Daily Journal

I am back. Sorry to be gone soo long. Alot of changes are taking place and of course things have been very hectic. My struggling has become less and less. I slowed down on doing so many studies but increased my praying/talking with God excessively.

One of the pieces of info I love to share about God is as long as one has a personal relationship with Him then all other things will fall into place. The definition of relationship as defined by dictionary.com is this:

re·la·tion·ship
noun
1.a connection, association, or involvement.
2.connection between persons by blood or marriage.
3.an emotional or other connection between people

Synonyms
1.  dependence, alliance, kinship. 2.  affinity, consanguinity.
Relationship, kinship  refer to connection with others by blood or by marriage. Relationship  can be applied to connection either by birth or by marriage: relationship to a ruling family. Kinship  generally denotes common descent and implies a more intimate connection than relationship: the ties and obligations of kinship. 

de·pend·ence

noun

1.the state of relying on or needing someone or something for aid, support, or the like.

2.reliance; confidence; trust

3.an object of reliance or trust.

4.the state of being conditional or contingent on something, as through a natural or logical sequence: the dependence of an effect upon a cause.

 

al·li·ance
noun
1.the act of allying  or state of being allied.
2.a formal agreement or treaty between two or more nations to cooperate for specific purposes.
3.a merging of efforts or interests by persons, families, states, or organizations: an alliance between church and state.
4.the persons or entities so allied.
5.marriage or the relationship created by marriage between the families of the bride and bridegroom.

 

kin·ship
noun
1.the state or fact of being of kin;  family relationship.
2.relationship by nature, qualities, etc.; affinity.

  
Here's my keywords.. 

connection

emotional connection

relying on or needing

confidence; trust

conditional or contingent on something

formal agreement or treaty between two or more

merging of efforts

relationship
 

These keywords tell me that I have to connect emotionally; rely on, need; have confidence in, trust; adhere to the conditions of the agreement; merge my efforts with another; be in a relationship with another. 
  

This makes me think of my earthly relationships. A wife, a mother, a sister, an aunt, a daughter, a friend, an employee, a coworker, a neighbor...

 Each one of these requires an effort on my part. I have to be willing to connect, emotionally if I want a committed, lasting relationship. I have to show I can rely on them, they can rely on me, that I need them if my life. I have to follow the unwritten rules of loving and trusting someone. At times I have to join them in their efforts to overcome or get by. I have to consciously, on purpose work toward building and maintaining a relationship with them.

 Every relationship rests on three legs: accepting, supporting and challenging. That's really it, isn't it? We want our relationships to be grounded on accepting each other as we are. On supporting each other through the inevitable ups and downs. On challenging each other to become more, to grow, to flourish. Which one of these is the more difficult one for you, and how are you going to practice it in the next 24 hours?

So it is with God. Is He really asking too much? 

Yes, just like in life there are rules. Yes, He will ask us to change and do things. Yes, our thinking and perception will change. Yes, we will effect others. Yes, we must put forth an effort. But the difference is this -- EVERYTHING He asks of us -- He promises to be there and it will all end for the good of us and to us. This is a promise. God cannot, does not lie. EVER. So every time we strive and put forth a little effort for Him , towards Him, He will ALWAYS be there to return the effort.

Romans 8:28
We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.

Matthew 7:11
If you then, evil as you are, know how to give good and advantageous gifts to your children, how much more will your Father Who is in heaven [perfect as He is] give good and advantageous things to those who keep on asking Him!

Luke 11:13
If you then, evil as you are, know how to give good gifts [gifts that are to their advantage] to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask and continue to ask Him!