It’s all about relationships…
Have you ever thought about this: A person can say they are ah-mazing, they can gloat and show off, they can tell you all the great things they are about and all the wonderful things they do… And you can believe them.
But.
If someone who knows them well, or even someone who doesn’t know them well tells you something about that person, it sticks with you.
Testimonies about a person have impact. They have even more impact when they aren’t solicited and when they are coming from someone who has nothing to gain in the situation.
The whole reason I was thinking about this was because for Bible study this week I went through John chapter 5. The second part of chapter 5 is Jesus saying-I know that I can testify about myself BUT things will be much more clear if you hear it from someone else, it just makes it more real.
Isn’t that so flipping true about any person in almost any situation???
Now, here is where I get the whole relationships notion. God is so frickin smart-- it’s all about relationships! We are designed by God to be in relationship and to be impacted by one another. Relationships are a blessing and they are the only thing that matters. God obviously knew this and along with that He knew that those relationships were what was going to spread Jesus and His love.
It makes you think…what would I say/write about myself and my life. Is that near as impactful as what other people would say/write about me? … And does it really even mater as long as I’m using my relationships to have the right kind of impact?
I love people, I love being in great relationships with people. I hope that my relationships, new and old, can testify to who I am as a person and mostly that I point to who Jesus is.
Father God, I’m thankful for the people you have blessed me to be in relationship with. Thank you for their insights, for their challenges, for their encouragement and for their love. Lord, I pray that we can be a testimony to the world about how each of us has impacted each other in a major way. I pray that even more-so that the impact we’ve had has been because of the love that you first showed to us. Amen.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Saturday, November 5, 2011
What is waiting...
Rivers are a funny thing. Strong and steady, they seem almost unchanging. But as Pocahontas puts it, ‘you can’t step in the same river twice, it’s always changing always flowing’.
Can you tell I watched Pocahontas today?? :)
The message I picked up on was a message of excitement. We never know what is waiting-just around the river bend.
The question is, will we take ahold of this excitement and actually go around the river bend?
Hey, why not?
This seems like a fun and exciting life to lead, but there is more to it. You see to be safe, we loose the chance of ever knowing what exciting is coming around the river bend…but we are safe.
Safety v. Adventure? What a conundrum…
This epic question was the pivot of Pocahontas' life and I have to say that I’m not sure it’s as pivotal in mine, but still a question that I wrestle with.
There are things in my life that are comfortable, and I like them. I feel safe. I feel comfortable being independent and safe when I’m with my family. I feel comfortable when I’m teaching and coaching and I’m safe around my friends.
However, I’m not the type of person to stay safe within those things for long. Uncomfortableness and uneasiness and a lack of safety are necessary for finding out what is coming next around the river bend. This seems like it could be equated to some huge life changing career move or picking up all my things and going across country, however. I’m thinking on a little smaller scale. I’m safe and steady where I am, but I’m excited and looking for adventure here. I’m looking for a bend in the river in this place. Those bends could be all kinds of adventures. Things like pushing myself to be a better teacher and coach, investing in new relationships, meeting exciting people, even something as small as trying a new work out :).
I love tradition and routine and things that are comfortable, but just around the river bend there are things that make me uncomfortable--and it’s so good for me! It’s exciting and challenging and a great new adventure.
Can you tell I watched Pocahontas today?? :)
The message I picked up on was a message of excitement. We never know what is waiting-just around the river bend.
The question is, will we take ahold of this excitement and actually go around the river bend?
Hey, why not?
This seems like a fun and exciting life to lead, but there is more to it. You see to be safe, we loose the chance of ever knowing what exciting is coming around the river bend…but we are safe.
Safety v. Adventure? What a conundrum…
This epic question was the pivot of Pocahontas' life and I have to say that I’m not sure it’s as pivotal in mine, but still a question that I wrestle with.
There are things in my life that are comfortable, and I like them. I feel safe. I feel comfortable being independent and safe when I’m with my family. I feel comfortable when I’m teaching and coaching and I’m safe around my friends.
However, I’m not the type of person to stay safe within those things for long. Uncomfortableness and uneasiness and a lack of safety are necessary for finding out what is coming next around the river bend. This seems like it could be equated to some huge life changing career move or picking up all my things and going across country, however. I’m thinking on a little smaller scale. I’m safe and steady where I am, but I’m excited and looking for adventure here. I’m looking for a bend in the river in this place. Those bends could be all kinds of adventures. Things like pushing myself to be a better teacher and coach, investing in new relationships, meeting exciting people, even something as small as trying a new work out :).
I love tradition and routine and things that are comfortable, but just around the river bend there are things that make me uncomfortable--and it’s so good for me! It’s exciting and challenging and a great new adventure.
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