GIFTS

'Are there places where your gifts are needed in the body of Christ? A better question is, "Where are your gifts needed?" One good way to determine your gifts is to ask yourself where you see weaknesses in the body. It is highly likely that you see these weaknesses because you are looking at the church through the lens of your gifts. Where you see weakness is probably the very place where God wants you to serve your brothers and sisters.'

Timothy S Lane and Paul David Tripp, How People Change, p.89.

RELATIONSHIPS

'We enter relationships for personal pleasure, self-actualization, and fun. We want low personal cost and high self-defined returns. But God wants high personal cost and high God-defined returns. And, although we frequently disagree with God, his plan is better.'

Tim Lane & Paul Tripp, Relationships: A Mess Worth Making, p.49.

PROBLEMS

'We make a mistake when we measure our potential to deal with difficulty by the size and duration of the problem. We should be measuring our potential according to the size of God's provision and the promise of his eternal presence.'

Timothy Lane & Paul Tripp, Relationships: A Mess Worth Making, p.40.

JESUS & RELATIONSHIPS

'Are you feeling overwhelmed by the hard work relationships require? If so, are you ready for this last fact: The shattered relationship between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit at the cross provides the basis for reconciliation. No other relationship has ever suffered more than what Father, Son, and Holy Spirit endured when Jesus hung on the cross and cried, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46). Jesus was willing to be the rejected Son so that our families would know reconciliation. Jesus was willing to become the forsaken friend so that we could have loving friendships. Jesus was willing to the rejected Lord so that we could live in loving submission to one another. Jesus was willing to be the forsaken brother so that we could have godly relationships. Jesus was willing to be the crucified king so that our communities would experience peace.'

Timothy Lane and Paul Tripp, Relationships: A Mess Worth Making, p.13.