TRANSFORMING THURSDAY... Jesus is OUR HOPE

At the end of yesterday's post, I shared this:

"When reading different scriptures that talked about Jesus as our hope, I was struck by the similarity of some of the language or words used. There were close to 20 words that jumped out at me, as being common words used in many "hope" scriptures. So, I decided to take a tally. I found 7 words/themes that were in many of those scriptures. I will share them here and then I'd like you to ponder on the connections they have, with Jesus as our hope, until tomorrow. Then, tomorrow on TRANSFORMING THURSDAY, we can study together some of the transformational implications."

If you are a "born again christian", then you have lived out the apostle Peter's directive in Acts 2:38:

Peter replied,

“Repent and be baptized, every one of you,

 in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.

 And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
³⁹ The promise is for you and your children 

  and for all who are far off —

for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

So, your sins are forgiven and you've come into a right relationship with God because of the gift Jesus Christ has given you.  Yet, sometime since then, life has you on a journey that may include some or all of the following:  suffering, affliction, insult to injury, discouragement, exhaustion, and/or powerlessness. 

Just a reminder:  Jesus is our hope!  WITH HIM, this too shall pass!  Oh, I know... it's easier said than done...

Many of the scriptures that talk about Jesus as our hope include:

1. God, the Father-another aspect of God that we do not deny!
2. The Holy Spirit-the third characteristic/piece of God that we do not deny!
3. Love-who God is and what He does!
4. Suffering/affliction/insult- difficulties that will either bring us closer to God or drive us away from Him.
5. Persevere/perseverance/endure/endurance-defined a steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement;  continuance in a state of grace to the end, leading to eternal salvation. 
6. Encourage/build up-to give courage
7. Power-ability to act or produce an effect

Where does the power, encouragement, perseverance/endurance, to keep HOPE, come from in the midst of suffering/affliction/insult? 

• It comes from our GOD who is LOVE:  as a loving Father, a sacrificial Brother, and a Holy Spirit at work within us.  It comes from the encouragement that is received by GOD's family, too!

It is possible to go for years and years and years of suffering, rejection, affliction, rejection, insult, rejection and still have the power to overcome... to be encouraged... to persevere... to love...


Colossians 1:24-29
Christ in you, the hope of glory.

²⁸ He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. ²⁹ To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me."

Jesus, in you, the HOPE of glory!

Oh, the JOY!

THE BLESSING... TRANSFORMING THURSDAY...

It takes great COURAGE to walk the walk of Jesus Christ. 
Steve and I are teaching a parenting class entitled, HOW GOD DOES FAMILY.  Each week we take a principle from scripture and expound on it. This week the principle is:

GOD BLESSES!

We discussed that we have a choice each day to be: A BLESSING OR A CURSE. Yes, the choice is ours. 
There are many ways to BLESS our families. One of those ways we've been talking about on this blog. Love your family enough to be patient and...

• kind... What a BLESSING kind words can be!
• keep no record of wrongs... Instead, spend your time keeping of record of what's right about your child/spouse.

Yet, what do words of BLESSING look like? We want to point out not just what a person does, but enCOURAGE "who he/she is". I modeled how I have done that with Steve and our children:

• Steve, Jesus is THE COUNSELOR and WISDOM... I see Jesus in you, in those ways!
• J, Jesus is THE LION / LAMB and HEALER... I see Jesus in you, in those ways.
• J, Jesus is THE ROCK and IMMANUEL... I see Jesus in you, in those ways.
• C, Jesus is THE CREATOR and WORD... I see Jesus in you, in those ways.
• C, Jesus is THE FOUNTAIN and GOOD SHEPHERD... I see Jesus in you, in those ways.

You can do the same for your family via pointing out names or characteristics of Jesus that they remind you of.  In addition, how about giving a BLESSING to each one as you see in them parts of the fruit of the HOLY SPIRIT?  Say things like:

• The JOY of the Holy Spirit flows out of you to BLESS others.
• The Holy Spirit LOVES through you in a great way.
• Your life exudes the Holy Spirit's PEACE that passes understanding.
• Your FAITH is so enCOURAGING to me, as I watch you being led by the Holy Spirit.

Let God mold you today into a woman of COURAGE who BLESSES others with her tongue.

~Oh, the JOY~

LOVING GOD, LOVING EACH OTHER... TRANSFORMING THURSDAY...

Loving others, God's way, is a choice!  How can it be possible to love not only family, friends, and co-workers, but also strangers and enemies.  In part, it has to do with one's perspective, but bottom line:  IT IS A CHOICE!

