Transformed

Romans 12:2: "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. NIV

Lost, Found & Transformed was created with some simple goals in mind:

·       An inquiry-based outreach to common minded (curious) people.

·       To engage people with and without a faith home who question their place in the world and connection to others and their higher power.

·       To inspire discussion, self-reflection and peace.

·       To be an agent of transformation by providing messages of hope and communion through a grounding of faith.

·       As an extension of Living Waters Lutheran Church, Crystal Lake, IL, “Sharing the Grace of Christ” is the overarching guidepost for all communications.

If you are engaging and hopefully enjoying these short midweek messages, wonderful! But, what does it mean to be transformed?

Though the hope is to be positive, some harder stuff will also be brought up.  I’ve created this series with work experience in business and education, and underlaying formal education in art, education and art history.  These life experiences encompassed a level of risk taking, of creating and growing through hard inquiry and even (gulp) failure.

Diamonds are created under pressure; humans too need to be challenged, to explore, and yes fail, when growing, developing and learning. As a young person I resisted failure, now I embrace that I tried, tried again, failed, learned, changed my approach, tried again and again, and then finally rejoiced with success.

Andy Crouch’s contends in his text, “Culture Making: Recovering our Creative Calling”, that being an agent of transformation within our circles of influence is a powerful expression of our relationship with God. Romans 12:2, makes it clear that such transformations begin in the mind.  We have free will to choose to be a vessel for God’s good works.  The path from thought to expression in this fallen world is not easy.  It is work, with challenges, and yes even failure, but that journey is not solo. God is with us, and so are the people within our circles of influence and church families.

I’ve been very open about my life’s challenges; the life altering ones include being a child caregiver and then caregiver to my father and then my beloved aunt.  I was a caregiver to other adults for 41 years; while also I was married, divorced, remarried, raising my kids and more.  Yes, sometimes I wish that road had been easier, yes, there were times I cry “enough!”, but then I recall the blessings. My mom lived long enough to hold both my babies in her arms. The blessing of having dad live in my home and have my sons really know Opa. All the good times we had!

The struggle and resistance to transformation is real, but through tough times we are blessed by God. It is our free will choice to be ready to see and appreciate the blessing along the way that allows for real transformation.

1.      Are you struggling and resistant to transformation right now?   If so, how are you coping?

2.      When have you found blessings in hard times? Have you felt God with you?  

3.      When has your mind been renewed (transformed)? How did that experience change your life?