Okay, to be honest I wasn't too thrilled as I was reading through this because this is what we read before the One Desire fast and yes, I've gotten to the point where I'm like "I've already read this and studied this enough."

A couple things struck me though:

"...you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings." Man, if that verse doesn't describe what Detroit needs, I don't know what does. And this is coming from someone who quite honestly doesn't think all too much for Detroit and honestly is quite apathetic a lot of the time about what's going on there. I don't seem very attached to the idea of Detroit, in fact. But yeah. This is a cool idea. Definitely applicable to the idea of "missional initiatives," especially as I think about some brothers and sisters who went to Detroit to serve this week. Praying for them.

The second thing was: "... then you will find your joy in the Lord." I've been pondering this all semester, but to me it seems as if God is literally teaching me what the meaning of transformation is. I mean, sure it's a buzzword at our church, and sure, we named our building the Transformation Center (which I must admit, I don't know if I would've chosen that name... lol), but apart from hearing it all the time, it's one of those things that don't easily sink in. The other catchphrase that doesn't sink in is: "It's not about you." But that's for another story.

Anyway, transformation. I've been discovering that it has a lot to do with our changing. Romans 12:2-3. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. As we are changed, we are changed so that we find our joy in the Lord - that's what transformation means. It means that Christ lives in us, sets us free not only from the punishment of sin, but from sin itself, so that we can love God for who He is. And I feel like that's what is awesome about this passage - when we find our joy in the Lord, then we have finally found that joy which never runs out. Like in Isaiah 55:

Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare.

God is the richest of fare. And we find our joy in the Lord. And when we do, that is the point of transformation. That is the joy of transformation. :)
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