Let's return again to the "love chapter" in the Bible - 1 Corinthians 13.  "My love"  must become the "agape love" that Jesus lived out while on the earth.  Make the choice to love like Jesus loves!

Put the person's name in the blank and begin to LOVE:

My love for _________is patient,
My love for _________is kind and is not jealous;
My love for _________does not brag and is not arrogant,
My love for _________does not act unbecomingly;
My love for _________does not seek its own,
My love for _________is not provoked,
My love for _________does not take into account a wrong suffered, My love for _________does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
My love for _________bears all things,
My love for _________believes all things,
My love for _________hopes all things,
My love for _________endures all things.

LOVE never fails; 
¹³ But now faith, hope, LOVE, abide these three; but the greatest of these is LOVE."

~OH, THE JOY~

HERE WITH ME... TRANSFORMING THURSDAY...

A dear friend posted this on FB yesterday.  I knew immediately that this picture needed a home on this blog. 

As we begin March, let's remember what we've talked about throughout the months of January and February.  Love Jesus!  Love Yourself!  In order to love others, we must truly love ourselves the way Jesus loves us.  It's TRANSFORMING!

~Oh, the JOY~

HE'S STILL WORKING ON ME... TRANSFORMING THURSDAY....

Want to love yourself?  Overcome your fears!

FAITH VS. FEAR: 

WHICH WILL IT BE?

Trials are not enemies of faith

but opportunities

to prove GOD'S faithfulness...

FEAR NOT!  

Love yourself enough

to allow God to s..t..r..e..t..c..h you!

 ~Oh, the JOY!~

SO LONG SELF... TRANSFORMING THURSDAY...

The first beatitude of Christ's Sermon on the Mount screams, "So long self!"  In the book, Christ of the Mount, the author refers to being poor in spirit as the "renunciation of spirit".  The author, E. Stanley Jones says, "To sum up: The renounced in spirit gain the kingdom of heaven, the mourners gain the kingdom of inner comfort, the meek gain the earth.  So the world above, the world within, and the world around belong to this (wo)man.  Wanting nothing (s)he inherits all worlds.

Then come the next 3 beatitudes:

• BLESSED are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

• BLESSED are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

• BLESSED are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Mr. Jones continues, "While the first 3 beatitudes strike at the aggressive attitudes toward life, they do not end there.  They end, not in a quietism, but in a quest.  And the quest for righteousness can now safely take place, after renunciation in spirit; the righteousness produced will not now be a self- righteousness, for the self has been laid down.  Nothing is more beautiful than righteousness; nothing is more hideous than self-righteousness."

Have you ever observed that many "righteous people" are not merciful towards the shortcomings of others?  Mr. Jones says that, "Righteousness without mercy produces an indigestion countenance... mercy without righteousness is mushy."  Righteousness and mercy put together, as Jesus models, becomes purity of heart. Purity of heart is a passion for righteousness and a compassion for people.

As a believer, how do you love Yourself?   It begins with the first 6 Beatitudes:

• Be poor in spirit...
• Be a mourner...
• Be meek...
• Be hungry and thirsty for righteousness...
• Be merciful...
• Be pure in heart...

~Oh, the JOY!

CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST... TRANSFORMING THURSDAY...

As we continue to look at loving ourselves by looking at Matthew 5, please join me in once again looking at the first Be-attitudes:

BLESSED are the poor in spirit... is the end of the egotist; the stopping of self centeredness; the renunciation of who I am...  the vacating of my vessel so that Christ can valiantly and victoriously fill me up!

BLESSED are those who mourn... understands that sin separates us from God; grieving for the lost, the dying, the disenfranchised to come to know Jesus...

BLESSED are the meek... not the weak; it is a combination of the first two be-attitudes that make for the God-led suffering, servant, slave

The person above is HOLY SPIRIT filled and led...

CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST...
~OH, THE JOY!~

LOVE THE LORD... TRANSFORMING THURSDAY...

Love the LORD?  Then, love Yourself enough to follow Him!

Jesus says, in Matthew 5 that the way to get started with His kind of life is to BE a certain way.  That's why people call this part of His Sermon on the Mount - THE BE-ATTITUDES.  In fact, if we call ourselves christians, there is no other way for us to BE.  Let's look at the first one today (and a little bit at the second one):

• Be poor in spirit (then yours is the kingdom of heaven).
• Be a person who mourns over your sinfulness (then you will be comforted).

