This week I've been noticing and appreciating intentional relationships in my life. It hasn't been an easy weekend. Fun in so many ways, but still have such a heavy heart. I got to go with my roommate Angie and others to Cedar Creek Lake. There were 2 new friends, a husband and wife that I had never met, but I am now so grateful to know. We talked and supported each other through our Bingo losses last night. I knew I liked them. Today, though, solidified that feeling and reminded me why I treasure intentional friendships, what it looks like to be intentional in friendships, and why I try to be an intentional friend. Today, they probed for more than the surface level. They got to my heart...and with that came tears. They didn't run from those tears, but instead listened, comforted, challenged and asked to pray with me. They encouraged me in an unbelievable way.
I could say the same about several other close friends during the last few days. Sweet text messages, solid words of wisdom, expressions of protection for me (although not all of them were necessarily realistic or even legal), affirmation of prayers, shared tears, delicious carrot cake, etc. I am beyond blessed to know depth in many relationships.
It's caused me to evaluate my own intentionality in relationships. What do I mean by being 'intentional'? Let's go Webster for this one:
'done with a determination to act in a certain way'
Sounds simple enough, right?
Well, what is it, then that I intend to accomplish in my relationships. I better know upfront.
For now, I've narrowed my 'intentions' in relationships down to the 3 things I've listed below:
3 marks that I hope my relationships carry:
1) Be challenged to pursue Christ more deeply
2) Gain a clearer picture of God's undeniable, unrelenting, pure love
3) Feel encouraged
Here's why:
1) Proverbs 27:17 "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
Philippians 3:8 "What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things."
2) 1 Peter 1:22 "Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth, so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart."; 1 John 4:7 "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God."
John 15:9-17 "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. 'This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.'
3) 1 Thes. 5:11 "Therefore, encourage one another, just as you are already doing."
Romans 1:11-12 "I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong - that is that you and I may be mutually encouraged by one another's faith."
Ok, this post has reached it's limit. I'm tired. I'm going to bed.
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