Peas

I had a picture this morning as I was praying and Rachael Stone asked if I'd share it. Pictures can be important as they grab our attention. Just like Jesus used parables about everyday things as He taught, pictures can help us to understand and think in different ways.

I saw a bag of frozen peas.

Once you put peas in boiling water, the water stops boiling and they all sink to the bottom, but as the water regains temperature something starts to happen. One pea suddenly bounces to the top and starts dancing in the water. Slowly others join it. Some rush to the top, others stay near the bottom, seem to rise, fall and then finally rise until all are dancing.

I believe God wants to soften us and take away all the hard bits so that we can be free to dance in His presence but we have to get into the water first and allow Him to melt our frozen minds and hearts with the warmth of that presence.

Eventually, in a pan of boiling water, all the peas rise to the top. Not one is left behind.

This picture seems to have importance for our fellowship. Things are in flux at the moment constantly moving and changing. We all need to be willing to get 'in the pot' which probably will be uncomfortable as we're jostling around all moving independently and at different times

But, as the warmth from God touches us, lifting our burdens, healing our wounds, softening our hearts...well! As we rise we find ourselves rising together! One community. Oh, and we seem to be dancing. One friend put it like this:

"I felt as if we were bubbling away with inexpressible love and joy, laughing and singing away in God’s invigorating closeness"

...and yes, I am quite fascinated by the sight of peas rising in a pan of water ?? 

HELPFUL BIBLE PASSAGES:

Ezekiel 36:26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

Psalm 30:11-12 You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise you forever.

Romans 12:1-2 I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

RESPONSE:

This is God revealing His heart for us in the everyday, ordinary things of life. Take a moment to read these passages and ask Jesus to show you what it means to be willing to ‘get into the pot’. Perhaps you can watch your own frozen peas boil. What is God saying to you today?