Transformed Moms: IF THERE WERE NO GOD: THERE WOULD BE NO THANKSGIVING!

It is GOD who BLESSES and TRANSFORMS...

This is a blog for women (not just moms) who:

(1) Desire to be transformed by JESUS' LOVE, HOLINESS, AND GRACE;

(2) Believe that GOD'S WORD is the true Spirit food for HIS HOLY SPIRIT who lives within us;

(3) Submit to GOD and walk this journey of life with HIM transforming us more and more into HIS likeness.

It's a blog about the POWER OF TRANSFORMED LIVES. Let's begin with yours and mine and pass it on... 1 + 1 + 1...

Since GOD's HOLY SPIRIT lives inside a christian, let's choose to be nurtured and transformed by feasting daily on HOLY SPIRIT food - GOD's WORD - The Holy Bible..

My regular posts stopped in 2013, with a major move and the chronic illness and eventual death of our oldest daughter. Yes, we grieve daily, yet I am determined to continue to let the LIGHT of my LORD and SAVIOR shine through me. I have tried to start posting again, over the last few years, but have not been consistent. So, I think the biggest blessing for you and me both will be to intersperse some new posts while revisiting some of the former posts. Let's begin with "Oh, the JOY!" as we head into living through Fall 2019; meeting back here 1-2 days a week.

If you need daily encouragement, you will find plenty by clicky on past posts. When reading earlier posts, you will see that I often posted daily, following this format: ...Sunday in the SON, Meditation Monday, GratiTuesday, Women in the WORD Wednesday, Transforming Thursday, Family Fellowship Friday, Ketchup & Mustard Saturday.

There's a whole lot here! Take your time to browse.

Please come back and visit each week. Welcome!

Because of JESUS, we can be family,

Patti

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

IF THERE WERE NO GOD: THERE WOULD BE NO THANKSGIVING!

Before you read this post, you may want to click this weeks song, on the playlist, IF THERE WERE NO GOD!

Wanna be drug down, depressed, and feeling far away from God? Then, just live around complaining, arguing, and non-thankfulness for a day! A few weeks ago, on Gratituesday, we talked about scripture that says that we "shine like stars in the universe when we don't complain or argue".

It's interesting to note that several times in scripture God will address things that are UN-Godly and then right smack dab in the middle of the conversation He says...BE THANKFUL!!! I believe that He is showing us that He wants us to look to Him, even in the midst of darkness or dark circumstances. He gives us a choice to turn away in the midst of the mess.

It happens in Ephesians 5...watch...

"But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality,
or of any kind of impurity,
or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people.
Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place,

but rather thanksgiving.

For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person-such a man is an idolater-has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient.
Therefore do not be partners with them. "

Light in the midst of darkness? Thanksgiving in the midst of a sinful world?

How does that look? Holy Spirit driven thanksgiving!

I had committed this month to share each GRATITUESDAY and SHARING THE LOVE in honor of different bloggers. This week, I want to honor some men, some preacher men, who are new to the blogging world and some who are seasoned at it. I grew up in a home that honored preachers as "the most honored men"..."blessed are the feet of those who carry the good news!"

DAN COOPER and STEVE SIKES (my amazing husband) are our newbie bloggers. They have "mini-blogs" that can be accessed on our church's website: http://www.cochrist.org/ These two preacher men get to the heart of the matter and show it with ther lives and words. What we see on the outside is who they are on the inside. Thank you, Dan and Steve, for living Jesus for us and encouraging us to do the same! Thank you! We look forward to reading your future words of wisdom!
The oldies: two of my favorite preacher reads are Terry Rush and Patrick Mead OR Patrick Mead and Terry Rush. Thank you to a Tulsa, OK preacher and a Detroit, MI (Rochester Hills) preacher who take the time to reach out and connect with so many.

