Transformation

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform 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 12:1-2 NIV

Change…conversion…overhaul…renew…remake

A transformation in the spiritual life means recognizing who and what we are and then humbly admitting that we need to be made new again

We must be willing to admit we are broken, helplessly chasing after the sinful nature…once we see and know the conviction of sin, we have the opportunity to be redeemed, renewed, and restored

A relationship with Jesus Christ is the Way to transformation, seek Him

May God bless you with wisdom and peace

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“I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them;  I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.”

Ezekiel 11:19 NIV

(This photo was taken in a neighborhood near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Redeemer

I know that my redeemer[c] lives,
    and that in the end he will stand on the earth.”[d]

Job 19:25 NIV

Jesus Christ is our Redeemer

No matter what has transpired in our lives, we know we can come to Jesus

He is alive and He lives in us

Redeemer by Nicole C Mullen

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May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
    be pleasing in your sight,
    Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”

Psalm 19:14 NIV

(This photo was taken at a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)

Lay Down Your Burdens

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

1 Peter 5:6-7 NIV

Carry You by Amy Grant

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“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30 NIV

(This photo was taken along the North Shore of Lake Superior)

Redeemed

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

1 John 1:9 NIV

Redeemed by Big Daddy Weave

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For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

Matthew 6:14-15 NIV

(This photo was taken in Mount Rainier National Park in Washington)

Saved By Grace

4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.”

Ephesians 2:4-7 NIV

Father God, I sometimes struggle to give myself grace.  It can be hard to forgive myself for things I have done, yet I know that You have forgiven me.  Knowing that You have forgiven me, I can forgive myself.  I ask You for wisdom to learn and understand Your Word and Your truth about grace.  I give You thanks for Your mercy and grace that has saved me.  In Jesus name, Amen.

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8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV

(This photo was taken in Mount Rainier National Park in Washington)

Freedom According To God’s Word

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh[a]; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[b] 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.”

Galatians 5:13-15 NIV

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”

2 Corinthians 3:17 NIV

There Is Freedom by Josh Baldwin

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“Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants[a] of God.”

1 Peter 2:16 NIV

(This photo was taken while traveling through southern New Mexico)

Saved By Grace

8 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV

Amazing Grace by Chris Tomlin

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14 “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

John 1:14 NIV

(This photo was taken in Mount Rainier National Park in Washington)

Redeemed

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

1 John 1:9 NIV

Father God, thank You for being the God who restores and brings peace.  I need Your peace.  Forgive me when I live in bitterness and refuse to give grace and mercy to others.  Empower me to help others experience the gift of healing and hope that I have received through You.  In Jesus name,  Amen.

Redeemed by Big Daddy Weave

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For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

Matthew 6:14-15 NIV

(This photo was taken in Mount Rainier National Park in Washington)

Redeemer

I know that my redeemer[c] lives,
    and that in the end he will stand on the earth.”[d]

Job 19:25 NIV

Jesus Christ is our Redeemer.  No matter what has transpired in our lives, He is our Redeemer and He is alive and He lives in us.

Redeemer by Nicole C Mullen

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May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
    be pleasing in your sight,
    Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”

Psalm 19:14 NIV

(This photo was taken in July of 2022 at a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)

Our Rock

“I love you, Lord, my strength.

The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
    my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
    my shield[b] and the horn[c] of my salvation, my stronghold.”

Psalm 18:1-2 NIV

Life is hard…there seems to be difficulties, struggles, pain and suffering, hardships of every kind everywhere we look.  Yet there is hope!  How?  Where?  With the Lord who is our Rock and our refuge.  The world rejects Jesus as Savior and His Way seems upside-down according to the world’s values.

But God, the Creator of all things, and following Jesus Way is the path to hope.  God will have the final say about the world and He will make all things new again.  Trust in the Lord and His will and His way…He is our Rock.

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The Lord is my light and my salvation—
    whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
    of whom shall I be afraid?”

Psalm 27:1 NIV

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 in Glacier National Park in Montana)