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?

Is It Time For A TRANSFORMATION?

Transformation. Yes, that is what I'm thankful for today. 
I look back on so many years of trying to be "good enough" for myself/my husband/my kids. I continually tried to keep up the "appearances" of having it all together, when deep inside, I felt like a failure at so many things. 

I was relying on *me* and always falling short; a perpetual cycle. I became good at masking my hurt, pain, failures, and shortcomings behind a mask of aggressive words/actions that kept people at a safe distance (no one's going to get close enough to hurt me ever again). But what I didn't realize at the time was my wall of protection was keeping me locked in a prison of my own making. I was hardening my heart. 

Then one day when everything was crumbling around me and my family, I said "JESUS, please help me. Please fix this mess. Fix me." I began to allow HIM to work on the things deep inside my scarred, broken heart. I laid it all at HIS Feet every day. And to my surprise, HE did the work that I never could. I felt HIS Peace, Joy, Happiness, Comfort and most importantly Loved and Forgiven. Transformed. 

Friends, if you too are in that place of feeling "not good enough"..."wandering", call out to JESUS, ask HIM into your heart and life today. Let HIM take over.

"Therefore HE is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to GOD through HIM, since HE always lives to make Intercession for them."~Hebrews 7:25

Need a Transformation

story & photo by: lisa petrarca

How transforming is prayer? Can it really change things?

It took me years to really understand the importance of "talking" to God. Allowing Him to come into EVERY area of my life. A lot of times I put Him in a box. Allowing the Lord access to certain areas; my sick friends and family members, when I needed a job or a place to live. Always during the difficult or needy times. I knew those things were okay to pray about. The "normal" requests. But as my walk with the Lord grew deeper, I began to open up every area. Even those deep, dark, dreary areas that remained hidden. Tucked so far back that I often forgot the problems were still there, lingering around.

But in learning to let go...I learned that God wants every part of me. Not just the "normal" everyday things. He wants my trust, He wants to know that I truly believe that HE CAN make ALL things new. The first step became releasing my doubt. Once I prayed, I made a conscious choice to believe. I chose to let go of any doubt and know that when He answers my prayers, it will be the way that is best for me, not necessarily exactly as I want it.

That is where faith and trust come in. Removing the doubt first then relying, believing, expectantly waiting for HIS WILL regarding my prayers. Allowing Him access to every area, every weakness, every self doubt, hurt, pain or shame. LETTING HIM IN, knowing that HE CAN AND WILL heal and transform me. TRUST IN THE LORD!

Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you. Save me from bloodguilt, O God, the God who saves me, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.
Psalms 51:6-15

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