Transformers

 “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but 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.” Romans 12:2 (NIV)

     Years ago there were some very popular toys called “Transformers.” They caught the imagination of children worldwide because, with a simple click and twist, a dinosaur could instantly become a car. Or a slight turn to the left and one snap and a robot could transform into a train. It was amazing to behold.

     Just think about it: with a few simple clicks and ta-da, a new character was created. It was impossible to tell what the toy originally looked like because it had morphed or transformed into something totally different. Thus the name Transformer. 

    In Romans 12:2 Paul uses the term “transformed” but he isn’t talking about toys changing from one character to another. No, he is talking about you and me and warning us not to conform to the things of this world but to be “transformed by the renewing of your mind.” What is he talking about?

    First Paul warns us to not conform to what the world has to offer; in other words, fight against those things in this world that pull us from God’s will for our lives. So that begs a few questions for each of us: What fills your mind in, say, a week? How many hours do you watch television or surf the internet and check out websites? How much of each day is spent reading books and watching movies? Can you estimate how much time you spend shopping for the perfect clothes and makeup?

   Please hear me on this: I am not saying that those are bad things but I AM saying that if they consume more of your time than you spend in the Word or sharing Jesus with the lost or lifting prayer requests, they could be pulling you away from the Lord and toward the “pattern of this world,” as Paul calls it.

    The Creator of the Universe is telling us that if we want to step out of the ordinary and into the extraordinary, then we have to train our minds to NOT conform to what the world says is acceptable. Instead, we have to be transformed into the Lord’s perfect will.

    True transformation – real transformation – begins with our minds and how we think. And that means we must get into God’s Word every single day. There is no other way. I encourage you to be on guard against anything that pulls you toward conforming to the world’s standards and taking your main focus off of Jesus. It’s time to be Transformers. 

     

    Father, I desire more than anything to be renewed and transformed by your word so I can focus on what is really important. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

 

R.A.P. it up . . . 

Reflect

• What is your first response when tough things happen in your life?

• Do you find yourself holding on to the Word or reaching out to the world?

 Apply

• Journal a list of all the activities that you do during one week and put the number of hours you are involved in each one.

• Beside each activity write either “world” or “Word” and pray as you decide if any of those activities could be reduced or eliminated to give you more time in the Word.

Power 

• Romans 12:2 (NIV) “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but 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.”

• I Peter 2:9 (NIV) “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”

• II Corinthians 10:5 (NIV) “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

 

 

 

 

Peace in the Storm

 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33 (NIV)

   Strong storms packed with wind and rain are normal in Missouri. I remember one particular downpour during the first quarter of our local football game on a cool Friday evening.  Fortunately, I had an umbrella big enough to protect nearly a third of the stadium. I needed one that coordinated with my brown jacket and found one with “gold” stamped on the package. I realized after I opened it at home that it actually said “golf.”  Oh well.

     But as I sat at the game, I thought back to my first storm without the protection of my husband. He had passed away about three months before the big winds and rain hit. The electricity in my home had gone out and the darkness felt as thick as smoke as I stumbled to light candles everywhere but they did nothing to calm my fears as shingle after shingle flew off the roof and thudded like wounded birds on the lawn.

     I remember wondering “Will it always be like this? Will I always huddle on the sofa and feel so frightened of every storm that comes my way?” I knew that if he had been there, my husband would have grinned and winked and said “It’s a big one, isn’t it Nance.” and I would have been reassured instantly. But he wasn’t there nor would he be coming back so I pulled my sweater tighter around me, prayed silently, and waited for the storm to pass.

     That was several years ago but the “storms” have continued to hit with a vicious force. One “storm” was an empty propane tank on the coldest night of the year. Another was a truck that flatly refused to ever run again after I stopped at a red light. Still, another was a major financial issue that needed to be addressed immediately. And then a massive storm with a virus indiscriminately tried to sink its teeth into every person it came in contact with. Storm after storm after storm.

    Of course, we have those times of fresh air, sunshine, a view that is breathtaking and more money in the bank than bills on the kitchen counter and our hearts are at peace. But we cannot deny the inevitability in John 16:33 that just the opposite will eventually happen: unforeseen storms will blindside us and bills will pile up with an empty bank account; a health diagnosis will be cancer; a best friend will pass away.

     And what is the answer? We don’t have the power to decide exactly when to schedule a storm. And honestly, is there ever a good time to pencil in a broken arm on our calendars? Not at all. But the one constant that I have learned through life is this: God will never leave us in our storms. He stays right beside us, encouraging us and giving us strength to continue as the winds rage around us. He comforts us as He reminds us that all storms are temporary. They will blow over. We will experience relief. Even when I don’t understand the “why” in the storm. Even when my heart is broken to the point that I don’t think it can be repaired. Even then.

     May I suggest something for you to consider the next time a storm hits your life? Stand in the middle of your living room, turn your face to the Lord, and praise Him. “WHAT??” you say. Praise?? Yes. Praise Him for never leaving you. Praise Him for being in control of all things – including storms. Praise Him for having a purpose in every storm – even when you can’t see it. That is not saying you are happy and content with every storm you experience; it is saying that you will trust the One who sees what you do not. Tears of grief? Yes. But praise for never leaving you and having a plan in all things? Oh, yes. 

    We are going to be drenched again and again as storms blow into our lives but rest assured that they will also blow out of our lives as well. And the Creator of the Universe will never ever EVER leave us. I pray you feel His presence and His peace today and every day.

