Today I’m honored to be a guest at Carol Peterson’s blog, I hope you’ll follow the link here to Carol’s blog to my new series, The 10 + 1 Building Blocks Of Relationships. Today’s post is an introduction to the series that will be running monthly over the next year.
Carol Peterson is a writer with a heart for encouragement, sharing parables of faith on her blog From Carol’s Quill and making learning fun in Fun with Finance and other teacher resource books.
Rachael and her lil' sis Allie
I’m writing today as a contributor to the Christian Writers Blog Chain. Our theme for this month is “Leap.” Christianwriters.com is an excellent place to network if you’re a Christian writer or author.
“If it is important to you, you will find a way. If not, you’ll find an excuse.” Rachael , my daughter. Today is her 21st Happy Birthday… and seeing as she was a huge fan of frogs, it’s time to run with Leap-Frog 
I’m going to hop on over to Rachael’s world…
If I were a frog… that thought must have run through Rachael’s mind a time or two…
If I were a frog… what would I do?
Oooo to be a frog…
living the frogs life…
… leap… obviously…
leap would be my mode of transportation…
I could play outside all day long!
I would also eat some bugs… having a tasty bug or two would help keep me nimble and quick… quick as a frog.
I would hang out with other frogs… toads… croakers…
Frogs like rainy days… or so it seems since they come out of hiding when it rains…
A “leap” to me is moving forward with positive momentum… with the assistance of like-minded frogs.
Learning leap-frog as a kid was fun and exciting…
Leap frog required that you:
I admire Rachael… she identifies with the most important part of life… and boldly finds a way.
When was your bold moment of leap-frog growing up, when you took the leap of faith?
Christian Writers Blog Chain
“True Intimacy: Just Being Me Consistently” is a post within the short series called The Wave. Please check out The Wave post page and the other posts in this series.
Ok, so you’re ready to dive right into The Wave of Identity, Character and Intimacy. Sweet! Experiencing true intimacy is easier than you think…
In fact it’s so incredibly simple you may laugh when I tell you the “secret.”
The key to having true intimacy is for me to just be myself. My presence should accurately reflect who I am.
Think of your life as a story. Can you tell us the whole story? Most people have something from their past they would rather not say. Chalk that one up to experience… and really learn from it. However, if your life entails living a story now and you would rather not share the whole story… you may want to rethink how you’re living as you’re just sticking your toes in the water. That part of the story that you can’t share is holding you back from the best that God has in store for you… and from experiencing true intimacy.
One story… one life… one me… consistently!
I don’t need to morph into an alter ego to change my curb appeal. Remember, curb appeal quickly looses significance when we’re heading down the highway… or trying to catch the big wave for the long ride into shore.
Here’s one more suggestion: Don’t forget to bring a humbled spirit. A humble spirit will take you far.
I believe this is true with finding intimacy in every relationship in our lives… those at work, friends and family, spouses, and, most importantly, with God.
When I am just me things begin to happen. Life gets real and exciting… the gracedrops fall… puddles of blessings appear…
… I can dive in and ride the wave.
Are you ready to dive in?
Are you ready to ride the wave?
it’s easier than you may think…
Leaving The Door Open is having an open and receptive heart to hearing and following God’s lead.
God looks at our hearts as well as our deeds… that which is seen and unseen… and He works in wonderful ways… we never know what the next miracle is that God will work in our world.
The story of King David was one of Leaving The Door Open. When God instructed Samuel to anoint David, He was looking at David’s faith and character…
“The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7.
David showed his faith and character when he followed God’s lead…. he displayed an open and receptive heart, and completely trusted in God to make the situation right with Saul… and his people. David displayed incredible courage, not cowardice, in doing what he knew was right… and Leaving The Door Open.
If my heart is right with God, then my relationships with other people are right too. If I feel a relationship isn’t right with someone I should go to them and attempt to make it right. If I can’t then I know that I have tried… and that I am always Leaving The Door Open… and that I have an open and receptive heart to hearing and following God’s lead.
How do you feel about Leaving The Door Open?
click here to purchase at christianbook.com
Greg Wright woke up one day when he realized that he had 4 daughters and that he knew nothing about raising girls.
His book is a relevant strategy on
Wright uses a strategy that shows genuine love for them to strengthen their father/daughter bond and relationship, focusing on their interests through a series of one-on-one get togethers he calls “daddy dates.”
Boys and girls are indeed quite different, and it is difficult at times to understand the opposite sex. Throw into the mix the good dichotomy of individuality, along with a growing teenager’s desire for independence, and just the thought of helping your daughters grow to maturity can be a real-life challenge to be overcome.
Wright does a great job in this book, it’s upbeat and engaging with excellent examples based upon his personal experiences. He displays genuine love for his daughters. The principles in the book could easily be applied by guys to any relationship with the females in your life. As a dad to two daughters myself, I found it to be helpful and informative. While the book is published by Thomas Nelson, the worlds largest Christian publisher, it would be useful to anyone regardless of religious background or interest.
Do you have a game plan for getting to know and building a stronger relationship with your daughters, wife or female friends in your life?
Relationships, whether friendships, marriage or within a family, are a give and take.
Last spring our Church group talked about the subject of relational needs, and I recently ran across the material and thought I would share it…
Top 10 Relational Needs:
Acceptance: Deliberate and ready reception with a favorable positive response, even after failure (Romans 15:7)
Affection: To communicate care and closeness through physical touch and words (Romans 16:16)
Appreciation: To communicate with words and feelings a personal gratefulness for another (1 Corinthians 11:2)
Approval: Expressed commendation; to think and speak well of (Romans 14:18)
Attention: To take thought and to convey appropriate interest and support; to enter into another’s “world” (1 Corinthians 12:25)
Comfort (Empathy): To come alongside with word, feeling and touch; to give consolation and tenderness (Romans 12:15)
Encouragement: To urge forward and positively persuade toward a goal (1 Thessalonians 5:11, Hebrews 10:24)
Respect: To value and regard highly; to convey great worth (Romans 12:10)
Security: Confidence of harmony in relationships; free from harm (Romans 12:16a)
Support: Come alongside and gently help carry a load (Galatians 6:2)
I found it interesting that three of these verses come from Romans Chapter 12. I LOVE this chapter, it’s about how to live out our faith every day.
Can you think of any other needs that are necessary for a relationship to work?
Carol Peterson (9)
Dan Black (5)
Joseph Lalonde (5)
arny (3)
TC Avey (3)
Christine Niles (2)
Adam Collings (1)
MGalloway (1)
Seth Caddell (1)
Traci B (1)