Tag Archives: Intimate relationship

Living It Out In Relationship

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She was devote and beautiful, committed to her faith and walking with God. Then she disappeared for a few months only to reappear heavy with child. It was so obvious that she had brought shame to her family, her faith but most of all to her betrothed. A man of outstanding character, committed to his faith and life in the community. Additionally, she didn’t sociedad argentina de horticultura 49approach him to explain the situation; rather he saw her walking down the street hesitantly. He called out to her but she disappeared into the house. He followed and when she turned all he saw was a large protruding belly; heavy with child.

His heart and mind were racing. How could she do this? Who had she been with while she was away? Had she really gone to visit her cousin? How could her people know about this and hide it from him? Had she no self-respect and honour? Who did she think would marry her now? His thoughts and rage must have been visible on his face because she begged him to believe that she was still pure and this was the work of God. How could it be God? HE never did anything that was against the laws, did HE? HE never gave impossible instructions like this one or did he? Surely God didn’t do things like this to people like them did HE?

The Epic Bible Mini Series made Mary’s situation so vivid. Imagine the pain and confusion her pregnancy brought to her. Life was totally turned life upside down and changed forever. One moment she was engaged, the next she met an angel of the Lord, the next she was pregnant, the next she was disowned by her fiancé, the next she was about to be stoned then she heard a voice that she knew say, “I believe her, I will marry her, if she will have me.” Oh, the sense of relief she must have felt when Joseph stepped through the crowd and gave her back some dignity. Now she was safe, she wouldn’t die that day but would live to see her child born. Joseph only went to her rescue after he too met and heard from the angel of God. Isn’t that just profound?

Just like Mary

sociedad argentina de horticultura 8What has God asked you to do that is so radical and unreal that you have tried to run and find options? What has God asked you to become, change, that you haven’t done because it is too hard? Where does God want you to go that is so outlandish that you are currently thinking HE has lost His mind? (now that thought really cracks me up…God has lost His mind).  What hard situation has HE asked you to remain in that you may see His hand? What disease has HE opted not to heal and you or your loved one is suffering for His good? Which relationship has HE asked you to re-write? Indeed, HE has asked each of us to do something unusual, different, mind blowing and earth shattering and we have either accepted or declined.

Critical relationships

The thing that keeps me going in the midst of my crazy instruction is my relationship with Him. Yes, my relationship with Him. The reality is that HE gave me the instruction and HE gives the staying power. HE provides the confirmations and HE provides the companions. So, how do I even begin to doubt that HE has been and continues to be The One who gave the instruction? Well, the instruction is so radical I could never tell myself to do something like that. Never!

Even as Mary was terrified, she chose to believe God despite the hardship. Did she have weak moments? I bet she did. Did she give up? Never. Why? She was sure she heard the word of the Lord from the angel. She had also seen the confirmation when she went to see Elizabeth and had become comfortable with the God who does things differently for a blessedquietnessvery definite reason.  Her acceptance of His word and her faith in her appointed travel companion opened a door for her to believe that in all circumstances God would work it out to His glory.

The way out:

I have had many moments recently when I have questioned the word God gave me. I almost had a panic attack when I really thought about His instruction and the reality of my life. I could not find a visible point of congruence between the two. All I wanted was a visible path leading me to the obvious, visible success and freedom from the need to consistently depend on instruction. Hahahaa! Yet the truth of the matter is that I could choose to stay or walk away. How would I move away from the place of confidence in God and His word? Where would I go? Who would I seek counsel from?

I remembered that if God said it; everything will work out. So I chose to stay put and believe Him. I asked myself questions: Did HE say it? Absolutely! Do I understand it all? Not completely. Can I stay the path? Only with Him by my side? Will I give up on it? No! Why? God said it. Could I look foolish to others? Possibly! Does it scare me? At times…yet I press on. Can I continue to walk this road? Yes. There is no other way. I press on because I choose His word over my comfort. The day I decided to follow Jesus, there was no turning back. Remember Jesus asking God to take away the cup of suffering but he ended with “Not my will but Yours be done.” My surrender allows God to regain control and then life corrects itself.

Enough said

purple flowers 8No one can walk my path and there are many lives that depend on my obedience. My obedience opens the next door for me and others that will allow our lives to grow and expand. I must be true to who I was created at all times.

Dear Lord,

Help me always seek you and hear you. Help me obey the first time not many moments later. Send my travel companions that I may have strength along the way. Connect me to all my joints that I may supply for them and receive from them. Most of all, Lord send me my daily dose of You that I may walk in Your knowledge and showcase You to the world. In Jesus Name, Amen

In Jesus Name, AMEN

Wisdom

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2 Chronicles 1:7-12

7 That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”

8 Solomon answered God, “You have shown great kindness to David my father and have made me king in his place. 9 Now, LORD God, let your promise to my father David be confirmed, for you have made me king over a people who are as numerous as the dust of the earth. 10 Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?”

11 God said to Solomon, “Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth, possessions or honour, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, 12 therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, possessions and honour, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.”

 

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Imagine with me that God would visit you one night and say to you the very same thing he said to Solomon….what would your true answer be? For many of us we would think of all the things we have desired and that are important to making us feel good. However, look at Solomon, he asked for what would help him take care of the task set before him…to lead the children of God. He was less concerned about his personal matter because I guess he understood that when he stepped into his role and did what was expected of him the rest would come. I hear the words of Matt 6:33…seek first the kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you.”

