Transformations.......

 Don't you just love those commercials for home improvements or paint or some other product?  They all make it seem like you can paint a room and totally change your home in one day.  Or at most, a weekend.  But that is so far from the truth!  This redecorating transformation stuff is HARD WORK! And you have to do the very hard work of clearing out all of the junk before you can even start the hard work of the actual redecorating.

Here is Ken.  A long time ago.  Like actually about 36 years ago.  And that is how our nursery looked as we were preparing it for Gwen's arrival.  Notice that rainbow stripes on the wall that matches the rainbow on the crib.  And yes, we had painted one wall red, one blue and one yellow.  I know, this was a very BOLD choice - especially 36 years ago when pastels were the way to go.  But I had read that babies liked bold colors and that they responded to them.  So this was my choice.  And Ken went along with it.  Now that room has been painted several times since it was the nursery.  It also had wallpaper (sports themed) when Doug was young.  Yet, today, as we were patching holes and ripping up the 38 year old carpet, I noticed that you could still see that rainbow stripe on the wall.  So out came the can of KILLZ,

It was a long, long day.  I had spent a number of hours emptying out all the JUNK that filled that room.  (So right now the hallway is filled with stuff, and so is our master bedroom).  But I am so much closer to seeing the final product!  We still have the painting to do. The closet will be an extra challenge.  It has a very odd raised part that is actually over the stairs.  I don't know how we will paint up in the corner, but I am sure it will be an adventure!  And we have the new floor to do.  And then there is the moving all the stuff back into the room.  This transformation of rooms is no easy task!

After we had rolled up the old carpet, and once again, filled up all of our garbage cans and recycling bins, (and made yet another trip to GoodWill!) we decided to celebrate with a special treat for dinner.  Ken loves this particular Pizza.  And he has been really working hard at eating better and also exercising.  And the scale really shows it!  With all of the work we have done on the house in the last few months, he deserved this special treat. And it was so delicious! 

I was thinking about the many, many transformations that happened in my spirit.  It is really very much like this house stuff.  You have to do the very hard work of clearing out all the junk.  You know, those really bad memories or habits that are lingering in your spirit.  And you even have to empty out all of the dark and hidden closets.  You have to be sure that you empty everything out so that the Holy Spirit can fill up all those spaces.  That is the beginning of the transformation of your spirit.  As you continue along in the process of being transformed, there will be changes that come along.  You may decide that the things you thought were so important before don't really fit with the Holy Spirit.  Those TV shows or movies that you watched before, don't seem so good anymore.  And you might even find that you want to add some new things.....reading the Bible, a small group... Then you might notice that you have been redecorated!  You have a new attitude, you are wearing a smile more often than before and you feel so much lighter, brighter.  You are free!  

Yes, these transformations are really great.  Even though it takes much more time than a day or a weekend.  The finished product is always worth it!  

Jesus, thank you for being the great transformer!  Your love is the source of that wonderful makeover for all of us.  Holy Spirit, thank you for filling us up as we empty out all of the junk from our spirits.  Help us to be sure to keep up with the ongoing process of being filled with the Holy Spirit.  Jesus your love is amazing and your grace is overwhelming.  Thank you for reminding us that you have transformed us all.  Amen