relationships

Healthy Relationships: 10 Tips To Encourage Thriving Relationships

Healthy Relationships: 10 Tips To Encourage Thriving Relationships

Improve Your Chances of Healthy, Thriving Relationships!

Healthy RelationshipsHealthy relationships

permit us to connect and

share time with the people

that we care about

in a positive, fulfilling way.

Positive relationships give us

strength and purpose in our

day-to-day lives.

They also bring happiness, joy and love.

“Be tender loving one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another.”
— Romans 12:10

It is no secret that close relationships are the cause of great pleasure in our lives, but they are also the cause of great pain. When relationships start falling apart it can be very traumatic and emotional.

Do you ever wonder how you can have such a deep connection with a person one day and the next day feel like you don’t even know who that person is? How do we bridge that gap and avoid the disconnect in the first place? How do we begin to heal broken relationships and keep them healthy?

10 Tips To Encourage Thriving Relationships:

1. Communication

Communication is one the most important things in a relationship. There is an art to communication and it can continually improve. Humans are not mind readers, so they need to have an ongoing exchange of feelings, problems, needs and desires; while always striving to improve listening and speaking skills. Mastering communication will help avoid misunderstandings and frustration by transforming arguments into effective communication.

2. Honesty

Honesty in relationships is about honorable intentions and actions. Honest people are frank but they act in love. Thriving relationships include people that are honest with each other; their intentions are good and are only meant to help the other person and the relationship. Honesty helps create an atmosphere of peace.

3. Trust

Trust creates strong connections in relationships because people have to rely on each other. When there is trust in a relationship, there is confidence that another person will do what they said they will do and what they are responsible to do. Trust eliminates fear and replaces it with a confident expectation and hope.

4. Empathy

Empathy helps identify the thoughts and feelings experienced by each other, and in turn supports a healthy relationship. To empathize with another person requires taking the time to see and feel things from their perspective and get a heartfelt understanding of where they are coming from, what they have been through, and why they think and act the way they do. 

5. Optimism

An optimistic, positive mindset expects positive interactions and relationships. The optimistic person does not get so shaken up when they hit bumps in the road, but they look for positive solutions and anticipate positive results. Optimism leaves no room for negativity.

6. Genuine

Genuine people are confident in who they are and feel free to be themselves. They have moved past the notion that they must be “perfect” and give themselves and others the permission to make mistakes without beating themselves up. Genuine relationships are real, without false pretense, and mess ups are faced with love and forgiveness; allowing for a healthy, thriving relationship.

7. Loyalty

Loyalty builds faithful relationships. Loyal individuals commit to remaining faithful through the good times and bad. They can be trusted to keep their word and be there when you need them. Loyalty is a core key needed in long lasting, thriving relationships.

8. Respect

Respectful individuals admire and esteem others. People that practice respect are courteous and allow others the right to their own personal space. Relationships with individuals who keep respect active, and purpose to esteem others and value them worthy, are relationships that are healthy and thriving.

9. Reminisce

Reminisce about the past. Remember times shared together; including the good times and the bad. Reminiscing about the challenges and hard times that have been experienced and overcome, strengthens the bond in the relationship. And reminiscing about the good times with a smile and a laugh, keeps the heart and relationship merry. 🙂

10. Love

Love is the bond that holds relationships together. God is love and love should be present in all our relationships. Love chooses to be loving even when the passion and emotion of love is not present. Their are times in relationships when disagreements arise and individuals may not even like each other, but they choose to love each other.

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”
— John 13:34

What’s your relationship standard? If you are willing to start with yourself, and open your heart and mind to make some positive changes, you can greatly improve your chances of having long lasting, healthy, thriving relationships.

May your relationships thrive and your life be full of growing prosperity!

Soar higher,
Brenda

 

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Crazy Love by Francis Chan

“Crazy Love” by Francis Chan

“Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God”

Crazy Love book by Francis ChanFrancis Chan is a pastor and bestselling author. He is best known for his book Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God.”

Book Description from Amazon:

“God is love. Crazy, relentless, all-powerful love.

Have you ever wondered if we’re missing it? It’s crazy, if you think about it. The God of the universe—the Creator of nitrogen and pine needles, galaxies and E-minor—loves us with a radical, unconditional, self-sacrificing love.