.....TERRY RUSH: I'm one of those people who have attended the Tulsa International Soul Winning Workshop for more years than I can count. Actually, Steve and I have attended since before we had children and our oldest is now 27. Terry's congregation is the host for this wonderful God centered event on the Oklahoma State Fair Grounds at the end of March each year. Each year, I look forward to attending any classes led by Terry and soaking in his Holy Spirit filled messages. I am exponentially blessed if I get to talk with him personally. Come join me on a Tulsa trip next March...let's begin planning now. Terry, thank you for your transparency....blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. Thank you, Terry, I see Jesus in you! For anyone who has a few minutes to spend on his blog this week, here are 2 posts from this month that I recommend: 9/2 - FAITH and 9/10 FLEXIBILITY, I GUESS GOD WASN'T KIDDING! .......Enjoy at: http://terryrush.blogspot.com/

.....PATRICK MEAD: Patrick is a regular visiting speaker at our Pitman church. His series this summer challenged us to see the church and be the church without walls. In many ways, Pitman is already that. Yet, Patrick has challenged us to a new level of being light in a dark world. Thanksgiving to our God would be a good place to start! Patrick ministers / preaches for the Rochester church of Christ next door to Rochester College (formerly called Michigan Christian). Steve's sister and family worship there. Our daughter goes to school and worships there. They are in a God blessed place! Thank you, Patrick for your part in that. Thank you for being the transparent child of God who challenges us to think about WHO we are, WHO we belong to, WHAT we are about, WHERE we are going, and WHY we do what we do. If you are so inclined, Patrick has a few "political posts" this month (9/2 and 9/5) that make a good read. They were very helpful to me. Thank you, Patrick. http://www.patrickmead.net/
.

Please join me today in GRATITUESDAY by letting us know what you are thankful for by commenting here. There haven't been many comments this week from anyone, yet Vanessa's comment on Sunday touched my heart deeply.

Also, please visit the originating GRATITUESDAY website link at: http://www.heavenlyhomemakers.com/

Please join me today in honoring these men who SHARE THE LOVE OF CHRIST on the internet in such powerful ways. The originator of this award wants us to consider organ donation as a high level of SHARING THE LOVE. Take the link on the sidebar to her powerful story.

3 comments:

Jen said...: Great post and reminder that we should be thankful each and every day, minute, second of our lives. Have a great day!; September 23, 2008 at 9:09 AM
Laura said...: You're so right, if we spend time being totally ungrateful, we will be miserable. Completely.; September 23, 2008 at 3:53 PM
Terry Rush said...: WoW!

Thank you! How very kind of you to write....and to list me BEFORE Patrick Mead.

Keep up the great word---the important vision---of building up the body of Christ. Many of us are blessed by your faith expressed so well!

Love you today!; September 23, 2008 at 6:29 PM

A Little History of this Blog:

A group of moms in Pitman, New Jersey began meeting every Tuesday morning in June 2008 to learn how to be Master-Full Moms. Although that class only lasted that summer, we have continued to have other classes for moms offered at the Pitman church of Christ. This blog will remain like an ongoing class. So, come back each day and join us as we discuss being God's women as we encourage transformation in each other.
.
3 POINTERS TO NAVIGATE THIS BLOG:

1. Just below, you'll find a series of questions and answers about who Transformed Moms are.

2. Options for getting started...after those questions and answers... YOU COULD click on the June 2008 Archive, scroll down to the first post called MASTER-FULL MOMS and start from the beginning with our 14 day devotional challenge, or.... YOU COULD start with our summary of our original summer class and blog on the 8-31-08 post: SUMMER SUMMARY - SPIRITUAL, or... YOU COULD browse through the archive and click what looks interesting to you...and/or...
.
3. You're invited to read recent posts and come back daily to join us as we are led by the Holy Spirit down the road to healing and / or transformation.

Thanks for joining us, Patti

2. WHAT DOES A MOM DO WHO HAS THE SPIRIT OF GOD LIVING IN HER?

… those who live in accordance with the SPIRIT have their minds set on what the SPIRIT desires …life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to GOD. It does not submit to GOD’S law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please GOD. You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the SPIRIT, if the SPIRIT OF GOD lives in you…Therefore, sisters, we have an obligation… by the SPIRIT you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live… Romans 8:5-13

6. MOM, DAUGHTER OF GOD, HOW DO YOU GET THE POWER TO LIVE AND NOT LOSE HEART?

For GOD, WHO said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made HIS light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of GOD in the face of CHRIST.
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from GOD and not from us.

We are:

· hard pressed on every side, but not crushed

· perplexed, but not in despair

· persecuted, but not abandoned

· struck down, but not destroyed.

2 Corinthians 4:5-12