Transformed Moms: THAT'S WHAT LOVE IS: LOVE DOESN'T LEAVE!

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

Monday, November 24, 2008

THAT'S WHAT LOVE IS: LOVE DOESN'T LEAVE!

MEDITATION MONDAY

I recently watched an interview with David Phelps, his two sisters, and their parents. They talked about how growing up their mom "drove them crazy." One day, on a family trip to Houston, their mom got out of the car to walk the rest of the way. One of the girls said, "Dad why don't you just leave her?" Their Dad's response and his unrelenting love for their mother eventually led to Mom's transformation and the song that David wrote. That song is our theme this week: THAT'S WHAT LOVE IS! You will see the last seconds of that Phelps family interview at the beginning of the music video below. You can also note that David's sister is his backup singer. What was their Dad's answer to his daughter's question?

He responded, "Love doesn't leave!"

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As we meditate on the powerful thoughts of this song, I'd like to connect it with yesterday. In our series on COMFORT AND HOPE FROM ISAIAH, Steve shared this scripture powerfully with us:

Isaiah 43:2-5

"When you pass through the waters,

I will be with you;

And through the rivers,

they will not overflow you.

When you walk through the fire,

you will not be scorched,

Nor will the flame burn you.

3 "For I am the LORD your God,

The Holy One of Israel,

your Savior...

4...I love you...

5...Do not fear, for I am with you..."

We sang the Gaither's song, BECAUSE HE LIVES, I CAN FACE TOMORROW. Once again, I saw the Spirit interweaving our Bible class lesson with the sermon for a powerful one, two punch at our hearts.

I had originally planned to lead the song BECAUSE HE LIVES in our ladies class. The night before, I heard that we would be singing it during the worship service...so I knew the Spirit was already at work. I have shared with you before that this song has been the song that has sustained me for years as we raised our children. It was no less powerful yesterday!

My goal in speaking yesterday, in our TREASURED IN MY HEART class was simple, yet so complex:

Perseverance!

Dependence!

Unconditional love!

A love that never fails!

I treasure in my heart all the people in my family story:

who did not give up on the LORD or each other...
who refuse to give up on the LORD or each other...
who, if they have given up they've changed their minds and returned to the LORD and each other!
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Please come back each day this week to take a look at some things that I shared in class yesterday morning or did not have time to share in class yesterday morning and will share with you this week.

Raising kids is tough no matter how you slice it, but especially when you have challenges that are not within the norm. Our family has had many physical, intellectual, relational, emotional, and spiritual challenges over the years. In the darkness of the valleys, it was only the LORD that saw us through.

On yesterdays post, I shared 4 video clip versions of the same story that has inspired me to keep putting one foot in front of the other. It is a treasure beyond measure!

Perseverance!

Dependence!

Unconditional love!

A love that never fails!

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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.
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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...
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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