Day: January 5, 2013

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A LEAF OF HOPE

After seven days Noah again sent out the dove from the boat, and that evening it came back to him with a fresh olive leaf in its mouth. GENESIS 8:10–11

An olive leaf. Noah would have been happy to have the bird but to have the leaf! This leaf was more than foliage;this was promise. The bird brought more than a piece of a tree; it brought hope. For isn’t that what hope is? Hope is an olive leaf—evidence of dry land after a flood …

Don’t we love the olive leaves of life? “It appears the cancer may be in remission.” “I can help you with those finances.” “We’ll get through this together.” What’s more, don’t we love the doves that bring them? When the father walks his son through his first broken heart, he gives him an olive leaf. When the wife of many years consoles the wife of a few months, when she tells her that conflicts come and all husbands are moody and these storms pass, you know what she is doing? She is giving an olive leaf.

We love olive leaves. And we love those who give them.

from A LOVE WORTH GIVING

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A Complete Restoration

You will know that God’s power is very great for us who believe.
EPHESIANS 1:19

God loves to decorate. God has to decorate. Let him live long enough in a heart, and that heart will begin to change. Portraits of hurt will be replaced by landscapes of grace. Walls of anger will be demolished and shaky foundations restored. God can no more leave a life unchanged than a mother can leave her child’s tear untouched.…

This might explain some of the discomfort in your life. Remodeling of the heart is not always pleasant. We don’t object when the Carpenter adds a few shelves, but he’s been known to gut the entire west wing. He has such high aspirations for you. God envisions a complete restoration. He won’t stop until he is finished.… He wants you to be just like Jesus.


Just Like Jesus