Heart Choices: Monday Morning Reflections ~ Transformation -->

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Monday Morning Reflections ~ Transformation


Happy Monday morning! The word I have for today is ...transformation.

I was so pleased to be back with my Sunday morning Bible Study Life Group yesterday. We've had some new people join us but most of the core group remains and for that I'm so grateful.

We're going through a study called r12: True Spirituality. The cover of our study guide reads:

A Romans 12 guide to living as an authentic disciple of Jesus Christ.

It's interesting because as a young child, my nana brought my brother Steve and me to Vacation Bible School at her church one summer. My sister Chris was still a baby at this time.

We memorized the whole chapter of Romans 12 in the KJV and it has stuck with me.

Believe me, it's so much easier to memorize as a child. Moms, remember that and don't lose the opportunities.

However, as a committed life long learner, I'm never too old to memorize Scripture even though ...it's much more challenging.

But Romans 12:1-2 has become two special verses for me during this season of my life. It really tells us how to live the Christian life. Many people claim to be believers and followers of Jesus Christ but is there transformation that others see?

I'm not pointing fingers because I was one of those people. I prayed the prayer as a child and invited Christ into my heart. I knew I had a ticket to heaven. But I didn't want to miss out on the fun in life. Or so I thought. Sin can be fun ...for a season.

I prayed when:

  • I was about to take a test
  • I was going on an airplane
  • I had a specific need

But when I think back, I doubt that anyone in my high school knew that inside I claimed to be a Christian. And to me, that is so sad.

Chip Ingram, President and Teaching Pastor of Living on the Edge teaches in this DVD r12 study.

5 practical steps of transformation:

  1. Hearing God's Word
  2. Reading God's Word
  3. Studying God's Word
  4. Memorizing God's Word
  5. Meditating on God's Word

In the busyness of your day, are you taking time to spend in God's Word?

My husband snapped another photo of me having my quiet time early in the morning recently.

I encourage you to establish a daily morning quiet time. Even if you have to set your alarm a bit early before your children awaken or if you can only spare 10-15 minutes right now; it's a start.

I can guarantee that the more time you spend in this way, the more time you'll want to spend. And transformation happens. After all, you can't spend time with the Lord and not be changed.

The byproduct is ...the fruit of the Spirit.

And even non Christians are drawn to those qualities. Who can resist love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control?

Will you commit to spending some time each morning in quietness before God?

If you have any specific suggestions for establishing this heart choice, please add your comments. I love to read each one of them.

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Debbie Petras
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13 comments:

  1. This is a wonderful post, Debbie...I often think about the fruit of the Spirit...it is the outward demonstration of a changed life. I have Chip Ingram's CD set on "Morphing"...I haven't listened to it for a few years, but I believe he touches on the 5 steps in these CD's. Love to listen to him, as he is always right on about living our faith. I like your challenge to us...making the time to spend with the Lord is a choice that we can make, and the results of that committment to Him result in a flowing of the Spirit that others can see, giving us a witness of His work in our lives. You are so right in that we sometimes think we'll miss some of the "fun" if we don't "sin"...its such a lie...the rewards of righteous living are so rich and true...once we taste what God has to offer, its almost impossible to return to that "old man" that was once was lost, but now can see.

    Always love reading what you've written from your heart and experiences...sharing what God is teaching us helps us grow and bond with one another.

    God bless!

    Mary

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  2. What an awesome photo of you Debbie!

    What an awesome ritual and beautiful way to live each day starting it with Him! I'm sure Greg sees this and admires your obedience to this precious time!

    I love you!
    Jill

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  3. I actually get up at 4:30am so I can have a least a little time with the Lord before my day gets busy :) ...

    I always have my "Home" website on my browser set on a Christian website. I used to have CWO, but it closed. Now I have my "Home" button set to Max Lucado :)

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  4. Thanks for sharing with us. Definitely agree with spending that quiet time with the LORD.

    In that is where I am transformed.

    Hugs and blessings.

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  5. "And even non Christians are drawn to those qualities. Who can resist love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control?"

    How right you are. Having "peace" or "joy" or any of the fruits is not just for OUR benefit, but for God's benefit as a tool for spreading how blessed we are to be a Christian.

    Makes that quiet time (or "transforming time") have even more meaning. Thanks for spurring my thoughts this morning. Praying for us all to be transformed into his image more and more.

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  6. I can really relate to this Debbie. How many times over the last 35 years of being Christian though did I fight this, or forget this, or get too busy for this, or even think to myself (this is really bad) I KNOW all this. I don't have to spend time reading or meditating on it. What a lie by the enemy that is!! I always prayed, always was at services, read other Christian books that are/were helpful, but neglected the VERY thing that REALLY changes us? Now I cannot imagine my day without it. I often times have a couple of times a day I am reading, and occasionally have even drifted off that way, lol...If there was one thing I wish I could do it would be to help all of my kids (and really every Christian I know) the TRUE importance of this life altering experience. Thanks for this. Blessings, Debbie

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  7. That's an amazing photo.

    I need to remember that reading and quiet time is not something I can put off.

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  8. Hi Debbie, What a testimony you are to Greg in your faithfulness! Love this post-so true and so important for our lives. Always love seeing the photos of you spending time in the Word-interesting that those are the pic's Greg takes. Blessings to you my friend.

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  9. This is such a timely and challenging post Debbie. The time we spend, it is our FOOD and it feeds our hearts. The pictures you used were such a great illustration of the fruit that happens in this daily time. The photo your husband took is beautiful... what an amazing sunrise. Thank you for the challenging thoughts!

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  10. I enjoyed the challenge of this post and I liked the picture of you having your morning quiet time.

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  11. Thanks so much for this post Debbie. I couldn't agree with you more about spending time with the Lord and His Word. It's in those precious times that my heart and life are being continually transformed. What a wonderful journey with Him!

    He is Faithful!

    Sweet Blessings!
    Jackie

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  12. I love that you mention the fruits of the spirit. That's something that I once had written down on a Post-it Note and stuck in a place where I'd see it every day--the entire list. In a move, I misplaced the note. You remind me it's a good time to write out a new one. There's always a good time to be reminded of what nourishes the spirit.

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  13. Bless you my friend, we were thinking alike today.

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I love to read your comments! I know you have something to share so join in the conversation. And thank you for taking the time.

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