Transformed- Physical Health

Every season of life seems to come with various potential stressors. Whether you’re a mom feeling burdened by the many responsibilities of parenting and working, a student struggling to earn good grades while balancing a job and school, or a retiree battling illness, we all face obstacles in life that can bring us stress. However, allowing these things to seep into our thoughts, emotions, and actions can be detrimental to our physical well-being. Stress is incredibly taxing and can leave us feeling defeated.

As someone who tends to err on the side of negativity, I have to be so careful in regard to stress. Although eliminating the stressor(s) is not always an option, I’ve learned that there are healthy ways to deal with stress, as well as unhealthy ways. Last Sunday, Pastor Aaron listed 7 ways to reduce stress in our lives, and I think they all go hand in hand.

7 THINGS THAT HELP TO REDUCE STRESS:

1.       Look to God for your needs.

2.       Obey God’s instruction about rest.

3.       Recharge your soul with beauty.

4.       Go to God for guidance.

5.       Trust God in the dark alleys.

6.       Let God be your defender.

7.       Expect God to finish what He starts in you.

Each of these has a common theme. God. You see, sometimes I think we forget that God is present amidst our stress. Furthermore, when we look to Him, He brings us rest.

Not too long ago, I remember feeling completely overwhelmed with school, work, and finances. I found myself focusing on the worries, which in turn, spilled into my thoughts and speech. In a conversation with my mom one day, she asked me, “Have you prayed about this?” Although it’s a simple question, it was exactly what I needed to hear. In the stresses of life, I had tried to fight on my own.  However, God was right there all along. I just didn’t see Him.

God meets the needs of those who love Him. God gives us rest. God has created beauty all around us to bring us tranquility. God can guide us through our struggles. God can comfort us through painful times. God defends us when we are weak. God has a plan through the stress, and He wants to continue a work in us. Are you willing to invite Him in? 

Written by: Tamara Sturdivant

Edited by: De Ann Sturdivant

Transformed- Spiritual Health

When I was a young girl, I can remember my mom telling me one day not to touch the stove because it was very hot and would burn my finger. Yet, the mischievous and rebellious part of me decided I was going to touch it anyway. To my surprise, the stove did, in fact, burn my finger. I will admit that sometimes, it’s easy for me to want to respond like this in my relationship with God. There are times when God will convict me or lead me to do something, but I don’t want to listen because I feel my way is better (as wrong as that is.) As followers of Christ, God holds us to a high standard. He is incredibly forgiving and indescribably loving, however He wants us to GROW. That means that sometimes, we need to follow instruction we may not like. Therefore, instead of doing what we want because it is more thrilling or enjoyable at the time, we must choose to trust God’s direction because He has our best interest in mind. Whether it is a conviction or call to action, God guides us with the intention of protecting us as well as helping us to mature and grow.

As great as it is to become spiritually aware of where God is guiding us, (as mentioned earlier) it is just as important that we put this knowledge into action daily. I can’t imagine what the church would look like if we all simply accepted Christ as our Savior, but never really applied anything from Scripture. I partially wish this series was simply titled, “Transform,” because in reality, we are never done being transformed by God. The more we study His word and hear Him speaking into our lives, the more we should be allowing Christ to remold us.

Pastor Aaron mentioned four steps on Sunday that we must do in order to grow:

1.)    Get fed up with our lives.

2.)    Own up to our sin.

3.)    Offer up ourselves.

4.)    Lift up praise.

I think these steps are so important to incorporate into our routine. In order to grow, we must be intentional. We must choose to recognize when there’s an area of life where we just aren’t following God’s plan. We must admit when we screw up! We must be willing to make a change. Finally, we must praise God for all He has done and is doing in our lives. I encourage you to analyze yourself this week and throughout this series. Are you allowing God to completely transform you, or are you selfishly holding back? 

Written by: Tamara Sturdivant

Edited by: De Ann Sturdivant

Transformed: Part 1

According to Merriam-Webster, the word transform means to “change something completely – and usually in a good way.”

