TRANSFORMING THURSDAY
When I look at the butterfly transformation cycle, above, I wonder what would have happened to the butterfly if she would have given up at any one of the stages of transformation. If she could talk, we might hear her ready to give up as she says,
"This is impossible!"
"I can't do this!"
"I'm paralyzed!"
"This is way too complicated!"
"God has forgotten me!"
"I'm too exhausted to care anymore!"
"I'm so ugly!"
Oh, the enduring beauty we would have missed if that caterpillar had given up! In order to become a beautiful butterfly, a caterpillar must endure extreme experiences (circumstances).
I have friends who have E xperienced E xtreme circumstances that brought about a large range of E motions that. They came face to face as to whether or not to choose
E ndurance.
E ndurance may require the gamut of E xperiences and E motions on it's way to VICTORY. My friends, like the caterpillar, must patiently wait on the time and/or circumstances. There are many laws of nature and humankind that God, our Creator has put in motion. I'm sure many of those have been put in place to teach us patience and E ndurance.
In a similar, but different situation to the caterpillar, the cast sheep who is down and out can't get up without coming face to face with her Shepherd. It is The Good Shepherd who has the rod and staff that will flip His sheep back over and get her standing upright again.
I applaud my friends who are allowing God to hold them and transform them as they go through the storms of life!
Yesterday, I connected with each of these dear mommies, in different ways, and will continue to pray for their ENDURANCE:
...one mommy and her family are loading their moving truck to head half way across continent, by faith, to a "new land"... daddy has no job... their house here has not sold... today many will say, "This is not good-bye, just see you later..." ... they go with Jesus, who is omnipresent - THE GREAT I AM... THE WAY...
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...multiple mommies are devastated that their dear friend (above) is moving away and taking their childrens' friends and playmates with her... they take solace in their christian family who are branches of THE VINE and followers of THE TRUE FRIEND...
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...one mommy who has experienced a year of her own near death, birth of fourth son, husband's loss of job, beginning a new business, and the recent diagnosis of the 3rd son with PDD - Pervasive Developmental Disorder. Today, she is making a few very important phone calls... as she prays for wisdom, she does not know the obstacles that will be before her, or who will be her child's "teacher" but she knows Jesus. He is THE GOOD TEACHER... He is WISDOM...
... one mommy remains in a "safe house" because alcohol has stolen what she and her child once had... the new chapter in her life is frighteningly full of questions... her faith inspires me... she has turned to THE COUNSELOR and the DELIVERER...
...one mommy is facing a very difficult diagnosis, this week, as she tries to manage working full-time, finishing her degree online, and being the mommy to two very active little boys... she is so overwhelmed and exhausted that she often asks, "When will this end?" She has turned to Jesus, THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA (THE BEGINNING AND THE END) who is THE HEALER...
...one mommy has been devastated by the ongoing angry words and rejection of her own mommy... she hangs on to Jesus and His family as she prays for peace and kind words from THE PRINCE OF PEACE and THE WORD...
...one mommy is beginning a new chapter in her life after the deaths of her own mommy and multiple dear friends... she saw just yesterday that life will go on... Jesus is ABUNDANT LIFE... ETERNAL LIFE...
Oh, I could go on... but for these mommies I know that they are looking to Jesus to for ENDURANCE. Each day is full of EXPERIENCES and EMOTIONS that seem almost insurmountable. They can celebrate with mommy Cristi who knows a few things about those 3 E's. Today, is the 2nd anniversary of her daughter Lauren's heart transplant. All of the mommies above know Cristi's journey. Watching Cristi and her faith in Jesus has given them much
ENCOURAGEMENT to ENDURE...
They all choose Jesus! They choose the attitudes of Jesus that they are to BE... and they are BLESSED...
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BLESSED are the poor in spirit....
BLESSED are those who mourn...
BLESSED are the meek...
BLESSED are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness...
BLESSED are the merciful...
BLESSED are the pure in heart...
BLESSED are the peacemakers...
BLESSED are those who are persecuted for righteousness...
BLESSED are those who rejoice...
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His mercies are new every morning... a new season of life is ahead... just ask Cristi!
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