The word “transformed” in 2 Corinthians 3:18 is from the Greek verb “metamorphoo.” It is where we derive our English word, “metamorphosis.” When I think of a metamorphosis, I think of a butterfly. Before Christ, you lived for self. You were a slave to sin and Satan and your spiritual state in the eyes of God was like an ugly caterpillar. But due to Christ’s work on the cross, you are now a beautiful butterfly in His eyes. And while that is your nature positionally before Him, you have the ability with Him to be transformed practically to be more like Him too. As God is the epitome of moral beauty, His children should (should I say “will”) be growing into that beauty as we behold our God and undergo an ongoing beautiful metamorphosis by the power of the Holy Spirit. Practically speaking, all Christians are moving from an ugly caterpillar to a beautiful butterfly as they mature in their faith.

Randy Smith

CATEGORY	CUISINE	TAG	YIELD
Grains		Condiment	8	Servings

INGREDIENTS

1		Fresh coconut (up to)
8		Green chiles (Serranos and Jalapenos)
1	c	Yogurt
1	tb	Salt
1	tb	Black mustard seeds
1	tb	Oil (or ghee)
2	tb	Gingerroot

INSTRUCTIONS

Date: Sat, 27 Apr 1996 21:03:50 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Curt Snyder, Hot's Desire" <hotsdesr@deltanet.com>
Subject: SoCal Hotluck Recipes Peel and grate the coconut. Mince the chiles
and gingerroot. Mix the chiles, coconut, salt, and ginger root. Heat the
oil in a pan and fry the mustard seeds for about 1 minute. Add to the
coconut, stir and serve.
CHILE-HEADS DIGEST V2 #306
From the Chile-Heads recipe list.  Downloaded from Glen's MM Recipe
Archive, http://www.erols.com/hosey.

A Message from our Provider:

“Some minds are like concrete, thy’re roughly mixed up and permanently set.”

God did not rescue Paul in Asia (2 Cor. 1:8-11) or spare Epaphroditus from death (Phil. 1:27) in order to encourage others to seek a miraculous deliverance from affliction. Rather, these acts of deliverance were intended to encourage Paul and the rest of God's people to endure suffering in their own lives as a profound testimony of God's sufficiency (2 Cor. 1:6; 4:7-12; Phil. 4:6). This side of Christ's return, God does not reveal His power and love in our lives primarily by performing miracles but by enabling us to persevere in the midst of adversity because of our trust in Him. God rescued Paul in the past to teach him to trust God for his future, in order that he might endure in the present.

Scott Hafemann