This is something that I've written about on this blog in the past.  Please join me in reading the following posts.  I think all of them will be very worth your while, but if you only have time for one, then I believe the last one would be the one I suggest:

http://momstransformed.blogspot.com/2008/07/for-when-i-am-weak-then-i-am-strong.html

http://momstransformed.blogspot.com/2008/07/for-theirs-is-kingdom-of-heaven.html

http://momstransformed.blogspot.com/2008/07/blessed-are-poor-in-spirit.html

http://momstransformed.blogspot.com/2008/07/pour-it-out.html

BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT

Love Jesus!

Love Yourself!

~OH, THE J.O.Y.~

I LOVE THE LORD: TRANSFORMING THURSDAY AND FAMILY FELLOWSHIP FRIDAY...

Last week, I wrote the following:

In a christian family and in the church family, our goal is to grow up in the love of Christ or be "taken by the love of Christ". I love this scripture, Ephesians 4, that describes how this transformation happens:


"11 So Christ Himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to EQUIP HIS PEOPLE for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE, WE WILL GROW to become in every respect the mature body of Him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up IN LOVE, as each part does its work."

I saw this picture on FB and I immediately thought of the transformation process we all must go through and how it relates to our role as wives and mothers.  I connected it back to last Thursdays post (above) and then I thought of two chapters later in Ephesians 6, where Paul says this:

 
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.


18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should."

Life is a battle!   Jesus gives us His armor!

~LOVING JESUS~

 

~Oh, the J.O.Y.~

TAKEN BY LOVE... TRANSFORMING THURSDAY...

I begin each semester by sharing with my classes, at the university, that they are beginning the semester as a caterpillar and are on their way to becoming butterflies.  The struggle can be difficult.  Many butterflies take longer than others in their transformation process.  I have heard butterfly experts share that "rushing the process" can be detrimental to the final outcome.  Also, that often the greater the struggle, the more beautiful the butterfly at the end. 

For humans, it works much the same way, but it's a beautiful thing when the whole process is bathed in LOVE.  In a christian family and in the church family, our goal is to grow up in the love of Christ or be "taken by the love of Christ".

I love this scripture, Ephesians 4, that describes how this transformation happens:

11 So Christ Himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to EQUIP HIS PEOPLE for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE, WE WILL GROW to become in every respect the mature body of Him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up IN LOVE, as each part does its work.

~LOVE JESUS~

~Oh, the J.O.Y.~

THE KING IS COMING... TAKEN BY LOVE...

TRANSFORMING THURSDAY

It was and is who Jesus is that drove Him and still drives Him to love you and me. 

JESUS  =  LOVE

1.

The song you hear playing on the playlist, TAKEN BY LOVE, uses these words sung by Kutless to tell us a little about His love:

The world will fade away as I lift my hands
The King is worthy of praise, is the great I AM
The joy You've given rings out as I lift my voice
I'm captivated by Your ways, so I will worship You

You've taken me by love
You've taken me by grace
You've taken me away, I can't resist
Because You've taken my heart

All creation will bow to the risen King
All of heaven will shout and the earth will sing
The joy You've given rings out as I lift my voice
I'm captivated my Your ways so I will worship You[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsty.com/kutless-taken-by-love-lyrics.html ]
You've taken me by love
You've taken me by grace
You've taken me away, I can't resist
Because You've taken my heart

You've taken me by love
You've taken me by grace
You've taken me away, I can't resist
Because You've taken my heart

You've taken my heart
My heart, my heart

You've taken me by love
You've taken me by grace
You've taken me away, I can't resist
Because You've taken my heart

You've taken me by love
You've taken me by grace
You've taken me away, I can't resist
Because You've taken my heart

You've taken my heart
You've taken my heart
You've taken my heart
You've taken my heart

NOTE:  You may want to pause the playlist after listening to TAKEN BY LOVE.

2.

This week, on this blog, we've gone to 1 Corinthians 13 several times.  I paraphrase it here for your consideration.  As you read through it, determine which one of these traits of Jesus' love do you internally have the hardest time believing that He can do for you?

⁴ "Jesus' love for me is patient,
Jesus' love for me is kind.
Jesus' love for me does not envy,
Jesus' love for me does not boast,
Jesus' love for me is not proud.

⁵ Jesus love for me does not dishonor others,
Jesus love for me is not self-seeking,
Jesus love for me is not easily angered,
Jesus love for me keeps no record of wrongs.

⁶ Jesus love for me does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

⁷ Jesus' love for me always protects,

Jesus' love for me always trusts,
Jesus' love for me always hopes,
Jesus' love for me always perseveres.

