RELATIONSHIPS

Starting a relationship is relatively easy, maintaining that relationship takes work.
Below is a list of suggestions PRIMARILY FOR COUPLES.

1. LISTEN
2. VALIDATE THE OTHER PERSON
3. REMEMBER THERE ARE NO WINNERS
4. DON’T PERSONALIZE IT
5. SCHEDULE DATE NIGHTS
6. IT’S THE TINY DETAILS
7. DON’T BE THE SOURCE OF THE OTHER PERSON’S PAIN
8. TIME ALONE
9. SET BOUNDARIES
10. BE CAREFUL WHEN YOU SAY, “I’M SORRY”.
11. MAINTAIN EYE CONTACT
12. FORGET “YOU”
13. KEEP YOUR BODY LANGUAGE ENGAGED
14. MIND PMS (positive, measurable, specific)
15. SPEAK THEIR LANGUAGE
16. WATCH YOUR TONE
17. SCHEDULE FAMILY TIME
18. GET BEYOND YOUR DEFENSES
19. LISTEN TO A PROBLEM BUT DON’T TRY TO FIX IT.
20. CHOOSE PEACE
21. BE OPEN-MINDED
22. OBSERVE THE GOLDEN RULE

These are suggestions from 3 different counselors: Jan Miller of Ft. Worth, Molly Behannon of Dallas, and McKeon of Dallas.

Feel free to explain in your own words what each suggestion means to you.

DO YOU FEEL TRAPPED?


God’s Word tells us that we are to “BE STILL & KNOW GOD”. Sometimes it seems we are trapped in our own confusion. Let’s face it; our ways are not always God’s ways. Most of the time “our ways” bring confusion.

The other day a friend of mine and I were talking about being trapped in a situation that would not change. We know thoughts are either from God, Self or Satan. We can know the difference. In a trapped situation, knowing the mind of Christ will always win out over anything else. How can we know the MIND OF CHRIST? God advises us to take “captive our thoughts”! Any thought that is not of God will lead to actions that are not pleasing to God.

KNOWING THE MIND OF CHRIST COMES FROM READING THE WORD OF GOD AND SPENDING TIME IN THE PRAYER CLOSET.

Christ tells us to 1. DENY OURSELVES – II Corinthians
BEAR OUR CROSS – Philippians 2:8
BE CONTENT WITH WHAT GOD GIVES US TO DO. Philippians 4:11
LAY DOWN OUR LIVES IN SUBJECTION TO HIM.
Matthew 6:33
IN ALL OUR WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM. Proverbs 3:6

God allows us to make decisions
He allows us to learn from those decisions.
He places situations and people in our lives to practice His Word.

“RIGHTEOUSNESS COMES FROM OBEDIENCE”
“WRONG THOUGHTS & ACTIONS CAUSE SIN”

If you feel trapped ask yourself these questions:

Am I Leaning on My Own Understanding? The Word says “not to”.
Am I practicing God’s ways? In all your ways acknowledge Him.
Is my devotional time with God giving me a better understanding of Him?
Do I feel trapped in my own confusion? If so-I do not know the Mind of Christ.