A Month of Renewal

One thing I love about Spring is the burst of new life!  During Easter weekend, with my grandkids, I observed a mama-robin preparing for her babies' arrival.  A few days ago, the kids sent me this photo.  

This morning, the wind ushered in the strong aromatic fragrance of wild mulberry and jasmine and the birds were singing to the high heavens.  Everywhere I look, I see the blossoming of new blooms on vibrant green branches. 

According to the Hebrew Calendar, this month of Nisan is the Month of Renewal.  Truly, the earth cries out with the sights and sounds of new birth, new life, new beginning! The children of Israel were delivered out of Egypt in Nisan.  The Israelites were free to experience NEW LIFE-a new beginning. In Christ, we too have experienced NEW LIFE!   

I love new life-the cry of a new baby, the sound of baby birds singing.  I also like the idea of starting anew, beginning again, a chance to look at life in a fresh, new way.  At the beginning of the year, some people make resolutions.  I prefer to ask the Holy Spirit for a Word to carry me through the year. By the way, this year my WORD is "breakthrough." (That's another post.) In this new month, the first of the Hebrew New Year (and April by our calendar), I am thinking about what I think about.

Romans 12:2 says, "Be not conformed to the standard of the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then, you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing and perfect will of God."

What does it mean to be transformed by the renewing of your mind?  

Transformation is change.  Changed from what?  For me, it's transformation from thinking like the world thinks-moving like the world moves.  I worry that we as Christians are being molded into the shape of the world.  We listen to the world's music and it moves us.  We bring the world into our churches.  We create coffee shops in our sanctuaries and enjoy scripted sermons that make us feel good. On the flip side of that, we enter in negative conversation about others when we should be building each other up.   In reality, transformation takes place when we walk out the door of the church.  

Transformation is renewal-being made new in the attitude of our minds.   Transformation is taking captive every thought and making it obey Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5) When I encounter a negative situation I can become overcome by fear, doubt and discouragement or I can choose to think on these things...

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, what is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think on these things."  Philippians 4:8

A few years ago, a Christian artist wrote the song, "Speak Life." Proverbs 18:21 says, "Death and Life are in the power of the tongue and those who love it will eat its fruit." ESV

Amplified Bible says, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it and indulge it will eat its fruit and bear the consequences of their words."