot to bring in my camera.  I didn’t even realize it until I heard my husband saying something, a little more loudly than normal.  I quickly remembered.  The camera was left outside, where it had rained all night long and into the morning!  I couldn’t believe I could do something that stupid, with something so precious, expensive and valuable.  Shane brought it in, keeping his cool, thank the Lord, and turned it on.  Much to my surprise, and his, it turned on.  We took out the battery and the memory card to let it dry out.  After a day, we held our breath, me especially, and turned it on again.  We took a picture.  It looked good.  We took another.  It wasn’t ruined!  You would not believe the sigh of relief that came out of my mouth!  What should have been ruined, needed a bit of time to dry, and was restored!  Shane and I thanked God for that miracle!

Besides our camera, I know that God has performed a lot of miracles in my life.  I have gotten myself knee deep in water before only to wonder if I was going to drown.  I have been wet so many times from my mistakes and sin that I didn’t think God would ever want to use me again.  However, while I am in the waves, He comes just as He promises in the Bible to forgive and restore me.  He has protected me from the storms, and performed miracles as I have tried to leave my marriage, and even when I wanted to leave God. He allows me to dry off and try again.  He even keeps no memories of my sin.  This amazes me, and is a miracle in itself.  And, God still uses me, a wet, dripping woman who still struggles with sin that I still find myself gasping for air.  Yet, God is always by my side, handing me a towel to dry off, and to give me a gentle shove to go out into the world.  My camera was not ruined, and I am not ruined.  I may look ruined to the world, and you may too, but in God’s eyes, we are His children, and He sees us as precious and valuable, just as I see my camera.  

No matter what you have done, who has hurt you, or left you out in the rain, God is waiting to dry you off, and restore you.  No matter what.  I have learned that none of us are perfect, only He is.  Take your towel, dry off, spend some time with Jesus, and thank Him for the miracles in your life.  Get up, keep walking, keep living strong.  God has a purpose for you!  You are not ruined, only a work in process…and so am I. 

Psalm 51:12

“Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”