⁸ Jesus' love for me never fails...

¹³ ...And now these three remain: faith, hope and Jesus' love.
But the greatest of these is Jesus' love. "


3.
People are all different.  We express emotions differently.  We express our love differently.  Jesus showed us how to love in all ways.  He showed Himself to love on different ends of the continuum of personality:

• From Extroverted to Introverted
• From iNtuitive to Sensing
• From Thinking to Feeling
• From Perceiving to Judging

     As the Gospels show us the array of personalities that Jesus loved and led while He walked this earth,  I can only imagine all the Spirit leading and loving that it took to change Peter from the impetuous soul to the Spirit-led church leader.  I think of the love of Jesus that it took to change John from a "son of thunder" to the "apostle of love."  Wow!  There's hope for me!

      Join me today in taking this quick personality quiz.  Then, take a look at that "natural woman" the results show you to be.  You will come face to face with your personality extremes and you can begin talking to Jesus about how He is and wants to live and love through you in His kingdom.  I will begin posting tomorrow about how Jesus' love can shape and mold our unique characteristics for His glory.  Remember your 4 letter profile that you will get at the end of the quiz!

http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes1.htm

J is for Jesus!

Love is Jesus!

Jesus is love!

Taken by love!

~OH, THE JOY!~

I AM BLESSED... I WILL ENDURE...

TRANSFORMING THURSDAY

The past month or so I have visited with many friends who are Despondant, in Despair, Discouraged, and almost Destroyed... they are ready TO QUIT. I know people who are out of work, had their utilities turned off, lost their jobs, lost their homes, lost a family member... Endurance is not simple!

Please, my friend... DO NOT QUIT! Endurance is not just stamina or strength of will. It requires a dependence on resources that we don't even possess... SOME-ONE greater than ourselves. There is a need for deep breathing... health... pacing... positive thought... against all odds.

This time of year -during the holidays- is so hard. This time of year -when winter has set in and the days are short- is so hard! Hanging in our den are the words:

Life is hard,

but GOD is good!

How did this guy make it up the mountain?

With the life and limb given to him by GOD!

How did this tree maintain it's brillance in the midst of a snowstorm?

It has gotten some nourishment from the sun and water

into it's root system that other trees have not.

How did this little guy get these icebergs to separate?

He did not! He waited in faith, nothing doubting,

for this amazing opportunity to give him passage.

1. Count as BLESSINGS what GOD has given to you.
2. Seek GOD's SON first... He is our "SUN" who is the LIVING WATER.
3. Know that GOD will make a way! There may not be anyway that looks possible, but JESUS can make a way when there is no way!



Depending on where you are in your life right now, I beg you to participate in the encouraging act of ENDURANCE... Either be...

1. the hands and feet of Jesus to others... provide love, encouragement, food, gifts, etc.




2. the willing recipient of those who want to minister to you




3. And while you are doing 1. or 2. or both, count your BLESSINGS and not your troubles!!!!

Today, will find me involved in all three! Join me in ENDURING!

~BLESSED~

‘Come, you who are BLESSED

by My Father;
take your inheritance,

the kingdom prepared for you
since the creation of the world.

For I was hungry and

you gave me something to eat,

I was thirsty and

you gave me something to drink,

I was a stranger and

you invited me in,

I needed clothes and

you clothed me,

I was sick and

you looked after me,
I was in prison and

you came to visit me.'

~BLESSED~

MY SAVIOR MY GOD.... BREATHE IN...

TRANSFORMING THURSDAY

Yes! I am an oldest child! Not only am I the oldest, but I was an only child for several years. I was preparing for first grade before my brother, the second child, came along. Yes! I do feel responsible! Responsibility is deeply engraved in my psyche. If I don't meet my "responsibilities" real or imagined, then "guilt" raises its ugly head.

It can be frustrating when I am unable to fulfill all my "responsibilities". This time of year, especially, a mommy and/or grand-mommy needs:

• a deep reservoir of God's Spirit



• extra Physical energy



• clarity of Intellect (mind)



• understanding/supportive Relationships, and



• normalcy of Emotions.

Why? Well, haven't you heard? It's the Hectic Holiday season!

The weather here where I live has been torrential rain. I have tendonitis in my leg. My leg is not only very painful, but it is slowing me down considerably. Yesterday, I needed to drive many miles to visit school sites. I needed my hubby to drive me around. I have relied on him for much. Thank you, Steve! Thank You, Jesus!

