Tag Archives: transform

Transform~Five Minute Friday

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“My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20 (NLT)

In His Hands I’m Changed

My grandsons love playing with Transformers. Watching their hands quickly change a robot into a vehicle, or vice versa, with ease amazes me. With a zip, twist, flip, and snap they complete the transformation. But then, they put it in my hands….

As hard as I try and as much as I attempt to follow their example, I just don’t seem to be able to ever complete the switch. Sometimes I get close but in the end, I have to give them back to the hands that can complete the task.

It’s occurred to me that like when I’m struggling to get a yellow car to become “Bumble Bee” or to turn “Optimus Prime” into his semi-truck state and can’t, that I face the same type of challenges with my transformation as a Christian. You see, somehow I have the idea that it’s in my hands to complete it…..

As hard as I try to follow Jesus’ example, I’m never able to successfully change.  I don’t know about you, but I want to zip through the hard stuff, twist things around to go my way, flip through the Word and think that’s enough, and long to snap my fingers and “presto-chango” I’ll be the Christian I long to be. You and I know it’s never going to happen that way. To truly transform, we have to put ourselves back into the Hands that can and will complete the task. 

“So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect
the glory of the Lord. And the Lord-who is the Spirit-
makes us more and more like him as we are changed
 into his glorious image.”
2 Corinthians 3:18 (NLT)

I’m pretty sure by now that you know I like control, to do things perfectly, and to have it happen easily and quickly. You also know that’s about as far from real life and Christian life as can be! Like the Corinthians did, I need to be reminded that it’s the Lord who ‘makes us more and more like him.” He expertly teaches me to zip my mouth (and thoughts) when needed, to twist my point of view away from the world and toward Him. He shows me how His ways flip my ways right-side up and that time here on earth goes by in a snap, but time with Him is eternal.

“Put on your new nature, and be renewed
as you learn to know your Creator and
become like him.”
Colossians 3:10 (NLT)

I still have lots to learn. How about you? Here’s what I’m beginning to understand, transforming to become more like Jesus isn’t about doing, it’s about being. Being in relationship with Him. Being consistently in the Word. Being open to His leading in our lives. Being willing to put ourselves in His nail-scarred hands for a lifetime of “zips, twists, flips, and snaps,” until that day when we are finally “changed into his glorious image.”

“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you,
will continue his work until it is finally finished
on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”
Philippians 1:6 (NLT)

 

I love joining others over at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com writing to the prompt “Transform” this past week.

Change ~ 26/31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes

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“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2 (NLT)

Thinking about change today has brought several things to mind: changing diapers, changing the sheets on the bed, changing appointments, changing the toilet paper roll….none of these are things I love. I’m not surprised though, because my relationship with change has always been a little challenging, ok, maybe a lot challenging!

I like an even keel, status quo, comfort zone kind of life! The familiar is my safety net. And then out of nowhere, along comes change. It pulls back my net , lets go, and flings me kicking and screaming into the unknown!

Have you ever watched a caterpillar become a butterfly?  Every year my Second Graders and I would collect Monarch Caterpillars, put them in a large pickle jar I kept in the classroom, filled it with Milkweed, and then waited. Each day we’d watch for any sign that would signal a change. Then sure enough, a brave caterpillar would climb up the ruler in the jar, attach itself, and hang upside down. I spent many evenings sitting with my lesson plans and papers to grade in front of that jar observing the process.  When it’s close to the time for the caterpillar to become a chrysalis, it begins writhing to and fro. It flings itself back and forth just as if it’s kicking and screaming against the unknown! And then, in a blink of an eye it is encased in a green tomb.

I so feel that those caterpillars and I have been kindred spirits.  Change has turned my world upside down, too.  My mind has twisted and squirmed until I’ve wrapped myself in worry and felt enveloped with fear.

“What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the Master calls a butterfly.” (Richard Bach)

 I’ve written other blog posts on change and now this one today, it’s becoming clear that God is teaching me something. I don’t know about you but maybe you’re with me and it’s time for us to change how we view change! Yes, it can be painful and it can be scary but instead of seeing it as an ending, I’m learning we need to embrace change as a beginning. Regret creeps in when I think about all I might have missed because I was attached to status quo.  You too? What if leaving our comfort zone and being flung into change is what it takes to teach us to fly?

So, to end I’m going to bravely test my wings and begin to transform my thinking about change.  “That brings several things to mind:” changing from working to being retired, changing into “MiMi”, changing from old house to new, and changing to become what the Master calls me to be! All of these are things I love! Now that’s a change!!!!

How about you?  Will you too, share a few changes you love in the comments below?  I can’t wait to see you soar!!!

 

 

 

 

 

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