Day 76 - Restorer

I recently saw an antique dresser that had been battered, worn, covered over with layers of paint and oil cloth, become restored - and brought back to it's original design and beauty.  It was something to behold and I deeply respect the hours upon hours of hard labor it took my friend to 'convince' the piece to bend to her will and 'let' her reveal and restore its destiny to not just be barely serviceable but to fulfill its purpose and bring glory to its designer.   It made me think of God's name M'shivah - Restorer - in several verses - Isaiah 38:16 talks about God restoring our physical and spiritual health: "Lord, by such things men live; and my spirit finds life in them too. You restored me to health and let me live. Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish. In your love you kept me from the pit of destruction; you have put all my sins behind your back." and in verse 19: The living, the living—they praise you, as I am doing today; fathers tell their children about your faithfulness. "

Any anguish I experience seems small when compared to our grandson David's battle with cancer. Yet David always had that outlook that asks God, "What would you have me to learn from this new trial - what is there in it that I can learn to help others?"  These verses show it is right to ask God for such restoration as well as the natural response to praise Him for giving us life, for restoring and protecting us from many harms.  I Peter 5:7-10 also speaks beautifully to this - "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.  Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.  And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself [M'shivah] restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. The transliteration reveals 'the one who is restoring' - making new - sanding, buffing, chipping and peeling away the very layers that hid what someone considered flaws, but was really unrestored beauty.  I love the picture of being restored to God's original design for me inside and out, and then also making me strong, firm, steadfast. (no more needing to hide under false layers covering up my designer's resident glory.  A beautiful reminder, like the song that says, "I was in His mind."  Created in His image.  Wow.

Scriptures tell us there will be food in heaven for those who want it.  I imagine that food will also be restored to it's original design, robust with life-giving vitamins, minerals and enzymes to build up our bodies.  Until then I intend to keep searching and sampling and eating as naturally as possible.

Two new things today:

A Taco-Tostada with cottage cheese instead of sour cream.

Coconut-curry chicken and red rice - cooked in coconut milk, and a little Coconut-Lime sauce and curry to brighten the flavor and decorate the plate.  Red rice and curry-gravy poured over the little bit of mashed potatoes from previous day.

I should have had more veggies to balance it, but only was able to finish the rice and a few bites of the chicken. 

Was recommended a chocolate flavored protein powder today - will have to check that out and report back.