Recognizing and Cherishing The People God Brings Into Our Lives

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I am typically a serious person (my husband says so at least twice EVERY week !). I know I am a serious person. Smiling is something I have to make a conscious effort to do even though I am almost always happy on the inside. 

One other thing I have to make a conscious effort to do is to make friends and keep relationships going. Even my report cards from elementary school always had comments like "introverted", "quiet" and a personal non-favorite, "does not mix well". Forming new relationships has never been easy for me. In fact,  my best friend (apart from my hubby) is still a girl from when I was 10 and she lives across the ocean in Africa. I hope you get my drift.

In any case, last night I was reading about the importance of recognizing people God brings into your life for specific reasons and seasons. It was amazing ! The way we relate with the people God brings into our lives can even have an effect on your success in life ! 

What examples does the Bible provide for this ? 

1. Laban's relationship with Jacob. Although those two had some pretty rocky moments with Laban tricking Jacob and all, Laban recognized that the reason why he was so blessed was because Jacob had special favor from God (Genesis 28-30).
2. Ruth's relationship with Naomi. When Ruth decided to go away from her pagan homeland and follow Naomi back to her home to worship the God of Israel, little did she know that she would end up a rich man's wife AND be included in the genealogy of Jesus Christ Himself ! (The Book of Ruth has the whole account).
3. David's relationship with Jonathan. David loved Jonathan so much even though Jonathan's father had a bounty on him. Perhaps, if David had despised Jonathan and been all proud because after all he had been anointed the next King of Israel, he probably would have lost his life because Jonathan would not have been able to warn him of his father's attempts to kill David.
4. Joseph's relationship with his co-inmates. It was the recommendation of Pharaoh's butler that eventually got Joseph released from jail and to an instantaneous promotion to a powerful ruler in Egypt.

The list could probably go on and on if we search the Bible carefully. Nonetheless, the point is very clear. God uses people to bless and enrich our lives. Our ability or inability to accept that will either make us or break us.

This is such an important lesson for people like me who are natural introverts and find it difficult to form new relationships. I don't think God wants me jumping all over the place grinning like a Cheshire cat just so I can cherish the people around me. But I do believe that God wants me to recognize that there are people He has placed in my life whose relationships I must never take for granted lest I lose the vessel of blessing that person could have imparted into my life if I had received them well. I believe it is time for me to go deeper than the "churchy" relationships that are sometimes so distant , shallow and almost fake. 

Of course, we can't have deep relationships with everyone but I really do think it is worth it for us to pray that God will help us recognize the people He brings into our lives for specific reasons and seasons so that we do not miss out on His very best for us. 

That's my lesson and I just thought I would share. 

Question 4 U

Is there a person God has used to greatly impact your life ? I would love to hear about it in the comments !

Join me on Facebook for more fellowship !

Lots of Love,

Gertrude.

Radically Different : Servanthood

Yesterday, I announced on this blog's Facebook page about doing a series called Radically Different. Radically different is a series I am doing on how radical the life and teachings of Jesus were and how we can also live radically different lives by following Jesus' example and today features the first installment.

If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all. - Mark 9:35

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This sounds so upside down, doesn't it ? I mean the world tells us that to become great you have to get an Ivy-league or Oxford education, you have to "make" it in the financial world, become an overnight sensation or discover the cure for cancer. There is no place for becoming last and servanthood !

This is what makes Jesus' statement so radical : in God's Kingdom, the way up is the way down. The way to greatness is the way of servanthood. Becoming the highest means being the lowest first. Wow.

Jesus did not make a name for Himself. He did not publish a single book. He never intentionally drew attention to Himself. He went as low as washing the smelly feet of His disciples and dying the death of criminals. He never felt too big to do anything that would draw us to Him.

Who, being in very nature God,

    did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

⁷ 

but made himself nothing,

    taking the very nature of a servant,

    being made in human likeness.

⁸ 

And being found in appearance as a man,

    he humbled himself

    and became obedient to death—

        even death on a cross!

⁹ 

Therefore God exalted himto the highest place

    and gave him the name that is above every name,

¹⁰ 

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

¹¹ 

and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,

    to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:6-11

Do I really have to write more ? I sit here convicted. This is the God I serve, my friends. THIS IS THE GOD I SERVE and this is the example He would have us follow.