If nothing ever changed, there'd be no butterflies.

That quote (from some unknown but wise person) pretty much says it all: We need to accept and even embrace changes--because there's usually something beautiful and better waiting on the other side.

We get so comfortable in our little ruts, don't we? We all have our daily routines and habits. Yet if we are truly going to be a follower of Jesus, we'd better get used to experiencing (and loving!) alot of change in our lives.

When Jesus started his earthly ministry, he put it this way:

"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

Repent?!? Isn't that what you read on signs? You know...the ones that those crazy, wild-haired street preachers carry?

Yup, same word. But do you know what it really means? Simply this: CHANGE!

Change your thinking, change your actions, change your mind, change your life....all of these and more are wrapped up in the word repent. But we're not just talking about change for the sake of change. No, the change Jesus is referring to has to do with stuff God wants to change.

And as a follower of Jesus, we need to know that the biggest thing God wants to change is us! His plan all along has been to transform you and me into a unique yet accurate version of Jesus:

"For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn, with many brothers and sisters." (Romans 8:29)

So the question is, Are you ready and willing to embrace this kind of change? God's specialty is taking dirt-crawling, fuzzy little caterpillars like you and me and transforming us into fully-equipped spiritual dynamos who closely resemble his own Son, Jesus Christ...and then setting us butterfly-free to do everything we were created to do--our unique life purpose and destiny.

Care to come along for the ride?