Friends...True Friends

One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24

Friendships are very important to me. I value every close friendship I have ever made and grieve the loss of those who did not work out. Friends help us grow. They cheer us up. They listen to us. I just can't imagine a world without friends. 

When we rely on Facebook as our source of 'friends' that is not a true and meaningful friendship. I am not saying you don't have 'real' friends on this popular social media site, but how many friends on Facebook locally have you called up to hang out with? Just giving you something to think about. When someone clicks the 'like thumbs up' icon on Facebook do you put tons of weight in that thinking "they like they really like me." (Former Academy Winner Actress Sally Field said something similar after winning her second Oscar in 1984 for 'Places In The Heart.'

The best way to get friends is to be a friend. Don't be a friend only if someone can do something for you. See if there is someone you could do something special for today. Perhaps drop an actual snail mail note, with a stamp, to a friend in a different state or country. Get away from all the wired media and tune in to those friends out there. You will be better for it. 

PRAYER: Thank you so much for my friends of today, yesterday, and those I have not even met yet. Help me to be an awesome friend to those people you have placed in my life. Help me to not wait for someone else to make the first move. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Click link for a song of worship:

https://youtu.be/oOCJAVlESEo

Got Friends?

A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.Proverbs 18:24

Friends are extremely important to me. In my 30 years moving around with the United States Army many of our fellow military and civilian friends have become like a second family to us. We have shared holiday meals and done many things together. I am blessed with a very  large Christmas card list. There have been losses of friends though too, some to early death and some who just were tired of being my friend. Those hurt.

If you have ever been jilted by a dear friend it is very painful and confusing. Nothing you can say or do matters so it is best to let it go and shake the dust off your feet so to speak. Concentrate on the friends who do appreciate you with all the quirks that come with you. Don't force anyone to like you. Only God can change a heart. 

PRAYER: Thank you Lord for the blessing of friendship. Thank you for the way. You have brought people into my life and the lessons I learned from those who "unfriended" me. In Jesus' name. Amen.

FRIENDS ARE SO IMPORTANT

As I get closer to the New Year I reflect back on the joy of friendship. I have learned much throughout the years about what to do and not to do with some people. I have had joys and I have had sorrows. A friend can make you or break you as well. There is a Bible verse that simply says 'Bad company corrupts morals' (1 Corinthians 15:33). Another verse says 'A companion of fools suffers harm' (Proverbs 16:20).

I like the saying "If you want to be a friend you have to show yourself friendly". That is oh so true. Don't wait for someone else to make the first move. We can make friends in very unique places and ways. The good thing is to keep prayer in the center of making friends.

Jesus is of course, or should be, your very best friend. Is he? A best friend is someone you want to be with and spend time with. A friend is someone who loves you, warts and all. That is how Jesus loves us. A friend listens and does not put you down and hurt you. A friend is there when the world runs out on you. A friend understands and does not judge you. A friend hurts when you hurt. I could go on and on. This is exactly the kind of friend Jesus' is.

James 4:8 says 'Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts.' Luke 6:31 says 'And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.'

Jesus wants you to want to hang out with Him. Often as we rush through our days we barely give him a thought much less sitting down to be still and quiet and "talk" to Him.

Revelation 3:20 says 'Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.' Are you ready to be a real friend of Jesus today?

PRAYER: Lord God thank you for the blessings of friendships. Thanks for being my best friend. Forgive me when I have ignored you. I want to be a better friend. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

OUR PRECIOUS FRIENDS

Yesterday morning upon awakening I checked my text messages and received one from son Matt letting me know one of my dear friends had died Sunday from multiple myloma. I had only found out she was sick on November 10th. This precious friend I had not seen since 1996 when our family visited them in Colorado. Now she is with Jesus and she was not even 60 yet. Just goes to show you how brief life is. Treasure your friends. Tell them you love them. If you are close make time for them. Keep in touch by letters and cards, not just email forwards.Pick up the phone and call. Ask forgiveness if you hurt them.

This particular friend Luana, I knew when our children were all pre schoolers back in Ilinois She too was a military wife. We shared many happy times over General Foods International Coffee "celebrating the moments of our lives". After 1990 we did not stay in touch as well as the military moved both of our families but I always held a fond place in my heart for her. Their family was always one of the 'special ones' to us though. I am saddened as they deal with unexpected grief but rejoicing she is in heaven.

No one likes to say goodbye forever to a loved one or friend. It hurts. Grief hurts. But for the believer there is joy in knowing we will be reunited in heaven one day. None of us expects to die young but sometimes it does happen. God has a way of healing hurts and wounds we feel but sometimes it takes time.

Matthew 5:4(NIV) says 'Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted."

Romans 8:18(NIV) says 'For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.'

Phillipians 1:22-24(ESV) says 'But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.'

Psalm 116:15(NIV) says 'Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his faithful servants.'

PRAYER: Lord Jesus I pray for those who are hurting from the recent death of a family member or friend. I pray for friends to surround those hurting and be there with a hug and a prayer. In Jesus' name. Amen.


Click on link for song in Luana Killam memory.

http://youtu.be/Ped1jYLFtkA

SOMEDAY MAY NEVER COME

Do you ever intend to do something, go somewhere, meet up with a
friend, or perhaps meet a new person? I think we all probably do. I
had good intentions of meeting a beautiful lady who was a member of
our contemporary worship team at church but never got to. She died of
cancer Monday.

I had messaged her through Facebook and mailed her cards during her
ordeal with chemo and the few times she was back in church either up
singing on stage or just in a chair I never went forward to introduce
myself. Now I have to wait till I get to heaven someday. This lady had
a wonderful spirit which came across even on messages. For several
years I watched her up front singing praises to The Lord but never got
to meet her. She is singing with Jesus now and her husband and two
children are left here on earth missing her and I am sure deeply
grieving.

The point of my devotion is do not keep saying stuff and putting it
off as you may not get another chance. That card you intend to send.
That apology you intend to render. That visit you intend to make. That
gift you intend to give. That thank you you intend to say. That love
you intend to show.

I have little notes on my phone from this friend I never met but I am
sure she is delighting to be in the arms of Jesus now. No more tears.
No more pain. No more suffering. No more earthly cares and concerns.
Left behind are people who wonder why she died so young.

Friend you may not get another chance to show kindness or say
something to someone you love. Do not keep putting things off. Be pro
active and initiate things so later on you won't have regrets. We do
not know how long we will be on this Earth. Don't hold grudges and
hatred in your heart but instead make an effort to be loving and forgive people.

Read the Bible and study it. Don't wait for someone else to read it on
Sunday. Get to know about Jesus. Pick up His word and start growing in
Christ right now.

Do you know you would go to heaven if you suddenly died? Are you sure?
You can ask forgiveness of your sins and ask Him into your heart
today. He is only a prayer away.

In Philippians 1:22-23(NIV) it says 'If I am to go on living in the body this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know.I am torn between the two. I desire to depart and be with Christ , which is better by far.'

Do the best you can to serve Christ down here and on Earth and live like today may be your last on Earth. Do not always wait for the other person to initiate the first contact.

PRAYER: Thank You Lord for the opportunities for impacting others lives. Help me Lord not to always think of ways to make myself more comfortable but help me reach out to others and make a difference in their life and they in mine, before it is too late. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Click link below and praise God for who He is today and always!

http://youtu.be/_YFGzY_8li8