The New Facelift: The Transfiguring and Transforming Power of Prayer

We are excited to have you here today! Learn about being transformed by prayer and receive your new spiritual "facelift" as you read Malynda's blog. Thank you for sharing your journey with us :)

It was last April. I had made a quick stop at the health food store. “Has anyone ever told you that you look like Jennifer Garner?” The young employee looked at me politely from across the till.  She leaned back to her co-worker, fishing for agreement. I think I might have nodded and smiled. I collected my purchase, went home and hopped on Google. I’ll admit I couldn’t remember what Jennifer Garner looked like.

I don’t know what the girls at the health food store were seeing but I know what I saw.  (Am I the only one who finds it slightly odd that people post instant photos of other people so people like me can see what they were doing only hours before...like smiling?) She was smiling. Smiling as she took her daughter out of her car, smiling as she looked her in the eyes, smiling as she walked back to the vehicle. Smiling radiantly.

I was challenged. For a moment I pictured what my ‘paparazzi moments’ would look like on any given day as I coach my kids out the door and pack them into the vehicle. Let’s see... rush off to school... wrestle with the car seats... quiet sibling disputes during rush hour and - Say “cheese!” More importantly what ‘photos’ of my facial expressions did my own children have etched in their minds?  Smiles? Acceptance? Trust? Or is it frustration, impatience and displeasure?

I was foolish enough to ask one of them. “Honey, what does mommy’s face look like when we’re getting ready to go?” She scrunched up her eyebrows. Hmmm. Really? Then they all had a crack at it. Kids are so honest.

I hope it was therapeutic for them. But I knew something had to change. And that something was me.

I needed a facelift. I wanted my countenance to reflect the glory of God and radiate the love I have in my heart for my children.

I know a God who’s in the business of transformation.

And...note to self...don’t be disheartened! Get used to needing such help. Jesus, who set the pattern for our lives, petitioned and applied for the good things that were purposed for Him and promised to Him.

And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. And as he prayed, the fashion of his COUNTENANCE was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering. (Luke 9:28-29 )

Jesus prayed, and his countenance was changed.

Research tells us that facial expressions, gestures and touch all contribute to the overall sense of developmental well-being in children. Frequent displays of affection and shared smiles are all ways to increase the bond between our children and us.

A shining face helps our children grow.

And prayer helps the face to shine. Matthew Henry’ commentary says it beautifully: “By prayer we fetch in the wisdom, grace, and joy, which make the face to shine.”

Such good news! Prayer transforms our hearts as we behold the glory of the Lord, and it transfigures us as well.

So...I got my first ‘facelift’ at 38. Last April I realized I needed to fetch more wisdom, grace and joy that would make my face shine.

As a mother this makes all the difference. My new countenance is from the inside out. It may not be wrinkle-free, but if I’m going to collect a lifetime of wrinkles, I’ve decided I want them to be smile lines...

I’m so thankful.

I’m thankful the Holy Spirit uses daily encounters such as this one to draw me back to the Word. I’m not so sure I look like Jennifer Garner, but I think my new facelift is quite becoming. Some days are better than others, and some days I may even be caught smiling as I wrestle with seatbelts. Don’t ask me, though... the proof is in the pudding. You can ask my children!

2 Corinthians 3:18

New King James Version (NKJV)

18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

A Mother’s One-Minute Countenance Prayer:

This morning, I set my gaze upon You Lord. Let my time here with You transform me. I receive the wisdom, grace and joy that makes my face shine. As my children look to me let my countenance reflect YOUR love for them. And the love you have for me. Amen.

Malynda lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba with her husband and her young children. She continually celebrates the many gifts God has given her and the promises He has fulfilled to her, especially in her family. She is excited to embark on another faith adventure with us here at Women's Journey of Faith as one of our recommended speakers! The founder of BUGirl, she has imparted valuable lessons through her mentorship program and has since passed the baton on to another at Family Life Network and it continues to experience great success in the lives of young women. Her heart and passion for women is contagious and she is a blessing to those around her. 

To learn more about Women's Journey of Faith, our upcoming sharing the Journey seminar on April 4-6 2014 and other recommended speakers click here: WJOF/STJ  

How you can count on God when a perfect plan doesn't feel so perfect - A lesson from Mary

I wonder what it was like? To be her! As a young girl, she was given a mandate and the responsibility to conceive and give birth to the Son of the Most High.

Can you imagine the magnitude of the moment in her 12 years old life; when the plan was laid out to her one day in an angelic visitation?

She was to mother the Child that God had promised hundreds of years earlier through the prophet Isaiah. No pressure, Mary!

The good news - she had found favor with God. And God was with her. On the other hand, she was afraid and had to be reassured. She was perplexed with the how. But her heart was open and she said yes in joining God in His divine plan for her life.

 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.”

         What a commitment for a young woman who is betrothed and making plans to be wed when a new plan is dropped into her life. One thing Mary had going for her was her was her knowledge of scripture. When the word is close to your heart, it is already open, and you can respond with conviction and without delay.