And what is our typical response? We go to church, sing songs, and try not to cuss. Whether you’ve verbalized it yet or not…we all know somethings wrong.

Does something deep inside your heart long to break free from the status quo? Are you hungry for an authentic faith that addresses the problems of our world with tangible, even radical, solutions?

God is calling you to a passionate love relationship with Himself. Because the answer to religious complacency isn’t working harder at a list of do’s and don’ts—it’s falling in love with God.

And once you encounter His love, as Francis describes it, you will never be the same. Because when you’re wildly in love with someone, it changes everything.”

Francis Chan – “Crazy Love” Book Introduction Video

In a recent article at ChristianPost.com, they shared a notable experience, Chan recounted that happened before he published his bestseller “Crazy Love.” :

“He and his wife always wanted to be people who could “live generously” and just write checks to people. One day, he prayed that God would raise up wealthy people in his church that didn’t care about their stuff. If that didn’t happen, then Chan asked God to make his family rich so they could give their wealth away.

Little did Chan know that God would answer his prayer through his book Crazy Love, which brought in over $2 million in sales last year. He said all of the money goes to a fund that enables him to live out his dream of writing out checks.

‘I had no idea. I didn’t even think of making money off it,’ shared Chan. ‘My life is ridiculous. God, the way you answer my prayers.’

“Our God listens to us. Our God is a living God.
He’s not a block of wood you made up that’s
not going to answer you. My God listens to me.
He answers me.”

— Francis Chan

Chan was also quoted as saying at a recent pastor’s conference:

“His biggest failure in ministry is when during his busy periods he turns his prayer life into a to-do list for God rather than a relationship of abiding in Christ and a relationship of love.

‘My guess is many of you guys struggle, so focused on the work of God that you neglect the person of God. So much pressure, so much criticism. There are periods that we forget that in the pursuit of fruit, that if we just abide in Him then fruitfulness is a guarantee,’ reflected Chan.

Although many pastors believe that God is sovereign, that belief doesn’t flesh out in their lives most of the time, he said.”

“Are you about Him and do people see that in you?
That you are man or woman who can’t get enough of God?”
 
— Francis Chan

May you continue to pursue a passionate love relationship with God!

God bless you,
Brenda

P.S. You can purchase “Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God” by Francis Chan at Amazon.

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Dad, If You Only Knew by Josh Weidmann

Dad, If You Only Knew by Josh Weidmann

Dad, If You Only Knew: Eight Things Teens Want to Tell Their Fathers (but Don’t)

In honor of the upcoming Father’s Day, I was looking for a video to celebrate all dads out there.

In the process I ran across this video and book and decided to do a separate post. For anyone who had, or currently has a Father who is an active part of your life; you know how important your dad is. And for those who don’t, you also know the great struggle that loss can cause in life.

The book: Dad, If You Only Knew: Eight Things Teens Want to Tell Their Fathers (but Don’t)” by Josh Weidmann and coauthored by his dad James Weidmann, sounds like an excellent resource for helping dads connect with their children.

Someone on Amazon commented that it is a great resource for both parents, and not just dads. The older I get, the more I also appreciate the positive influence of friends and family when it comes to raising children. Especially with so many single parent families. Raising healthy children is a job that requires utilizing all the help that is available.

Here is the description for the book “Dad, If You Only Knew”:

Listen Up, Dads! Your Teen Is Talking to You!

As exasperating as parenting can be during these volatile years, your teen is depending on you for steady faithfulness, love, and guidance. And because teens often find words elusive and expression difficult, they probably haven’t told you the things they wish you somehow automatically knew. So let Dad, If You Only Knew… be your guide. Josh Weidmann, just out of the teen years himself, joins his father, James, to help dads understand where their kids are coming from. It’s a messy world they live in, and meeting them in it is no simple task. But knowing these essentials now makes fatherhood eight times easier!

Welcome to Your Teen’s World

It doesn’t matter if you have the most picture-perfect, ideal-in-every-way teen or one who’s in full-swing rebellion. That teen you love is a “riddle wrapped in a mystery.” No father can know what his teen is really thinking.

That’s why youth communicator Josh Weidmann teamed with his father, Jim, to help you bridge the gap. In Dad, If You Only Knew…you’ll get an open, honest glimpse inside the teen mind. Josh’s extensive research, combined with pointed direction from a father’s heart, provide you with the practical guidance you need to establish a healthy, thriving father-teen relationship. It’s one you desire, your teen needs, and you both can’t afford to miss.

