#OneStepWait ie How To Navigate The Relationships In Your Life

 11/12/23 9am

The short version:

#OneStepWait

This is a mantra that I have coined that has helped me deal with my neediness and angst when it comes to relationships. This is such a simple concept and I will keep it short for now for the sake of conveying this simple truth.

#OneStepWait is like playing a game or learning to dance. A simple principle when applied helps us navigate the workings of new and existing relationships.

1 If there is a person that you are possibly interested in pursuing a relationship with (either platonic or romantic)... take the first step. It can be a small step. Perhaps just click "like" on one of the Facebook posts. Wait a few days. You probably won't get any response from just a "like". But a few days later.. like another post. Next. perhaps comment one of their posts or better yet... ask them a question on one of their posts. Wait.. see if they like or comment on your question/comment. It they don't repspond to your post. Take that as first sign that perhaps you aren't meant to be connected to that person. Perhaps wait a few weeks and then try this again. If still no response... again consider that this might not be a connection for you. There are other ways that you can show them you are interested. But.. anything you do.... ALLOW THEM TIME TO RESPOND. Moving slowly like this will help you not invest too much time and energy into something that will come to nothing. Moving slowly will also build in an automatic mechanism that will keep your heart from getting too involved and prevent heartache down the road.

2 Even in existing relationships... this #OneStepWait is healthy. Let's say I want to draw closer to my wife.. so I might ask her, "Let's go for a walk." She doesn't want to walk. So, instead of suggesting other things to do.. I wait.. I see.. if she gets it that I want to draw close to her. I will see if she will take a step towards me. If she does not.. then.. I will probably go find something to do.. or find a friend to go hang out with. This is just a simple example. But we have to be sensitive and honor the ebb and flow of our relationships in order not to "crowd" others.. but also keep disappointment, hurt, anger from creeping into our own hearts.

***This is a really rough article.. but wanted to get something written down so I could get it out there.. *****

Broken... my permanent condition (and Iike it)

 I must say that I am more keenly aware of God's presence in and around me because of the constant brokeness that I have experienced in my life.  In fact.. I have come to accept that this constant brokenness has become a welcomed "friend"  It keeps me so aware of my dependence on the Spirit of God just to survive in this life.  #BrokenButOkay..

This condition might not win me friends in this life.. but oh.. the grace and mercy that it draws from the Father... priceless!

it is "funny" how clearly i see this at this moment. because I lose site of this so often.. but right know HS thank you for allowing me to see this so clearly. 

(this is just a rough draft.. but I am learning that I might not ever revise this.. so... I will go ahead and post so that perhaps.. someone might be able to decipher and glean from my experience) 

Painful Surgery

 

What seems to be a long arduous process is due to the fact the our hearts are the core of our being.... it takes a skilled Surgeon to meticulously remove, replace, create what we were always meant to be. 

This is a long process... I would say a lifelong process that can be painful at times... but as we get glimpses of what we are becoming..... wow.... so worth it. Selah

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The Beauty of Brokenness

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(see video in this facebook post) 

The Beauty of Brokeness

(Okay, my wife informed me that the reason why the honeysuckle doesn't taste as sweet as it did when we were kids is because this is not a honeysuckle!! It's a Day Lily! SMH! 😂

Y'all know I'm broken, right?

Dog returns to his vomit... don't do it!

A message of encouragement to a friend... but.. it also serves as a good reminder to myself. 

Something that has cometo my mind several times since our last talk on Wed.  I just want to encourage you during this season.  I amnot sure if the enemy is whispering to you "why do you even serve God if this is how He's gonna treat you?"  But it is a ploy that the enemy will use.  He did with me to the point where for a season I did allow my faith to just "die".   that lasted for 10 years.  and man..the darkness and drought that plagued my soul.  I finally woke up like the prodigal and realized that my life was much better in the Father's house.  I turned and made my way back to home.. but it was a hard and long way back.  So, I just encourage you by saying,  there is nothing there to go back to.. Continue pouring  your heart out to the Father.  This season shall pass.

Resistance Training

 

Most of us know that in order to become strong and fit... we have to have good nutrition but also have resistance of some kind.... exercise, lifting, etc.   

Well as christians the same applies. We need nutrition... the Word of God. But we also need resistance. Those trials we face everyday.... let's embrace them, face them... withstand them.. as part of our training and strengthening for the better life that God desires for us. (P.S. those trials aren't going away any time soon!)

It seems like one of those forms of resistance training is in the form of wrestling.... I hate those little uniforms they wear..... they make me look fat! 🤣 

Yet.... Ephesians 6:12 says For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

So..... "LET'S GET READY TO RUMBLE!

I'm Sealed

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