“And the angel left.”

 I don’t know about you but that’s the part where I would start to think, “Wow! OK. Now what?”

When holy meets humanity, it’s humbling.

And if you’re like me, without knowing the plan, step-by-step, it’s a tough spot to be in. But when you’re in, you’re in.  And better yet, when you say yes to God, you’re in good hands, whether you know all the details or not. He has a knack for fulfilling His promises. 

She knows this and she sings her Hallelujah. Despite the missing pieces and the challenges that lie ahead, she believed. And she rejoiced. She was filled with joy.

When holy meets humanity it’s humbling and we can sing Hallelujah.

It’s a hallelujah that happens when we are touched by who He is.

So Mary's heart was ready and open and she said yes in joining God in His divine plan for her life. Then the angel left. She had been given the plan, but not the details. There were missing pieces and challenges that lie ahead, the day to day living of it.

For starters, Mary was pregnant but she was not yet married. Try to imagine how she would explain that one to people in her life and times. (Not fun if you're a people pleaser!) Then she journeyed for a great distance on a donkey. (Not exactly putting your feet up) And likely because of poverty, she gave  birth in a barn instead of a comfy inn.

Where did we get the idea that living in God’s perfect plan means we circumvent the living it out part?

She had to do her part.

Sometimes with an impeccable plan, the journey is unpalatable. But it is good. And it is a fulfillment of what He has promised.

She could count on God when the perfect plan didn’t feel so perfect.

How Mary Counted on God Here are some ways Mary relied on God to bring His promise to the world:      He provided her with affirmation. The angel messenger brought the annunciation, but also affirmation to Mary about her relationship to God. “God is with you. You have found favour with Him.”      He provided her with a mandate.  It had been prophesied 400 years earlier by the prophet Isaiah and also by the prophet Micah. She knew it was the real deal.       His call to her was an answer to a need. Her mandate fulfilled a personal and corporate longing. She and the people were waiting for the promised Savior.            He built her faith. The messenger angel also told Mary that her elderly cousin Elizabeth was also going to have a son in her old age. Mary and Elizabeth shared in the wonderful things God had done for them.           He provided support. In Elizabeth, but also in Joseph. While Joseph was wondering what he should do, an angel appeared to him in a dream, saying he should not be afraid to marry Mary, that the child was to be called Jesus, which means “Saviour.” Joseph provided help and support to Mary.         He gave direction through natural circumstances. As prophesied by Micah, Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Though Mary and Joseph were in Nazareth, they travelled to Bethlehem, Joseph’s hometown, for a census issued by the Roman emperor. Also, the wise men that studied the star patterns night after night; noticed a new, bright star in the east, followed it to find & celebrate & worship Jesus.        He gave provision at the inn. They found a welcome in one place, a lowly stable. It became a holy place.            He arranged celebration and affirmation. The shepherds heard of the birth from an angel and an angelic choir. They hurried to Bethlehem to see the child who had been promised to their fathers for hundreds of years. They knelt down in adoration before him. How Mary must have felt!  Also, when Jesus was about a month old, the wise men brought precious gifts after being guided by the star to where the child was.           He provided protection. In a dream, the wise men were warned not to go and tell Herod. Then God sent an angel to Joseph in a dream, instructing him to go to Egypt to protect the child from Herod, who later sent soldiers to Bethlehem to kill every baby boy in the whole town.       He provided direction. Once Herod had died, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph again in a dream instructing him to go back to Israel.      He provided re-direction. So Joseph took Jesus and Mary back to the land of Israel but he was afraid to go near the city of Jerusalem where the king lived. Instead he went to Nazareth. According to Matthew, “So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.” Luke 1,2 & Matthew 1,2

“Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord will fulfill His promises in her.” And so He did.  Jesus was born to her, as promised and as prophesied. 

Her heart was ready and open. She said yes in joining God in His divine plan for her. And a beautiful story came out of her life.

She relied on God. She did her part. It takes both.

Maybe you are at the stage of readying yourself in the word. Or maybe you already have a mandate that’s clear to you. Maybe you’re just stepping out in what little you do know and you’re ready to trust him for all the “I don’t knows.” Maybe you’re just pondering the very idea that God can use YOU to bring His love to a dying world! 

His plan for you may come as a surprise. His plan may interrupt your plans. It may be frightening at first. You may not have a clear roadmap. His plan will not make you popular with everyone. His plan may include some very ordinary steps and  some uncomfortable turns. BUT...

What is your yes in joining God in His divine plan for you?

Be assured as a child of God, you have found favor with Him. He is with you. He will provide everything you need to bring forth His promise in your life. Everything you need. You can count on Him when His perfect plan does not feel so perfect.

When His holy meets your humanity, heaven and earth await the sound of your hallelujah.

And so this Christmas season it rings in my heart as it has through the ages “Holy, Holy, Holy, Is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come.” And as with Mary, I wonder what beautiful story will come out of you not just for your gain but also for the gain of others?

