Category: Friend

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True Friends are Hard to Find

Mark 2 Jesus has been about His Father’s business as he walked about Galilee. One thing is certain, Jesus made friends easily and not only listened but then acted if there was a need. How often do we listen but not meet the needs of others?

A sign of a true friend is one who goes beyond the normal to the extraordinary, as we see in the story of the paralytic. Here are four young men whose love for a friend would take them to find a way to meet Jesus. They tried the normal entrance, but it was impossible because of the crowd, so they climbed the house to the top and removed the roof! How extraordinary! How clever! They did not let the problem stop them until they found a solution to help their friend. Do we move heaven and earth to help a friend, or do we come and say we tried, but it is impossible? What kind of friends are we to the ones in need?

Jesus saw not just a need for physical healing but a need for spiritual healing, and so he pronounces: “Your sins are forgiven!” Yet, the naysayers who had a front-row seat scoffed and said he was blaspheming. It is no different today. We meet the naysayers who scoff. Do we press on or let their words deter us from bringing others to the Healer? 

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Doing the Right Thing…

1Chron 18: The Heart of David and My Heart
David is the new king but still waging war near and far. If the Israelites had been wise, they would not have rejected God as their King. Imagine a world in which God is the King. He promised He would cleanse the land, but now it is laid at the feet of men. The tragedy is that many are affected, and so it continues today.

After the death of Saul and Jonathan, David wonders if there is any left of the house of Saul. Could it be that God has preserved even one? Do I look for others in my family who may be alive to honor? (Yes, I did, but when I found them was told never to call, write or come for a visit. Sadness overload with no reasons given) 🙁 “tears”

But, in David’s case, God has saved one individual: Mephishobeth, Jonathan’s son, who lives in Lo Debar with a man named Ziba. David seeks him out and promises him blessing upon blessing. Imagine being Mephishobeth 🙂 upon hearing that the king requests your presence and then hearing that your future is protected!!!!!

David is an example of one who chose to administer justice and kindness to those who have suffered needlessly because of the choice made by others.

Isn’t that what Jesus did for you and me? Do I/we do the same?

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Off with the Old, On with the New

Shedding the Old for the New

Numbers 6 Last night a precious friend shed his earthly garments for the garments of the righteous in heaven. He now stands clothed in the garments that had been prepared for him in eternity past because “no one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; otherwise, the patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear results.” [Mark 2:21] He has now heard: “Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’” [Mt 25:21] We, who are left behind waiting for our day, grieve with those who grieve, yet we rejoice that he is no longer suffering. He stands whole before the heavenly realm and the Savior he loved. He had been spiritually blessed with all the spiritual blessings in the heavenly realm, and now he sees them in perfection. [Eph 1:3]

We weep with those who weep and grieve with those who grieve. To you, we offer these words: Numbers 6:24-26 “The LORD bless you, and keep you; The LORD make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you; The LORD make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you, and give you peace.

Are we ready as our dear friend to shed our earthly garments for the garments fit for the kingdom of God? 

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What do we say?

are you prepared

Ephesians 4-6 What message would Paul say about today? He said the days were evil then, and today we see evil amongst us. How do we encourage another who is facing those evil traits of the enemy? Our battle is not against flesh and blood; those are just the outward pieces of evidence of a darkened heart. As Paul sat in a darkened prison cell or from his rented house as his prison, what did he recall and how should he encourage, and how can he get this message to them? Enter Tychicus, a beloved and faithful servant. He would craft a letter to the Ephesian church to remain steadfast in the midst of a troubled environment. Who would we trust to carry our message to those who need encouragement? What message would we want them to know?

He wanted the Ephesians to know that he was praying for them and seeking their prayers for him to be bold. He reminded them that their lives are a mirror of a transformed life. The world is watching; what do they see in our families and churches? Take a page out of this Ephesian letter to help you craft words of encouragement to others.

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Do you have a true friend?

How sweet it is to have a true friend

Eccl 4-6 How sweet it is!

Solomon continues in “drama-ville” with his topic of all is vanity. 🙁 However, as he is writing, he stops to note how sweet it is to have a friend! Yeah, Friends! 🙂 They help each other in a pinch and day-to-day life! He thought how sweet it is to have a friend to curl up beside you on a cold night, adding their body warmth to yours. And also, how sweet it is to have a friend who will stand in the gap against your enemy. We face the enemy Satan, who comes in to seek, kill and destroy. However, our Friend, Jesus, will come alongside and be that third strand in a cord that cannot be broken, and He can defeat our enemy! Think of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace. Jesus came in to defeat the enemy Nebuchadnezzar!

Jesus said, “I call you friends, I no longer call you slaves because the slave does not understand what his master is doing. But I have called you friends because I have revealed to you everything I heard from my Father.” [John 15:15]

It is my prayer that you know the True Friend, Jesus! 

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Choosing Words Carefully

Choosing Words Carefully

Prov 15 Words come easily to us because God has made us a people of language. We use it to heal but also, at times to hurt. Prov 15:4 Speech that heals is like a life-giving tree, but a perverse speech breaks the spirit. Job remarked that his heart was broken after hearing all of the bad news on one particular day. [Job 17:1] Again, we read that the Lord is near the brokenhearted, and he delivers those who are discouraged. [Ps 34:18]

When we hear news such as Job’s or news that pierces the heart, what should be our response? We can be the conduit of healing with the correct words to the brokenhearted, “But, there are also words that seemingly sound “nice” but, in fact, are hurtful such as

“I know how you feel, or it was for the best, or it was time.”

It seems like some of us are truly sensitive, but others like me need much practice and much prayer, and I am on that learning curve right now! I ask myself if I will ever learn! 🙁

Some phrases to consider:

I am here to listen; I feel your pain, and just checking in to ask how is your heart today?  

Recognize that these days are seen as our friend’s affliction, trial and are hard. Therefore, be gentle and patient as you walk this road with the one in “heart pain.” Know and apply this truth: “A person has joy in giving the appropriate answer and a word at the right time—how good it is!” [Prov 15:23]

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Are you a Friend?

What is a true friend?

Isaiah 41 “A Friend is..”

What is a true friend? Isaiah reminds the people that God called Abraham his friend. How and why did God choose that designation? James tells us that  “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God.”  [James 2:23] Ruth also fits in that category because she believed Yahweh and left what was familiar to go to the unfamiliar as she joined “hip to hip” with Naomi. Jesus told the disciples you are no longer servants but friends. “No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends,” [Jn 15:15] 

A friend is one who drives two hours in the middle of the night to be with you as your sister is in the OR. A friend joins you in prayer as your precious family member nears their last hours. A friend is one who leaves the familiar to walk beside you mile after mile back to their hometown as Ruth did with Naomi.

Am I a friend of God’s? Am I a true friend? Webster defines a friend as one who is attached to another by affection; one who entertains for another sentiment of esteem, respect, and affection, which lead him to desire his company, and to seek to promote his happiness and prosperity; opposed to foe or enemy.

Would God call me His friend?

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