Tag: transformation

The Quiet Work of Transformation

On By Jon ONeilLeave a comment

I’ve been working on my own transformation with more intention this year. Not the loud, dramatic kind—the kind that announces itself with fireworks and declarations—but the quieter, more honest kind. The kind that asks you to sit with yourself, confront your patterns, and choose differently even when the old ways feel easier.

And I’ll tell you the truth: change is hard. Not because we’re weak, but because we’re human.

Still, I’ve been leaning on a few voices that have helped me navigate the terrain with more clarity and courage.

Tony Robbins: Three Lenses That Reshape Reality

Tony Robbins offers a simple but profound framework—one that refuses to let us hide behind exaggeration or despair.

  • See the situation as it is, not worse than it is.
  • See the situation better than it is.
  • Make it the way you see it.

These three steps form a bridge—from honesty, to hope, to execution.

Chip and Dan Heath: The Anatomy of Change

In Switch, Chip and Dan Heath describe change as a three‑part negotiation between different parts of ourselves:

  • The logical side that wants clarity and direction.
  • The emotional side that wants meaning and motivation.
  • And the path itself, which must be simplified into the next small, doable step.

If any one of these is neglected, change stalls. If all three are aligned, change accelerates.

Where This Meets You

Maybe this resonates with you. Maybe you’re in your own season of becoming—stretching, shedding, reimagining. Or maybe you’re already standing in a place you once only dreamed of. If so, I celebrate that with you.

Either way, transformation is not a solitary pursuit. Someone you know is hungry for change, quietly wrestling with the same questions you’ve conquered or are currently confronting.

If this message speaks to you, pass it on. You never know whose life might shift because you shared a spark of insight at the right moment.

Transformation is possible.
Not easy.
Not instant.
But possible—and worth every step.

A Scriptural Anchor

“Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” —Philippians 1:6

This verse reminds us that transformation is a divine partnership. What begins in faith is sustained by grace—and God finishes what He starts.

The Potter’s Touch

On By Jon ONeilLeave a comment

From the earliest human hands shaping clay to the charming collectibles on our shelves today, ceramic toys tell a remarkable story of transformation. These fragile figures, hardened by fire and time, remind us that something simple—even broken—can become beautiful. And isn’t that just like God?

From Ancient Hands to Playful Forms

Tens of thousands of years ago, our ancestors shaped the first crude clay figurines. As civilizations grew, this humble art flourished. From wheeled animals in ancient India (2500 BCE) to perfected porcelain in China, people worldwide sculpted, fired, and treasured small clay creations. They started as lumps, but under pressure, heat, and the guiding hand of an artist, they became treasures.

Shaped, Fired, and Transformed

By the 18th century, porcelain toys were in full bloom in Europe, from delicate Meissen creations to beloved Staffordshire dogs. The 20th century brought Hummels and other mass-produced keepsakes. This fascination endured through wars and revolutions because it speaks to our longing to see what’s possible when something ordinary is placed in skilled hands.

A Divine Parallel

In Jeremiah 18, God sends the prophet to a potter’s house. When a vessel is marred, the potter reworks it into something new and beautiful. God asks, “Can I not treat you as this potter treats his clay?” (Jeremiah 18:6, CSB).

This is more than a history of toys; it’s a picture of grace. Like clay, we are shaped by time, pressure, and mistakes. But in the hands of the Master Potter, our flaws are not fatal. Our mess-ups are raw material, and what He makes out of them is often far more beautiful than we first imagined.

A Reflection on Enduring Wonder

Looking at ceramic toys reveals hope. If clay can be molded into joy across centuries, surely our lives, no matter how marred, can be reshaped by a loving God who sees value in every piece.

What has God reshaped in your life that once seemed beyond repair?

“Like clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand.” — Jeremiah 18:6 (CSB)