TRANSFORMING THURSDAY
.1. This picture is what I see this week when I look out of our front door. There is a grove of trees that seperate us from a housing division across the road. What magnificent artistry! I'm so thankful that I get to use God's spectacular show of leaves on yet another Transforming Thursday!
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God has blessed me with many spectacular views "out my front door" over the years... here are a few...
- the Indianapolis Speedway
- the mighty Mississppi
- the rolling hills of Nancy, France
- the Rocky Mountains of Denver, CO
- the Watsatch Mountains of Utah
- Pikes Peak of Colorado Springs, CO
- the China Sea - Okinawa (we lived on the beach)
- the maple tree lined streets of York, NE
- the cornfields of Nebraska
- the cotton fields of western Oklahoma and Texas
- the beautiful colors of southern Indiana
- and now, the incredible colors of the Garden State - South Jersey!!!
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2. Standing on my front porch the other day and looking off to the right, I saw an array of colors and I was excited. I was so looking forward to driving this week throughout South Jersey to supervise student teachers. Viewing the panorama of foliage would be icing on the cake!
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3. On my way to the University for a meeting, on Tuesday, I had to stop and take a picture of this bush that had recently transformed from green to fire red.
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4. Then, yesterday and today, I have taken The Freeway, The Atlantic City Expressway, and The Garden State Parkway as I truly thrilled at a rolling picture show. Here are a few I captured for you!!
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God has been changing and preparing nature in advance for this wonderful Transformation. The inside changes begin before the outside changes are seen. It gives me great COMFORT to know that God is in control even if I can't see what is going on.
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In a christian, it works the same - God working from the inside-out. In a body of believers, the church, it works the same - from the inside - out.
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This past Sunday, Dan Cooper spoke from Romans 12 (one of my favorites!). I would like to share below how God used Dan to challenge us as a church to allow God to transform us from the inside - out. So, this prompted me to make a little Romans 12 "checklist"! Are we allowing God to transform us? Each # stands for the verse in which the point of TRANSFORMATION is found:
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Romans 12 "...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."
- 3 Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.
- 9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
- 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.
- 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
- 12 Be joyful in hope
- 12 patient in affliction
- 12 faithful in prayer.
- 13 Share with God's people who are in need.
- 13 Practice hospitality.
- 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
- 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
- 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.
- 18 ...live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge... 20 On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."
- 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
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Wow! This sure sounds a lot like Christ's Sermon on the Mount!!!! May we contine to allow Him to work on us from the INSIDE - OUT!!! May this colorful Holy Spirit transformation begin today!
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