Pastor's Devotional...
May 16, 2019
Dr. Brene Brown, professor and author (and most importantly, frequent guest on Oprah!), calls shame (“I’m bad and don’t deserve acceptance from others.”) the “master emotion” because it shuts down other emotions (“I can’t tolerate the feeling so I numb myself of any feeling.”) and isolates from others. (“I don’t want them to find out about me.”) It cripples, isolates and enslaves on many levels.
Her antidote is called shame resilience theory: understanding I am not the only one feeling this way, recognizing society can unfairly impose shame (women have to be the perfect wife, mother, job holder, home maker, keep a model’s figure, etc.); then reaching out to others with and for understanding and support.
A key component is empathy, understanding and even feeling the other’s struggle. It’s nice to know that a benefit of the cross is that Jesus bore our shame there (Hebrews 12:1-3) and was tempted/tested like us in every way. He not only gets it but He did something about it! As believers in the Body of Christ, the church, we are to accept and gently “restore” (Galatians 6:1) each other, recognizing that we all “slip up” or sin. We are encouraged to share our vulnerabilities with each other (James 5:16), bringing light into the darkness where shame can thrive.
(Remember, since shame covers itself up, forcing us to repress it, we often are impacted unknowingly by it. Check back next week for 5 symptoms/indicators you’re in the shame cycle.)
Prayer: Thank You Jesus for carrying my shame to the cross so I don’t have to be burdened by it. Help me, Wonderful Counselor, to share my shame with another trusted child of God and receive release from its insidious impact. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
|
|
|
|
The Palmetto Elementary Children's Choir will be here this weekend to celebrate our Backpack drive! Be sure to bring a side dish to share with all.
|
|
Prayers for Healing
Doriel Maynard (pending surgery)
Colleen Atkinson (pending surgery)
Joseph Berlanga (Elizabeth Wengle's son)
Tracy Scott Denison
Chesta Hembrooke
Ken Roberts
Karen Slazinski
Laura Starich's father Jim Whipple
Marguerite Buckmire
Jean (Gwen Rucker’s sister)
Margie Colburn,
Daniel Ramsaywack
Paul Osborne (Angie’s husband)
|
|
|
|
|
|
