Transformation

But our citizenship is in heaven, and  from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body, by the power that enables Him even to subject all things to Himself. Philippians 3:20

^{This clip had me enthralled for its full 16 minutes. The start of the video,  informs you of the intent to create a crane, but I could not see how a bird would emerge from a bright orange bubble of melted glass. Not even the drawings made sense to me. But then I am not an artist.}

^{As I watched the glassblower gently coax small lumps of molten glass into a head and tail, the shape of the bird began to take form. The result is stunning.}

^{When I look at my life, I see only defects and restrictions. I cannot imagine becoming something beautiful and admired.}

^{I can’t cover my sin.}

^{I can’t overcome my selfish agenda.}

^{I can’t see possibilities of how God might use the gifts bestowed on me.}

^{I can’t.}

^{But like the glassblower, Jesus wraps me in His robes of righteousness and gently coaxes changes out of me. Again, and again, He thrusts me into the flames of challenge only to pull me out and bring something new, something good, out of the mess of my life. It is not my goodness, but His, that saves me. It is not my efforts, but His, that changes me.}

^{It empowers me to realize that because I am useless, because I am stained with sin, because of my list of cant’s, my only course of action is not to act, but to simply be in the hands of the glassblower.}

^{Because of Him, I can let go of my shame.}

^{Because of Him, I can take hold of His hand.}

^{Because of Him, I am transformed by His robe of righteousness.}

^{Because of Him.}

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. II Corinthians 3:18

Weary Joy: The Caregiver's Journey  

by Kim Marxhausen

available at Concordia Publishing House

and Amazon