Transformation

Philippians 3:12-21 is about pressing on towards the goal to acheive what?

...who by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies...

Romans 12:2 transforming what? How?
Do not confirm any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind...

2 Corinthians 3:18 transformed into what? how?
And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Ok, so I know that God used lots of different parables and exaqmples to try to convey to us a concept. I also know that somethings in the Bible are meant to be taken as an example or concept and some things are to be taken literaly. I believe that even in the examples though that there is a literal translation that can be gleened from it. like in these verses. I know that in the Philippines verses there is the concept of training for and winning the race. resulting in a transformed body, is an example used to describe the transformation that takes place in us when we practice living the Christian lifestyle God wants us to live, when we spend time in the spiritual disiplins we become more like him. Which leads to the verses in Romans where it is saying do not do like the heathens do if you refrain from that and instead think of the things of god and fill our minds with His words it is mentaly and emotionally change our thinking, and all of that will bring us to the Corinthins verses where it shares it will be a changing or ever-increasing transformation to be more like Him. However the principals are all correct when used out of context if you physically change to start training you will see your body change physically. (loosing weight... fat... and gaining muscle) and if you hang around with people who think differently and spend all your time listening to them and their thoughts within a short time you will start thinking like them. actually beliving what they believe and liking the things they like. God designed us this way so that He could transform us, He knew we would need a transformation in our lives.

So all of that to say Although I said at the beginning of this year that this would be the year I got healthy, I don't know if I really expected it to happen. kind of like the new years resolution that 90% of the people forget about or quit by the 13th of January. However God does not forget. He allowed me to drag my feet about it for the first 6 months of the year and now is kicking my butt into high gear! I am still smoke free! five weeks no cigarettes... I am looking forward to the day I can say 5 years no cigarettes! God is so AMAZING!

This week I get serious about some other things the physical appearance things in my life. I have started the first processed yesterday, Hugh hurdle overcome in a huge fight between me and the enemy... he really did not want me to take that step and tried several things to derail me. Praise God for His love and compassion and provision of exactly what I needed when I needed it, so I could take that step. There wil be one more step before the week is done. Then the process of that area will be well under way. I also realize that I need to make plans for the other changes. I know that I want this even if I cm scared of and dreading the process. Please just keep me in your prayers. this journey is is a wild one!

blessings everyone!

A day to celebrate!

I just wanted to share a couple of things this morning as I sit here praising God and celebrating my one month anniversary of not smoking! That is right no cigarettes for a full month! God is so awesome! I know and have known since the beginning of this amazing journey that I could not do this. It is only by the grace of God and Him intervening in my life in such amazing ways that this would ever be possible. The truth is this journey did not start a month ago but many years ago. God is still in the business of transforming lives. (some of us just need lots more work than other and take a lot longer!) As most of you know about 2 1/2 years ago God turned up the speed on that process in my life and things have pretty much been on a much accelerated program since then. Well for those of you who I have not spoken to or shared with in a while things are pretty much moving at warp speed (or so it seems to me) right now. God is just so amazing and is so faithful to complete His work in us. I praise Him for being the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. That no matter how much we want to change we do not have it within us to do so. It is only though the power of Jesus Christ that we can truly be transformed. Praise God with me today. Send up a word of thanks and praise to Him today for what He is still doing in the lives of those who love Him! God does have a plan and a purpose for each of us and He is faithful to bring us to the place we can and will be able to complete it.

I also wanted to share with you one of the things that I believe is truly making a difference in this part of my journey right now. There is an amazing website that has kept me in the word of God, that has kept me accountable during this process and has encouraged me and established a mentor in my life to walk along side of me. The web site address is

www.settingcaptivesfree.com

this website has many online classes available these classes deal with just about every kind of addictive problem out there. From Drug and alcohol abuse to sexual immorality, pornography, gambling, smoking, and gluttony. They even offer some of the courses in other languages. I just felt that God wanted me to share that with others. It may be that you or someone you know that is in need of this very ministry. They also may feel that they are living in a state of captivity and truly desire a way out. Please share this with others as well.

blessings to each of you!

God's Plans vs Our Plans

I just love it when you can see God's hand at work in peoples lives. I was having a conversation last night where we were discussing how awesome it is when we have confirmation in our lives and the lives of others that our God is Alive, and Actively involved in the lives of His people. I work in a global company and have opportunity to interact with many people from around the world who have different beliefs and even worship other gods. What to me is so sad is that they cannot make the same statement about their god. Only the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob. the God who created the heavens and the earth, the one who sent his son Jesus to earth to become a perfect sacrifice for our sins, allowing us to have an intimate relationship with the Living Loving God is active and alive in the lives of His people.

