Daily Scripture: Ephesians 4:21 If you really listened to him and were instructed about him, then you learned that since what is in Yeshua is truth, 22 then, so far as your former way of life is concerned, you must strip off your old nature, because your old nature is thoroughly rotted by its deceptive desires; 23 and you must let your spirits and minds keep being renewed, 24 and clothe yourselves with the new nature created to be godly, which expresses itself in the righteousness and holiness that flow from the truth.
Reflection Questions:
Ephesians 4 said the “new person” God creates us to be includes our emotions. As Pastor Peter Scazzero wrote in his excellent book Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, “You can’t be spiritually mature while remaining emotionally immature.” Though without a specific reference to God, Inside Out ends with Riley’s emotions enjoying a new view, with bigger, better “islands of personality,” after Riley and her parents have honestly shared their feelings, and she has gotten her life pulled back together. It can serve as an image of what God wants to do for each one of us.
- This is pretty radical language: “clothe yourself with the new person created according to God’s image in justice and true holiness.” Can you identify elements of your “old self” that you and God have taken off, or are in the process of taking off? Which of the beautiful “new person” qualities named in these verses do you see flourishing? Which ones do you want to ask God to grow in your life in the next six months?
Today’s Prayer:
Dear God, when I behave in ways that fall short of your dreams for my life, you offer me your grace and accepting love. Help me to keep growing more emotionally and spiritually mature in my journey with you. Amen.
Family Activity:
Buy or make a bottle of soap-bubble solution. Ask one person to name an emotion or feeling aloud (such as joy, fear, disgust, sadness, anger, and anxiety). Then give everyone else a few seconds to come up with one or two words describing something that causes them to feel that particular emotion. When everyone is ready, have the person name the emotion again, then blow bubbles. The rest of the family chases the bubbles, pops them and shouts the one or two words that can cause them that emotion. Repeat this with different bubble-blowers and emotions. After your bubble fun, sit down together and thank God for always loving you, caring for you, and being with you in all of your feelings.
Insights from Cathy Bien:
Our GPS Insights blog shares reflections each day from our pastors, staff and congregants.
http://gpsinsights.cor.org/2015/07/31/7-31-15-insights-from-darren-lippe/
Read today's reflection from Cathy Bien. Cathy is the Church of the Resurrection Director of Communications. She and her family have been Resurrection members since 1994.
Download the GPS App
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Dear God, when I behave in ways that fall short of your dreams for my life, you offer me your grace and accepting love. Help me to keep growing more emotionally and spiritually mature in my journey with you. Amen.
Family Activity:
Buy or make a bottle of soap-bubble solution. Ask one person to name an emotion or feeling aloud (such as joy, fear, disgust, sadness, anger, and anxiety). Then give everyone else a few seconds to come up with one or two words describing something that causes them to feel that particular emotion. When everyone is ready, have the person name the emotion again, then blow bubbles. The rest of the family chases the bubbles, pops them and shouts the one or two words that can cause them that emotion. Repeat this with different bubble-blowers and emotions. After your bubble fun, sit down together and thank God for always loving you, caring for you, and being with you in all of your feelings.
Insights from Cathy Bien:
Our GPS Insights blog shares reflections each day from our pastors, staff and congregants.
http://gpsinsights.cor.org/2015/07/31/7-31-15-insights-from-darren-lippe/
Read today's reflection from Cathy Bien. Cathy is the Church of the Resurrection Director of Communications. She and her family have been Resurrection members since 1994.
Download the GPS App
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224 United States
913.897.0120
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