Transforming Lives

Recently while waiting to board a plane to Chicago I see an advertisement for a local university which simply reads "Transforming Lives". What parent would not want to send their child where their life would be transformed? But wait. It did not specify "how" this transformation would take place. Would it be intellectual, situation, emotional, relational? 

As a believer I want my life transformed and that of my children but I want it transformed into the image of Christ. One of my favorite verses after recommitting  my life to Jesus back in 1975 was Romans 12:2(NIV) which says 'Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.'  Transforming your mind requires getting into the word of God on a daily basis and reading it and studying it so your life will "conform" to His. The world's way is not God's way. This is not to say that we become monks and act holier than thou but it is necessary to make a deliberate effort to saturate your mind with the teaching of the Lord so when wrong stuff comes along you will recognize it.

Are you ready for that transformation today? 

PRAYER: My desire Lord is to have more of you in my life. I want your light to shine so others can know that you have transformed me. In Jesus' name. Amen. 

SEASONS

Here in the southeast the seasons are changing. Fall is probably just about my favorite season. The leaves are so beautiful. When I lived n the desert of Arizona they used to say the leaves did not change color, only the license plates did, meaning fall in the desert signaled the entrance of thousands of winter visitors(aka snowbirds) from places such Iowa, 'Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and anywhere on the western side of Mississippi River that received lots of snow.So the color of automobile tags was the color change.

I don't know about you, but the seasons are a wonderful treat. I even love winters. We anticipate so much with the changing of these seasons.

Life has it's season as well. Author Charles Swindoll has a book entitled 'Growing Stronger in the Seasons of Life". Things often happen for a reason and a season. We have to be prepared in life for changing seasons that come our way.

I think of the seasons of life in terms of things like raising children then finally letting them go from the nest to the next big adventure God has in store for them. It could be perhaps you are in a season of saying goodbye to elderly parents or grandparents who have passed on. Maybe it is the season of life with moving and living in a new area and the new things God has in store for you. Whatever your season God is there to see you through to the next one.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 says "to everything there is a season. A time for every activity under heaven." Look up this chapter in the old testament and read the entire thing. Seasons of life come and go. Things happen whether good or bad and we get through them. God is there lighting our path and guiding us in each transition. See your new seasons as a new opportunity God has in store for you. Be willing and flexible to journey where he wants you as you enter a new phase of life.

PRAYER: Father I thank you so much for your love for me. I thank you for guiding me through good times and bad. Thank you for opening doors that need to be opened and shutting doors I should not go through. Thank you for your love for me. In Jesus name. Amen.

I CHANGE NOT

I do not know about you but most folks do not like change. Computer programs change and often we are used to things and rebel against this. A major social network site is forcing people to go to their new format. Many, such as myself, hold out til absolute last minute, as fearing having to re-learn things. Film goes away and into the world of digital cameras we are thrust.

Change is probably a good thing though in some ways. Just think had changes not occurred we may be traveling on horses or reading by candlelight.Television shows change, talk show hosts change such as in case of Johnny Carson and now we have Jay Leno. Styles change, thank goodness for that we folks in 70's and 80's can attest to. Friends change depending on where you live and move. Interests change as we grow. Names of businesses change or big well known things such as Sears Tower change name since it is now Willis Tower. Changes can be confusing.

At times change makes us mad and we wonder why can't they leave things the way they were. But if we do not change we never move, grow, and progress. Can you imagine if we still were riding in covered wagons like in cowboy days? Or maybe the idea of no interstates highway say system and all of us would be on dirt roads? So you see sometimes change is a good thing. Now there is also the saying "If it is not broken do not fix it" which has some merit as well.


One thing about God and his word is that He never changes. Hebrews 13:6 says "Jesus Christ is the same today, yesterday and forever." The word of God is the same yesterday,today, yes forever. It does not get edited to suit the culture.

In Malachi 3:6 it says " I am the Lord and I do not change. That is why you descendants of Jacob are not already destroyed." Psalm 102:27 says "But You are the same and your years will have no end." James 1:17 tells us "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights who does not change like shifting shadows."

I do not know about you but I am glad God does not change. Certain people may change and tend to exhibit 'Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde' syndrome where you never know who to expect. I am sure glad our Father in heaven is the same yesterday, today, yes and forever and we do not have to worry what type of personality we will be facing when we pray to him each day.



PRAYER: Father thank you for being a God who never changes. Thank you that we can depend on you and trust you. Thank you for always being there to hear our prayers. Thank you for your word which is power and truth for now and forever. In Jesus name. Amen

CHANGES WILL HAPPEN

The first month of 2012 is behind us and we are now into month number two of the New Year. How are those resolutions coming along?  Many propose to make big changes when the new year rolls around and may for a week or so then fall back into old ways. With a New Year brings new hopes, new possibilities, new weight, you get the idea. Change in and of itself is hard and sometimes not fun. For instance, Facebook decides to change the format for no apparent good reason and now we folks set in our ways of the old way have to learn the new way. I have moved a good deal in my 35 years of marriage due to the military and changing locations can be hard. People change churches. Some folks change friends. Sad to say some folks trade in their spouses for a newer model. Change is part of life. Changes in life are inevitable. At times they are no fun and very hard to adjust to. There are changes in the weather, changes in jobs, friends change, computer programs change, the leaves change colors, and elections bring change of who our leaders are.

One thing that we can count on that never changes is God. He does not wake up in a bad mood. He does not manipulate you with his emotions. He doesn't act nice one day and ugly the next. He does not wake up 'on wrong side of the bed'. He does not have some people he likes more than others or a circle of friends he is close to and forget everyone else. He does not exclude people because they are not well educated or of a certain social stature.

The Bible says in Malachi 3:6 "I am the Lord. I change not."  The word of God never changes nor are we to add to or take away from the Holy Bible to suit our own needs. We are not authorized to edit the Bible. Proverbs 30:5-6 says " The word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar. Further in Revelation 22:19 it says "And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book."

Matthew 24:35 says "Heaven  and Earth shall pass away but my words shall not pass away." So try to be like Christ. Do not let people try to guess which personality you will be today. Keep a cool and calm spirit and live like Jesus!

PRAYER: Lord God I thank you that you never change nor do your words change. I desire to try to stay unchangeable in my personality so people can approach me and know the same person is there and not be worried about who they are talking too. I thank you for being totally unchangeable. In Jesus name. Amen!