God and Relationships

"Life is mostly about relationships. When our relationships are going well, life is good. We feel full, strong, loved, and happy. But when they unravel- or worse, don't exist- life is empty and lonely. We feel insignificant, insecure, weak, and sad." 
(14 Secrets to Better Relationships)

This blog is a recap of a book I am studying (and strongly recommend): 

"14 Secrets to Better Relationships" by Dave Earley.

1. Admit That You Need Relationships

"Two are better than one." Ecclesiastes 4:9

2. Accept Them For Who They Are

"Accept one another... Just as Christ accepted you." Romans 15:7

3. Love At All Times

"You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Matthew 22:39

4. Respect

"Honor one another above yourself." Romans 12:10

5. Be a Servent 

"Serve one another humbly in love." Galatians 5:13

6. Be Quick to Forgive

"Forgive just as the Lord forgave your sins." Colossians 3:13

7. Be Honest Always

"Confess your sins to each other." James 5:16

8. Be an Encourager

"Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works." Hebrews 10:24

9. Pray Always

"Where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them." Matthew 18:20

10. Choose Peace

"Live in harmony with one another." Romans 12:16

11. Comfort with Compassion

"Comfort one another with these words." 1Thessalonians 4:18

12. Invest Daily

"Let us not love with words but with actions and truth." 1 John 3:18

13. Carry Their Burdens

"Restore that person gently... Carry eachothers burdens." Galatians 6:1-2

14. Endure

"Be patient, bearing with one another in love." Ephesians 4:2

"A convenient relationship is seldom a relationship of deep joy. It is in the dire that rough-edged relationships are refined and made strong. These may not be easy- but they are worth it because God works to make them stronger, deeper, and more rewarding." 

(14 Secrets to Better Relationships)

You changed me, and I thank you for that.

It is well with my soul.

I want to say that this post may get lengthy, but I hope it speaks to your soul like it did mine.

Senior year, I received a letter. It was not just any ordinary letter. It was a notebook piece of paper with handwriting I have never seen, and every word I read shook me to the core. I keep it in my bible and reread it often. I have debated for a while whether or not to post (hence the reason I am just now posting over a year later), but I truly believe it could change lives.

Let me first start with this:

Too often I find myself overwhelmed with the every day pressures of life, school, worry, and busy days. My mind feels like it has 100 tabs running at all times, and my to-do list never seems to get done. I catch myself with constant headaches, unbrushed hair, and sleepy eyes.

Although my life may seem like its going smooth to outsiders, it is truthfully one big jumbled mess. I mean who at 19 years old has their life completely together? (Don't answer that, lol!) My heart gets broken and I have bad days. I struggle to understand things; I fall down, but I always get back up. I have to remind myself that I am human.

I have faced a lot of challenging things in my life, most of which no one know about, because I do not enjoy putting my life story on blast. But there is one thing that remains the same with me. I love people. I have a heart for serving others, and I never want a soul to feel mistreated or unimportant by my words or actions. I smile even when I've just had the worst day. There is only one reason for this, and it is because Christ live in me.

So here it is:

I wish I could hug this person and tell them how much Jesus loves them, but maybe I already have. (and if you're reading this, you've changed my life too!)

It is an important reminder that no matter what you are going through, other people are struggling as well. Your actions, words, and kindness truly make a difference. So shine Jesus' light and share His truth.

You could save a soul.

If you can't read the note, this is what it says:

Lori Thomas,
I am not going to tell you who I am, just a girl that no one really notices. You will never really understand what you'ue done for me, but you saved my life. I was really depressed for a long time and you seemed to be the only person who would really talk to me. I want to thank you because you're the reason I am alive. One day I had planned to commit suicide. It was two years ago and I was really down in the dumps. But just a simple hello can literally save someone's life. You also help me still. This year, I feel like I have really changed because I am striving to share a smile every day with some one who might be how I was two years ago. I want to share a simple hello with someone so they too, will think of me as I think of you. Some people would say it is just a coincidence that you shared a smile and a hey with me the exact day that I was tired of being bullied and pushed around. All I want to tell you is don't ever change, because there has to be more people you have helped.
Thank you!
Ps. After rewriting this a few times, this is the letter I thought you should have.

Unsigned

Do you live by Romans 12?

[*A Small Chapter With a HUGE Meaning*]

Your first thought when you opened this blog was probably this: 

"How is she going to write an entire blog over Romans 12?" 

This chapter honestly comes to mind every time I see something 

positive or negative happen between people, even Christians. 

So what does it say? 

We'll start with Romans 12:15 (NLT)

"Be happy with those who are happy,

and weep with those who weep."

That is SO powerful in my life.

Heres why:

Every day I am surrounded by women who desire for someone to be proud of their accomplishments. They want someone to care about their success and failures. All they want is for you to be happy for them when something great happens, and for you to mourn for them when something sad occurs.

That is all.

So, why are we so discouraging to others when something positive happens to them? 

Why are we not jumping with joy, congratulating, and genuinely happy? 

We, as followers of Christ, need to put our love into action.

Romans 12:2 says this:

"Don't copy the behaviors of this world, but let God transform you 

into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn 

to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."

Read that over and over again to grasp the meaning.

You are not made to fit into this world. You are perfectly crafted and designed by Him 

to stand out, to make an impact, and to share the good news of His word to everyone.