I have not purchased one gift. Yet, our daughter has stepped in with her "cyber savvy" and taken care of it all. Each year we do the 12 days of Christmas countdown to Christmas. Last night, with my leg propped up I realized that the 12 gifts for each grandkids box were almost complete. Thank you, Jess! Thank You, Jesus!

I want this month to transform into something extra special... peaceful... loving.... memorable... It must start with me giving up control! I have certainly battled feelings of frustration. It's okay that I do not "get everything done". If it's "late" - that's okay! Usually we have our tree up by now. Not one Christmas decoration is up... and our prayer is that we'll have all the grandkids here to celebrate at the end of the month.

BREATHE, PATTI! God is IN control! In fact, I need God IN me calming my Spirit 24/7. I need help for my NEEDS that I bulleted above!

IN-SPIRE means to actually have the "breath of God". BREATHE GOD, PATTI!

IN me is God who provides:

S - piritual transformation for the following:
P - hysical
I - ntellectual
R - elational
E - motional

~IN - SPIREd~

~BLESSED~

FOREVER... TRANSFORMED...

.....N..............................D.....

..........O.....................E.........

...............V..........C...............

....................E......................

....................M.....................

....................B......................

....................E......................

....................R......................

~BLESSED~

GIVE THANKS... IN SPITE OF YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES...

TRANSFORMING

THANKSGIVING

THURSDAY

Thank You, JESUS!

~BLESSED~

THAT'S WHAT FAITH CAN DO... TRANSFORM...

T rust Jesus

R epent to Jesus

A ccept Jesus

N eed Jesus

S ubmit to Jesus

F aith in Jesus

O ffer life to Jesus

R ely on Jesus
M odel Jesus

~BLESSED~

THAT'S WHAT FAITH CAN DO... TRANSFORM...

TRANSFORMING THURSDAY

This fall, in our Sunday morning ladies class ,we are looking at several spiritual concepts, including FAITH. Faith in Jesus Christ is the first step to the BLESSED life. Trusting in God, the Creator of the universe is Faith. Believing that Jesus Christ is God takes Faith.

FAITH

• 
  
  F ixes my eyes on Jesus!

FAITH

• 
  
  A ssures me of what I do not see!

FAITH says,

• 
  
  "I don't wanna, but I'm a gonna!"

FAITH

• 
  
  T hrows off things that hinder!"

FAITH follows the

• 
  
  H oly Spirit's lead!

Each of the above phrases in the acrostic have a memory scripture that we have been memorizing. During this process of memorizing these scriptures, several other scriptures have been brought to my attention by the Holy Spirit. All of these scriptures are TRANSFORMING my thinking!

The newest scriptures, include:

SCRIPTURE 1:

When the children of Israel were standing at the Red Sea and the Egyptians were behind them in pursuit. This statement was made before God parted the waters of the Red Sea.

EXODUS 14:14

"The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

SCRIPTURE 2:
Jeremiah is known as the "weeping prophet". Yet, Jeremiah knew that it was God that it was the LORD GOD who he should put his Faith in.

JEREMIAH 17:7

“But BLESSED is the one who trusts in the LORD,
whose confidence is in Him."

SCRIPTURE 3:
The angel of the LORD spoke to the prophet Zechariah:

ZECHARIAH 4:6

"So he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel:
‘Not by might nor by power,
but by my Spirit,’
says the LORD Almighty. "

~BLESSED~

VOICE OF TRUTH... BLESSED IS... HAPPY IS...

TRANSFORMING THURSDAY

There were three things that happened this week, among many, that brought to my attention that I was hearing the VOICE OF TRUTH speak some transformational words through me.

1. I sat across the table, at a coffee shop this week and listened to my friend say, "I just want to be happy!" I couldn't get the words, that I heard, out of my mind. So, later that evening I sent an email,

"One of my very favorite scriptures is Jesus beginning His sermon on the mount on the topic of HAPPINESS. I was going to share it with you today, but I did not want to come across as self righteous or preachy. His words minister to me on a regular basis. I have used some memory hooks to help me put them to memory. I will paraphrase them here:

'Happy are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Happy are those who mourn over sin, for they will be comforted.

Happy are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Happy are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Happy are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

Happy are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Happy are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God.

Happy are you when people say things against you falsely because of Jesus,

for great is your reward in heaven.

Happy are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Blessings for a brand new day,

Patti

2. This week, a teacher in another department asked if we could meet to discuss some concerns. Toward the end of the almost one hour meeting, he stated the following quote,

"A good teacher is like a candle - it consumes itself to light the way for others." ~Author Unknown

I responded with, "Hey, that's what's underneath my signature on all of my emails.

