This devotion is all about how God Repurposes Lives. It’s the last post in a 4 Part “NEW Series”.
The series is a group of devotions I felt the Lord putting on my heart for the NEW YEAR in 2017 but really apply to any new year, new season, new phase in life. Read the INTRO/New Strength HERE, #2 New Beginnings HERE and #3 New Heart HERE
Can God Repurpose Me and Make All Things New?
“Look! I am making all things new.”
Revelation 21:5 MEV
My friend Joy is totally cool. She’s one of the few women who know how to use power tools more than most carpenter men! Joy makes the most beautiful furniture by repurposing old, broken or discarded pieces.
A while ago she posted a picture of this gorgeous coffee table on Facebook and I clicked “like” as I often do on her stuff. When I did, Joy wrote me to tell me the story behind the table, she explained how the legs from the table were made “from old nasty, shiny brown bed posts left in the junk pile after the garage sale”1 at Braeside Camp, the place where we met oh so many years ago! 
As you can see, Joy made all things new with these bed posts.
GOD’S JOB
God repurposes lives like Joy repurposes wood. He’s is in the business of making all things new with our lives.
Paul wrote to the Corinthian believers to remind them of this truth when he said,
“anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”2
It’s the same message that God had John declare in Revelations,
“the former things have passed away…Look! I am making all things new…Write, for these words are faithful and true.”3
Just like the furniture Joy builds out of things people classify as “junk” or stuff people don’t see as worth anything anymore, God repurposes our lives. Like Steven Curtis Chapman’s song says,
“the world was broken, fallen and battered and scarred. You took the hopeless, the life wasted, ruined and marred and made it new. You make all things new.”4
YOUR JOB
Let this be the year you ‘Let God’ move you forward in His process to make all things new in your life. ‘Let’ the former things pass away…Let them go! Give God your broken, fallen, battered and scarred pieces. You’ll see what a beautiful, useful person He can build you into being because God Repurposes Lives and He can repurpose yours!
Prayer
Father…I thank You for the opportunity to start new each year. I’m so glad you don’t give up on me but keep sanding and refining me. Restore me to be the person you’ve called me to be, better than I used to be. I commit myself to Your plans and purposes along with the process to get me there. I ‘LET’ You create all things new in me. In Jesus Name…Amen
[tweetthis]God Repurposes Lives. He’s in the business of making all things new with our lives.[/tweetthis]
HERE’S MY FRIEND JOY HOGBEN
If you’d like to check out more of her masterpieces CLICK below:
#musicpics Song – He Makes All Things New
Song – He Makes All Things New
Steven Curtis Chapman http://www.stevencurtischapman.com
Youtube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKx_hx5itIM
Song Lyrics: https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/stevencurtischapman/allthingsnew.htm
- Revelations 21:4-5
- 2 Corinthians 5:17
- Ephesians 4:22-25
- Lamentations 3:22-24
If you liked the refreshing in this #SoulH2O devotion, you’ll love my latest Soul H2O Devotional book: 40 Thirst Quenching Devotions for Women.
YOU CAN OFTEN FIND ME LINKING UP WITH:
MONDAY Monday Meditations – Laura J. Davis,
TUESDAY Cheerleaders of Faith #RARaLinkup – Kelly Balarie,
WEDNESDAY Coffee For Your Heart – Holley Gerth, Word Nerd Wednesdays — Liz Giertz
THURSDAY Heart Encouragement Thursday – Crystal Storms,
FRIDAY Dance With Jesus Linkup – Susan B. Mead, Grace and Truth Linkup – Arabah Joy, Counting My Blessings – Deb Wolf, Fresh Market Friday – Crystal Twaddell
ENDNOTES
- Actual words from Joy
- 2 Corinthians 5:17
- Revelations 21:4-5
- https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/stevencurtischapman/allthingsnew.html
Wow, I’m impressed with your friend’s ability – and thankful for the light you’ve shined upon God’s ability to reframe and repurpose a life!
