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WINNING WITH THE WORD “Winning with the Word” is a weekly blog that will help you to be a winner in life by applying God’s principles for living the abundant life as found in the Bible, God’s manual for life. An invitation for you: To subscribe to this blog, click here.  To subscribe to this podcast, click here. If this blog and podcast have blessed you, please encourage your family and friends to subscribe as well. Thank you! Be sure to check out our Featured Book of the Week at the end of this post. ______________________________________   Do you prefer listening instead of reading? Then click below to listen to today’s blog post on podcast. https://media.blubrry.com/winning_with_the_word/content.blubrry.com/winning_with_the_word/Relationship_Relationship_Relationship.mp3 ___________________________________________________________________________ Hello and Happy Day! This is Dr. MaryAnn Diorio, novelist and life coach, welcoming you to another episode of Winning with the Word. Today is Monday, May 23, 2022, and this is Episode #21 of Series 2022. This episode is titled "Relationship! Relationship! Relationship!" ___________________________________________ You have very likely heard the real estate term, "Location! Location! Location!" This term implies that location is everything in determining the value of a house.  A modest house in a prime location is usually worth more than a luxurious house in an undesirable location. Taking our cue from the "Location! Location! Location!" slogan, let's modify it a bit and talk about "Relationship! Relationship! Relationship"!  When it comes to life, relationship is everything in determining the value of life. A loving, honest, and deep relationship between two people is worth far more than a superficial relationship that is such because of neglect. Relationships are God's idea. Starting with the primary and paramount relationship--that between God and man through Jesus Christ--relationships are, ultimately, the most important thing in life. But, too often, we don't recognize that truth until it is too late. Sadly, many people relegate relationship to a secondary position, after their job or career, sports or hobbies, or, nowadays, their cell phones. If you are one of these people, listen up. In my many years of ministry, I've met countless people who reach the latter part of their lives carrying deep regret. They regret having spent too much time building a career and too little time building a marriage or a relationship with their children. Too much time chasing the dollar and too little time chasing the dream God had for them. Too much time focusing on the world and too little time focusing on the things of God. The result is a deep sense of regret, remorse, and grief. Yes, grief. You see, my friend, time is life. It is the only thing that, once spent, can never be retrieved. When we are young, we thing we have a lot of time ahead of us. But, when we are older, we realize at how quickly time passes and how little we may have left.  While no one knows his last day on earth, the odds against our having a lot of time left grow greater the older we get.  So, I ask you: What are you doing with your time? Your life? How are you spending it? Are you spending it in a way that will cause you great regret, remorse, and grief when you approach the end of it? If so, stop now and change direction.  What are you doing with your relationships, especially your most important ones?  Are you cultivating them or neglecting them?  Most of all, what are you doing with your relationship with God? Do you even have a relationship with God? If not, why not?  Perhaps you feel it's too late for you. Perhaps you've already messed up your relationships. Well, if so, let me encourage you. There is a wonderful Bible verse in Joel 2: 25 just for you. It is this: "The Lord says, 'I will give you back what you lost to the swarming locusts, the hopping locusts,