Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it.

Redeemed, by the Blood of the Lamb.

Redeemed, through his infinite mercy,

His child, and forever, I am.

::

(She’s gonna kill me for posting this REALLY OLD PHOTO.)

Twenty-three years ago, before kids (and for Bryant and I – before marriage), God knit our hearts with a couple who loved the Lord and whom we served along side in our first church.

Steve and Lisa and my husband and I were the closest of friends, living life together.

Often there were comments made about Steve and my husband, Bryant, of being like David and Jonathan. God had knit their hearts together so tightly.

Lisa and I? Well, we were the sister neither of us had growing up.

Knit together tight?

Absolutely.

There was a time when these close friendships were shattered.

We let a distance grow and sadly, eventually, just let it go.

That Disney song just started in your head. Right?

Sometimes we shouldn’t just LET IT GO. (Sorry Elsa.)

I wish I never had.

Anyway…

From my tiny little viewpoint, I saw nothing but disaster and so I just left it all at the foot of the cross.

Well, that was several years ago.

About a month or so ago, I posted a photo on Instagram that automatically was tweeted too.

I suddenly received a notice from twitter that it had been ‘favorited’.

I was stunned.

I rarely have anyone respond to my tweeted stuff.

As it turned out, it was favorited by one of these friends I had thought we had lost.

Silly me.

Anyone who has ever listened to Michael W. Smith knows that friends are friends forever if the Lord’s the Lord of them.

I digress.

One thing led to another and by that afternoon my husband and I  and our dear friends Steve and Lisa, were FaceTime-ing.

Four hours of reconnecting and healing conversation.

Four hours, people.

There was laughter and tears and more laughter…

….. and more tears induced by the laughter.

God is so good.

He redeems and restores.

Us AND our relationships.

Praise God.

Thank you Jesus.

Why did I start with the hymn Redeemed?

Because I love proclaiming the wonderful healing that God has brought to this friendship.

For days, I told everyone I knew about how God brought it all together and healed us.

So here I am proclaiming it once again. For all to read.

Folks, please pray for the Messersmith Family as they minister in London, England.

 

Aren’t they just THE CUTEST FAMILY? (and yes, this photo is a bit old too… at least two years…?)

::

Is there anything that has shattered in your life?

God can fix it.

Lay it at foot of the cross.

God’s grace can reach into the darkest of places.

A few years ago Selah recorded a song called Unredeemed.

It is one of my favorite songs.

“Life breaks and falls apart.
But we know these are…

Places where grace is soon to be so amazing.

It may be unfulfilled, it may be unrestored.
But when anything that’s shattered;
Is laid before the Lord,
Just watch and see, it will not be unredeemed”

Enjoy Unredeemed. If you are reading in your inbox you may need to click on the blue title at the top of this post and come over and enjoy the video. Before you watch the video take a moment to pause the website music at the top right corner of the page.

If there is something shattered that you want to share and ask for prayer, please leave a comment below.

OR

Is there something God has redeemed and you want to proclaim it? Go right ahead and share in the comments below.