He replied, "I know! That's where I got it from."

3. During the month of October, I have heard a lot of grumbling, complaining, and whining from my students. I gave them "the talk" this week. It's November now! It's time for all of this to cease and everyone to develop a gratitude attitude!

Thank You, Jesus! Today I have received multiple beautiful "thank you" emails from students. A few of the comments included,

"...when you love something so much (like you do with teaching) it probably does not matter the circumstance, you just keep pushing forward. That is why I just wanted to thank you for all the work that you put into our class..."

"...I hope you know how much I enjoy your class and how I feel like I am learning skills to make myself a better teacher every time I am around you. Thank you for helping me achieve my dream of not just becoming a teacher, but being a good one."

"I wanted to let you know how much I value your advice, wisdom and encouragement in our class this semester. I cry with almost every blog because the videos you provide us are so meaningful... I also wanted to thank you for interupting the "whine fest" this morning... This is a stressful time for all of us, but your advice, guidance and support is important and helpful to all of us. THANK YOU!"

~HAPPY = BLESSED~

CHERISH THE TREASURE... CHOOSE FAITH AND FORGIVENESS...

TRANSFORMING THURSDAY

What a treasure! Jesus not only forgives me, but He models how I must forgive others. Easier said than done. Jesus, You are an incredible example of inner strength!

In our marriage seminar this last weekend, the speaker discussed "not forgiving" as a poison to the person who does not forgive. It is unhealthy (and downright deadly) for body, mind, soul, and spirit to hold on to unforgiveness.

Over the last few days I have had continual opportunity to be impatient, frustrated, angry, and even furious with various people. It did not take long for me to get a knot in my stomach and feel the need to tell it like it is to more than a few people. But why go at it with that attitude?

Not always, but often, people "do not know what they do! Not always, but often, people have "no clue"! We can injure each other with our actions, our words, our ingratitude, and our forgetfulness. Sometimes forgiveness means having a loving dialog with the other person. Sometimes the other person is not ready for that discussion or even clueless as to what they did. In such a case - FORGIVE AND MOVE ON!

SIGH! Easier said than done! Yet, "I don't wanna', but I'm a gonna'!"

At home today, with our husbands and children, let's cherish the treasure and choose forgiveness.

Out and about today? Let's do the same! I certainly don't need any more toxins in my body than I already have.

I forgive! I choose to count my blessings and not my troubles!

FAITH

Fixes my eyes on JESUS

Hebrews 12:2-3

“Let us fix our eyes on JESUS,

the AUTHOR and PERFECTOR

of our F.A.I.T.H.,

who for the joy set before Him

endured the cross,

scorning its shame…

sat down at the right hand

of the throne of GOD.

3 Consider Him

who endured such opposition

from sinful men,

so that you will not grow weary

and lose heart.”

FAITH

Assures me

of what I hope for!

Hebrews 11:1

“Now FAITH is being sure

of what we hope for

and certain of what we do not see.”

FAITH

says,

"I don’t wanna’

but I’m a gonna’!"

Hebrews 11:3-40

“By FAITH we understand that the universe

was formed at GOD's command…

6 And without FAITH,

it is impossible to please GOD,

because anyone who comes to Him

must believe that He exists

and that He rewards those

who earnestly seek Him…

by FAITH men conquered Kingdoms…

administered justice…

gained what was promised;

shut the mouths of lions,

quenched flames…

escaped the sword…

weakness turned to strength…

became powerful in battle… "

By FAITH, I choose to forgive!

~BLESSED~

BLESSED ASSURANCE... NOT MY WILL BUT THINE...

TRANSFORMING THURSDAY

Our kids grew up hearing their daddy often say, "I don't wanna' but I'm a gonna"!" It's a phrase that has stuck with all of us. Jesus used a similar phrase, "Not my will, but Thine!"

You and I both know how hard life can be. Sometimes I literally scream, "I don't wanna' do this!" It can be because of fear, frustration, exhaustion, or even bull-headness. Each time, though, I pray that it is by FAITH that I say, "Patti, you may not 'wanna'', but it's the right thing to do!" That's when the "I'm a gonna!" steps in.

Here are some thoughts to ponder as you consider how you are transforming into Jesus' likeness:

F ix your eyes on Jesus!

A ssurance is in what we hope for and do not see

I don't wanna', but I'm a gonna!

T

H

Scroll down to yesterday's post to read our scriptures that go with these statements.

~BLESSED~