Unraveling RELATIONSHIP as my 2022 One Word

As I begin to look to 2023 and leave behind 2022, I will continue with the work that still needs work in RELATIONSHIPS as I indicated in this post and throughout this final week with this One Word as I shared this whole year. It's clear that God knows this because when I was looking and saving new reading plans for 2023, I came across this in the very 1st words of the 1st day of one of them:

"In order to have a successful relationship that will last Jesus Christ must be the foundational center of that relationship." ...

... which goes perfectly with the image I adjusted and chose yesterdayin that post before I encountered that quote above

[image & credit from that post]

so like I stated, God is still speaking to me about 

RELATIONSHIPS
even with the 1st day of that plan by Dr. Kennetra Bryant which continues:

"... If Jesus is not sought after and made the primary base of any relationship, in time the relationship will suffer severely, no matter how great one thinks things are progressing. Trials, tribulations, and challenges will come and one’s relational fellowship with Jesus during the storms of life is key to making it through.  Making the conscious determined decision to follow Jesus is paramount for any relationship to grow, thrive, and develop into the God-honoring purpose it is intended to serve in one’s life."... "Although the results are not always visually seen quickly over time God’s purpose, for each relationship will be revealed. Be determined to follow Jesus in your relationships."

"...What relationships are you willing to let go to follow Jesus? What relationships are you willing to pursue and hold on to as you follow Jesus?"(day 2)

Other good quotes saved earlier in 2022:

 "You want to see your relationships flourishing and healthy, and you want them to be God honoring ..." (part of a quote from Proverbs 31 Ministries when introducing Lysa TerKeurst's newest book "Good Boundaries and Goodbyes") that I saved as soon as I read it. I definitely need to get this book sometime just not yet. 

"Being human is hard. Being in relationships with other humans is even harder. People are complex and relationships are messy but loving one another well is possible" - (in)courage promo of "Come Sit with Me" by 26 (in)courage writers

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I was hoping as I conclude 2022 with RELATIONSHIP(s) that I might have something of my own that is profound from this entire year, as I wrote in another blog post this last week, life lessons on RELATIONSHIPS. So far, all I came up with is more questions and what others have written. 

Here are the final questions that I still am left with:

- Was it a risk or a long shot to think that RELATIONSHIP in 2022 was my One Word? Is it possible that I didn't hear God right? 

- What did I expect might happen as I decided RELATIONSHIPS was the One Word? 

- Was I delusional to think God had a miracle in store in 2022 for my RELATIONSHIP(s)? for any Relationship? for any change or for them to be impacted? did I change any?

- What have I learned about me & RELATIONSHIPS?

- "What relationship behaviors have/haven’t worked well? What progress did I make in changing myself?"

In some ways, some of what I have written this week & this year are the answers to some of the above questions. I continue to believe that I am changing in my RELATIONSHIP(s) yet know I have more changes to make and dysfunctional patterns to break. It is helpful to assess where we are in our lives & our relationships from time to time. The last day of the year is traditionally a reminder to do that. As I enter this New Year, I can continue doing what works and purpose to stop doing what doesn't. "When we’re in the middle of a problem, it’s hard to see ahead and to believe we will ever be in a different place. When we look back with the insight we have gained, we can see what has been worked out in our hearts, minds, circumstances, and relationships."

I do think that God definitely meant for me to tackle RELATIONSHIP in 2022 and that He has, was and will EQUIP me. [If you've been following along this past week, you'll remember that in one post I shared that acronym of EQUIP from one of the YV reading plans - and I didn't forget that I wrote I'd reveal at least what each letter stands for; to help stay on track & incorporate love in to all of our RELATIONSHIPs, according to the author of that YV reading plan and book]

E ncourage

Q uality Time

U nderstanding

I nvest

P hysical Touch

After completing this plan, I agree that each of these would better our RELATIONSHIPS if we made them part of our RELATIONSHIPS they would impact them positively and they will bring out the BEST in us! God sent His Son, Jesus Christ to redeem our RELATIONSHIP. Each of us now need to be part of building redemptive RELATIONSHIPS in His Kingdom by being open to listen, empathize, nurture trust and share your message by being a more effective witness of God's truths and principles in Jesus' teachings. I will hold on to the BEST RELATIONSHIP I have ... with JESUS and let Him help me and show me how to continue learning how to better RELATE in all my earthly connections. 

ENJOY A HAPPY NEW YEAR EVE!

