Building Relationships

Our church’s women’s meetings have been studying the series “Building Church

Community” by Dr. Henry Cloud, and I thought there was a lot of good stuff in there for

us too. I’d like to invite people to consider and share if they feel like they have trouble

making meaningful relationships, and what their thoughts are about how they feel about

that.

I suppose you could say the motto of our group is “you are not alone” and it relates

directly to the real need for us to have meaningful connections to others. We know that

even as early as Genesis, God saw it was not good for Adam to be alone (Genesis

2:18). Later in 1st Peter 4:10 it talks about how we should use whatever gifts we have to

serve others so that we can be faithful stewards of God’s mercy in various forms. The

first idea is about what we need as individuals, and the second idea is about how we

grow spiritually healthy by ministering to each other. Would anyone like to share how

they feel about these two ideas? Do you identify more with one than the other?

What’s really interesting about both these ideas is they’re both about being the people

God created us to be. If we can approach relationships as both something that is good

for us, and as participating in God’s work, we can take some of the panic out of “getting

it right” or having acceptance be the focus..As we step into courage and try to connect,

we are already growing and healing as people. As we trust in God to accept us as we

are, we have the safety of being loved even when feeling rejected or misunderstood.

We have his example, his strength and even his direction to go forth and connect with

others. Is there anyone in your life you’re thinking about connecting with now?

Of course, we need to give ourselves grace on our tough days, when we need to isolate

for self-care, and it's always a good thing to pray for God’s spirit to lead us when moving

into situations we feel nervous about. While we know what God is asking us to do,

feeling overwhelmed at the thought of doing it probably means it's not his time for us

yet, but we can still pray that he helps us get there one day soon. It's encouraging to

know that we were made for connection, and whether or not we see it; everyone

struggles with the same need and insecurities about reaching out. Again, if self-care

requires you to not reach out to certain people right now, pray for your and their healing

and look around for someone else who may be more receptive. The point is to stretch

ourselves when it's healthy for us to do so.

Meanwhile, we have the love and support we share here, to carry with us out into the

difficulties of our everyday lives. As we reach out for new relationships, may we each be

faithful stewards of God’s mercy for our own sake and the broken people that fill our

world.

Hosanna (I See the King of Glory) - Hillsong

I see the King of glory coming on the clouds with fire

The whole earth shakes, the whole earth shakes yeah

I see His love and mercy washing over all our sin

The people sing, the people sing

Chorus

Hosanna hosanna hosanna in the highest

Hosanna hosanna-hosanna in the highest

I see a generation rising up to take their place

With selfless faith, with selfless faith

I see a near revival stirring as we pray and seek

We're on our knees, we're on our knees

Chorus

Bridge

Heal my heart and make it clean

Open up my eyes to the things unseen

Show me how to love like You have loved me

Break my heart for what breaks Yours

Everything I am for Your Kingdom's cause

As I walk from earth into eternity

Chorus