Summertime Slowdown: Renew Your Mind

We left off searching our hearts in Psalm 51 in our first Summertime Slowdown. Did you slow down and really examine your heart? Did you come to a conclusion on what condition your heart is in?

If not, please continue to do so. If you missed the introduction week of Summertime Slowdown and my recipe for Southern Sweet Tea, look for the blog titled Summertime Slowdown, Southern Style.

This week we'll be marinating on Romans 12:1-2. (I use the word marinate, because it visualizes to me a slow soaking that will burst into full flavor!)

Therefore brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. 

Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

As we examine these verses, pay close attention to what we are to do, and not do:

In verse one, Paul begs us to express true worship before God, but he doesn't make us guess as to what that means:

• What is true worship? 

True worship is presenting something before the Lord.

• What are we to present? 

True worship is presenting our bodies, ourselves, everything we are.

• How are we to present our bodies? 

We present them as living sacrifices.

• What kind of sacrifices? 

Holy (set apart for God's purpose and glory only)  Pleasing (because this makes His heart smile)                               

 In verse 2, Paul gives us a do and a don't.

• DO NOT be conformed to this age (world)

• BE transformed (changed, transfigured). 

In the second part of verse two Paul tells us how to change...

• by the renewing of your mind. 

In light of what Christ has done for us, we should be fashioned or shaped like Him, 

not fashioned or shaped like the world. If we look like the world, then we act like the world, 
we live like the world, and we identify with the world. 
If we look like Christ, then we think like Christ, and we live like Christ, 
thus we identify with Christ. Transformation begins with the mind.
(from Lesson 2, pg. 6 of Renew, Refresh, Refine bible study)

The best way I know to begin this process is by presenting myself before the Lord as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing, because this IS worship - a daily denying of my will before Him on the altar of sacrifice. As I lay it ALL there at His feet, today, I pray, "Your will Lord, not mine, be done." Then, I listen as I wash my mind with His own Words. I give them free reign to flow through my mind, transforming it as I walk by faith throughout the day. 

Worship.

Season the mind. 

Marinate. 

My Pleasure,

Melanie

(The Renew, Refresh, Refine Bible study is available on Amazon.com)

Summertime Slowdown Roasted Vegetables 
with Sausage (meat optional) 
Serves: 4-6

You'll need:

baking pan (cover bottom and sides with non-stick aluminum foil)
a large zip-lock bag
olive oil
garlic powder
salt
pepper
Tuscan seasoning
butter (for corn)
sugar (for corn)
White or Brown Rice (optional)

Vegetables: 8 small red potatoes (washed, and halved or quartered), 3 small yellow, 3 red, and 3 orange peppers (sliced and seeded), green beans (frozen or fresh), broccoli florets, and zuchinni (sliced), and 4 ears of fresh white or yellow corn

Meat (optional): Sausage link sliced into 3/4 round pieces.

Preheat Oven to 425 degrees.

Boil or *microwave fresh corn on the cob. Slice corn off the cob into a bowl. Add salt, pepper, sugar, and butter to taste. Put corn aside.

Place cut vegetables (excluding corn) in the large ziplock bag. Drizzle olive oil over the veggies. Sprinkle garlic powder, salt, pepper, and Tuscan seasoning over the veggies to taste.

Zip the bag all the way, and shake the vegetables until covered well with the seasonings.

Pour the vegetables onto the baking sheet and spread them out evenly.

Evenly distribute the sausage pieces over the vegetables.

Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes (or until potatoes are tender).

Serve the vegetable and meat mixture over rice, and add a serving of corn on the top.

Suggested sides: a salad, and Hawaiian dinner rolls.

*Microwave ears of corn in the husks for 5 minutes on high. Turn them over and cook for another 5 minutes. Carefully remove corn from the microwave. Place on a cutting board. Slice the large end off of each ear (about an inch). Then squeeze down from the top of the ear until it slides out of the husk. If some silks remain, just pull them off.