JOYS of Relationships

Most everyone likes them. Most everyone wants them. If they are not in one, they want to be. If they ARE IN one, they don't want to be.

RELATIONSHIPS are HARD WORK! 

It's the best feeling when you finally meet that man you've had your eyes on and he asks you on a date. He is more than you could ever imagine or dream of. He pays for your dinner, he treats you to a movie and snacks, then drops you off, opening your car door and is the politest of gentleman you've seen.

He romances you and meets the family. You love to go places and do things and enjoy each others company. It's truly HEAVEN ON EARTH! 

He asks for your hand in marriage,  you say YES! 

The BIG DAY comes and you walk to the end of the aisle...life is finally beginning! 

You are swept away on a romantic, beautiful honeymoon, savoring the delicious foods and each other. 

THEN...the challenges come with each passing day. You find out his faults, he finds out yours. One day the romantic moments takes a new shape. Or there may not even be that many. You may have children and continue life with each other. So busy going here/there, taking the kids to where they need to be, still never having time for each other.

Instead of the fun moments of flirting with each other before leaving for work, the mornings have become a rush time, getting out the door and making sure everyone has their lunch, homework, and everything that you need for work.

You get to the office and there the tall, dark, handsome man in a suit walks in. He too has had the stressful week but it doesn't show from how well put together he is this morning. He smiles and laughs and your mind wanders to how it must be at his home when he came home from work, all smiles, ready for the evening to share with his wife....yet....in reality, his marriage is falling apart right under his nose.

RELATIONSHIPS TAKE WORK!!!! FROM BOTH PARTIES!!! 

BUT GOD didn't command us to love our husband as our husband loves us. He commanded us just to love, no matter what. Loving someone without expecting something in return is what we are to do.

But we always feel like someone has to be "worthy" enough to love. "Well, he just walked out the door without saying goodby".....or "he spends all of his time watching football.".......

NO MATTER WHO you are in a RELATIONSHIP WITH, IT IS WORK!

You can put that smiley face on in the morning and act is if nothing is wrong but deep down, you only want to feel and know love! You are wanting another person to give you the love that you crave and desire and need....but that other person can only give you "so much" love.

God designed each of us to receive HIS LOVE! When we HAVE HIS LOVE ON THE INSIDE OF US and KNOW HIS LOVE TOWARDS US, we can have a different attitude about who we are. We aren't dressing inappropriately just to get someone's attention. We aren't flirting with married people or AT ALL if you are married, because you know that those things are wrong and inappropriate.

If we would take a look at ourselves and find what we are lacking in. Take the time to build our self up by reading the Bible and having a relationship with Christ, then our relationship with our spouse can be so much better. We will learn to give to each other....without expecting anything in return.

If you wanna give up and carry on with your messed up life, go right ahead but instead of solving the problems you have, you will be packing them up and taking them on the next relationship trip you go on. Nothing ever gets solved from running from one place to another. It's always going to be the same issues and even more, since you are bringing along baggage.

Open up to your spouse, let them know how you feel. If you are single and need to talk, open up to a friend you trust to confide in. Pray together. Work things out. Let God fill the emptiness and void and stop putting pressure on other people to heal that wound.

People can put a band-aid on it and it won't hurt for awhile but until you get that thing cleaned out and healed by the Word of God, then it will continue to be pained.

Respect each other! Take time for each other! Go out of your way for each other! Find something every day to speak positive over each other.

One day the kids may be gone and there won't be anyone but the two of you...then what? It's time to get the JOY back to our relationships! Have fun with one another. Share things together! Do things together! 

Be pretty for your husband. Dress nice! Look nice! Talk nice! Do nice!!!  Ask God to help you care for your family the way that you need to!  

It's time to change things but it starts with ME! 

ME NEEDS JOY! And the JOY of the LORD is my STRENGTH!!!! 

You will see things in your life change between you and your spouse if you will put time, love, respect, and fun into your relationship! It WILL BE A JOY! 

SEEK GOD FIRST, then ALL will be added unto you! If God is not #1 in your life, then that's what needs to change first!!!