Relationship is Risky 5-19-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I open my heart to as widely as I can -- a little more today than yesterday, a little more tomorrow than today -- in this life-long journey of growing in the grace of trust and love. ... "I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 3:1-3). Relationship is risky and unity requires effort. The bond of peace must be maintained. To love one another means we must work at bearing with one another. None of this comes easy; none of this comes without deliberate choices and committed effort. But this is our calling and this is our life in the Lord. As You said long ago, "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.... I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another" (John 15:12-17). Without love, without risking our hearts in relationship despite all the struggles and disappointments, woundedness and pain of making ourselves vulnerable to one another, there is no true unity of the Spirit and no true bond of peace. Anything else is a shallow illusion of the family of faith. But You have given us Your Holy Spirit to lead us and empower us by Your grace to live out our lives in the community of relationship with one another. And You have given us some keys to live this life that would be impossible without Your grace -- humility, gentleness, and patience. These do not come easily either. Nor were they intended to. They must be worked into our souls through the risks of relationship. But the more we learn to use these keys and walk in this nature, the more rich and true our relationships will become. These are the bonds of unity that cannot be broken. Though it's risky, though it can be painful, keep working Your nature into my nature. Keep calling me to risk loving others as You have loved me. Keep reminding me that the relationship is worth the risk. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, if you are in the Lexington area, please Come to The Fountain this Friday night 5/19 for our monthly, citywide gathering for prayer, praise, and healing worship -- 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary, 2800 Tates Creek Rd. People come from all traditions and denominations for a time of intimate worship in the presence of the Lord as the Holy Spirit leads. Our prayer ministry team will be available throughout the evening for prayer ministry. Paul Cooper will lead in worship and I will lead in prayer. Come and bring a friend. All are welcome! Please forward this on and tell a friend! To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching and prayer dvd's and cd's for spiritual transformation through inner healing and deliverance, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Address: 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. On the Web: http://messiah-ministries.orgDaily archives: http://morningbymorning.injesus.com