 

Did he know that? Owing to the fact that he was the son of david I believe he knew keenly the place of God and how he would take care of the other things. I know that from sitting with his father and hearing the things God had done in his father’s lifetime there was hope and certainty in walking with God. It was a daunting task to lead the children of Israel. So he acknowledged that he did not have what it took to run this nation right so he sought divine intervention. We are told that he established himself firmly over the kingdom for the Lord his God was with him and made him exceedingly great.

 

So here is Solomon, freshly anointed, installed and established as the king and he does several very profound things:

  1. He assessed his situation – he took careful stock of what he had to handle on a day to day basis: a people numerous as the sand on the sea and they were the great people of God close to his heart with a great many matters to be resolved.
  2. He accepted his reality – he could not do it on his own even if he tried or wanted to. There would be cases to judge and justice to dispense and in his own strength he would not be impartial. He needed someone bigger than him to provide balance
  3. He respected the people – called them a great people of God. He knew without a doubt that these people where different from the other nations around and had to be handled differently. This was higher than him and intervention was needed to be able to be the kind of leader they needed.
  4. He asked for wisdom and knowledge –he tapped into the one person who knew these people and could provide the perfect solution. He was unashamed to seek assistance and support from someone higher than himself

This is such a profound request… 10 Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?”

 

Where are you? What have you been called to do? Have you counted the cost and found it higher than you could do on your own? Remember that God is the one who establishes us and provides what we need to be the kind of people we need to be. God has called us to be of service to him and to be change makers in the nations. He provides all we need in the right proportions. Remember Daniel? Daniel 1:17 As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.” God provided all that they needed. He protected Daniel when he was thrown into the lion’s den and when others reported him and wanted him dead. He was his shield and protector.

 

Remember that in the walk we are set on there will be things that will appear too big to overcome and to challenge. These are the moments that God desires for us to look back into His eyes and understand that He will make a path for us achieve His purpose. We must be like Daniel and Solomon who regularly and diligently sought God and His will and obeyed Him no matter what. And even when they had instances of failure like Solomon when he married so many women, God remembered His covenant with David and spared Solomon loss.

 

His covenant to us and will come through for us when we keep close to him and follow in His ways. We must live in obedience and commitment to Him and His word. He will provide the wisdom on how to tackle the situation and make ways where there seem to be no way. However, for all this to happen we must have connected with His plan and purpose for our lives and be committed to it regardless of how it looks to those around us. We must know His will for us and ensure we are steadfast to it.

 

He will provide the strength, wisdom and ability to achieve so just connect with Him in obedience and be consistent and He will do the rest. Seek first the kingdom and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you.

 

Separating ourselves

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I know I have been on about obedience and it only seems to get broader and broader in its reach. My walk has been increasingly excruciating because I am being forced to look at myself and deal with issues I would rather not have to face. We all know that change is not usually easy but the harder part is just getting on with things.

 So this weekend I had the greatest time of my life in a long time and I just cannot explain the refreshment and renewal I felt. I was with friends and loved ones and that was just a blast. However, it got me thinking about the path my life has taken and I realised that this path has taken me away from many people and into the lives of others.

 I was thinking about the friends I have lost touch with and wondered whose fault it was mine or theirs or it is just life. On the other hand I know the saying that to let something go is to keep it. So why does my heart feel so alone and lonely? Why do I long for certain relationships that may never be restored? How do I want to call some people so badly but I know I would not have anything to say? Did I just walk away out of personal choice or did I really need to walk away? Was the relationship real or did I imagine it all? These are some of the questions that are running through my mind.

 Ok, now I sound like I am pessimistic yet I am just reflective and wondering since I so often feel the sense of loss and wonder what happens. One of my friends mentioned that people are just like that and very busy so we all let things go and we never really look for each other hence we should just let them be and live life. If this is true, why do I feel the need to keep my relationships going and feel the loss when they don’t? With these feelings, I beg to differ as I now know that we look for the people who matter. This then means that if I have not looked for you for a while or you have not looked for me for a while than the level of importance on either end is not that high. Get it???? On the other hand there are people who are always there and always strong and stable so no one ever thinks they ever need support. These are the people who will eventually fall off the radar and when they surface the stuff that has happened seems impossible to have come from that person.

 Look around and notice who has been missing and consider them. I would not advocate for forced relationships. There are people who after a while we know are no longer of value or substance and are therefore going to be a bog down to have. Before you go about looking for people just because you have not seen them take time to talk to God about it and be sure that this is someone He desires you have a lasting relationship with. If God is silent maybe this is a person who needs more time before you reach out.

 When you think of someone or miss them, please call them, text them or inbox them. They could be in the midst of a very hard time in life and need some encouragement or they could have just the word you need to hear that would totally change the way you live today. You never know who needs you to reach out and there is great impact you can have. You are the angel or the warm person and heart that God can use to minister his grace and peace to others. Do not let the opportunity pass you by. Additionally, you never know who will change the course of your life with a simple word or contact so let you senses be alert and open to the people you need to connect with and make the difference.

 A great week of renewal and strengthening.