Do You Need A Heart Transformation?

We were late when I asked my hubby to pull over so I could run in and grab a quick treat at a gas station mini-mart. As I went to pay, swiping my debit card, the machine completely froze. The cashier told me to swipe my card again. While we waited to see if it'd work, we began talking about Christmas. I found out he had to work on that day. He stopped mid-sentence to tell me to try to swipe my card again, and then picked up where we left off. He told me he didn't mind working on the 25th because he is from Egypt and they celebrate Christmas on January 7th. Then he went on to say in very broken English..."Our days of celebrating JESUS may be different but one thing I've noticed, people often celebrate Jesus outwardly but not in their hearts. Do you know what I mean?"

He pointed again to the frozen machine...try again please. I swiped as I replied, "I know exactly what you mean. There needs to be a transformation of the heart, allowing JESUS to change us from the inside out."

"Exactly!" He said with a smile. "There is not enough of that going on in the world today."

My card finally went through. We said our goodbye's and I thanked him for the reminder. 

As I got in the car I told my hubby, "Sorry it took so long but The LORD had a special appointment waiting for me inside with an Egyptian Christian man. My card wouldn't work until our conversation was done!"

Friends, I'm thankful for GOD'S appointments and reminders. I pray my encounter will remind you also that today is a brand new *fresh* start. Day 1 of the New Year. I pray you and I will grow in this coming year allowing a deeper and more meaningful *relationship with JESUS*...a complete and total transformation of the heart. 

"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come."~2 Corinthians 5:17

Jump on the Thankful Train...what are you thankful for?

ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE BIG DROP?

"I don't know, is it a big drop?" It was too late when he began to wonder. He was securely strapped in. The log floated and bumped it's way through the water. It was his first trip to Disneyland. He'd seen the drop before getting on. From a distance it didn't seem so bad, but as the anticipation began to build, fear set in.

I often find that when I begin to focus too much on what's up ahead instead of living in the moment, the anticipation builds up fear and anxiety. It floods my trust and peace.

Today, stay focused on Jesus. Stand peacefully in the moment, noticing the things He's trying to show you. God is more than capable of handling tomorrow. Pray. Stay in the now...right where He has you and pay close attention. Soak in His Word. He will reveal Himself to you in the everyday things of life. A beautiful sunrise/sunset. A bird singing outside your window. A bright flower opening to the morning sun. A butterfly, once a crawling caterpillar now transformed...gracefully soaring. Be filled up with awe and wonder. You are loved. God is good...all the time!

TAKE A MOMENT AND LISTEN TO WHAT GOD WANTS TO REMIND YOU:

"This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  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.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30

"Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" Matthew 6:26

Feeling Trapped?

Two butterflies gracefully floated by as I sat overlooking the ocean on my lunch hour. I stopped and watched them fluttering about and then glide as the wind carried them off over the steep ocean cliffs. I marveled that only a short while ago they were crawling on the ground, confined to their limited surroundings.

You may feel trapped in the daily struggles of your life. But God has more for you. He wants to help you soar into all that He has called you to be. Don’t lose hope...don’t lose patience; for just like those butterflies, there is a work being done in the waiting and in the struggles. Think of it as being inside  a cocoon. You’re being stretched beyond what you thought you were capable of bearing. You’re being transformed into something so incredibly wonderful that when God says, “Fly my precious child,” you’ll be filled with His transforming wisdom and grace to accomplish all things He's placed before you. You will move out of the confining darkness and into His marvelous light.

Do not fight the process. Pray for His strength to see you through; then you can grow to your full potential, prepared to fly to new heights, a new creation in Jesus Christ!

“The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.” Psalm 29:11

"The path of the righteous is level; you, the Upright One, make the way of the righteous smooth. Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts. Isaiah 26:7-8

"Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will lift you up." James 4:10

Do You Have The Butterfly Effect?

Story By: Lisa Petrarca

As a little girl my sister & I loved to catch the “black furry caterpillars.” We would get a shoe box, punch dozens of air holes in the top. Then it was time to scour around the neighborhood looking for all the décor. Lots of broken tree branches with bright green leaves still attached, Small twigs, grass, and a little dirt. We wanted our new pet to feel right at home in his new environment.
Finding the caterpillar was another adventure. This process could take days, sometimes weeks, but we never failed to catch our “pet.” We took it home and with a sense of pride, presented it to our mom, who promptly replied, “That better not get out of the shoebox or it’s the last time you’ll ever have one!”

We would play with our little fuzzy pet daily. We even took him on bike rides, carefully placing the “home” in the basket and taking it out to show our friends. One day, not long after we had it, we went to pull out our little fur ball, but it wasn’t there. In its place was a small green pouch, hanging beneath the tree branch. Our "pet" had made a cocoon, and was undergoing a new transformation.
Two weeks went by as we waited for our caterpillar to change. It was frustrating; we were impatient, checking the box daily; knowing that once it had changed forms, we'd have to let it go. It was a strange mixture of emotions, sad to give up our new friend, but excited to see the change.
The day finally came...lifting the corner of the box, to peak inside...bright orange and black wings fluttered. With a squeal of delight, I ran to tell my sister. We gently carried the box outside, preparing to let it free. We counted in unison, “1..2...3!” Opening the lid...it burst out, fluttering up, lingering in front of us for a moment, as we gazed at its beauty, then higher and higher until it was out of sight.

In our lives, many of us are like my pet caterpillar, stuck in our everyday box. We have made a comfortable home there, however, we are made for more than what we are currently living. We have a bigger purpose, something that is greater than we can imagine.

We slowly began the painful process of sitting inside our cocoons. Each of our cocoons look different, just like caterpillars. Your transformations are happening under the disguise of difficult times. You may be jobless, sick, hurting, lonely, unfulfilled, grieving, fearful, angry, sad, or worried...we all have cocoons. We need to realize that during this process, God is right beside us, carrying us safely through our transformation. He will help us when we cry out to Him...moving us ever so gently towards whom we are supposed to be. We need to be patient, this change cannot happen overnight. We need to shed our “old skin” and with faith, patience, prayer and time, He will help us to eventually emerge as the butterfly, brilliant, beautiful and free...knowing how to fly because of complete faith. You are fulfilling God’s will and true purpose for your life. You have become the person that God intended you to be!
He says, “I removed the burden from their shoulders; their hands were set free from the basket. In your distress you called and I rescued you, I answered you out of a thundercloud.
Psalms 81:6, 7

But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 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.
2 Corinthians 3:17, 18

You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
Isaiah 55:12