by Gina Conroy
Romans 12:2
Do not conform any longer 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. NIV
I used to sit in church and pray that God would just “zap” me and make me the person I really wanted to be. But after thirty plus years I’m learning that God doesn’t work that way – for most of us.
For years I’ve struggled with certain things, personality flaws so to speak. I’ve blamed it on my Italian New York upbringing, my parents divorce, the critical people in my life, etc.
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As a little girl, I would listen to Donnie Osmond and Shawn Cassidy for hours at a time on my Holly Hobbie record player. Paper dolls and connecting the dots were lots of fun too. I was thrilled when I got my first pair of metal roller skates, overjoyed with my very own pogo stick, but hands down one of my favorite things of all were those magical paper books.
You know the ones I’m talking about. When you picked up one of these books and flipped through its pages, they were blank. Not very impressive at all. But, when you moved the yellow felt tipped pen that came with the book, back and forth, back and forth, over the blank pages, beautiful pictures would be revealed!
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Are you going through a hard time right now?
Does it feel like no matter what you do, you continue to swim upstream, making little or no progress?
We all go through tough times. And though some struggles are more difficult than others, no matter what we’re going through, God encourages us in Hebrews 12, to:
“…run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.â€
God wants us to hang in there. He wants us to persevere. And the best way to do that is exactly how He says—by keeping our eyes on Him.
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Part three in the series, Lifting the Veil of Rejection.
Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand. What goes into a man’s mouth does not make him ‘unclean,’ but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him ‘unclean.’ ” the disciples came to him and asked, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?” He replied, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. Leave them; they are blind guides.[a] If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”
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Recently while watching TV, I flicked on to Americas Next Top Model, which would normally not have held my interest except that the judges were commenting on the ‘walks’ of the prospective models. Apparently, the judges are supposed to be able to tell by a models walk who they are, without even seeing their face and so these up-and-coming models were told that they can’t just have a ‘good’ walk, they need to have a ‘signature’ walk.
I quickly flicked to another show but that concept kept coming back to me. As followers of Jesus, we are meant to be distinguished by our walk – by how we live.
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The blood of Jesus purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:7 (NIV)
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins. Ephesians 1:7 (NIV)
As I entered the guest room of my mother-in-law’s house, the sight I beheld took my breath and made my heart ache. There on the wall was a huge multicolored swirl of art only a three year old, too quiet and not checked on could create. Mr. Clean’s magic eraser wouldn’t stand a chance.
I knew it was the work of my daughter but called her in for questioning. “Did you do this?”
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Control.
I have to admit, I like it.
Just the other day, when I went to the gym, the stair masters that I normally use were all taken. I saw a friend on a machine I’d never tried, and I hopped up next to her.
“What level do you usually do?†I asked, not familiar with the buttons. “Does it have a manual setting?†I looked at her and laughed. “Because I like to be in control!â€
And as I worked out, I thought about just how true that is.
The same way I like to be able to push the buttons on the workout machines (instead of having them shift levels without ME telling them to), I like to be able to control what happens in my life.
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Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion.
For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him! (Isaiah 30:18 NIV)
My husband’s grandmother, Mema, has filled several china cabinets with antique glassware. One cabinet in particular contains milk glass, which was very popular in the 1950’s and 60’s. Some of Mema’s collection always belonged to her, while other pieces she acquired at various sales. Some of the bowls, pitchers, and creamers in Mema’s cabinet are valued at more than $250.00, yet she never paid that amount of money for any of them.
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