Belong

Bottom Line: We all have mountains to climb! To make it - ROPE UP!

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him - a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:9 - 12

Move from SUSPICION to TRUST

But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 1:20

DELIVER on what you say you’re going to do.
APOLOGIZE for your failures.
SPEAK well of others in their absence.
ADMIT when you don’t know something.
INCLUDE others.

Move from HIDING to HONESTY

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Ephesians 4:25

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger. James 1:19

BEGIN by looking in.
END the pretending.
RECEIVE feedback.
Move from DIVISION to DIALOGUE

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” Matthew 5:9

All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:18

If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
Romans 12:18

PRAY - God can invade places we cannot.
PRIORITIZE reconciliation.
PAY ATTENTION to your emotions.
BE PATIENT with differences not yet resolved.

Taking It Home…

Who am I “Roped Up” with?
What steps can I take to fill relational gaps with trust?
Where am I hiding from relational growth?
How can I open dialogue in the midst of conflict?