Friendship

friend

/frend/
Noun
A person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection.

I have been thinking a lot lately about friends and friendship. A subject that seems to be close to my heart lately.  I look back over the years at the friends that have came and went.  Some I was sad to see go some not so much.  I find it strange how in such a short amount of time the circles we travel in change so much.  The decisions we make or other people make alter those circles, sometimes to the ending of certain friendships.  Yet I know there was a purpose in all of these friendships.

I like to think of the friendship of David and Jonathan.  It's actually one of my favorite passages in the bible.  True friendship that endured test and time.  Check in out starting in 1 Samuel 18. 

My friend Teri has been my friend for ohhh going on 15 or 16 years.  Her youngest daughter was a bitty baby.  I know she was a God send to my life.  If not for her so many times and in so many circumstances, not sure where I would be now or where my sanity would be now.  God used her in a mighty way at a time in my life where God was the last person I would listen to.  We are still friends to this day and she loves me just as much, if not more, not being a basket case as she did when I was one.  Now she doesn't always have to take care of me.  I let God do that now. I'm not sure where Teri stands with the Lord, that's between them, but I have made sure to tell her how much He loves her and how much He has done in my life, and how I know He orchestrated our frienship.  I pray for her and her family (my family) everyday.  I want her to see heaven with me and share the love of Christ that I now know so well.  Somehow I know she will always be part of me and my life. :) Thank you Lord for Teri.

Then there are new friendships.  I rededicated my life to the Lord almost 3 years ago.  Since then old frienships aren't what they used to be and some of the new ones are what they could have been, and now just aren't.  Then there are those that you just know the Lord put there and will always be a part of you because they have changed and influenced you and encouraged you in the Lord (Thanks Kevin, Janece, Frank, Amelia, Bev, all my Church 4:18 family) or maybe you did them. I have some of those people in my life these days.  That makes me happy.  I have a whole family I never thought I would have! 

I have a new friend Lisa.  Strange the friends we make and how we make them, but I feel like the Lord has spoke longevity into this friendship as well.  He knows what we need when we need it. Looking forward to see where the Lord leads us.

I want to be a good friend to those God has put in my life.  I feel like I'm suppose to be an encourager to those who need it.  Somehow to be that friend in waiting when someone needs one.  I think that is something the Lord wants us all to be, but I feel like this is one of His gifts for me. 

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 NIV
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work; If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!

Think about your friendships today, but most of all think about your friendship with the Lord.  He should be our number one friend.

Psalm 73:26 NLT
My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.

Matthew 22:36-4 NIV

36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Again the definition of Friend:
 

friend

/frend/
Noun
A person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection.

MUTUAL AFFECTION!  I want to have mutual affection with the Lord so I can have a mutual affection with those he puts in my life.

Thank you Lord today for all those you put in my path.  Help me to be the friend, the sister you have called me to be. Amen.





 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Light At The End Of The Tunnel

T hrough a season of heartache, mistakes, transition, and loss it has been more than difficult to focus on the Kingdom. When I prayed at the beginning of the year for what God had for me to do this year He gave me Matthew 6:33. Matthew 6:33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. I was supposed to focus on the Kingdom. It has been difficult with all the distractions, but I know it was exactly because of those distractions and road blocks that God made sure I was trying to focus on the Kingdom. It has been next to impossible to focus, but His word has been a constant reminder. A reminder that I'm not walking alone, but He is here with me. I lost my best friend of 20 years July 10th. It's been less than three weeks. My heart is more than broken, if that is even possible. Teri was strong, but compassionate. Straight forward and honest. If she loved you, she loved you with all she was and no one
Read more

His Grace is Enough

So a friend of mine and I were talking one day as we ran into each other at the store.  She was a little upset about some recent events in her home.  During the course of our conversation....somehow it strangely came around to God's grace.  She admitted to me that she really didn't understand what that meant exactly.  I had to admit at one time as a  new Christian I also really understand what His "grace" was either.  I told her what I knew to let her digest that, but told her I would email her some information after I did some study.  I found this short couple of statements via http://www.acts17-11.com/mercy.html. Mercy--not getting what you do deserve / withheld punishment Grace--getting what you don't deserve / unmerited favor Ephesians 2:4-10 4  But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5  that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been
Read more

One Plants.....

"6 I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow.   7  It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow.   8  The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work.   9  For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building" (1 Corinthians 3:6-9)      My pastor preached about our purpose today.  It was an amazing message. Some of what he said made me take notice of some of the people around me in church. I started looking around.  As I was doing that the above scripture came to mind.  I looked at my cousin sitting in front of me.  I saw God's amazing work in his life.  My heart was overwhelmed. His mom had planted the seed of faith and salvation years ago, his brother has watered it, but it was God who had made the seed grow.  I wish I could tell you his whole
Read more