"Once we clearly acknowledge the soul, we can learn to hear it's cries. - Dallas Willard, Renovation Of The Heart."

It takes courage to pursue our dreams. It takes time and patience to unearth buried treasure. But I believe with all my heart that we must do both.

3.15.2010

Abiding Monday



I know I have mentioned this book before - it's really, really good!!

TrueFaced.

In speaking of our true identity in Christ John Lynch says this,

"Nature provides many examples of this incredible discrepancy between who we appear to be and who we truly are. Consider the caterpillar. If we brought a caterpillar to a biologist and asked him to analyze it and describe its DNA, he would tell us, "I know this looks like a caterpillar to you, but scientifically, according to every test, including DNA, this is fully and completely a butterfly." Wow! God has wired into a creature that looks nothing like a butterfly, a perfectly complete butterfly "Identity." And because the caterpillar is a butterfly in essence, it will one day display the behavior and attributes of a butterfly. The caterpillar matures into what is already true about it....So it is with us. God has given us the DNA of godliness. We are saints. Righteous. Nothing we do will make us more righteous than we already are. Nothing we do will alter this reality. God knows our DNA, He knows that we are "Christ in me." And now he is asking us to join him in what he knows is true!"


I am becoming what is already true of me. Please hear me, I am becoming, I am far, far from there, but becoming. God is changing my heart, my motives, my actions. Usually in that order. Does that mean that I should not do what I know God asks of me or I know to be true if I don't "feel" it?? No, there is a place for obedience, and many times we don't always "feel" like doing the right thing. But I want more than obeying for the sake of obeying. I know God is changing my desires into his desires.

Changing me into what I already am.

Changing me as I abide in him, allowing him to do the work in my heart.

Blessings!

12 comments:

Diane said...

Mary, isn't it amazing that to Him, we are always little children...with so much to learn and ever spreading opportunities to grow more like Jesus? this is a beautiful blog! I am working on this...gianormous new painting...I really should stay small, and it has an arch in it, that I was going to put words in. When I opened your blog and saw your heading I said, "Yea! That's what I wanted it to look like!" Thanks for your kind comments on my blog. Hope you visit often. don't you love comments? :O

CountryDreaming said...

Wow! I never quite realized before that a caterpillar already contained butterfly DNA. Most cool ... Reminds me of a J.R.R. Tolkien quote too, "All that is gold does not glitter."

Anonymous said...

That is an amazing fact about butterflies and caterpillars Pretty cool since I "love" butterflies.

I am becoming, too. Thanks for your nice comment today. :)

Blessings,
Tammy

lori vliegen said...

i love this that you wrote: Changing me into what I already am.
wow. i just love how God speaks through you! thank you, mary! :)))

Erin Butson said...

I'm always encouraged by your vulnerability and honesty. I love this...God is changing my heart, my motives, my actions... after trying to do it on my own time andtime again I keep coming back to the same conclusion... I can't do it on my own! I need Jesus. For every breath. I lovethe picture of God taking our humanity and makign it beautiful, like the butterfly. Thank you for sharing this.

Tea with Tiffany said...

Love this book and enjoyed finding your blog tonight!

Anonymous said...

Thank you Mary or your insightful/beautifully written statement.
you are such an "Encourager"..
Thank you for being obedient to God.
Your voice is heard and speaks volumes to me.
Hugs, Darlene

kelvin s.m. said...

...amazing facts... inspiring words... lovely wisdoms... o, truly, this blog is a complete package of what a reader need...!!!:D

Good day!!!:)

Blessings!!!:)

>Kelvin

julie king said...

blessings indeed! hugs to you,mary for these uplifting words!

S. Etole said...

what an encouraging article and thought ...

Bren Graham Thebeau said...

Becoming, such promise and hope contained in a single word.

Niki Jackson said...

God is so good to us!! Keep shining Mary. Niki xxx