It was January 8, 2020 when I first posted on this blog. I had branched out from my original WP blog intending to start one for recreational and creative purposes.
It wasn’t long before I realized that I was so entwined with God that I couldn’t be separated into layers (so easily), as you might separate the layers of an onion. God pours out of me in every layer of my life.
Only a month after I created Pippis Poetry (and Purposeful Prose) I wrote the words below. I did wonder where this one ended up. 🤔 I guess it was germinating in my documents folder until it was time to be planted. 🌳
You always find things when you’re Spring cleaning!!! 🥳🥳🥳
It’s A Relationship
February 8, 2020
I read a blog post recently that caused sadness. This blogger’s claim was that a relationship with God is bogus. He pointed out that Christians often say that it’s not about religion; It’s about a relationship. Next, he insisted that he did everything he was supposed to do, but he found no relationship with Jesus.
At first I didn’t understand why he hadn’t found that relationship…
In my experience there is communion with the Lord. God answers prayer, He leads and speaks in so many different ways, He comforts, He reminds, He supplies our needs and He can even heal.
I’ve experienced a healed relationship more than once. This is why Jesus was sent: Through Jesus, our broken relationship with God is mended.
God isn’t distant! In fact, His feet touched the earth. Sripture tells us that all of God dwelt in Jesus bodily.
A relationship with Jesus requires belief. This isn’t simply the belief in Jesus; it’s also the belief that our broken relationship with God can be restored through Jesus by faith. Therefore, it really is all about a relationship.
Unbelief
What hinders a relationship with Jesus is unbelief and a lack of commitment. I don’t think this fellow believed and he definitely gave up WAY too soon… Clearly he had barely dipped his toes in the water. Faith is a lifelong commitment.
Scripture tells us how to find God. We must be ALL IN.
You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. ❤
Jeremiah 29:13 (Berean Study Bible)
Jesus declared, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart ❤ and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
Religious Protocol
His insistence that he did everything he was supposed to do, but STILL didn’t find that relationship, gives me another clue as to his mindset. He was expecting to find God through religious protocol.
We willlingly do what’s required of us because it builds that relationship with God. However, if the heart isn’t in it, it’s simply empty rituals and rule keeping with the goal of earning one’s way into heaven.
However, Salvation and God’s love aren’t earned. There will be rewards in heaven for serving God “religiously” (or consistently and continuously) but Salvation is a gift through believing in Jesus Christ. It’s a gift that restores our relationship with God and promises us an eternity in heaven with Jesus. ❤
When we willingly and sincerely persevere with faith, we come to know Jesus more intimately. Pursuing God is also a command that helps us to receive all that God wants us to receive in this life and the next. The closer we move towards Him the closer He moves towards us, and our faith in Jesus makes us right with God.
Are you ALL IN? (Heart, Soul and Mind?) Then the body needs to follow and take that plunge into the deep!
Jesus is the Way to Reconicile with God ❤
“When people work, their pay is not given as a gift, but as something earned. But people cannot do any work that will make them right with God. So they must trust in Him, who makes even evil people right in His sight. Then God accepts their faith, and that makes them right with Him.” –Romans 4:4-5 (New Century Version)
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
John 14:6 (Berean Study Bible)
Then he took Paul and Silas outside and asked, “Sirs, what do I have to do to be saved?”
They answered, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you and your family will be saved.”
Acts 16:30-31 ( GOD’S WORD Translation )
Pippi's Poetry 
Thank God and thank you Tina🙏
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I agree that this man’s words are sad. And I also agree with your
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Oops I accidentally hit reply too soon! 😬 I was trying to say that I agree with your points about why he didn’t find Jesus. It sounds like he never truly had Jesus in his heart. He tried to follow the “rules” and then gave up. I am so glad that the Lord doesn’t give up as easily as some people give up on Him. What comfort and beauty there is in knowing that He pulls us to Himself. And the more we seek Him, the more we find Him. I am ALL IN!! 🙌♥️🙏
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Following Jesus starts with belief. It has to. You can’t have a relationship with God without believing that He is real and that He is there for us. When we believe we seek Him and when we seek Him with all our heart we find Him. So I think this fellow was only dipping his toe in the water because he didn’t believe. He was likely trying to see if God were real. Growing close to God only works if you believe, and only God can open eyes and draw us to Him. So then we must pray for those who don’t believe and we must ask God to draw them to Him. God works in mysterious ways, but I do think that the way He works is designed to cause us to love one another and not live only for ourselves.
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A relationship with God requires communication (prayer) which includes listening for God’s whisper and the Holy Spirit’s direction. It also includes taking time to dwell in the Word, rest in God, and be open-hearted to His path. It seems like the blogger had a one-sided relationship based on self.
Happy Spring and Happy Spring Cleaning, Tina!😊 💗🐝🌷💐🌺
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Thank you Jeanne. 😊 💗💐💕⚘🌞
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Spring cleaning is something that I should do more in the home, on the blog and definitely in my mind. Refocus on what is important. ❤️
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Yes, indeed. ❤
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