Have you ever seen a butterfly’s shadow?

 

I was in my bedroom today, alone in the house and earnestly seeking God when I saw one...a butterfly’s shadow.

 

It danced across the closed mini blinds of my bedroom window, illuminated by the noonday sun. It made me smile, and it made me stop and think...are butterflies mentioned in the Bible? (Am I the only one who asks questions like this in the middle of a personal prayer session?) This verse from 2 Corinthians is what I found:

 

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

 

We’ve all learned about a caterpillar’s metamorphosis into a butterfly and some of us have even witnessed it firsthand (at my house we like any kind of science that involves critters).

Have you ever stopped to think about how this verse applies to you and me?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are a lot like caterpillars when we try to do things our own way and apart from God.

We crawl around devouring anything we can sink our teeth into,

only to become larger and greater in our own minds.

 

I once had the privilege of seeing a butterfly just after it emerged from its cocoon.

It did not fly off right away.  It carefully readied itself for its first glorious flight as a new creature. It flew off the porch but quickly landed nearby in the grass, as if not quite used to this new sensation, this new experience, this new “normal.”

It took flight again, this time going a little further, but then stopping again. I watched this beautiful butterfly as it flew around the area it was used to, staying in its comfort zone. Then suddenly, almost as if someone had called its name, that butterfly soared on the wind high in the air and I never saw it again.

This particular butterfly began its life in a spiky, frightening , and poisonous form. Then God made it into a new creature. It became something beautiful, capable of things it could never have done without this dramatic change.

 

My encouragement to you today- 

You are new and beautiful in Christ.

Your past is part of your present because it has made you who you are in Him.

God has taken your yesterdays and transformed them with his love into a life of glorious praise.

Now soar on the wings of His love, let Him take you to new heights of glory. Don’t look back on your yesterdays and see sadness or destruction.

Instead, see what He sees when He looks at your yesterday: a creature who needed Love’s transforming beauty in order to fulfill her purpose in this life, a purpose that continues to unfold, day by day, washing your soul with beauty as you honor Him with your life.

 

Do you see the connection between your yesterday and your purpose ?

 

[author] [author_image timthumb='on'][/author_image] [author_info]Patricia Hord- I am a mother of two wonderful boys who make life an exciting adventure every day and wife of nearly 25 years to a man who unselfishly cares for his family in every way he can. http://www.heart4learning.blogspot.com/ [/author_info] [/author]

butterfly photo credit: Paulo Brandão via photopin cc

caterpillar photo credit: macropoulos via photopin cc

I woke up early this morning and wanted to jot down what the Lord was sharing with me.

 

The Standout Principle

 

A principle based on scripture. Basically throughout Jesus' life He ministered to, healed, transformed, the lives of those who stood out from the crowd. The ones who were willing to get in front of him, the ones who got his attention, the ones who traveled great distances to see him, those were his people.

 

I especially love the man who shouted and shouted and shouted out for healing. In spite of the many requests of people around him to shut up, be quiet, don't trouble the man with your problems, he insisted on being heard. And what happened? Click here to read the story.

 

Another story is the woman who risked it all, embarrassment, even ridicule. Jesus called her a "dog". She still remained in front of him. She was not going to run away from the very place she knew the answer existed. There was no other answer for her. So she persisted. What happened? Click here to read the story.

 

 

How about a much more subtle stand? The story of the young maiden who was highly favored to carry the kings of kings in her womb. She was described as blessed among women. She did not shout, or press through crowds, or anything drastic like that, however she still stood out. Her way of living stood out to God. Her refusing the temptations to live her own life, was a more subtle form of a standout, but a standout no less. Click here to read the story.

 

Each of us are wired different. Some of us are busy and active, so it is likely that our actions will standout. Through some form of outward expression. Some of us are quiet and reserved so it is likely that our quiet actions or the things that we don't say will cause a standout. Our standout expression reflects an inward stand an inward conviction.

 

No matter how God created us, we are all called to standout.

 

The scripture ask us - do we light a candle and then hide it under a basket?

We are supposed to standout.
You are supposed to stand out.

 

Not for your own fame. Not so that people know your name. Not so that you get all the glitz and the glory, but so that God does.

 

After all, it's His light in you that causes you to standout in the first place. It's nothing that you did to earn the ability to stand out.

 

When we seek to standout for our own glory, it's not pretty, and it lacks grace. God's blessings add no sorrow. God's hand enables us, strengthens us, brings joy to our hearts.  

Gloating and self-praise only cheapens the standout and weakens our testimony. It causes us to struggle and toil and fight for everything we have and eventually our joy and strength are gone.

From me to you, for the glory of God, it's time for you to stand up and stand out!

Will you?

 

flower photo credit: rosswebsdale via photopin cc

dog photo credit: visualpanic via photopin cc

girl photo credit: Collin Key via photopin cc