After the Remediation and Restoration Crew Left

Yvonne Ortega is a wise woman. She often surprises me with new spiritual insights. In this Transformation UPGRADE, she digs into the word "transformation" from a practical perspective.

“Two weeks after the mold and mildew remediation and restoration crew left," Yvonne says, "I could once again smell the mustiness throughout the house.

"I expected a transformed home—not an expenditure of $10,000, pride, and possessions in vain.”

Don't get me (Dawn) started on the problem of mold. It makes me sick and I'll do just about anything to get rid of it. Yvonne had a struggle too, but God taught her some beautiful lessons through the struggle.

Yvonne continues . . .

I couldn’t make sense of how that mold and mildew remediation and restoration situation fit with the word God gave me for 2021—TRANSFORMED.

Lessons Learned

First, the week before New Year’s Eve, I did a word study of transformed.

God took me just as I was. I did nothing to earn that salvation. As the Bible says,

He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we did in righteousness, but in accordance with His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He richly poured out upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior (Titus 3:5-6 NASB).

Being transformed included washing every part of me. I wouldn’t scrub and scrub on my own. The Holy Spirit would wash me and renew me.

God isn’t stingy. He richly poured out His Holy Spirit upon me through Jesus Christ, my Savior.

Jesus paid the ultimate price. He left heaven and died on the cross for my sins: past, present, and future.

The washing of regeneration would be a big cleanup job.

The visual before me is that one antibacterial wipe wouldn’t suffice to transform my soul. Neither would a caseload. God recognized my spiritual need and included all three persons of the Trinity in the process.

Second, I compared the transformation of a house to spiritual transformation.

God’s Word explains it this way:

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect (Romans 12:2 NASB).

When I stepped into my home, it looked beautiful with the new air conditioner, the paint job and at least two hundred pounds less clutter and less furniture.

Transformation of the mind meant a deep inner cleaning.

I couldn’t help but remember the incident in which a Pharisee invited Jesus to dine with him. He couldn’t believe that Jesus didn’t wash his hands before eating.

Jesus knew what he and the others thought and said,

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence (Matthew 23:25–26 NIV).

I want true transformation, not a false front.

Third, transformed meant my appreciation of lasting treasure would improve.

Now, my earthly treasure in the bank dropped as did the number of my earthly possessions. However, I have a deeper appreciation of my heavenly treasure.

The Bible tells us,

Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you (Matthew 6:33 ESV).

All these things are food, water, and clothing. See Matthew 6:31-33.

God promised to provide for our needs. As I “seek first the kingdom of God,” I want to be more like Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. What will that look like?

Paul tells us,

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law (Galatians 5:22–23 ESV).

Please understand that I haven’t arrived. I am being transformed.

This search into the word "transformed" has led me to search the context of each scripture and related Bible passages. It also led me to the song, Lord Transform Me Theme Song—Transformed to Serve, which I found on YouTube at https://youtu.be/hkIIHjY4sdI.

The remediation and restoration of my home now makes sense with the word God gave me for 2021. God has used it to teach me that my salvation and being transformed cost far more than what I spent on my earthly home.

Also, being transformed is a lifelong process:

Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6).

The Lord will continue His work.

What evidence is in your life that the Lord has transformed you? What word or Scripture has God given you for 2021?

Yvonne Ortega walks with a small footprint but leaves a giant imprint in people’s lives. She is the author of the Moving from Broken to Beautiful® Series through cancer, forgiveness, and grief. Yvonne speaks with honesty and humor as she shares her life and struggles to help women find peace, power, and purpose through God’s Word. She celebrates life at the beach where she walks, builds sand castles, blows bubbles, and dances. Discover more about Yvonne and her ministry at www.YvonneOrtega.com.

Graphic adapted, courtesy of Kayelle Allen at Pixabay.

Your Labels: True or False?

In this Biblical Thinking UPGRADE, Poppy Smith hit on a topic that plagued me for years. I was called "stupid," so I thought I was. Maybe you're wearing some labels too.

"I grew up with the label “Sloppy Poppy,” Poppy said. "My parents were very loving and it was a family joke that I tended to drop things, spill soup, or mess-up when tackling domestic chores such as cooking or sewing. I’m still that way."

I (Dawn) could talk about a relative who falls off chairs (but I won't). I'm sure every family has its share of members who do klutzy or kooky things, and labeling people as such certainly won't help them cope or change.

But it's an even deeper message Poppy has for us today.

She continues . . .

Some labels wound.

They sting.

They demolish confidence.

They limit your life.

Not all labels make us laugh. Nor are they attached with loving, good humor.

When I was in seminary getting my Masters in Spiritual Formation and Direction, a professor declared:

Let God label you, not others.

That was a life-changing truth for me. It was liberating.

And it’s something I love sharing with those who struggle with negative labels super-glued on their hearts and minds by parents, teachers, coaches or an abusive boyfriend or husband.

I'm talking about cruel labels such as, You're ...

Dumb

Ugly

A Failure

Stupid

Useless

A Mistake

Unwanted

They produce great pain. They also hold great power over you—limiting your joy, confidence and freedom to experience all God wants for you.

A close friend was constantly called “stupid idiot” by her parents, and “ugly wart” by a boy at school.  She was emotionally damaged for decades by her verbally and physically abusive parents—until she learned to recognize who she really was in God’s eyes and reject the lies that had held her in their grip.

It takes time to be “transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12: 2) but with God’s help, it can be your experience.

The Bible is full of wonderfully healing words that you can apply to your heart and replay in your mind. If you’re a child of God, let me encourage you to revel in these truthful labels and toss the others in the trash where they belong.

Here are three simple steps to help you do this:

1. Repeat these biblically-true words regularly:

I am precious and loved by God, chosen, adopted, forgiven (Ephesians 1:2-14)

I am created for a purpose and capable of doing all He plans for me (Ephesians 2:10)

I am valued by God. He is for me and works everything together for my good (Romans 8:28-29) 

2. Say them out loud and add to your list as you read Scripture.

3. Ask God for help.

His power is what enables you to change your thoughts, attitudes, and actions.

What negative labels persistently pop into your head? Ask yourself: Would Jesus call me that? Is this how God sees me?

Force yourself to look at the labels you think are not true, reject them and embrace the amazing truth that you are truly loved and accepted by God.

Poppy Smith is British, married to an American, and has lived in many countries. A former Bible Study Fellowship teaching leader with a Masters in Spiritual Formation, she is a multi-published author who speaks widely, challenging women to make their lives count by looking at their choices, attitudes, and relationship with God. Discover more about Poppy here. 

Graphic: Image courtesy of imagerymajestic at FreeDigitalPhotos.net.