Reading: Romans 8:14-17 When we don’t socialize with certain people daily, it’s easy to assume the reason is we have nothing in common with one another. That may not always be the case, especially for those who may be members of our church’s congregation. Sharing our testimonies, doubts, answered prayers, and faith should reveal our commonality in Jesus Christ, regardless of how different we may seem from other Christians. Our Lord and Savior is enough to bring two strangers together with the bonds of friendship, and even closer as Jesus Himself said that whoever does God’s will is His family …
The Power to Encourage
Encouragement is powerful. It’s incredible. It inspires, it motivates and it lifts people up. On the other hand, discouragement is just the opposite. It put people down, it hurt and injure them. And for some, it stop them in their tracks and keep them from moving forward. In the book of Acts we are told of a man by the name of Barnabas. While there are many aspects of his life, it is specifically noted in Acts 4: 36 that he is called the “Son of Consolation.” However, Barnabas was certainly good at “lifting another’s spirit”. Consequently we see …
Lord, Help Me Be A Friend…A Poem
Lord help me to be The friend that You’d have me to be, To pause, to think, to listen, Before I even speak. Help me to love more, pray more, Lend a helping hand, Encourage, lift up, And be there to understand. Use me Lord Jesus, And forgive me when I err. I want to be like You, And always be there… To be a blessing to someone today, To praise You , give You glory, And magnify Your name. Ruth Basquez
Lord, Help Me To Be A Friend
“Lord, Help Me To Be A Friend” Matthew 5:16 (KJV) “Let your light so shine before me that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Take a moment to reflect on what kind of friend you are… I’m going to share with you things that have been shared with me over the years about how to be a friend. Say less, listen more. The more you say, the less people listen. People don’t care how much you know, they just want to know how much you care. This was very good advice. …
Jesus Is The Best Friend
“Jesus Is The Best Friend…” You could ever have, When no one else is there He’s there to hold your hand… To walk with you, comfort you, Embrace you in His arms. When the road gets rough and steep, He’ll carry you farther on John 15:14 (NIV) “You are my friends if you do what I command.” II Peter 3:9b (NIV) “He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” John 15:13 (NIV) “Greater love has no one than this that he lay down his life for his friends.” Jesus calls us …
What Is A Friend?
In His Quietness Proverbs 17:17a (NIV) “A friend loves at all times…” I Corinthians 13:4-7 (NIV) “Love is patient, Love is kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud, it is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth, always hopes, always perseveres.” I’m so thankful for the friends that God has given me. Do you know that if you have one or two true friends in you life you’re considered blessed? I feel …
If You’ve Ever Been Forgotten
I opened Drew’s backpack to discover that his class picture was in. As any mom does, I scanned the familiar faces looking for my boy. I scanned again. Then I looked at every individual’s face, wondering how I could miss my red-headed child. I couldn’t believe what I didn’t see. Drew was not there. I looked at the date when the photo was taken and I didn’t recall him missing class that day. I texted his teacher asking if he was absent. She promptly looked into it and texted me back. She discovered that Drew had been separated from the …
Crying Over Hot Dogs
My poor friend Heather. She probably wasn’t expecting her statement of, “I’m not sure if he has bought hot dogs yet” to bring me to tears. But she’s a counselor for a living. I was pretty sure she could handle it. I was shocked by my meltdown. After trying to gracefully hang up the phone as quickly as possible, I began to examine what in the world caused my reaction. It seemed to be caused by quite a few little things that had added up: 1. I called our local garden supply store for the third times in 2 weeks to find …
Love in the Little Things
As I was standing in the narrow grocery store aisle, trying to locate a coupon on my phone, she turned the corner to the aisle, smiled, and took another route. Her two well-behaved little girls were in the cart, neither of them older than 2 I’d venture, and despite just a quick glance at her, I could tell that she was a bit frazzled. I guess for a mom still in those exhausting years with little ones, it’s pretty easy for me to spot that look. I didn’t see her again until I took my few items to the express check-out …