Tag: transformation

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I’ve Got Wings!

Daily Reading

Romans 11-13

Daily Thought

“Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed.” ~Romans 12:1-2

That last word, “transformed,” comes from the Greek word “metamorphoe,” from which we get our English word “metamorphosis.” 

“God causes an amazing thing to happen,” the science professor’s eyes flashed delight as he shared with his students the wonder of metamorphosis. “Inside a cocoon, the digestive juices go to work. The caterpillar eats itself from the inside out, transforming its body into something new.”

“Where do the wings come from?” asked Mary.

He smiled, “This part is really cool. When the caterpillar digests itself, it produces waste. That waste is the building material that becomes the wings of the butterfly.”

“So, can God take the waste in my life,” Matt’s head wrinkled as he put this together, “and make something beautiful out of it?”

“…that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” ~Romans 12:2

He sure can. Imagine the caterpillar, when he wakes up and discovers wings!

Daily Prayer

Lord God, You created me once, and I messed it up. Then You created me again, transformed me into something new. The old has gone, the new has come, and life is different now. To wake up and discover I have wings to fly! Thank You for Your patience and Your love. Thank You for second chances.

May I do now what I should have done the first time, be the person you created me to be and live the life You created me to live. I am Yours, God. Every bit of me. 

Amen

Daily Question

Where have you seen God make the biggest changes in your life?

Posted on

I’ve Got Wings!

Daily Reading

Romans 11-13

Daily Thought

“Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed.” ~Romans 12:1-2

“God causes an amazing thing to happen,” the science professor’s eyes flashed delight as he shared with his students the wonder of metamorphosis. “Inside a cocoon, the digestive juices go to work. The caterpillar eats itself from the inside out, transforming its body into something new.”

“Where do the wings come from?” asked Mary.

He smiled, “This part is really cool. When the caterpillar digests itself, it produces waste. That waste is the building material that becomes the wings of the butterfly.”

“So, can God take the waste in my life,” Matt’s head wrinkled as he put this together, “and make something beautiful out of it?”

“…that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” ~Romans 12:2

He sure can. Imagine the caterpillar, when he wakes up and discovers wings!

Daily Prayer

Lord God, You created me once, and I messed it up. Then You created me again, transformed me into something new. The old has gone, the new has come, and life is different now. To wake up and discover I have wings to fly! Thank You for Your patience and Your love. Thank You for second chances.

May I do now what I should have done the first time, be the person you created me to be and live the life You created me to live. I am Yours, God. Every bit of me. 

Amen

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The Journey

Daily Reading

Nehemiah 8-9

Daily Thought

When the Word of God is open, we read the story of God and us. We see the ebb of our disobedience and rebellion and the flow of God’s discipline, his grace, and his mercy. We begin to understand ourselves and our God. “And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the Lord had commanded Israel” (Nehemiah 8:1). Ezra read from the book all day, every day for days, and when he stopped reading, the people confessed their sins and worshipped their Creator, “You are the Lord, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you” (Nehemiah 9:6). They worshipped their Savior, “You are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them” (Nehemiah 9:17). They worshipped their God, “the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love” (Nehemiah 9:32).

Jesus said to his disciples, “Follow me,” because transformation is a journey. It happens over time and trouble. “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion” (Philippians 1:6) is God’s promise of process, persistence, and perseverance with us. If it is not good yet, God is not done yet, because “we know that for those who love God all things work together for good” (Romans 8:28). When the Word of God is open, we see the big picture of our God, who is faithful and wonderful and mighty and merciful. God is the author of life and, therefore, “the joy of the Lord is our strength” (Nehemiah 8:10).

Daily Prayer

My God, I celebrate Your goodness, Your love, Your grace and mercy, Your majesty. I sing loudly with joy, because You are good and You are my God. The joy I find in You gives me strength to overcome, because nothing compares. Certainly not the cheap pleasures of this world. May I wake each day, delight in Your Word, and walk in the joy set before me.

Keep my memory fresh, God, of the ways You have worked in my life. May I draw on Your faithfulness when times are tough, when my strength wavers, when it is dark. I know You are with me, help me remember You always will be.

Amen