Relationships are messy: There is the initial attraction and mutual enjoyment Future planning There are boundaries that get crossed Conditions aren’t met Agreements are broken Feelings are hurt

Adam and Eve Genesis 1:26-28 (NIV) 26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." Genesis 1:31 (NIV) 31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning--the sixth day.

Then Adam and Eve surrendered their God-given rule and dominion And became the Serpent’s food Genesis 3:14 (NIV) 14 So the LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, "Cursed are you above all the livestock and all the wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life.

Satan still seeks to deceive us and take us captive to do his slave-labor 2 Corinthians 11:3 (NIV) 3 But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 2 Timothy 2:26 (NIV) 26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

But God already had a redemption plan (Jesus) Genesis 3:15 (NIV) 15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel." 1 John 3:8 (NIV) 8 He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work.

Ever want to “toss” a relationship? God did – once Genesis 6:5-8 (NIV) 5 The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. 6 The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain. 7 So the LORD said, "I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth--men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air-- for I am grieved that I have made them." 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.

Genesis 8:20-22 (NIV) 20 Then Noah built an altar to the LORD and, taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it. 21 The LORD smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: "Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done. 22 "As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease."

After that He redeemed, renewed, revived, restored, recycled re- prefix 1. indicating return to a previous condition, restoration, withdrawal, etc rebuild, renew, retrace, reunite 2. indicating repetition of an action recopy, remarry Verbs beginning with re- indicate repetition or restoration.

Dig around it and fertilize it Luke 13:6-10 (NIV) 6 Then he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. 7 So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, 'For three years now I've been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?' 8 "'Sir,' the man replied, 'leave it alone for one more year, and I'll dig around it and fertilize it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.'"

Dig around it – expose the root (bitterness) Fertilize it – forgiveness, grace, love Matthew 12:20 (NLT) 20 He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. Finally he will cause justice to be victorious.

God is constantly doing His work of redemption, restoration, reviving John 15:1-5 (NIV) 1 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.

4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Revelation 21:5 (NIV) 5 He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."