Unified Relationship

For the past several weeks our Pastor has been teaching on the DNA of relationships, how we as individuals should express ourselves in relation to another individual, but most importantly he has been teaching on our relationship with God.

Having gone through intense training on relationships during my studies in Psychology/Christian Counseling and the complex challenges that they present, God spoke to me and said, ‘now, think of relationships in the simplest way…starting with your body’. Now this was a challenging thing that God asked of me because I have the tendency to over-analyze rather than keeping things in its simplest form. Simple…it is the simplest things that God creates majestic wonders.

In these last few months of pregnancy walking has become very difficult, particularly due to weight gain and the baby lying on a nerve that limits movement in my right leg…so the right leg, at times, just drags along…leaving the left leg to bear most of the weight. Here, I will paraphrase a passage in 1 Corinthians 12…the left leg cannot say ‘because I am not the right leg I do not have a problem’. On the contrary, the left leg becomes completely consumed in what the right leg has going on because now it has to carry around, compensate, most of the body weight.

1 Corinthians 12:12-26

¹² Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. ¹³ For we were all baptized by^[c] one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. ¹⁴ Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

¹⁵ Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. ¹⁶ And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? ¹⁸ But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. ¹⁹ If they were all one part, where would the body be? ²⁰ As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

²¹ The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” ²² On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, ²³ and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, ²⁴ while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, ²⁵ so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. ²⁶ If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

Without questioning, my left leg immediately began to compensate for the weight of my entire body, it bears this burden day in and day out…it does not say, “if there is anything I can do just call and let me know”, it just do whatever needs to be done. The relationship of these two (the left and right leg) displays reliability and support that says ‘when you are down, I will lift you up’. This relationship that my two legs have should mock the relationship of a true (Christian) friend.

Now, on the other hand, the other night while still not being able to put much pressure on the right leg, my left knee went out…surely, I could have hit the floor, but with my husband standing nearby I grabbed a hold of him and he braces me until I’m able to regain my balance. I realize that my leaning on him was necessary if I was going to remain safe by not taking a tumble to the floor. I depended on him for support…submission to his steady hands.

Many times I have heard and seen individuals who refuse help in this manner because they have not come to the conclusion in their own mind that they actually need help…denial and pride. Typically you see this behavior in older people who are not willingly to admit that the body is not as young as it used to be; and this is probably why they experience more falls in a given year compared to their younger counterparts.

Question…if someone does not understand the relationship of the body, having the ability to clearly identify when they need help and when they do not, how then would they know how to identify needs and be effective in the Christian body? If I were to carry around the attitude, inward expression, that I don’t need physical help when in fact I do, my pride will become an outward expression of ‘I don’t need a relationship with anyone, I’m good all by myself’, which is clearly out of the will of God.

Relationships do not have to be a complex matter, in fact, they are only complex because that’s what we’ve made them to be. In the simplest way of thinking, just as I rely on putting one foot in front of the other to carry me from point A to point B, I should be able to depend on a friend and a friend depend on me just like this.

What would you say are the characteristics of a friend?

A Dry and Barren Land by Valerie

Inspired by 2 Timothy 4:9-18...Paul talks about being deserted by everyone, yet he took comfort in God walking with him because God's grace was and is sufficient.

Alone in this dry and barren land, trying to achieve the goals of my visions which were given to me by my Father in Heaven. I look to my left then to my right and those that I thought were with me have been lost in the rubble of jealousy.

They said with their mouths they were with me, but their flesh and the look in their eyes suddenly recoiled inwardly, saying "but what about me".

And now to make you feel better, I hinder that which was freely given. I put my plans on hold, I cease to spread my wings because I fear that you will totally resent me.

All things have there season but we must grasp every opportunity. Should you decide to procrastinate, don't hate because of your miserable state.

Alone in this dry and barren land, rejected...having to disconnect in order to move up and out of such entrapments. No posse, close friend or family member to support the project...until the footwork is done then they jump on board, saying "I believed in you all along".

Hmmm really...holding me back was your deepest heart desire. But God sees and knows all things, in due time He shall unleash His wrath and rain down His fire...on this dry and barren land.

Trust that the Lord walks with you even when man fails you! Be blessed!


Psalm 55:12-15
12 For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: 13 But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. 14 We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company. 15 Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.

Proverbs 4:27
27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

A Covered Mess by Valerie

The hurt of rejection can often leave a gash in the flesh,

and the heart feeling like a vessel of shattered glass;

awaiting to be pieced together by a close confidant,

but surely one finds that laying on a towel is good for keeping this heap of pain undercover,

until someone accidentally steps on it and cut themselves from the jagged edges that have crept through the fibers.

They take a step back as if it's your fault that you didn't warn them of the matter,

and now they hold you accountable on top of what you've tried to mask with a cover.

Maybe you are responsible: The shattered mess was hidden from their view, although you thought they would see the heap and just walk on by like others do.

Surely they won't come this way again to be surprised by an incident of such magnitude

And now they too feel rejected and offended in the same way that you do

A covered pile of glass waiting for the next person to come through,

can only lead to a chain reaction of broken-heartedness which originated with you

LOVE CONTINUOUSLY

First Love by Valerie

A woman pressed down with many burdens, seeking for someone who would care to share the lightening of her heavy labor.

Unaware of the man who walks beside her, pursuing her daily, and in subtle ways making Himself known without being too overbearing.

For so long, dear woman, you have been repressed by society's idea of a real man, to a point that you're unable to see that which stands...Someone more real than the eyes can conceive, having
clouded images and distorted visions...

You can't seem to find your way, no light to brighten your path, no compainion because "men are simply no good" has been your daily chanting

Oblivious of the most phenomenal being who has provided your every need.

Crying yourself to sleep with your feelings of emptiness, not knowing what exactly in this life is missing...ignorant of what to speak into existence.

Then you lay hold of Depression cause surely he seems to be compatible with the voided space in your heart. He meets your grief with self-pity and your pain with a flooded river.

Meanwhile, you fail to open yourself to the embrace of the only Friend who is reaching out for a hug.

Rise, dear woman, come to know and experience that of the Supernatural. A King awaits you, prepared to lift your heavy burdens.

Will you surrender?

He wants to go before you, to be a light unto your path so you don't walk in darkness...blind, and having no sense of direction.

Though He weeps with you in your time of sorrow, He loves you too much to let you feel comfortable there.

Will you receive Him?

He wants to marry you, but there are conditions, he needs you in full faithfulness.

You see, He's a jealous man and won't become second to none.
This is the only thing he asks, and in exchange, He will give you freedom of your cares and a love that is never-ending.

Will you say "I do" in this marriage...with a man name Jesus?