Twenty-three years ago today on June 13, 1994, I awoke to a nightmare like experience. I will never forget it. I remember the telephone ringing early that Monday morning, and immediately having an uneasiness in my spirit. The next thing I knew I was belted over in a painful pool of unconsolable tears on my cold, tiled kitchen floor. For some, their gut wrenching sorrow is released solely through tears that are only seen and never heard; but on this day, my wailing cries of lament were anything but silent, and they immediately prompted my husband to cry out for help too. Amidst the foggy veil over my mind, the only thing I remember my husband saying to our Pastor on the other end of the phone was, “I need your help.”
On June 13, 1994, my brother, Donnie, was restored in a place where there is no pain, sorrow, or suffering. On June June 13, 2017, I am restored in and through the power and presence of God’s spirit alive in my spirit (Romans 8:11).
Soon you will read in the newspaper that I am dead. Don’t believe it for a moment. I will be more alive than ever before. (D. L. Moody)*
For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. (Philippians 1:21)
The best is yet to come for all the sons and daughters of The Most High God.
He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever. And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” (Revelation 21:4-5)
My brother’s horrific and terribly unjust murder was written about in the news as well. I’m not going there today with the brutal and unbelievable details. Today, on this June 13th, I’m focusing on God’s restoration.
“Restore” means to make restitution, to cause to return, or to refresh.
Today, I am not remembering the pain or the sorrow, but I am forever remembering Donnie’s beautiful smile, the times we shared together, and the bond of love that death can never breach. The Lord by His Spirit has returned my soul and spirit to a place of peace, joy and rest. The Father has turned my mourning into dancing (Psalm 30:11), and has helped me to overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21); good through prayer, praise, and pointing others to The Healer of our souls. Today, I am remembering and honoring the good memories of my brother.
- Today, I am at peace.
- Today, I am refreshed.
- Today, I am surrounded by God’s amazing faithfulness, goodness and mercy in my life.
- Today, I am filled with God’s abundance
- Today, I am experiencing true riches in Christ.
- Today, I am thankful and joyful.
- Today, I laugh.
- Today, I am restored by the power of God’s presence in my life.
- Today, I pray for others to experience ALL that my Heavenly Father offers.
- Today, I wait for and expect God’s full restitution and restoration of all things.
- Today, I can join with the Apostle Paul and say that everything that has happened to me has helped to spread the truth of the gospel (the GOOD NEWS of our good, Heavenly Father) – first, in my own heart and life and then in the lives of a few others too. All glory to God alone. (Nahum 1:7; Philippians 1:12; Romans 8:28)
Those who experience the most sorrow are often those who treasure the taste of true joy unspeakable and full of glory found only in Jesus, our Savior and Healer.
Grief is debilitating among many other things; but we don’t have to remain in a debilitated state, we can be restored in the Father’s presence.
Do you need restoration today?
The Lord has brought restoration in my life and is still bringing restoration to this day. I am not saying I no longer experience any sorrow in relation to the loss of my brother, but it is now covered under the umbrella of God’s supernatural grace, peace, and comfort. Many others have experienced this too. We do not grieve like others with no hope. We do not remain stuck in the landmine of anger, sorrow, and depression, as we press into God and the healing and restoration He brings.
The Lord restored Job and He will restore you. We all experience pain and loss in this life. For those of us who have lost precious loved ones who are believers, we have the promise that we will be reunited again with them in Heaven. In the meantime, as we allow God’s Holy Spirit to walk with us through our valleys of sorrow, pain, and suffering here on this earth to His higher places, He alone restores our souls to a place of peace, healing, and rest. In His presence is the only place we experience true comfort and healing.
Just as when we have an injury or illness that needs the healing ministry of a physician, the healing will never occur unless we address the root cause of it. When we go to the doctor, usually they prescribe certain treatments or prescriptions we must follow for healing and recovery to occur. Sometimes these work and sometimes they don’t, because earthly physicians only practice medicine. However, our Great Physician is The Lord our Healer (Exodus 15:26). His prescription covers more than the physical, and brings wholeness to spirit, soul and body.
The list below is certainly not all inclusive, but as you read this today, I pray the Lord reminds you of the healing remedies He offers in place of our sicknesses and sorrows. God’s prescription for wholeness will require us to release in order to receive.
Release UNFORGIVENESS – Receive FORGIVENESS
Release SORROW – Receive COMFORT
Release SIN and SICKNESS – Receive HEALING
Release ANGER and BITTERNESS – Receive PEACE
Release DISAPPOINTMENT and DESPAIR – Receive HOPE
Release SADNESS – Receive JOY and GLADNESS
Release YOUR PLAN – Receive GOD’S PURPOSE
RELEASE EVERYTHING and RECEIVE RESTORATION
HE MAKES ALL THINGS NEW.
We despised him and rejected him—a man of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way when he went by. He was despised, and we didn’t care. Yet it was our grief he bore, our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, for his own sins! But he was wounded and bruised for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace; he was lashed—and we were healed! We—every one of us—have strayed away like sheep! We, who left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet God laid on him the guilt and sins of every one of us! (Isaiah 53:3-6 The Living Bible)
The restoration of Job:
When Job prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes. In fact, the Lord gave him twice as much as before! Then all his brothers, sisters, and former friends came and feasted with him in his home. And they consoled him and comforted him because of all the trials the Lord had brought against him. And each of them brought him a gift of money and a gold ring. So the Lord blessed Job in the second half of his life even more than in the beginning. For now he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 teams of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys. He also gave Job seven more sons and three more daughters. He named his first daughter Jemimah, the second Keziah, and the third Keren-happuch. In all the land no women were as lovely as the daughters of Job. And their father put them into his will along with their brothers. Job lived 140 years after that, living to see four generations of his children and grandchildren. (Job 42:10-16)
The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, to guide and to shield me],
I shall not want.
He lets me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still and quiet waters.
He refreshes and restores my soul (life);
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
for His name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the [sunless] valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort andconsole me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You have anointed and refreshed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life,
And I shall dwell forever [throughout all my days] in the house and in the presence of the Lord.
Lord, heal me, and I will truly be healed.
Save me, and I will truly be saved.
You are the one I praise. (Jeremiah 17:14 NCV)
When the ties that bind us closely to earth are gone, the ties that bind us closer to Heaven are made stronger. The best is still yet to come. Heaven awaits us.
This post is in memory of my beloved brother, Donald Lee “Donnie” Deason (November 13, 1963 – June 13, 1994). I always remember you.
#Everylifematters
*Quote taken from the book entitled, Heaven, by Randy Alcorn.
Ponder It 