This is Dedicated to the ONE I loved...

Toxic Relationship and the Christian...... This is dedicated to the one I loved. 02/01/2014 0 Comments   Friend [noun] - A person who you like and enjoy being with: A person who helps or supports someone or something: One attached to another by affection or esteem Other words used to explain Friend: Pal, Buddy, Companion, Comrade, Mate, Partner, Confidante, Supporter, Collaborator, Ally, Defender, Advocate  - To treat in a harsh or harmful way: To use or treat in a way that causes damage: To use wrongly: Language that condemns or vilifies usually unjustly, intemperately, and angrily.  Other words used to explain Abuse: Exploitation, Manipulation, Mishandling, Taking Advantage, Ill-treatment, Invective, Denunciation, Attack, Criticism  Christian [Adjective] - of or relating to Jesus Christ or the religion based on His teachings: treating other people in a kind and generous way: Based on or conforming to Christian ethics Other words to describe Christian: Disciple, Follower, Believer, Devotee “When God wants to bless you, how does He do it? He sends people into your life. When the devil wants to destroy you, how does He do it? He sends people!” Paula White How can I tell if my friends and or any other relationship is toxic? There are several indicators of these relationships that WE do not want to see because we think we can pray it out, love it out, and endure it out. But remember what the Devil does not take from you he will use it against you. The Strifers and Divisors Amos 3:3 asks us, "Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?"   James 3:16- "Where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there"  James 1:8 A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways  The term double-minded comes from the Greek word dipsuchos, meaning “a person with two minds or souls.”  These people take your focus off what is truly important, GOD, and His will.  Way back in the Days people [usually our family] Luke 4:24 “And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.”  Matthew 13:55 “Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?” Proverbs 25:17 “Withdraw your foot from your neighbor's house; lest he be weary of you, and so hate you.’                                       “Familiarity breeds contempt and children” -Mark Twain These are the people who remember your past and cannot see your present nor will they see your future in Christ. Therefore by their standards, you are just plain old plain old and not a new Creature in Christ [2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”]  Heart Violators and Dream Crushers [Thieves and Liars] Matthew 5:11 “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things about you falsely on account of me.” 1 Peter 4:15 “If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.” John 15:21 “But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.” These are the people who smile in your face and talk about your behind your back. These are the people who will say to you “Are you sure?” they will make you doubt your gifts, ministry, and purpose in Christ.  They take advantage of the “needs” or desires in your life and steals your hopes and dreams of faith. The Scribes and Pharisees [ these are the people in church who have the form of godliness] Matthew 23:13 “But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.”  Luke 11:45 “Then answered one of the lawyers, and said unto him, Master, thus saying thou reproachest us also.”   2 Timothy 3:5 “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” These are the people who misplaced doctrinal priorities distort the true meaning of the Bible by lifting incidental teachings to essential levels. These people major on minors do not focus so much on doctrines as they do on practices and customs that may or may not be in the Bible and focus on personal lives that do not “appear” to be godly by their standards. They are manipulators and controllers who take advantage of Christians for their own ends and they will pretend to help you, but they actually use you. Getting Healthy in godliness  Pray and Seek GOD Read the Scriptures  Identify that the relationship is out of balance. Give the person and relationship over to GOD who is the only one who can change the relationship, person, and heart. By giving it to GOD it doesn’t mean you drop the relationship [unless the LORD shows you that you must, remember that people are in our lives sometimes for seasons, reasons and lessons]  Do not do GOD’s job, Let GOD do His work in the relationship  Do not enable Do not make excuses  Do not be responsible for the person’s success or failures. Do not take things or criticisms personally even if it was not meant to help. Be gracious and pray walk AWAY. It is not what the person[s] say about you that matters it is what GOD has to say about you. Take Responsibility for your own self and change what needs to be changed [Remember you can only Change your behavior and feelings] Avoid being drawn into to their pitfalls and snares. You Pray for me and I'll pray for you until next time... Me Prayer: Father I come to you in Jesus name, because I have loved well but not too wisely. I have given my heart to someone who has not honored this gift of heart. Help me dear LORD to forgive, heal, and do what is right before Your eyes. Give me wisdom in how I should handle this relationship. Grant me the grace to go forward with You at the Helm of my life. Lead me in the ways I should go for You are my Strength and I choose You to give this precious gift of my heart for my heart should only belong to You. Open my eyes to the truth and help me to grow in Your love while I deal with them. Help me to do the honorable and right thing. I now leave this person and all the results of this relationship in Your hands and I know that You will bless this decision and will provide for all my needs and will bring blessings into my life if I just continue to follow after You and Trust in You for all that I need. I pray this in Jesus name… AMEN