Embracing Change: Take it to the bank

I have the honor of introducing my friend Sharita to you today. Not only does Sharita love Jesus, she is also a military wife. AND, she also went to Kansas State. To say that we are kindred spirits is an understatement. Not only does her blog challenge me spiritually, but Sharita’s style of writing always leaves me with… a huge ol’ smile…you’re about to see why!

So here is Sharita…

 

 

My feet gently hit the pavement, in rhythm with the tiny “click, clack” of puppy paws. Although my mind wanders, my eyes are focused. They scan the horizon and then dart back to the ground. Just as we round the last block, a bright glint catches in my eye… there it is…

 

A coin, dropped and forgotten by its owner.  Cha-ching, baby.

 

Now, before you think I am a money-obsessed wacko, let me explain. I am always searching for treasures when I am in the great outdoors. This is especially true when we go on our walks in our little military neighborhood. Our “treasure-hunting” walks are a great way for me to decompress, unwind my buzzing woman brain and even get a little bit of exercise.  Plus, the treasures we find by just walking a few miles (specifically: the amount of loose change) continually surprise me.

 

Most of the time, our loose change discoveries consist mainly of copper pennies. Only one cent. Long gone are the days when a single penny had legitimate purchasing power.   But after awhile, those pennies (and sometimes nickels, dimes and quarters) add up in that little “miscellaneous jar” that sits on our kitchen counter.

 

Being on the lookout for “change” doesn’t only apply to collecting random pieces of currency from parking lots and in the washing machine. When it comes to being a Christian… Life is all about change. (And I’m not just talking about the stuff in the bottom of the offering plate.)

 

“God-changes” come in all sizes… Some of the “penny-sized” changes are going to be little things, like how we spend our quiet time with Him in the morning or how we react when our darling husband leaves his dirty socks in the middle of the living room floor. (Again.) It could be a gradual attitude shift, a change in direction of our day or an urge to quit hurrying and take a moment to rest.

 

Then there are the big-ol’ Jesus changes. You know what I am talking about—the BIG ones, (we are talking quarter or half dollar sized) changes that thwack you right between the eyes. Maybe it’s a career change, a family dynamic shift or a call to answer a God-challenge you never anticipated.

 

In both cases, we have a choice when it comes to those God-changes… Do we ignore the change, pretending like we didn’t see/hear it? Or do we grab that change with both hands (and our heart!) and embrace it?

 

The God-changes that come into our life will rarely be easy… but we can trust Him fully, knowing that He has only the best in mind for us. After all, the whole purpose of following Christ is to become like Christ.  (And I don’t know about you—but that’s going to require QUITE a few changes in my life to make THAT happen.)

  

Embracing change is not a burden, but a privilege, on where we can trust God with our whole heart. Over time those little penny to quarter sized changes will add up. Then we will be able to arrive at heaven’s gate, transformed as only God can transform us.

 

With change comes challenge.

With challenge comes transformation.

And with transformation we become like Christ.

 

A life that embraces God-change is a life worth living.  God promises us… And with a promise like that, we can take it to the bank. 

 

What God-changes have popped up in your life lately? How do you adapt to those changes? Do you ignore or embrace? We always love to hear your feedback—don’t be shy… leave a comment below!

 

 About the Author:

A personal pep-talker and Jesus lover at heart, Sharita Knobloch is a chocolate-indulging, pseudo-running, minister, writer and speaker.  She blogs on a regular basis and hosts a ministry called 7 Days Time which encourages others to be active in sharing God’s love via prayer and random acts of kindness. Sharita is also SERVE Ministry Apprentice at Christ Community Church. Whenever she gets the chance, she enjoys hanging out with her beloved infantry drill sergeant husband and their hilarious puppy, Sweet Justus.

 

Connect with Sharita via Facebook,Twitter, and her Blog.