Are You Transformed?

Oh my goodness! Several weeks ago as I stepped into the next aisle at the store, I exclaimed to my self, “Oh, my goodness!” We were a week away from Halloween and they were already putting out Christmas ornaments, trees, wrapping paper, and candy canes.  Really? Candy Canes?  I know candy lasts for a long time but seriously! Maybe I should wait until December 1 to buy candy canes on clearance – certainly they will want to be rid of them to make room for Easter candy displays. (Imagine my eye roll here!)Have we allowed the world (and marketing strategies) to tell us when we move on to the next holiday or to drive us to such frenzy that we do not enjoy today.  We are moving at a speed that I don’t think we were ever intended to move.  I think we do well when we take our time, enjoy the blessings of our relationships, and celebrate today or the present holiday – without the worry about the one that is coming two months from now.  Jesus said in Matthew 6:33-34 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Additionally, we need more than just Christmas decorations to remind us we are celebrating Jesus birthday – we need a true, life changing relationship with Jesus.  Last week I was at a conference meeting.  During the opening worship, we sang an old song that still speaks truth.  (Here’s a link to the song.)  The song says simply that what we need, what we long for and what God wants from us is Holiness, Faithfulness and Righteousness.  The only way to realize those things is to allow God to work within us.  The song says, “Take my heart and form it, take my mind and transform it, and take my will and conform it to yours (God’s).”  Paul writes in Romans 12:2 “ Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”The world rushes us into the future at a speed that prevents us from celebrating the beauty and relationships around us. We are God’s children and we would be wise to slow down and pursue the things of God.  The candy canes can wait. They will be on the shelves until they need the space for something else. Living a holy life with our Lord cannot wait.  So let’s focus on those things and see the world with God’s eyes and not the eyes of marketing strategies.