Understanding ourslelves

GENESIS of

RelationshipGod is a God of covenant

relationship

1 John 4:8

Matt 6:33

THE IDEAL:

• 1 Cor. 13:1-7

• James 1:19

“We must go deeper…. Beneath the waterline, is a huge mass of painfulmemories, arrogant demands, real or imagined threats, stubbornresolves („vows‟), and firm ideas of what we want and what we hope toavoid.Drop through all of these… and you‟ll find self-need.”

“We‟re created by a relational God to enjoy relationships. First withHim, then with others. We were designed to love, so we were given thecapacity to give & receive the love our Creator wants us to enjoy.When we receive love from God then give love to others, our soul ishealthy. We are living according to design…”

L. Crabb (2003). Soul Talk, p. 124.

SOMETIMES PROBLEMS ARISE OR ARE

Child

Wife

Student

Parent

Husband

Teacher

All I can

think about

is what he

did to me!

I just wish

she‟d notice

my efforts to

change…

This „feels‟

just like last

time…

DID YOU SEE ANYTHING UNUSUAL ON THE

PREVIOUS SLIDE?

LOOK AGAIN…

IF IT STILL LOOKS ALRIGHT TO YOU – READ IT AGAIN ---- THIS TIME CAREFULLY

WE GIVE A PHRASE (OR SITUATION)

“MEANING” BASED ON OUR PAST

EXPERIENCES AND WE LEAVE OUT

ANYTHING THAT DOESN‟T „FIT INTO‟

THAT EXPERIENCE…

2. WHAT DO YOU BOTH REMEMBER ABOUT YOUR OWN “FEELINGS”

WHILE:

• WATCHING THE FILM “HOPE SPRINGS”?

• GETTING INTO THE CAR RIGHT AFTERWARDS?

1. WHAT WERE YOUR „EXPECTATIONS‟ (BASED ON PAST EXPERIENCE)

GOING INTO THE FILM?

3. WHAT HAPPENED AS A RESULT OF YOUR „EXPERIENTIAL‟ PAST?

DID YOUR PARTNER‟S RESPONSE SURPRISE YOU?

PERSONAL

EXAMPLE

4. WHO HELD THE POWER IN THIS EXCHANGE?

NEXT TIME:

AND POWER STRUGGLES