Legal Corner (31)
How To Bring Life To Every Relationship
Written by Justin and Trisha Davis
Meet Justin & Trisha Davis:
Justin & Trisha Davis know all too well the dangers of settling for an ordinary marriage.
Their own failure to recognize the warning signs almost resulted in the end of their marriage, their family, and their ministry.
Justin and Trisha are bloggers, authors, speakers and founders of RefineUs Ministries. Sharing their story of pain, loss and redemption, RefineUs is igniting a movement to build healthy marriages and families.
They are the co-authors of their first book, Beyond Ordinary: When a Good Marriage Just Isn’t Good Enough, published by Tyndale House Publishers.
How To Bring Life to Every Relationship
The words we say have power. They have power to breath life into a relationship. Words have power to build up a marriage. They have power to inspire a child. They have the power to shape a soul. Words have power to destroy as well. They can wound a heart; they can damage a marriage; they can create hurt that lasts for years.
Words can build up and words can tear down.
The words that we say to one another aren’t just a reflection of our behavior, they are a reflection of our heart. The words you say are in direct connection to the condition of your heart. There is no getting around it…sooner or later, your heart will overflow in the words you say and how you say them.
Jesus says it like this: A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart. Luke 6:45
As we start a new week, we have the opportunity to speak life into our relationships. We can restore a friendship with what we say. We can improve our marriage with the words we choose. We can redeem a broken relationship with a family member because we choose to allow the love of Christ to overflow into our words.
Here are five statements that will bring life to your relationships this week:
1. You matter to me.
Who in your life needs to hear you say, “You matter to me?” Your kids? A co-worker? Your spouse? Those four words could breath life into a relationship.
2. I forgive you.
There is nothing that hinders the growth of a relationship more than built up resentment. There is also nothing that restores intimacy more than grace that is given freely. Who do you need to forgive? Will you choose to do it this week?
3. I was wrong.
Maybe what keeping a relationship broken is your unwillingness to admit you are wrong. You are clinging to your rights. You justify your choice, and the relationship is damaged simply because you won’t admit a mistake.
4. Thank you.
Gratitude is an overflow of a heart that sees life as a gift. Entitlement and gratitude can’t live in the same heart. You can’t feel entitled to something and grateful for it at the same time. Who do you need to say thank you to in your life? Who have you taken for granted?
5. I believe in you.
There may not be four more powerful words than, “I believe in you.” Those words have the power to shape the future of someone in your life. Who desperately needs to hear from you that you believe in them? So much of our relationship hurts and dysfunction revolve around what we say or don’t say. The great thing is you can control that. You can choose to say life giving words this week. The question is…will you?
Justin & Trisha Davis know all too well the dangers of settling for an ordinary marriage.
Their own failure to recognize the warning signs almost resulted in the end of their marriage, their family, and their ministry.
Justin and Trisha are bloggers, authors, speakers and founders of RefineUs Ministries. Sharing their story of pain, loss and redemption, RefineUs is igniting a movement to build healthy marriages and families.
They are the co-authors of their first book, Beyond Ordinary: When a Good Marriage Just Isn’t Good Enough, published by Tyndale House Publishers.
Link: http://refineus.org/god-never-promised-easy/
God Never Promised Easy
There is a reality that all of us face every day…life is hard. It’s only when I try to escape that reality that I am blindsided by the difficulty of life.
Friendship is hard.
Marriage is hard.
Integrity is hard.
Parenting is hard.
Leading is hard.
Family dynamics are hard.
I’ve been praying through a decision I have to meet my biological father before he passes away. I am reminded how difficult life and family and relationships can be at times. What God brought to my mind today is: Whoever said it would be easy?
God never promised easy, He promised His presence.
God never promised comfort, He promised to be comforting.
Jesus said “In this world you will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world.”
Life is hard.
It is hard to tell the truth, when the easier thing to do is lie.
It is hard to stay when it’s easier to pack up and leave.
It is hard to be vulnerable when it’s easier to be fake.
It is hard to say your sorry when it’s easier to wait for an apology.
It is hard to serve when you feel you deserve to be served.
It is hard to give in when it’s easier to demand your own way.
It is hard to forgive when holding a grudge is justified.
It is hard to trust when trust has been broken.
It is hard to have faith, when faith has been lost. It is hard to have hope when despair is your companion. It is hard to persevere when giving up seems so much easier.
It will be hard. Your marriage will be hard. Your friendships will be hard. Your family dynamics will be hard. Your work relationships will be hard.Your faith in God will be tested.
So if you find yourself surprised and maybe even discouraged at how hard life is right now…
…take heart, He has overcome the world.
See more at: http://refineus.org/god-never-promised-easy/#sthash.jeUbC433.dpuf
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Tom Derrough
Assistant Pastor-Englewood United Methodist Church
Englewood, FL
Tom was born in Gainesville, Florida and has lived in Florida throughout his life. He graduated from Melbourne High School, attended and graduated from the University of Florida and the Candler School of Theology. Tom was ordained an Elder in 1977.
Tom has been married to Ginny for 37 years. He enjoys pets (dogs and cats), long morning walks and wood working.
I met Tom in 1994, when I was attending Grace United Methodist Church in Venice, FL. He baptized my two daughters and became one of the main reasons we attended that church. He has a gift. Well, actually he has many gifts, but he has the ability to convey a spiritual message with sincerity and down to earth examples that make the listener stay right with him.
Tom has had some recent health challenges and was not sure which path he was going to take during his recovery. He accepted a part time position at a local church, and I was most grateful when a patient's wife told me that he was involved at the Englewood Methodist Church. I attended the service where this audio recording was made. Tom is covering a portion of the Ten Commandments: #5 -Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you. #6 – You shall not murder. #7 – You shall not commit adultery.
Enjoy this message, and to the caregivers out there, this will have a special meaning. "Now, let's get going." xo Sally
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