Relationship.

It is Easter today and not only has the Lord risen, for he has risen indeed! But he died. He died so that he could be in RELATIONSHIP with us. Lately relationship has been heavy in my thoughts. I have heard it said to me countless times, "Its all about relationship."

It is.

Like a pharasee I have pursued systems, formulas, methods, principles to try to figure out the right way to live, to be healthy, be in relationship with people/God. But none of those work! I still try to pursue this way of living...but everytime...they fail. Perfection, once I feel like I have reached a bit of it that too fails...because no one is perfect, you can't relate to anyone.

Life...everything is about RELATIONSHIP.

Thoughts:

Breathing while running. You can't just apply the take two breaths in for 2 steps and 2breaths out for the other 2 and have your breathing be down. It takes listening to your body and the breaths it needs depending on the terain, the whether, how your body is feeling that day. RELATIONSHIP.

Nutrition, I once became so rigid in how to become so healthy and find the perfect nutrition for running. I wanted nutritionalists to just tell me how many calories my body needs each day and what foods to eat and then I would follow that to a tee and feel great all day every day and run so well...NOT. I see it doesn't work that way. Its all about relationship. Listening to what your body needs for that day...that moment...depending on how much you ran that day or didn't. WOW.

With people, I am soo good at planning out what I am going to say to people, how I am going to act, sound, look that it makes me quinch and I am sure others, when ever I perform out my "successful image". If it is not about being good, sounding good, or looking good around people...it must be about RELATIONSHIP. Listening and responding in that very moment, ready for what ever the conversation the the spirit leads us in our time spent with each other. That takes being present, and letting go of our planned out words and actions that wasted energy took so much time constructing moments before the encounter with the friend, youth student in the car ride over to the coffee shop or wherever to meet with them haha. Typical. Funny person I am. Funny people we are.

And what about even our direct relationship with the Lord now? A legalist would say, read your Bible for this amount of time and pray this prayer and your growth with God would grow leaps and bounds! But...as I have went down this road many times, and still fall into this trap...that doesn't work either! Its about relationship with our LIVING ABBA FATHER. Some days we need to just rest in his arms for an hour to fill out hearts, or sometimes we need 2 hours of reading scripture. The great thing is that God knows our hearts and knows what we need at EVERY moment. Why? Because its all about RELATIONSHIP! :)

Thank you Lord for dying on the cross for my sins and cleansing us so that you my perfect daddy can bring us back into relationship with you. Wow. Such a good good daddy.

Sitting in the back of the plane on my way to Africa, Here I am Arms Open Wide.

Sitting outside of IMME quarters journaling in AFRICA, Here I am Arms Open Wide.

STANDING on the top ridge of the bluff facing the strong wind overlooking the water, Here I am Arms Open Wide.

HERE I AM ARMS OPEN WIDE.


Take my life I lay it down at the cross where I am found. All I have I give to you oh God. Take my hands and make them clean. Keep my heart in purity that I might walk in all you have for me. Oh here I STAND arms open wide. I am yours and you are mine. JESUS. HERE TAKE MY MOMENTS.