Michele,
Your comments are so encouraging! Thanks for stopping by.
~Sherry Stahl
xoxo
Wow! Your friend is incredibly talented and I love the analogy you used here. Great post!
Thanks Laura! Joy is so talented and I pray people think of what God is doing in our lives whenever they see ‘repurposed’ furniture from now on 🙂 Have a great week.
~Sherry
xoxo
When I saw your friend’s table I thought, “Wow!” And that especially after learning what she used to transform it. And that’s what we say as we see God transform us—from our gunk to His glory!
Kelly,
Our junk to His glory! So good 🙂 Loved your post shared today.
~Sherry
xoxo
“God repurposes our lives.” What a beautiful thought, Sherry. And, more true than we even know, I bet. Thanks for sharing that. What a talented friend you have. I wish I were better at stuff like that, it seems like it’d be relaxing. Thanks for sharing with #ChasingCommunity today, Sherry. ((hug))
Brenda,
I’m completely living a “repurposed” life so I feel an affinity with the furniture! I’m enjoying the community you’re building.
~Sherry
xoxo
Sherry, once again your bring encouraging insight to something of the everyday, and I love ya for it. First, your friend’s work is amazing. Second, God gets the glory each time He transforms us from rough and broken up, to clean and new, and that’s something to celebrate! Love it.
Thankful for you, gurl!!! xxoo
Christine,
I’m so thankful for YOU! Your words are a constant blessing to my life. Can’t thank God enough for reconnecting us. I love how He’s ‘repurposing’ your pain to help others.
Love ya tons!
~Sherry
xoxo
Beautiful and inspiring post! Thank you so much for sharing. Blessings to you and your friend!
Mari-Anna,
Thanks for stopping by. Praying for you that you will be inspired to see yourself and others as God’s ‘repurposing’ projects. He’s at work 🙂 Have an awesome weekend!
~Sherry Stahl
xoxo
Wow Sherry. your friend, Joy is quite talented. What a beautiful transformation. I thankful that God loves us enough to pick us up off the scrap heap and transform our lives to glorify Him. May we trust the skill of His hands as He creates the masterpieces He intends. Thank you for sharing. I hope you have a fantastic weekend and may God bless you and yours in all your endeavors
Horace,
Joy is one talented girl. I’m so thankful for God’s transforming work in my life. May God bless you as you you continue to let him be that Potter by staying on the wheel. Have an awesome weekend1
~Sherry Stahl
xoxo
I want to know your friend, Joy, too!! What a great message! I’m being sanded and refined right now and need to remember that He has something amazing in mind for me! Blessings friend! XO
Liz,
You’d love Joy. She’s a ton of fun. Strange thing is, I met her when I was a youth pastor while still in Bible College. She was in my group at youth camp. Do I feel old 🙂
If you’re only in the sanding stage I can’t imagine how awesome the finished product is going to be!!!
Have an awesome weekend!
~Sherry
xoxo
This is my first visit to your site and it’s so pretty! Love your post. Visiting from #graceandtruth 🙂
Angela,
So great to have you here. Hope you visit again 🙂
~Sherry
xoxo
That’s a beautiful table and a wonderful reminder that when God makes us new, He makes us even more beautiful, too.
Rachel, that’s so well said. Have a blessed weekend.
~Sherry
xoxo
I often feel like dirty, dusty and ugly junk, but praise the Lord he can transform us into something wonderful! Lovely devotion! I found you from Counting my Blessings.
Kathy,
Thanks for stopping by on the journey to God making you the beautiful one He’s creating you to be 🙂 Hope to see you again.
~Sherry Stahl
xoxo
Thank you for sharing this! I sense God doing something new in my heart this 2017 too, and am looking forward to what He does. 🙂
Jacinta,
I’m sure our Daddy is up to some great work in your heart. To encourage you, you may want to read my devo entitled “NEW HEART”. Here’s the link: https://sherrystahl.com/new-heart-2/
~Sherry Stahl
xoxo