“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

Transformation means a thorough or dramatic change in form or appearance. Today’s featured photo is definitely an example of transformation. Last Friday Julie shared another picture taken at the same time, of the same thing, that looks a little different than this picture. Can you tell what is pictured? Are you intrigued?

You and I should have similar transformations due to the presence of Jesus in our lives. Every area of our lives should be a reflection of Christ. Others should be so intrigued by our transformations that they want to seek the Christ who has affected our lives so dramatically. Do you have a transformation mindset?

If you are not new to Christianity you may be thinking you have already been transformed and there is nothing left to change. I beg to differ. I believe each of us falls short in one area or another. Each of us has an area of our lives that Jesus can transform. On this Transformation Tuesday I encourage you to spend some time examining all the areas of your life. Ask God to reveal to you an area that you need to dramatically change with His help. Look for any area that you are conforming to the world instead of God’s will. Read Scripture and pray for guidance and direction as you move toward transformation. Let us be so transformed that others are intrigued.

As for today’s picture, did you figure out what it is? Ray took this picture one morning when he was warming his wife’s car. It is heavy frost on the windshield. What a different perspective of a beautiful transformation! Now let’s go leave people wondering about our own beautiful transformation!

“Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28‬:‭18‬-‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

After His resurrection, Jesus spoke the above words, known as The Great Commission, to His disciples. He has also charged you and I with the Great Commission.

On this Mission-Minded Monday, I ask you to examine ways that you are mission-minded. Are you intentional about your daily interactions with others? Do you seek opportunities to be a witness for Christ? Do you consciously plan ways for you to “go and make disciples”?

Today I encourage you to not only reflect but make a plan. Brainstorm a list of ways you can initiate or participate in the mission field. While you and I may not feel called to become a formal missionaries, we are still called to participate in growing the Kingdom of God.

After you have brainstormed, choose one idea on your list and act on it. Set a goal and a timeline for when you will accomplish your mission.

As we go about this Mission-Minded Monday let’s be like the birds in today’s photo by Ray White. Just as they pepper the sky and cover a lot of territory, may you and I infiltrate our environment with the love of Jesus Christ and grow the Kingdom of God. I leave you with a question I once heard minister Rick Warren ask, “How many people will be in heaven because of you?”

“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” John‬ ‭14‬:‭26‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This week I will be writing about mindset. Merriam-Webster defines mindset as “a mental attitude or inclination.” What is your mindset? How is your mindset influenced? How does your mindset affect your actions and attitudes? 

As I share some Biblical truths about mindset I encourage you to examine your mindset and ask God to lay on your heart any ways He is leading you to grow. 

Today is Spirit-Filled Sunday. Jesus spoke the words of today’s scripture to His disciples in the Upper Room as they were sharing the Last Supper. He knew what was ahead and wanted to prepare them for a time when He would not be with them physically. You and I also have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit to guide, direct, and comfort us. The Holy Spirit works in and through us.

This Spirit Filled Sunday, I encourage you to be very present as you worship. Be aware of the presence of the Holy Spirit. Heed the leading of the Holy Spirit and allow the peace of the Spirit to fall afresh on you. As you prepare for worship this morning Click here to listen to Fall Afresh” by Jeremy Riddle. This version is long, so allow it to play as you are getting dressed or as you drive to your place of worship. Go into worship with an awareness of the presence of the Holy Spirit. Allow your mind to be governed by the Holy Spirit and cling to life and peace.

“The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.” Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” Genesis‬ ‭2‬:‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Join me for “See You Saturday” as I talk about these dirty dishes you see here in my sink.

“being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalms‬ ‭121‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I encourage you to really listen to the words in the song “You’re Not Done” by Leeland and Charity Gayle.

“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” John‬ ‭14‬:‭26‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This week I will be writing about mindset. Merriam-Webster defines mindset as “a mental attitude or inclination.” What is your mindset? How is your mindset influenced? How does your mindset affect your actions and attitudes?

As I share some Biblical truths about mindset I encourage you to examine your mindset and ask God to lay on your heart any ways He is leading you to grow.

Today is Spirit-Filled Sunday. Jesus spoke the words of today’s scripture to His disciples in the Upper Room as they were sharing the Last Supper. He knew what was ahead and wanted to prepare them for a time when He would not be with them physically. You and I also have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit to guide, direct, and comfort us. The Holy Spirit works in and through us.

This Spirit Filled Sunday, I encourage you to be very present as you worship. Be aware of the presence of the Holy Spirit. Heed the leading of the Holy Spirit and allow the peace of the Spirit to fall afresh on you. As you prepare for worship this morning Click here to listen to Fall Afresh” by Jeremy Riddle. This version is long, so allow it to play as you are getting dressed or as you drive to your place of worship. Go into worship with an awareness of the presence of the Holy Spirit. Allow your mind to be governed by the Holy Spirit and cling to life and peace.

“The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.” Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.” Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭8‬-‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Yesterday I talked about cultivating our own truth like Abram and Sarai did when making their own plans to have a son. The good news, even though their plan wasn’t God’s plan He was still faithful in His promise to Abraham. Can you imagine being told at the age of 100 that your wife is going to bear a son? Can you imagine birthing a baby at the age of 90 to a son you had been promised 25 years earlier?

The biblical definition of faith is found in Hebrews 11:1 NIV, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Martin Luther King Jr. Also defines faith in his speech at the New York Cities Park-Sheraton Hotel in 1962, “Faith is taking the first step even when you can’t see the whole staircase.” Our faith is like this photo by Ray White because we don’t know God’s big-picture plans until they happen. We might think it looks like something different and there will be times we mess up along the way. Like Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, and Rehab we need to keep the faith and prayerfully take the next step.

I urge you to read all of Hebrews 11 which is known as the “Faith Hall of Fame. And in case you missed “True God Thursday’s” post, I encourage you to go back and read it.

“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

For the first time, I am reading the Bible in a year through the Run for God Club. As a result, I have been reading the Old Testament. I am reminded of a world that lived before Jesus’s birth, death, and resurrection. I have been reminded of the same sin that tempted Eve tempts us today. In particular, the story of Abraham and Sarah has been speaking to me. Their story begins in Genesis, Chapter 12 when they were known as Abram and Sarai. They both wanted a son and were willing to cultivate their own truth versus waiting on God’s promise. Let’s recap!

In Genesis 15:4 NIV we read how God promised Abram a son; “Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.”

In Genesis 16:2 NIV we read how Sarai came up with her own plan for a son, “so she said to Abram, “The Lord has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her.” Abram agreed to what Sarai said.” Genesis‬ ‭16‬:‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

In Genesis 17:16 NIV we read how God continued to be faithful even when Abraham and Sarah cultivated their own truth, “I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.”

What truth are you believing today? In a world of full of sin it is easy to cultivate our own truth. Thankfully we are blessed by living on this side of the cross. We are blessed with the way, the truth, and the life through our Savior, Christ Jesus. Good news, even when we fall outside the will of God, His saving grace loves us unconditionally.