Grace and peace to you with each step! You’re in good hands, daughter of the Most High.

We are curious to hear how you have relied on God and how He has shown Himself faithful in your life! Please, share your comments below.

Malynda lives in the winter wonderland of Winnipeg, Manitoba with her husband and her young children. This Christmas, she is celebrating the many gifts God has given her and the promises He has fulfilled to her, especially in her family. She is excited to embark on another faith adventure with us here at Women's Journey of Faith as one of our recommended speakers! The founder of BUGirl, she has imparted valuable lessons through her mentorship program and has since passed the baton on to another at Family Life Network and it continues to experience great success in the lives of young women.To learn more about Women's Journey of Faith, our upcoming sharing the Journey seminar on April 4-6 2014 and other recommended speakers click here: WJOF  

Malynda credits her pastor, Andaza Baiye, of Joy Fountain Church, Winnipeg, MB for her beautiful words from this Sunday’s message, found in the second to last paragraph."

"Rain, cereal, and wisdom calling out" by guest blogger, Malynda Zacharias

Sharing the Journey with our guest speaker, Malynda Zacharias. Wisdom is our continuing theme this year as we prepare for our upcoming conference on November 1-2, and we are encouraged to listen to the voice of wisdom calling out in today's post. Have a look and enjoy!

Honest, tasty, and real. It was on the cereal box this morning, right there in front of me. The money advertisers spend in market research only to find out what we’ve known along, they spend fruitfully. It’s right there in the fruit and nuts. Find out what people are looking for, hoping for, and then put it down in lime green letters, put it right on the box. 

It’s a mirror to the soul, it echoes what we once knew but have somehow forgotten, lost, misplaced...

...buried?

“Are these dishes clean?” my son reaches for one in the pile. Twelve and strong, he’s growing hungry. “So which ones are the dirty ones?”   Souls and words rubbing together around our home today. Feels like simple living. Talking around the dishes. Bumping into each other. 

Casual and intimate. Hmm...

Even though it’s raining out, we are warm and dry.

It’s easy to get caught up in the mess, the toppling laundry, the bills to pay, the schedules to manage, the deadlines to meet. I get lost in the spidery layers that I’m trying to manage. I feel lost amidst spinning, bouncing, and dropping balls. 

I drop into bed with tired feet on more nights than I can keep track of!

Honest and tasty and real tastes pretty good right now. Homey and close. 

And when I’m bent out of shape, can I still be shaped by His story? 

Sometimes I act like I don’t know how. 

I can’t hear past the decibels between 6 am and 11 pm. And I can’t see past the dishes, dust and deadlines. 

It’s cloudy and dull outside today. 

And then, just as the sudden warm glowing patch that shines on the living room wall tells me the sky has broken, wisdom calls out.  Calls out right in the midst of it all. 

My iPhone told me it was to rain all day. It’s what I had come to expect. 

I have called out, I have cried out, but have I expected or have I neglected to hear wisdom call out to me?

 “Out in the open wisdom calls aloud
She raises her voice in the public square. 
On the top of the wall she cries out.” (Proverbs 1:20)

Wisdom cries out? She raises her voice?

Like the surprise of a break in forecasted weather,  in case I thought I was lost, misplaced, or buried, It shows up. And it is loud. 

How God takes care of us! We search and we seek. And all the while we are being sought after.  

In the midst of the every day. Clear and loud. 

When I am bent out of shape, can I be shaped by His glory?

“For wisdom will enter your heart and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.” (Proverbs 2:10)

A soul filled with the knowledge of God is full of pleasantries and a soul filled with such pleasantries is no doubt shaped to His glory, by His glory. 

How near you are to us O Lord, and how dear. 

So then, let it interrupt my life! Call out to me, will you, Wisdom, and I will turn my ear. Enter my heart, then, and bend and shape it. 

Because if it’s what we desire, can we think of anything more honest, tasty or real than a life that begins, responds to and is willingly interrupted by a God who calls out to us? To us? To me...to you.  If it be so...

Let us keep an ear turned. Let us sit on the edge of our seats ready and waiting for the glory-interruptions, the wisdom-surprises...right in the midst of everyday living. 

And let us, in wisdom, willingly crawl from under “the stuff” of life to stand in the full beam of the infallible word of God, as it presses itself deep and shines patches of light on the very walls of our hearts.  I think we shall all be stopped in our tracks now and then, if not for the shaping of our souls, then for the glory that shines through them...

Malynda lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba with her husband and her young children where she is loving life! She is excited to embark on another faith adventure with us here at Women's Journey of Faith:) The founder of BUGirl, she has imparted valuable lessons through her mentorship program and has since passed the baton to another at Family Life Network and it continues to experience great success in the lives of young women.
She is one of our recommended speakers for Women's Journey of Faith and we look forward to hearing more from her as she steps out more through her writing, speaking and musical journey!

To learn more about Women's Journey of Faith, our upcoming conference and other recommended speakers click here: WJOF