Romans 12:3 goes on to say:

"... I give each of you this warning, 

don't think you are better than you really are. 

(Wow, He just put us in our places.) 

Be honest in your evaluation of yourself, 

measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us."

This is incredible.

God does not say evaluate yourself by what you wear,

how much money you have, or how nice your house is.

We all know that we are not perfect. We all make mistakes and have bad days.

We are all sinners, but God has come to rescue us and save us.

Verses 6-8 go on to say that The Lord has given everyone something that they are good at, whether it is serving, teaching, encouraging, giving, leading, or whatever it may be. You should not look at your friend and question why their talent is "better" than yours. The Lord gave you your own unique gift because you have the potential to make a huge impact in some way, shape, or form. 

Verses 9 & 10 say it best:

"Don't just pretend to love others, really love them!

Hate what is wrong, hold tightly to what is good."

"Love each other with genuine affection,

and take delight in honoring each other."

It is so important to love others. Love is the most important fruit of the spirit. 

How hard can it be to simply love someone when Jesus died for you and me?

Every single person walking on earth needs to be loved. 

We all are facing our own trials in this world, and the last thing we need is hate.

There is so much evil and wrong in this world.

Romans 12 leaves us with this:

"Don't let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good."

I encourage you to read Romans 12 on your own and get a grasp of the meaning it forms in your own heart. This chapter has so much truth and connection to this world we live in. We are made to be disciples for His kingdom. Every day, we should be encouraging, honoring, and (most importantly) loving one another despite our many differences. God desires for us to love one another just as He sent his very son to die for our sins because He loves us that much.

All Because Adam and Eve Ate the Fruit...

It is an amazing story about how this world came to existence. So many nonbelievers will make you question the existence of God. (I've seen several college professors completely confuse students into believing in several "theories" that aren't part of God's beautiful story.) Its totally crazy, because the Bible is the only way you will know the truth. Many of you know the story of creation in the first book of the bible (Genesis), but too many people don't. 

So here is a brief recap of the 7 day creation:

In the beginning- God created the heavens and the earth. Gen. 1:1

On the first day- He said, "Let there be light" Gen. 1:3

He divided the light from the darkness, calling light- day, and dark-night.

On the second day- He created the heavens. Gen. 1:6-8

On the third day- God created dry land and gathered the water to one area. Gen. 1:9

He called the dry land earth, and the gathering of water- he called seas.

On the fourth day- God made the sun, moon, and stars. Gen. 1:16

On the fifth day- He created the winged and water creatures. Gen. 1:20-22

On the sixth day- God created land animals and MAN. Gen. 1:24-28

Lastly, on the seventh day- God blessed and sanctified it, and He rested. Gen. 2:2

"7 days without God makes one WEAK."

Several people have asked me, "Why would God allow us to be sinners when He has control over everything we do?" -Theres a story for that (Midway Church)

The answer is simple- Its all because Adam and Eve ate the 

fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Romans 5:12 (NLT) says:

When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam's sin

brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.

Let me explain: (You can find this in Genesis 2-3)

The Lord placed Adam in the Garden of Eden which He had planted. Out of the ground He made every tree grow that was pleasant to sight and good for food. God told Adam that he could eat from any tree he wished except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God told him if he ate from that tree, he would surely die.

THEN THE EXCITING PART: {to me of course, because I'm a woman}

The Lord said,"It is not good that man should be alone; 

I will make him a helper comparable to him." Genesis 2:18

The Lord caused Adam to go into a deep sleep and took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. He made the rib into a woman, and He brought her to Adam. 

{They called her Eve-the mother of all living. Gen. 3:20}

Genesis 2:23, Adam says:

This is now bone of my bones

and flesh of my flesh;

she shall be called Woman,

because she was taken out of Man.

The Temptation and Fall of Man

A clever serpent (satan) told Eve that if she ate from the tree which God commanded of her not to eat, that she wouldn't die, instead her eyes would be opened and she would be like God, knowing good and evil. (Of course, satan's first target was woman.) She was convinced, and she ate. She also gave to her husband, and he ate. Soon, they realized they were naked and covered themselves in fig leaves. (Before partaking, they were allowed to run freely and naked in the garden without shame. They were innocent and pure as a child. Matthew 18:2-4)

They heard the sound of the Lord walking through the garden and He called to Adam who was hiding in the trees. Adam admitted that he heard the Lord but was embarrassed because he was naked. The Lord then knew what had happened. 

As a result, the earth is now sinful and cursed.

{Of course this picture isn't of Adam and Eve- Its me and my boyfriend

 at an apple orchard, but I thought it fit pretty well into the story. lol!}

Man will now have to always work for his food, and women's sorrow and conception was multiplied. 

Adam and Eve, and all humans to follow, will now eventually undergo death of our physical bodies. All of our physical bodies will now corrupt and die and return to the ground from which God made Adam. This now opens up our bodies to all kinds of diseases, illnesses, and corruption. This is exactly why we have suffering and sickness on earth – all because of the curse of Adam and Eve.

Life becomes very uncertain now- we never know when we will take our last breath and we are not promised tomorrow. This is why everyone needs to be walking in full surrender with God. We have to become good soldiers in Jesus Christ. Through God's grace, guidance, and protection, we will make it through this crazy life in one piece before going on to spend eternity with Him in heaven.