derekmaul

Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story!

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story – Psalm 107:2

Redeem:

To make (something that is bad, unpleasant, etc.) better or more acceptable

  • to buy back
  • to get or win back
  • to free from what distresses or harms
  • to free from captivity by payment of ransom
  • to extricate from or help to overcome something
  • to release from blame or debt
  • to free from the consequences of sin
  • to change for the better
– Max is not interested in the selfie

Rebekah and I have now entered the “measure and take notes and figure out where everything is going to go” phase. Will the narrow dresser fit in the closet? How long do the curtains need to be? Where exactly will my writing desk go in the study? What dimensions for the dining room rug in order to showcase the gorgeous floor while covering the patch where that one section had rotted out? Is there room for the antique chest here or should it go somewhere else?

And the biggest puzzle of all, “So where do we put everything when there’s very little closet space, no attic, and no garage?” The answer of course is to get rid of what we don’t absolutely need and then continue to rent our “temporary” storage unit!

– a little math (and help from Max) to figure things out

But it really is all kinds of cool to stand in the middle of a bedroom, lean on the nearest appliance box, write down measurements and make calculations. While you-know-who pushes in close to make sure we haven’t forgotten we have a dog, and to remind us to leave a good space for his bed.

Things have pretty much been at a standstill for the past week with the sub-freezing weather; there’s really not much that can be done when the thermostat inside the house reads 31-degrees.

I do like this process of becoming familiar with the space long before we move in. The first time I ever saw our Wake Forest house the movers had already stuffed it full with our furniture and boxes. It’s difficult to dream when you can’t see the floor for the detritus.

So we are glad this time around to have time for dreaming. And we are over at the new house all the time, getting in the way as much as we can, inching closer by the day to this crazy idea of redeeming something that most people would likely condemn.

But we have both always been in the redemption business. Because there is no condemnation, the Bible teaches, for those who belong to Jesus (Romans 8:1). Redemption is the heartbeat of our faith and our practice: Teaching exceptional education, preaching, encouraging, leading churches that need to hear and then live into some good news, believing in the future.

– Max trying out a patch of sunlight

And why do Rebekah and I believe? We believe because we worship a good-news God, and we follow a good-news Savior, and we are animated and empowered by the good-news Spirit.

Redemption has not only been our dream it has been our experience. This is not wishful thinking, this is the kind of belief that is grounded in assurance.

Redemption is always a good song to sing! – DEREK

I know that my Redeemer lives!
What joy this blest assurance gives!
He lives, he lives, who once was dead;
he lives, my ever-living Head!

He lives triumphant from the grave;
He lives eternally to save;
He lives exalted, throned above;
He lives to rule his church in love.

He lives to bless me with his love;
He lives to plead for me above;
He lives my hungry soul to feed;
He lives to help in time of need.

He lives, all glory to his name!
He lives, my Savior, still the same;
What joy this blest assurance gives:
I know that my Redeemer lives! (Samuel Medley, 1775)

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