Personal Transformation

I have seen so many slogans, books, and articles that talk about transforming your body into the perfect size, transforming your diet into the perfect diet, transforming your home into the perfect home…how about a spiritual transformation that allows us to strive for a perfect fellowship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Throughout our lives, there are situations that cause change, circumstances that cause change, and sometimes just the mere cycle of life brings about many changes.  Regardless of the change, regardless of the circumstance, always be mindful of the following scripture:

Romans 12:2 (KJV)

“And be not conformed to this world:

but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,

that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable,

and perfect, will of God.”

When we consider the scaffolding in our life and the process of determining the time or season for it to come down, also consider the personal transformation that occurs.

What is the difference between transformation and simple change?  

Excellent question!

Things often change without getting better; and sometimes things change for the worse.  Even change for the good, is not necessarily transformative.  However, seek a spiritual transformation through the application of scripture to our daily living.

Personal transformation will empower you to grow from where you are to limitless possibilities.  As we learn who we are in Christ, what we are in Christ, and what capabilities we have through Him, the scaffolding will no longer hinder us in our life, rather it will be a tool to help us learn how to actively pursue and participate in the life God has for us.

Allowing God to personally transform you by renewing your mind is an ongoing process but it can and will be accomplished by the power of the Holy Spirit, as you trust him in your daily walk.

Personal transformation while renewing our mind through Christ makes us realize that we do not have to change the world, but that God can transform all things as we attend to our place in life. 

We have the ability through Jesus Christ to bring about positive and lasting change in your life.

1. What area in your life would you like to transform?
2. What area has already been transformed?
3. What results are you looking forward to seeing?
4. What results have you already seen?

Thank you for reading...I look forward to your comments.

SharB~TTSD
#TakeTheScaffoldingDown

Scaffolding…TRUST…Elephant

Suppose you discovered there was an elephant in the room and it’s been there a long time.  The question is why didn’t you see it?  The question is why didn’t you smell it?  The question is why didn’t you bump into it?

That elephant (yes I love the metaphors) may even be there as a means to protect you or block your view from what you are not ready to handle yet.

What if the elephant moves from the room and there you find the information that has been hidden for a long time? What if the scaffolding comes down and reveals distrust? 

Losing trust in a relationship can cause a tremendous amount of grief.  Similar to the stages of grief related to losing a loved one, losing trust in a relationship can cause the same stages to be experienced.

Denial, anger, bargaining, and even depression and acceptance.

After going through the stages, it is important to see that the key to restoring trust is to forgive.

Forgiveness releases you from pain and anger. Sometimes we end up wearing those old feeling of hurts like a badge of self-righteousness.  However, in order to tear down that scaffolding, we have to realize that when we carry that load around, it just weighs us down, as it gets heavier and heavier.  Let go of the hurt.  Letting go of the hurt and resentments is the first step in rebuilding trust.

The process takes time and there will be times when similar circumstances will bring that old pain to the forefront again.  Yes, that anger may say, why can’t I punish that person; why can’t I hurt that person that hurt me?

It is in that moment we must remind ourselves that we no longer live in the past but in the present.  Learn from the past, make peace with past but do not live in the past.

Forgiveness tears down the scaffolding and propels you back into the present rather than living in the past.

I could continue on and on with this but instead I will end here for now and I welcome your comments.

SharB~TTSD
#TakeTheScaffoldingDown

The Scaffolding of Grief

As I was flipping the channels yesterday, I passed by Who Wants to be a Millionaire and the question was (and I'm paraphrasing) Jennifer Anniston has a tattoo of Norman on her foot. Is Norman the name of her agent, grandfather, dog, or hairstylist? Final Answer: Dog. Her beloved dog who died.

My thoughts went immediately to my own dog, my beloved Peppie, our miniature schnauzer who died after we moved to Lawton in 2010.

A Peppie Tattoo!! Yes that's it! Ha!! NO...I cannot do that, for a multitude of reasons. Anyway, we had Peppie for about 15 years and when she died, it was devastating. The grief was palpable. But the time came when I knew the 'scaffolding of grief' needed to come down. It was then we knew we needed another dog. The process was not easy. I finally realized I had to stop looking for a dog that was just like "Peppie."

Grief comes in many forms and as a result of many types of losses. The scaffolding of grief envelops us; however grief must be allowed to run its course. The stages of grief, denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance are a part of the scaffold that enables us to learn to live with the loss. Grief is not a sign of weakness but a sign of our humanness.

As a brief word of encouragement to you, embrace your grief and don't fight it. Allow grief to run its course while through the process allowing God to truly heal you.

"But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint" (Isaiah 40:31).

SharB~TTSD
#TakeTheScaffoldingDown

Introducing My First Blog!

Welcome to SharB’s Blog!  This is my first of many blogs to come.  I have decided to create this blog because, as my husband says, I have a lot to say.  I have been blessed with the opportunity to teach women’s ministry, teach Sunday school, and substitute teach in the public school…but that is just not enough.  I still have more information to share, more stories to tell, more encouragement to give, and most importantly more of God’s Word to share.  The book I started writing is still simmering and not quite ready to go to press. Therefore, this blog is going to be an excellent avenue for me to get some of my thoughts, information, stories, and more out to you the reader.

In the words of Mahalia Jackson:
If I can help somebody, as I pass along,
If I can cheer somebody, with a word or song,
If I can show somebody, how they're travelling wrong,
Then my living shall not be in vain

Notice the title of this blog:  It’s Time to Take the Scaffolding Down

This title came as I recalled a Sunday school lesson I attended many years ago when the Pastor compared our parents to the scaffolding (temporary, movable platform or a supporting framework) on a building.  He stated that when construction is completed and the building can stand on its own the scaffolding is removed.  

I remember the tears flowing as God showed me in that moment through that simple metaphor why my mother passed away when I was 19 years old.  The supportive structure she had provided during the first 19 years of my life needed to be removed.  I needed to stand on my own.  And I did stand…why? It was the grace of God and because my foundation and development had reached a point where I was able to stand on my own.  At the time my mother passed away, I was not able to comprehend this; nor was I willing to accept it.  It felt as though the scaffolding had been stripped away.  It took many years for me to reach acceptance and understanding of this and to realize that God was orchestrating a purpose and a plan for my life.

Consider the scaffolding in your life.

As you reflect on the scaffolding in your life, realize that scaffolding comes in a myriad of forms ranging from parents, children, or other family members to relationships, jobs, habits, or hobbies, sickness, grief, and more.  Each person must identify his or her own scaffolding and through prayerful consideration determine if that scaffolding is blocking or hindering your forward progress.

Does it sometimes feel as though your scaffolding has been stripped away?  Are you still feeling wobbly?  Perhaps the scaffolding represents a temporary situation in life that needs repairs.

There is much more I will say regarding scaffolding.  As you ponder this first blog post, I welcome your comments.

SharB~TTSD
#TakeTheScaffoldingDown