“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”
1 John 4:4
“To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
Colossians 1:27
“The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.”
Psalm 103:8
(This photo was taken in Juny of 2016 in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming)
“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. 2 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
“I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.”
Ezekiel 36:25-27
(This photo was taken in May of 2020 at Palisade Head along the North Shore of Lake Superior)
It is the most powerful thing in our world. Nothing can compare to it…no matter where you are, no matter what has happened or is happening…God’s love can change what you believe is impossible. Trust Him, seek His Word, believe, confess your sins and surrender you ways for His way. Amen.
“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”
1 John 4:7-11
“No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”
1 John 4:12
(This photo was taken in July of 2016 in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming)
Confess your sins…Believe in your heart…and Pray. Some examples in the Bible of transformations…the woman at the well in John 4 and Saul becomes Paul in Acts 9. God wants a relationship with you. Make time to be with Him. Amen.
“But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,”[a] that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: 9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”
Romans 10:8-10
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Galatians 2:20
(This photo was taken in July of 2018 on the shore of Lake Superior near Ashland, Wisconsin)
Whatever has been on your mind…whatever thoughts keep swirling…whatever is in your heart share it with the Lord. Seek Him and His Word. The Lord will lead and guide you and renew your mind. May God’s peace be with you. Amen.
“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 12:2
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
Philippians 4:8
(This photo was taken in July of 2018 at a park near Bayfield, Wisconsin)
Change…conversion…revision…reshaping…remolding…rebuilding…reworking…renewing. God is our Creator and He made each and every one of us. He made us with a purpose and as we live our lives we get influenced and distracted by the world, by worldly desires and worldly expectations and we lose sight of what God made us to be. This is not about what you do as a job or career, that should not define you, rather it is about who you are as a person in your everyday life and interactions. Turn towards Jesus Christ and your faith, revisit the person God made you to be according to His plan. Amen.
“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
Ephesians 4:22-24
(This photo was taken in July of 2019 at a lake place in northwestern Wisconsin)
The journey of faith and our relationship with Jesus Christ does not end with us coming to the Cross. We all must come to the Cross, confess our sins and ask Christ into our hearts and minds to help turn us away from sinful desires. After that transformation can begin…you see the journey continues as we must go back out into the world with a new attitude and a renewed mind and live the life God intended for us. As referenced yesterday, when Saul became Paul that was just the beginning of his transformation that led to the spread of Christianity across the world. Turn towards Jesus Christ and be transformed. Amen.
“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. 2 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
(This photo was taken in February of 2013 in a neighborhood near Plymouth, Minnesota)
Change…modify…reshape…rebuild…renew. This is the work of the Holy Spirit within us. We are not able to do this alone, although we often try. In the Gospel of John, Jesus gives us the answer to the question, ‘how can I change?’ “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” – John 14:6 If you truly want to seek a change in your life seek your relationship with Jesus Christ first and you will be transformed. Amen.
“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
Ephesians 4:22-24
(This photo was taken in June of 2016 ina neighborhood near Plymouth, Minnesota)
To change…modify…reshape…rebuild…reconstruct…renew. A transformation is the creation of a new way, a new way of thinking, a new approach. For something or someone to be transformed the old ways and old thoughts must be broken down so that the new way can be created. Transformation is personal and it is not easy…we should be careful that we do not assume that one person’s transformation will be the same as another person. The greatest power we have in the transformation process is prayer. Take time to be with God in prayer and be transformed. Amen.
“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
(This photo was taken in October of 2018 at a park near Winterset, Iowa)
God renews us…God restores us…He takes away the sin and darkness and makes us new again. All that we have done wrong and messed up, only He can make new again. Our hope is found in Christ…if you are staring at a new beginning or change of direction begin by humbling yourself and surrendering your plans for God’s plan. He truly does make all things new. Amen.
All Things New by Steven Curtis Chapman
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
2 Corinthians 5:7
(This photo was taken in April of 2016 at a lake place in central Minnesota)
Take Your Faith With You 