Mike Paschall . com

“I’ll give you a new heart. I’ll put a new spirit in you. I’ll cut out your stone heart and replace it with a red-blooded, firm-muscled heart. Then you’ll obey my statutes and be careful to obey my commands. You’ll be my people! I’ll be your God!”  Ezekiel 11:19-20, MESSAGE

That being true, because we’re supposed to be different, can we say…

I LOVE YOU – An affirmation of how vitally important the relationship is to you.

I AM SORRY – It’s beyond a confession of guilt.  It is self-aware, and been dipped in brokenness.  It’s the whole message.  It is not followed with, “…but,…”  Possibly the hardest words we ever have to speak, because of our own stubbornness and unrepentant pride  (Romans 2:3-5).

PLEASE FORGIVE ME – It is a request for grace, but aware that it might not be granted.  We say it anyway.

I FORGIVE YOU – It’s a horrible lead-in statement, but best used after a problem has been discussed.

ARE WE GOOD? – We know when there is a problem.  It’s a invite for a necessary conversation.

-MDP-