   Father, even when we don’t understand; when our hearts are broken into tiny pieces, even then we know you are in control and you love us. We love you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.  

R.A.P. it up . . .

 Reflect

• Have you ever believed that the storm you experienced would last forever and the Lord would not be with you?

• Did you call on the Lord to get you through or get angry that it was happening to you?

 Apply

• When a storm hits in your life, stop, take a deep breath, and ask the Lord to make His presence known.

• Memorize the 23rd Psalm and praise the Lord in the middle of the storm. Ask prayer warriors to pray over you.

 Power

• John 16:33 (NIV) “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

• Psalm 23:4 (NIV) “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comport me.”

• Exodus 33:14 (NIV) “The Lord replied, ‘My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Hurt With Me

  “Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”   Matthew 26:38 (NIV)

   There are so many things I do not remember on that particular day in August. Was it hot or cool? Sunny? Cloudy? Did I have specific plans for the day? I honestly do not know. But one thing I do remember - and will never forget - is that on that day a good friend hurt with me.

   My husband had passed away suddenly an hour and a half earlier. The funeral home had just left and I was standing in the yard, reminding myself to breathe, trying to make sense of what had happened. Shocked. Confused. And hurting.

    That’s when I heard the truck barreling down our road. It turned into our yard and Mike jumped out of the truck before it had come to a complete stop. All I heard was my name repeated over and over. He didn’t say “He’s in heaven” or “It will get better with time.” What he DID do was cry with me. And share my pain. He simply hurt with me. 

   The loss of someone you love is excruciatingly hard. The heartache is palpable; being punched in the gut repeatedly would not hurt as much. Those around you see that you are hurting and as much as possible, they hurt for you. They want you to “feel better.” They want the former person you were to come back. So they feel they must say something to take the pain away.

Wonderful, precious friends - thank you for trying but there are no words to make everything better. Thank you for caring. For praying. For loving. For being concerned that you might say the wrong thing that would only add to my pain. I understand. So, instead, could I ask you to do this:

Hurt with me. Just as Mike did. Grieve with me. Allow me to grieve. When you do that, you are validating my heartache. I know you are sad for me. I know you are heartbroken for me. I love that you love me. So please, just as Mike did, simply hurt with me. 

   Father, thank you for friends who are willing to grieve with me, to hurt with me. Thank you for Jesus who understands and who loves us deeply. In Jesus’ Name. Amen. 

R.A.P. it up . . . 

Reflect

• Have you ever been afraid that you would say the wrong thing to someone who has lost a loved one?

• Did you consider other things that you could do for them?

Apply

• Pray pray pray over the entire family of the loved one who passed away.

• Offer hugs, food, stamps, paper products, and your presence. Be available.

Power

• Matthew 26:38 (NIV) “Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” 

• Galatians 6:2 (NIV) “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” 

• Psalm 34:18 (NIV) “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” 

God's Radar

 “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal.”

Isaiah 26:3-4 (NIV)

    One of my favorite television shows is the Weather Channel. No, really. There is always something new popping up on the map. I love hearing about an approaching storm that is predicted to deliver snow to my community or the warning of tornadoes forming. I marvel at the radar showing rain changing to sleet and then snow within an hour. It amazes me that understanding cloud types can help determine the kind of weather to expect. 

    Granted there are times when the weather prediction is uncertain at best and it seems that the meteorologists have spun an arrow on a circle marked with different types of weather and whatever the arrow stopped on was our forecast for the day. But overall, just knowing what the radar predicts is coming next gives me a bit of confidence and security over the weather.

    I’ve always thought it would be great to have radar predictions for the storms that hit our lives, much like what we see on the weather channel. “Tomorrow there is a 90% likelihood of extreme heat as my husband and I disagree on buying a car but Tuesday looks clear.”

    Or “On Wednesday there is a 60% chance that I will lose my contacts so visibility will be low and I will need someone else to pick up the kids after school.” followed by “Thursday brings a chance of screams as I step from the shower onto the scales so Friday will find a high-pressure workout at the local gym.”

    There is something about our wanting to be in control and “predict” our circumstances that keeps many of us from trusting our Father to take care of us at all times and in everything that we face. In other words, we don’t believe that God has the power to take care of us and do what He says He can do. We don’t really trust Him. 

    . That’s what it comes down to, doesn’t it? Isaiah 26:3-4 addresses that very thing. You will have peace and strength and receive help when you trust the Lord. Not once or twice. You will be helped when you trust the Lord. Every. Single. Time.

    So what extreme heat situations are you trying to weather today? A family crisis? An alcoholic loved one? A career loss? My encouragement is to go before the Lord with the storms you are facing. Trust Him to be 100% accurate as He leads you through the storms in your life with His Godly radar.  

    Father, so many times I have tried to determine what is going to happen in my life and to fix it on my own. I trust you now to take care of me and to direct my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . . 

Reflect

• When tough situations in life occur, what is the first thing that you do?

• Do you trust the Lord to handle it for you or do you try to fix it on your own?

Apply

• Look up verses in Scripture that talk about the results of trusting in the Lord.

• Memorize one verse each week and journal how that verse encouraged you.

Power

• Isaiah 26:3-4 (NIV) “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal.”

• Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV) “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

• Psalm 28:7 (NIV) “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.”