Relationships - A Mess Worth Making

As a church, we are going to be going through a book by Tim Lane & Paul Tripp. It's called "Relationships - A Mess Worth Making." Here are some quotes that I wanted to share with you all. As you read these, keep in mind that we are able to show such mercy & love towards others only as we ourselves have received mercy through the cross. "We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen" (1 John 4:19-20).

"Our relationships will never work according to our plan...This means that God will take us where we have not planned to go in order to produce in us what we could not achieve on our own." (p. 109)

"God sends the uncomfortable grace of trial not to crush or discourage us, but to mature and refine us. ...It isn't enough to ask for the character you need to survive the difficulties of life and the weaknesses of the other person. We have been called to minister to the people that God, in his wisdom, has placed in our lives. He wants to use us as instruments of grace in their lives." (p. 110)

"Encouragement is not just about making people feel and think better; it's about stimulating spiritual imagination. Encouragement gives struggling people the eyes to see an unseen Christ. ...We need eyes to see this one amazing reality: that we are Christ's and he is ours." (p. 113)

"A relationship without mercy is a relationship lived outside biblical borders. ...two definitions of mercy: (1) Mercy is the kind, sympathetic, and forgiving treatment of others that works to relieve their distress and cancel their debt. Or (2) mercy is compassion combined with forbearance and action. ...What makes mercy merciful is a heartfelt compassion that results in some kind of action toward the other person." (p. 134-135)