Let's thank God for another year

and begin our new year of 2023 in HIS Presence

in prayer & praise of

JESUS

I intend to spend the next 

"52 Weeks with Jesus!"

and an eternity

RELATIONSHIP as 2022 One Word

[credit for the original; I cropped this]

As you may have noticed by now in this final week of 2022, I am still searching for the reason or a summary of my One Word for this year: RELATIONSHIP. I have read in God's Word and many sources about RELATIONSHIPs. I'd like to share more of what the Bible has to say. But when I started my search for RELATIONSHIP in the Bible; one source mentioned this:

"Although the word "relationship" does not appear in the Bible, its concept is clearly shown through examples in the Bible. The primary verse depicting   relationship is:  John 3:16: For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

Now that was not real helpful, you'll be glad to know that this is not entirely true if you're open to looking at other versions - perhaps by the wording of John 3:16, you can tell which 'pure' version mentioned this. I am whole heartedly in agreement and behind their choice of the best verse that depicts the clearest example of the RELATIONSHIP concept. But as I hope to show you, the Bible clearly is filled with RELATIONSHIP and is basic to the Christian faith, at least to those who still believe that JESUS came to redeem our RELATIONSHIP with God the Father and we need to follow JESUS, not any other. Most true Christian believers still believe (I think) that our essential belief in JESUS is based on "RELATIONSHIP" not religion. From Genesis to Revelation, it is clear that the Holy Bible - God's Word to us, is not a book about religion but RELATIONSHIPS - from creation, God created people to be in RELATIONSHIP with Himself and one another in friendship, marriage, family, society and the church. Human beings are created to be in RELATIONSHIP with God. And yes, I found that in other Bible translations, the word "RELATIONSHIP" can be found. In fact, Bible Gateway gave 5,734!

In one search, in Bible Gateway, in the version "The Voice", there are 94 results given. Of course, not all of the results of the word are beneficial uses of RELATIONSHIP to glean some special insights on how to better our RELATIONSHIPs with God, others or the world, but the word is there. Bible Hub shows 46 results. and the term RELATIONSHIP is defined--- also Greek and Hebrew terms. There are also excellent resource articles cited & links:

 

How can I have a closer relationship with God? | GotQuestions.org Can you give me some Christian relationship advice? | GotQuestions.org Is Christianity a religion or a relationship? | GotQuestions.org

Concordance  - Dictionary  - Bible Encyclopedia

My point in sharing all this is not for you to research but to have in case some day you (and I) might need it. I have held on to these since the beginning of 2022 so it's also the best way for me to save much that I have gathered. I even considered getting the Kindle ebook of a special Bible by T.D. Jakes: Life Lessons on Relationships from the Inspired Word of God. However, I was hoping that throughout 2022 God would inspire me with my own "life lessons". I have learned many lessons on RELATIONSHIP(s) through a lifetime of failures mixed with a few successes. As I reflect and think of a summary this week of RELATIONSHIP, I have not done very well because I am still asking God ... yet I do know as my previous posts this week show that part of the purpose was to learn (unlearn & relearn)how to have healthy RELATIONSHIPs and seek God in ways to rebuild or restore the ones I should. Steps I will continue to pursue in whatever life I have left as God leads me. As I have indicated God just used this One Word to get my attention of a work that still needs more work. If you look back through my blog posts, you will see most are about RELATIONSHIP. I will attempt one more short one before New Year's Eve as I say goodbye to 2022 (but not any RELATIONSHIP) and look forward to a New Year & New One Word as I begin the year in Prayer as I usually do. I do realize that most of these posts this past week are for me but hopefully there are some points that you too can use. 

I thought this last image was a cute summary beyond what God tells us but I think He might agree. I know that He does with the first image! That is my hope always! Christ-centered!

[credit]

Love Yourself-Stay Honest-Redefine Intimacy-Maintain Equality-Stay Independent

 

“People do not care how much you know until they know how much you care.”~John Maxwell "In other words, before you attempt to direct, you must connect." from Restoring Relationships YV plan

The following is a combination of my ad lib to prayers from "Restored Relationships"

Lord, I thank You for giving freely and generously. Show me ways to share what has been given to me to help others have more just lives. Help me use my power to serve others, so that justice and peace may belong to all, as You intended by dying for every one of us. I praise You because Your love is so great and You desire that all would flourish. I ask that You would help me to love as You do. Help me celebrate all people and relationship because we are uniquely made in Your image. Thank You Lord for creating each of us with value. No one is worth less in Your sight and no one is worth more. We all are Your unique image bearers. Open my heart to listen to Your Spirit & treat every individual as loved by You.  Amen.

This prayer is for all earthly relationships for those close to us and the strangers that we meet.
"...We need one another..."
The deception and divisive spirit among us needs to end.
I sense that God was speaking to me 
more about all
RELATIONSHIPS
not just the ones familiar to me.
God wanted to stretch me
from the
immediate
to the unknown, 
the strangers and unreached
in our midst
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Welcoming the Stranger
and other missions related to this 
have been on my heart 
since I returned from 20 years in Mexico
 in 2016 & it's almost 2023 
The Evangelical Immigration Table
(their film is available by following this link)
"The Stranger" and "Oh Mercy"[40 minutes] [only 12 minutes]
are MUST see
for every Church 
and true believer of 
JESUS CHRIST