Wednesday 6 August 2014

Good Relationships Take Time

Good Relationships Take Time

BY RICK WARREN — AUGUST 5, 2014
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A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. Proverbs 17:17 (NIV)
Good relationships take time. They don’t happen by accident. They take cultivation, work, and time to build a deep connection with somebody. That requires commitment.
Proverbs tells us, A friend loves at all times.” That means even when it’s inconvenient, when you don’t feel like it, even when they don’t deserve it, even at personal cost. That’s what real friendship is all about.
Friends are in your corner when you’re cornered. And they see you through when everybody else thinks you’re through. They walk in when everybody else walks out.
You don’t need many friends to make it in this world but you do need a few good ones. Focus on quality not quantity. You can have many acquaintances but that means nothing. The acquaintances are not going to be there in the crisis. They’re not going to be there when you need them. Friends will. And every important close connection begins with a commitment.
At every stage of your life you’re going to need these kinds of relationships. You’re going to need a group of people for different reasons in different ways. You need to get connected. You need people in your life. You say, “I don’t need them now.” You’re going to need them someday. You need to give and you need to receive.
Talk About It
What do you think of this quote from Larry Crabb: “When two people really connect, something is poured out of one and into the other that has the power to heal the soul of its deepest wounds and restore it to health. The one who receives, experiences the joy of being healed. And the one who gives, knows even greater joy of being used to heal.” (from Larry Crabb’s book, “Connecting.”)

Today's Word with Joel and Victoria
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Reprogram Your Mind
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
“Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind...”
(Romans 12:2, AMP)
TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria
Many people today don’t realize that the reason they’re not happy, the reason they’re not enjoying life is simply because they’ve trained their minds in the wrong direction. They’ve programmed their minds to worry. They’ve programmed their minds to complain. They’ve programmed their minds to see the negative. But just as we can train our minds to focus on the negative, we can also reprogram our minds to focus on the positive. It all depends on what we meditate on.
When we meditate on the Word of God, we reprogram our minds. When we meditate on God’s goodness, we are developing a right mindset. When we choose to be grateful and focus on what’s right rather than what’s wrong, we are choosing a positive attitude. This doesn’t happen automatically, you have to discipline yourself to focus on the right things. You have to make a conscious effort to spend time in the Word of God every single day until a habit is formed.
As you honor God with your time, He’ll multiply it back to you. As you stay faithful and focused on Him, He will direct your steps and lead you to embrace the blessing and victory He has in store for you!
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father, today I surrender my thoughts and mind to You. Help me retrain my thoughts so that they are in line with Your will for my life. I choose to have a positive attitude of faith and expectancy and thank You for empowering me to enjoy the good life You have for me in Jesus’ name. Amen.

PS...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhX_mDsrkL0

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