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Romans 12:2

This verse indicates that in order to be changed completely in a good way, our minds have to be renewed. When I first gave my life to the Lord, Romans 12:2 shaped my entire walk with Jesus. At that point in time, my life was so externally out of control that it was obvious that transformation was necessary. The longer I was a Christian, the less I focused on transforming.

As time goes on, in one’s Christian walk, it’s easy to forget to continue in the transformation process. The external chaos isn’t as obvious; therefore we assume that we aren’t in that much need of transformation. I believe if we aren’t constantly being transformed then we’re conforming. We stop allowing our minds to be renewed.

This is why I am seriously excited about this series: I am going to set some long-term goals that will enact transformation in my life and the ongoing renewal of my mind. Goals are crucial to transformation. Goal setting is a spiritual responsibility and is a statement of our faith. Goals focus our energy and keep us going. They build our character. Goal setting is instrumental in the renewing of our minds.

To fully benefit from the Transformed series it is crucial to participate at a very intentional level. Each weekend, Pastor Aaron will present a Transformed message that will be reinforced by the Life Group curriculum. Transformed Life Groups will be meeting once a week, so make sure to be faithful to attend your group. Also, stay current each day in your Transformed devotional book. The devotional book and Life Group Curriculum will begin after next week’s message (April 19) – Transformed in my Spiritual Health.

I truly believe that if we stay diligent and focused over these next seven weeks and set some very intentional goals, we will experience transformation to a brand new level! I am looking forward to doing this with you.

Written by: Jaime Hlavin

Edited by: Brigit Edwards

For Whom Have You Stopped Praying?

Growing up, did you ever respond to your mother’s requests or commands with the statement, “But mom….(fill in the blank with your favorite excuse)? I know I did. Oddly enough, however, my mom was not often interested much in the reasoning and justification as to why I was unable to do something. She simply wanted me to be obedient. This is something I thought I had outgrown. However, Pastor Jeff’s sermon this Sunday brought to my attention that we, even as adults, often respond to God’s instruction in the same way.

I am grateful for Samuel’s example of consistent obedience to God, as it displays all He can do if we are simply willing vessels. To give some context to the situation, while Samuel was serving as a judge over the nation of Israel, the Israelites were intentionally sinning. They knew better and feared God, but they didn’t want the accountability and responsibility attached to being a follower of Christ. Eventually, the Israelites went as far as to undermine the authority God had over them by demanding a king.

This is the point in the story where I’d probably be tempted to give up on Israel. I think my complaint would go something like, “But God…they already had their chance!” After all, they had previously been warned to turn from their evil ways, and now have the audacity to give God a sort of ultimatum? Samuel, however, is not so quick to lose hope in God’s people. He prays, and the Lord tells Him to give the people what they want (1 Samuel 8:7.) God is patient with the Israelites, and He wants Samuel to learn to be patient as well.

It isn’t until the new king (Saul) is in position and Samuel is stepping down as a judge that God’s plan begins to supersede the Israelites’. As Samuel gives his final cautions to the country of Israel, he tells them to fear the Lord and revere His power, because He is greater than any other King (1 Samuel 12:14.) As a final illustration, Samuel draws the Israelites attention to something no earthly king could do—produce rain and thunder in an instant during wheat harvest season (1 Samuel 12:17.) This miraculous act was a turning point, as it began to wake the Israelites back up to God’s power.

However, they still had a lot of work to do and many trials to face. Likewise, Samuel doesn’t stop caring after stepping down. Rather, he commits to continuously pray for the nation of Israel (1 Samuel 12:23.) I can’t help but wonder what would have happened to the people of Israel if Samuel had lost faith in them? Would incredible leaders like David ever be used by God? Would Israel have ever regained power over the Philistines?

Although we are often quick to write people off as a lost cause, God demonstrates His patience and ability to redeem His people time and time again. The Israelites made a lot of mistakes, but don’t we all? Rather than ceasing our prayer for those who seem too far from salvation, let us choose to be patient. Let us choose to pray. Let us choose to have faith. Because God hasn’t given up yet.  

Written by: Tamara Sturdivant

Edited by: De Ann Sturdivant