Patsy does a visual of our emotions, it is a huge, entangled mass of knotted rubber bands. I can relate! She then swung it around her head talking about how she gets up with it in the morning and spreads it around to everyone that she comes into contact with - again I am relating!
The first question of the morning was "when it comes to your emotions, which of the following animals best describes you and why?" Barking Dog caught my eye because my bark is worse than my bite, in fact I have more of a bark than a bite - and believe me that is NOT a good parenting technique - if you find that one in a parenting book dump that book quick.
Do I really want to be perceived as a Barking Dog. More good questions followed, how do you feel after an emotional meltdown, how do those around you feel, do your family and friends perceive your actions and behavior the same as you do? Isn't that interesting - really the most interesting to me today - how am I perceived? Do I project what I am feeling in the same way it is received - in other words does my hurt come across as anger? Does my frustration come across as apathy? And so on, fill in the words for yourself.
Our scripture for the day is Romans 12:2 "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Now here is where my joy and excitement want to jump off the page - here is my revelation for today - I hope you can perceive the goose bumps that appeared when I discovered the scripture I was meditating on this morning BEFORE bible study and the one I took in with me for my moving meditation (hot yoga! very, very hot today) was Romans 12:1 "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship."
Really? Do you think God is trying to tell me something? Let's put it all together for ease of eye:
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
now let's delve into this further:
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your[a] faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully."
and oh my friends just wait it gets better:
9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.[c] Do not be conceited.
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[d] says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”[e]
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”[e]
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Really? Goose bumps my friends, goose bumps! This is powerful stuff, this is revelation, this is Spirit moving and life changing!
Now the question I must take before God and sit with, be still with, is this: What does this scripture say about my emotions and the actions that come out of my emotions? What does it say about my tangled mass of rubber bands? I was thinking of another visual, a woven web, a spider web. I was thinking that from the day we are born we are weaving our webs of emotions, our webs of protection when we have been hurt and our webs of vengeance when we move from the defensive to the offensive to keep our protection elevated. Did you ever read "Miss Spiders Tea Party?", when my kids were little we read this book all the time. It is about Miss Spider and she desperately wants to have her friends come over and visit but all the other bugs run away in "mortal fear". Miss Spider is completely unaware of why anyone would be so scared of her and she just gets sadder and sadder as her invitations turn into fearful runaways. Then a rainstorm comes and a moth gets caught soaked and Miss Spider saves the day with love and warmth and yummy treats. Pretty soon word gets around how great Miss Spider is and all the previous mentioned insects show up for a party and friends gather in fellowship and joyful times.
Perception, emotions, revelations and opportunity. How are we perceived by our emotions? How are we perceived in the light of others emotions? How does God reveal Himself in our emotions and our reactions to others emotions? Where is the opportunity for growth, for Grace? In the midst of our emotions do we allow God in, to steep us in His love and mercy that we might show others the same?
As usual I have more questions than answers and this I love, this is revelation at it's glorious best, sitting with the Word and having our preconceived thoughts and emotions challenged, tested and transformed in the Light of Christ. Alleluia!
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
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