A Magnolia's Heart Beats

Thankful Thursday ~ Change

Iris, the hostess of Thankful Thursday, has chosen change for this week's theme. (Happy early Birthday, Iris!)

“We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”~ Romans 6:4 (ESV ~ emphasis Iris')

There are many changes I've gone through in my life, and I haven't always been thankful for them, especially during the process. Change can be difficult, but it's often necessary. It's essential to growth in many aspects, and it pushes us toward transformation. Think of the caterpillar. What if he always stayed a caterpillar of didn't ever come out of his cocoon? He would never morph into the beautiful butterfly he was destined to be.

Like the caterpillar, we have to embrace change, and one change I am so glad I embraced is making Christ my personal Savior and Lord. Walking in the newness of life is awesome. I see things in a brighter and more colorful way. I seek His counsel, I study His Word, I love drawing near to Him in prayer, and I enjoy living my faith for His glory.

Another change we'll be embracing, if we believe in Christ, is His return.

"Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality." ~ 1 Corinthians 15:51-53 (emphasis mine)

I don't know about you, but that's one change I'm so looking forward to. I'm so excited to know that I will receive a new body, a resurrected body. For someone with chronic illnesses, believe me, I'm ready! Not only for a new body, but to change homes. Go from this present earth home to Heaven. Spending eternity worshiping God. That's a change I could get used to. Here on earth we can get so entrapped by the business of our lives that we have to pick and choose when to worship God. I have a feeling in Heaven we won't have to schedule our quiet times or devotion to Him. Exciting changes are coming, my friend. Perhaps ours will be the generation to see His return. I hope so.

Father, I thank you for the changes you've brought my way in life. You've given me so much and taken away as well. It has all worked out to Your glory. I thank you for my husband and his precious daughter. Thank You for the privelege of being her bonus mom, and that she overcame so much in her life and went on to marry and have a healthy son and one more on the way. Thank You for my extended family and the changes they've gone through regarding health, age, giving new children to the family, and much more. Bless them and keep them, Lord. Thank You so much for Steve. He is my earthly rock and I love him so much. Thank You, Lord, for the work I have outside the home. It keeps me busy, but not so much that I don't have time for a life. Thank You so much for my friends. They bless my heart. Thank You, Father, that one day You will call us home and we will be changed in the twinkling of an eye, forever to worship You. May it be in my generation, Lord. I would love to see Your coming! I pray that You would use me to reach more people for You, sharing the story of the gospel with them as I have the opportunity. It's not one of my strong suits, but Lord, I'm willing to change. If You'll help me, that is. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Please visit Iris for more Thankful Thursday posts. You will be blessed, indeed! I love this day!