Well to make a long story not so long... I just finished a conversation with someone that God has recently brought into my life. I always get excited when god brings new people into my life becasue I know He is up to something. I know that there are no mistakes, this person is in my life for a reason. Well during this conversation I got the strongest impression that this person is going to play a big part in my future. I asked a few leading questions to see if what I was thinking was something that might fit in with what God was leading in this other persons life. Was I surprised when that was confirmed? No of course not! I committed to be in prayer about her future plans and that God would guide and direct and at the same time committed to myself to be in prayer about all that God was doing in my life right now. It may just be that God is up to something big here. So my point is two fold. I am so overwhelmed by my God that He would look to me and see something of value to Himself and His plans for us His creation is just mind boggling. Then to know He takes that further by wanting to spend time with me to share His plans and to ask me to be a part of them. To serve as His ambassador to my circle of influance, to know that He is expanding that circle of influance... I am so humbled and amazed.

Oh, that the whole world would know My God and discover the wonder of His love!

unexpected appointments

I just love it when God blesses me with an unexpected appointment. Especially if it is with a friend.

Yesterday was just such a day. I had to make an unexpected trip to Tampa. It was a trip over, stay 20 minutes to deliver something and then back. When I found out I would need to make this trip. That very morning... I was sitting at a table full of women from my church at our monthly Ladies Prayer Breakfast. I leaned over to the one on my left and wrote a quick note asking her if I needed to make the trip over would she be able to go with me to keep me company and more importantly keep me accountable as this would be my first road trip without my faithful companion of cigarettes. And well, quite frankly, I had been having a very challenging day the day before. I had not given into temptation. However, I felt this might be my undoing. so.... Thankfully she did not hesitate she immediately said yes,

Well God has a way of helping us sort things out in our minds by being able to share with a friend and provides just the right friend at the right time when we need to get completely honest and just spill our guts. Well... that is what happened on the ride over. I was able to share with this precious friend not only the events that have been happening in my life but also my fears and my discoveries and my challenges. It was an amazing hour and a half that flew by as she listened and questioned me and caused me to dig deep into my heart to find some of the answers. I just love it when my heavenly Father knows just what we need even when we don't.

So what are the things making you restless, and frustrated and unsure of your next steps in your journey of faith? cry out to God and ask Him to show you the best person and the best time to share these things with that person. And do not be surprised when He provides it in the most unusual person, place and time!

update and a spiritual principal

First a quick update... I am still cigarette free! God is so good! The past week has been for many reasons one of the most stressful weeks I have had in years. Yet though even that God has been faithful to uphold me and keep me from even experiencing major craving. So I am praising Him for His faithfulness and stand in awe of the truth "when the Lord sets you free you are free indeed"!

Now for my thoughts on a spiritual principal or truth that I had not understood before and to be honest never even gave thought to... for the past several days there has been, like I mentioned above, a lot of additional stress in my life due to a specific incident that transpired last week. the other day when driving home from work and praying about this and in the course of my conversation with God I was mulling this all over I realized something that was quit shocking. Now several days later I realize it should not be shocking to me but it was. I realized that what was happening was part of a larger spiritual battle that was taking place and in one fell swoop it had transformed from just the spiritual to a physical manifestation of a real life incident where "my enemies" were all clearly tipping their hands in a huge way. Now let me clarify here that these are individuals none of whom are Christians and who I have always seen more as a thorn in my side. you know the kind who just always seems to be on the other side of almost every issue and just tend to rub you the wrong way. But nevertheless I had never put the label of "enemy" on them. Until now. Now, through this, I truly see them for what they are according to scripture. I also see God's hand of protection through this situation. So my question was in that moment of enlightenment, is there some principle of God's love and protection at work in my life? Does God really do that? you know the vanquishing the foe thing? isn't that what He does when they stand before Him in the day of judgement? Is not the promises of vengeance reserved for after the great battle in revelations? I was more than a little "in fear of the Lord" that evening as I tried to come to grips with this. I even made a few calls to "Godly men of Wisdom" asking them about this spiritual principal theory. It was interesting though that as I tried to explain to them what I was seeing or thought I was seeing that it was almost like they had blinders on and did not hear or see what I was talking about. I love these men and hold them in high regard and value their council yet I hung up from the calls and surrendered to God and said OK, this is between us isn't it... you are not allowing me to articulate to them so they have understanding of this are you? I realized there was more than one principal of my faith playing out before me now. God has me in a very real spiritual training program that is the most amazing thing. I could not have even imagined such a thing before... I want to shout from the roof tops and write it all down so I never forget. yet every time I try to put it to words it just comes out garbled and not making sense... So I would ask that you keep me in prayer. That I be open to and willing to listen and learn. to keep my eyes and ears wide open so I don't miss anything God is tryin to teach me.

Psalm 34:4-7 I sought the Lord, and he answered me; He delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.

hummmmm well I don't know about you, but this pretty much answered my question... God is so awesome! It truly is better than any princess fairy tale of the knight in shinning armor come to rescue his princess from the evil forces. Do you ever wonder where those stories got started? LOL.