The world will tell you that the dominating influence in your life is your past. If you have been in a bad situation or had problems then that will divine the rest of your life. You will never be quiet good enough because you have these things in your past. If you were hurt or abused, or if your youth was spent in rebellion, the remainder of your life will be spent in guilt and sorrow for your past. Sometimes we don’t even need a past to feel bad about our selves. Often people feel inadequate just because, so therefore; they do not attempt the task. In essence there are times we feel not enough.
Our women’s retreat this past weekend was caterpillars to butterflies. It simply talked about the stages in life that we all go through. When I was studying to do our opening session I revisited the life of a butterfly. Interestingly enough when the caterpillar weaves its cocoon and goes into hiding it is doing some amazing things. I had forgotten, or maybe had no idea that during this stage a caterpillar literally secretes enzymes to dissolve itself down until just a few imaginal cells are left. From these few cells it begins to recreate a different form. Obviously when enough time has been allowed, it turns into a magnificent butterfly. The once limited caterpillar that was dependent on the leaves and trees is now free to fly wherever it wants to go.
What an awesome picture in nature of the scripture 2 Corinthians 5:17 “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” The caterpillar in order to become this beautiful butterfly had to be wiling to dissolve itself down into nothing to become something spectacular. The same is true with us. When we are saved it is up to us to allow Christ to make us into a completely different person. We have to be willing to die to our selves, and allow Christ to become Lord. I think of the fruits of the spirit, and how when someone really loves the Lord, you can see the fruit as evidence in their life.
Sometimes this is easier said than done. Sometimes we come with a lot of baggage and wonder if God could truly take us because we are simply not enough. The good news is even the most wonderful person on the planet would not be enough without Christ in their life. Isaiah 43:25 “I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins. The truth is once we have Christ we have everything. In Deuteronomy 30:19-20 “Now choose life so that you and your children may live and that you may love your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life”. In this verse he doesn’t say oh just give God what you can, he is saying HE is your LIFE, HE is everything, HE is your next breath!
The devil would like nothing better than for us to walk around feeling incompetent or not enough. He knows if we have these attitudes we will never accomplish anything for the Kingdom of God. Psalm 73:26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is strength of my heart and my portion forever. In this verse I am reminded of my friend that just passed away this weekend. She could have done a lot of things when she found out she was going to die, but she concentrated on one. She decided in her heart that she would go and tell everyone that would listen about what Christ had done in her life. Like in Psalm 73 when her flesh and heart were failing, God became her strength, and is now is her portion forever! I feel like she has turned from a caterpillar always dependent on medicine and help, into a magnificent butterfly who is free to worship God in an unlimited body.
You see it is not about us and how we feel, but about a mighty God, and what he can do! Isaiah 43 “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. 3 For I am the Lord your God”
The world is focusing on what they are overcoming, while Christians should be focusing on what they are becoming. Christ supersedes what ever happened in our past. May we always remember in Christ we are more than conquerors, and are more than enough!
We watched this clip from Mom’s Night Out at the conference, and I wanted to share it with you. It could not be truer.
Our women’s retreat this past weekend was caterpillars to butterflies. It simply talked about the stages in life that we all go through. When I was studying to do our opening session I revisited the life of a butterfly. Interestingly enough when the caterpillar weaves its cocoon and goes into hiding it is doing some amazing things. I had forgotten, or maybe had no idea that during this stage a caterpillar literally secretes enzymes to dissolve itself down until just a few imaginal cells are left. From these few cells it begins to recreate a different form. Obviously when enough time has been allowed, it turns into a magnificent butterfly. The once limited caterpillar that was dependent on the leaves and trees is now free to fly wherever it wants to go.
What an awesome picture in nature of the scripture 2 Corinthians 5:17 “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” The caterpillar in order to become this beautiful butterfly had to be wiling to dissolve itself down into nothing to become something spectacular. The same is true with us. When we are saved it is up to us to allow Christ to make us into a completely different person. We have to be willing to die to our selves, and allow Christ to become Lord. I think of the fruits of the spirit, and how when someone really loves the Lord, you can see the fruit as evidence in their life.
Sometimes this is easier said than done. Sometimes we come with a lot of baggage and wonder if God could truly take us because we are simply not enough. The good news is even the most wonderful person on the planet would not be enough without Christ in their life. Isaiah 43:25 “I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins. The truth is once we have Christ we have everything. In Deuteronomy 30:19-20 “Now choose life so that you and your children may live and that you may love your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life”. In this verse he doesn’t say oh just give God what you can, he is saying HE is your LIFE, HE is everything, HE is your next breath!
The devil would like nothing better than for us to walk around feeling incompetent or not enough. He knows if we have these attitudes we will never accomplish anything for the Kingdom of God. Psalm 73:26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is strength of my heart and my portion forever. In this verse I am reminded of my friend that just passed away this weekend. She could have done a lot of things when she found out she was going to die, but she concentrated on one. She decided in her heart that she would go and tell everyone that would listen about what Christ had done in her life. Like in Psalm 73 when her flesh and heart were failing, God became her strength, and is now is her portion forever! I feel like she has turned from a caterpillar always dependent on medicine and help, into a magnificent butterfly who is free to worship God in an unlimited body.
You see it is not about us and how we feel, but about a mighty God, and what he can do! Isaiah 43 “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. 3 For I am the Lord your God”
The world is focusing on what they are overcoming, while Christians should be focusing on what they are becoming. Christ supersedes what ever happened in our past. May we always remember in Christ we are more than conquerors, and are more than enough!
We watched this clip from Mom’s Night Out at the conference, and I wanted to share it with you. It could not be truer.
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