Love Triangle

Picture a triangle. Now, aren’t you glad you used your imagination today? On one side of the triangle picture the word “passion”. One another side of the triangle picture the word “intimacy”. Finally, on the last side picture the word “commitment”.

Got it? Ok.

I was reading a book about marriage this week and this is how the guy described the elements of love in a relationship.

Passion is excitement. [romance, sex etc.] Intimacy is closeness. [conversation, deep interaction and connection] Commitment is longevity [you're in it for the long haul, even if you don't have any excitement or closeness. It is a decision that you have made and will not turn from it]

At different times and different stages in a relationship one of the three areas may be more dominate than the others. A lot of times this causes conflict and misunderstandings. One person may value passion at a certain time in the relationship while the other wants  commitment. One may value intimacy while the other values passion and so on.

I began to think of my relationship with God in this way. Sometimes I will experience passion and excitement with God. Other times a great closeness and intimacy. Still other times just the raw decision of commitment.

There are times in our lives and in our relationship with God that we don’t feel the passion. We think something is wrong. We think we have done something wrong or that we are not doing enough. I think it is important to remember that love has three sides.

We don’t always get what we want in love, but we get what we always need. We don’t always need to feel passion and intimacy with God. Sometimes we need to just feel solid in our commitment to Him. I am being convinced [not yet decided] that more growth happens when you don’t feel God than when you do. If your commitment is great enough, you will come out on the other side with more intimacy and passion than ever before!

Love has three sides.

I dream of a church

I dream of a church…

1. that is not boring
2. that is full of people doing their best to live the bible way rather than their own
3. that Jesus would be proud of
4. that Jesus would call His
5. that has real answers for people’s problems
6. where my family is valued and included
7. that makes an impact on the community around them
8. that is full of God’s power untainted by men’s influence
9. that has real friendships and accountable relationships
10. that is a highway of holiness, a hospital for the hurting and a home for the homeless
11. that befriends tax collectors and sinners for the saving of their souls
12. that dares to pray
13. whose prayers get answered
14. that has the compassion of Jesus and the conviction of the Holy Spirit
15. where husbands and wives are true examples of Christ and the Church
16. that is full of worn out bibles and tear stained altars