Yesterday after my follow up appointment at the doctor, the logical thing to do was to have a cheeseburger for lunch. At least in my mind it was totally logical. So I went to a place in my city called Honest Abe’s. The location I went to is in a strip mall close to the neighborhood I grew up in here.
After lunch, I noticed something. 100% of the stores that were a part of my childhood and teen years are gone. There is no resemblance to the neighborhood strip mall that I knew. Geiers Bakery is now the burger place. Blevins Pharmacy is now a skin care place, The old grocery store is now a hardware store. I am rarely in that part of the city and only went there because it was the closest burger place to my doctor’s office. Perhaps that is why it grabbed my attention that nothing is left of my childhood and teen days there.
Then the thought hit me that I also bear no resemblance to the person I was as a child or as a teen and not just physically. Gone is the angry teen who only cared about partying. Gone is the child who felt no hope. Gone is the young man who saw no purpose to life.
Jesus has literally transformed me and my life. All of those years ago, I would have never imagined I would have a ministry for refugees and immigrants and be teaching ESL.
Jesus can do wonderful things with a life given to him. He brings new things to our lives. He changes us and our desires in life. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says:
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
I know from where I came and how far Jesus has brought me in life. Every blog post I write, every class I teach, every refugee/immigrant I help, is a testimony to the power of Jesus working in my life over the years.
Thank you for reading. God Bless.
Jesusluvsall's Blog 
See…I am doing a new thing….see God my dear Daddy.
Amen sweet daughter. I see God in so many things in my life- including you 🙂
Amen!!!
I’m not a fan of change at all (when businesses change or go out or when a friend moves, etc) BUT when the Lord changed my life that was/is a VERY welcomed change! Great post Matt and very relatable for me!!!!❤️❤️❤️
Thank you little sister. I rejoice how God has worked in your life 🙂
Me too!! 🙌
That’s a good gift Matt. Everyone should have a birds eye view of their life’s journey and how far they have come (or drifted) once in awhile. It is God’s testimony through you to a watching world.
Thank you Gary. I agree having a view of the whole work of God in our lives can be uplifting. Have you been ice fishing yet?
No ice fishing yet. Soon…very soon.
Beautiful!
thank you!!!
What a powerful and encouraging testimony, Matt! Any change that God brings is always good. Praise Him!
Thank you Patty. God has done great things in my life
I know your reaction of seeing your childhood home gone. My home as a child is also gone. The entire community is reshaped into duplexes and condos.
For me it was an encouraging experience knowing God has brought me so far
Amen! Praise the Lord for the transforming power of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I am so grateful for his transforming power
Amen! As Apostle Paul shares, our heavenly Father blesses us with an amazing journey of transformation . . . especially in our faith to accept Jesus as our Savior. Blessings to you Matt, and thanks for sharing your testament.
The journey of transformation is definitely amazing how Jesus can take a life and change it so dramatically like in my case