SLOW FADE? NO! I'M IN THE LIGHT...I'M IN CHRIST...

TRANSFORMING THURSDAY

Grrrrrr....I stood in light...sunlight...sunshine... It's my spring break and I'm trying to get alot done...you know...spring cleaning, organization, phoning, paying, faxing, blogging, preparing, praying, waiting, praying, waiting...

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It seems that whatever the theme on this blog is for the week...God teaches me something about it the hard way. It seems whatever I am asked to teach...God gives me a lesson about the topic the hard way.

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• This week's blog theme: "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."
• This week's lesson preparations: Four lessons that I am to present as the speaker for the Collingswood church of Christ, Collingswood, NJ ladies retreat this weekend: "Too Blessed to be Stressed!"

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Oh, sigh! I knew my refrigerator, my white ceramic tile floor, sink, and stove needed some extra TLC. Tuesday night I got most of it finished. In fact, I also reorganized the front closet while I was at it. I was feeling pretty good!

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Yesterday morning I did mountains of laundry, made phone calls to Jessica's doctors, worked on some things for this weekend...time was going by way too quickly...

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By mid-afternoon, I ran down to change one last load of laundry and then headed to the kitchen to get something to drink. I was horrified at what I saw. The new found sun was streaming in my westward kitchen window. All I could see was dirt! What? I had worked so hard the night before! Instead of everything looking nice and shiny, it seemed dingy and in need of even more TLC!

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For the next two hours, I scrubbed...I hosed down...I polished... Then I looked at the clock...I was late to tutor Brianna! I could only think about how much I still needed to get done. I could spend the rest of my spring break just on this room! The sunlight had brought alot of unexpected stress to my plans. In fact, it is now obvious that there is no amount of cleaning that is going to make my kitchen perfect.

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Jesus began each beatitude in His sermon on the mount with "Blessed are..." This week we are talking about "Blessed are the pure in heart..." I think of the sun shining on my kitchen and I can transfer the concept to Jesus' life on earth outshining mine to such a degree that He exposes all my impurities. Thinking about that for very long can leave me feeling pretty stressed!

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Yet, if I choose to ponder scripture OR count my blessings...my thoughts are TRANSFORMED! I really need to remember that IN CHRIST, I am way too blessed to be stressed! The next time anxiety, worry, or negative self talk begin to raise their ugly heads, I will count my blessings IN CHRIST! It's TRANSFORMING! You see, He has no condemning words for me because in His eyes I am already spotless...pure. Thank You, Jesus!

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Romans 8:1

"There is therefore now

no condemnation

for those who are in Christ Jesus."

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AND

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Titus 2:11-14

"...our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus;

who gave Himself for us,

that He might redeem us

from every lawless deed

and purify for Himself a people

for His own possession,

zealous for good deeds."

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AND

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Phil 4:4-20
"Rejoice in the Lord always;

again I will say, rejoice!

Let your forbearing spirit be known to all men.

The Lord is near.

Be anxious for nothing,

but in everything by prayer and supplication

with thanksgiving

let your requests be made known to God.

And the peace of God,

which surpasses all comprehension,

shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brethren,

whatever is true,

whatever is honorable,

whatever is right,

whatever is pure,

whatever is lovely,

whatever is of good repute,

if there is any excellence

and if anything worthy of praise,

let your mind dwell on these things...

...for I have learned to be content

in whatever circumstances I am...

...I can do all things

through Him who strengthens me....

...And my God shall supply all your needs

according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever.

Amen."

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AND

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1 John 1:5-7

"And this is the message we have heard from Him

and announce to you,

that God is light,

and in Him there is no darkness at all.

If we say that we have fellowship with Him

and yet walk in the darkness,

we lie and do not practice the truth;

but if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light,

we have fellowship with one another,

and the blood of Jesus His Son

cleanses us from all sin."

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Two transforming questions:

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Are you walking IN THE LIGHT?

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Are you IN CHRIST?

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