It's Worth It

Yesterday I had to make myself have an awkward conversation with a friend.

It all began a few days ago with an email (first mistake) and then an emotional phone call (mistake #2) in which there was poor communication and hurt feelings. Dang it!!

It's so easy to kind of just leave stuff there, shove it in that drawer where all the keys are that you don't know what the heck they go to.

But yesterday I went and talked with him - face to face. We prayed, talked honestly and then prayed. When I got there it was like there was a dirty diaper in the room. But as we prayed and talked it was as if God's aroma began to cover our relationship.

It reminded me of a few things:
1) As long as we live on this planet we will have relational issues
2) This life is way too short and friends are way too important to just put the relationship in the key drawer - yeah we can run and try to hide from issues, but it doesn't help that feeling in your gut
3) There is blessing when we do things God's way - Me and my friend have a new mountain that we've climbed together and a deeper understanding of one another. Nothing can replace that.

Any relationships that you need to take out of the key drawer?

Relationship Vision & Honesty - Part II

I wanted to follow up my post from yesterday and confess. I've lied. I've been a coward just like all of us and taken the easy, most-traveled route.

I don't ever want to come across in these posts like I've figured it all out. And I dang sure don't want to leave the grace of God hanging.

Yes, we must seek to be honest if we're going to have healthy, powerful relationships. And first we must be honest with God in seeking His forgiveness and strength.

The psalmist said: "When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone." (Psalm 32:3-5)

The greatest power we have in our relationships w/God and others is honesty in our heart . . . and seeking God's cleansing.

Have a relationship that's hurting? Start here.

Relationship Vision & Honesty

Vision. As I talked about on Sunday, God says that the second most important matter on earth - after our relationship with Him - is our relationships with others.

And I see one issue, more than any other, that undermines the ability of our relationships to point others and us to God. And that is HONESTY. Honesty. I'm well aware there's some heat in this post but this is an issue that I'm passionate about and that I see killing so much of what God wants to do!

Just check out a few passages below - only a handful of the hundreds that deal with this:

Proverbs 14:5 - Not telling the truth makes us a liar

Proverbs 12:22 - God speaks plainly - He hates liars

Colossians 3:9 - When we lie to each other it has nothing to do with God, we're living out our sinful, selfish nature (also Jeremiah 9:4-6)

Proverbs 16:13 - When we tell the truth people around us respect us . . . Not only that . . .

Proverbs 24:26 - . . . People feel honored and encouraged when we speak honestly to them!

Proverbs 27:6 - Even when the discussion is difficult, there is blessing when we are honest!

Where did we get the notion that not being honest with people is compassionate or loving?? That's a LIE! It's called being a COWARD!

Now, I'm not talking about being rude or inconsiderate or just plowing over people. But being graciously honest.
And, not just walking away from a situation without telling someone why and without seeking to reconcile.
Or, just avoiding a situation because it's difficult.
Or, talking to others and spreading rumors as a tactical defense.

If we're going to live out God's vision for life-giving relationships we must be on the point of changing the way our culture deals with one another. We must seek honesty and sincerity!

"So put away all falsehood and tell your neighbor the truth because we belong to each other." (Eph 4:25)