Story Behind the Book

“The resounding cry of teens for their fathers rings in my ear. I have been speaking to youth for five years and the greatest void I see in teens’ lives is the one left by their dad. I am only twenty-three years old myself, and to this day I can say that my dad is the most influential man in my life. Because of his impact, I have asked him share in this book. We have written this message in hopes of helping dads reengage in the vital father-teen relationship.”
— Josh Weidmann

God bless you –

Cheers,
Brenda

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Abundance of God! Can You Unlock Prosperity by 3 Tried and True Keys?

Abundance of God! Can You Unlock Prosperity by 3 Tried and True Keys?

Unlock Unlimited Abundance and Growing Prosperity!

 

Unlock the Abundance of GodThe abundance of God provides material, physical, emotional, and spiritual prosperity.

Tapping into His source is tapping into a never ending flow.

How can ungodly people experience financial success?

This is a commonly asked question. You need to understand that anyone can reach a level of prosperity by simply following natural laws.

However, a supernatural prosperity is available by also following God’s spiritual laws for success.

Start enjoying the good life God has made available for you!

3 Tried and True Keys to Unlock Your Prosperity:

1.) TRUST GOD AS YOUR SOURCE

He owns everything. You need to recognize you only manage the things in your possession. All your abilities, talents, and possessions come from God.

Note, the one thing you are allowed to have ownership of, is your will. You can make your own choices and determine how you want to live. When you choose to partner with God and acknowledge Him, you cannot fail!

In Chronicles 26:5 it reminds us that as long as we seek the Lord, He will make us to prosper.

2.) OBEY NATURAL LAWS OF ABUNDANCE

God has set up natural laws for you to live by. These include laws, that when followed, help attract prosperity into your life. Time has proven them to be successful.

The four primary natural laws that determine your measure of abundance are: mind, money, time, and relationships.

First, you must get control of your thought life and manage your mind. Choose to think positive and envision the life you desire. These thoughts will then get planted into your subconscious, which goes to work making them a reality.

Manage the money you have. God says we have to be faithful with the little we have before we can be trusted with more. Learn to budget, tithe, give generously, shop smart, invest wisely, live within your means, etcetera.

Control your time and use it wisely. We all have the same amount of hours in a day. Make the right choices to plan and prioritize your day to accomplish more.

Your relationships can make you or break you. You should never underestimate the influence that those around you have. Choose your friends and companions wisely.

3.) OBEY SPIRITUAL LAWS OF ABUNDANCE

Have faith in the promises of God. They are true and like money in the bank. You can depend on God’s Word to come to pass. His Word has the power to bring riches greater than financial into your life.

“Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.” – 3 John 2

The measure you sow is the measure you reap, and you will reap what you sow in life.

Seek God’s kingdom first and turn your life over to Him. Psalm 84:11 tells us that He withholds no good thing from them that walk uprightly. Things don’t always manifest overnight, so learn to walk by faith and keep your trust in the living God.

Truth be told: Nothing is impossible when God is on the scene. So seek Him and partner up. Seeking and obeying God’s laws is the key to unlock unlimited prosperity and abundance.

May you tap into God’s unlimited abundance and continue to experience growing prosperity!

Be blessed to be a blessing –

Cheers,
Brenda

P.S. How are these working in your life?

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Funny How People Are Video

Funny How People Are Video

“Funny” Video by Evangelist Daniele Luciano Moskal

A great reminder of the importance of self-examination and living a committed life to the One who saved us!

Our faith needs to be in the Word of God, not in the things of the world. God needs to always be first in our life and then He’ll help us with all the other life stuff.

On that same note – I want to share a quote from a friend in regards to this same subject and relationships . . . who stated it right on . . .

“Most people are not sold out for Jesus, so they never sell out to “each other”.  I guess what I mean is “commitment”.  There seems to be a lack of that out there these days.  If one doesn’t know how to fully commit to Jesus, then they don’t understand how they need to commit to that other person.  So it seems like just as many Christian marriages and relationships fail as in the world.”

May we keep our hearts open to let the Living God continue to work in our lives!

God bless you,
Brenda

P.S. I’d love to hear your comments…

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