I came across this passage this morning when I was doing my Bible Study on Finding Joy and the Fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5:1-26. It spoke about Jesus' command that He spoke of in Matthew 22:39 " Love your neighbor as yourself". This spoke to my heart after I had a rather long discussion with my 10 year old daughter Bethany yesterday about some problems she is having with some girls in her class. She told me her concerns and I talked with her about how she should handle it the way Christ would want us to handle the situation. That in our human flesh we are quick to judge. criticize and to seek revenge and hurt them as much as they hurt you. I look forward to talking further with her about what I read in my devotional study this morning that will explain more about what the Bible says concerning our relationships with others whether it is someone we like or dislike.
Bethany is facing what she calls the 'girl bullies of her class". It's the typical thing where they would gossip and spread rumors about their peers.. they boss you around.. criticize you often. Bethany would tell things she would over hear them saying about someone else..she is disgusted on how they boss her around and how they treat others. Bethany is a loving caring soul which is one of the many things I love about her and she has been taught to treat others like she would want to be treated. We want her to protect herself phsyically and emotionally if she needs to but we are now teaching her on how to go about it in a loving way the way Christ would want us to do it. We are to love everyone...that means even our enemies. As a mother and someone that has gone through the same thing and sometimes still do I read some things that will help me as a mother teach my children as well as myself on issues of gossip and criticism.
Galatians 5:15-16 ...Love your neighbor as yourself. If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
I believe in our sinful nature we have all judged,criticized and stereotyped others. I know I have and once I look back on the bitter thought or said something critical about someone I know I don't feel good about myself and feel bad for having those feelings. I see that upsetting Bethany at times when she talks about it.
I have learned and hope to teach my children in a way that they would understand is that when I am not motivated by love, I become critical of others...I stop looking for good in them and see only their faults. When this happens with fellow believers that attitude will eventually break the unity. I need to ask myself:
1. Have I talked behind someone's back today?
2. Have I focused on other's shortcomings instead of their strength?
"Love your neighbor as yourself"
I know I need to remind myself and my children of Jesus' command to love others as we love ourselves.Which is so hard to do when you are being wronged or see someone else being wronged. But it never says that being a Christian and doing the right thing is always easy.
When I begin to feel critical of someone I need to make a mental list of that person's positive qualities. I have been practicing that alot lately. I know I wouldn't want someone looking at me and just thinking critical thoughts..would you?
If there are problems that need to be addressed, it is better to confront in love than in gossip
I want to criticize those girls and the future ones that will do the same things throughout Bethany's life..I want to call their parents...I want to do everything I can to protect my childtren. But I know that would be the wrong way to handle it. I remind both my kids as well as myself on a daily basis that we are to be examples of Christ love that we need to be careful how we handle ourselves in sticky situations. I want them to stand up for themselves but in a way that is glorifying God. Nine times out of ten those same kids that may give you a hard time will see how you handle it and that could lead to a change in their hearts.
Have a blessed day
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Friday, February 24, 2012
WHAT OBEDIENCE MEANS TO ME
I just completed a study from 1 Samuel 15:1-35 and I learned what true obedience means to me:
-Obedience to God and what His Word tells me is crucial.
-Obedience shows God that I consider Him holy and worthy of honor
-Obedience shows me that my faith is real
-When God says something to me in His Word I need to take it personally. Just reading His Word won't fulfull my obligation to Him ..my actions will reflect my heart toward God.
-Obedience honors God..disobedience dishonors God
-The practice of obedience will align my heart with God's own desire.
Questions I need to ask myself on a daily basis:
1. What was the last command God gave me through His Word?
2. Did I obey or diobey?
3. How did my actions honor of dishonor God?
1 Peter 1:15-16 " Be holy,because I am holy"
Hope everyone has a blessed day ;0
-Obedience to God and what His Word tells me is crucial.
-Obedience shows God that I consider Him holy and worthy of honor
-Obedience shows me that my faith is real
-When God says something to me in His Word I need to take it personally. Just reading His Word won't fulfull my obligation to Him ..my actions will reflect my heart toward God.
-Obedience honors God..disobedience dishonors God
-The practice of obedience will align my heart with God's own desire.
Questions I need to ask myself on a daily basis:
1. What was the last command God gave me through His Word?
2. Did I obey or diobey?
3. How did my actions honor of dishonor God?
1 Peter 1:15-16 " Be holy,because I am holy"
Hope everyone has a blessed day ;0
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
PERSISTENCE CAN BE GOOD
Our family has been through the ringer and it will continue as we face many challenges ahead of us. I cannnot explain in full detail at this time in order to protect someone near and dear to my heart. It concerns a very special couple in our lives that are struggling with health issues and having to make changes in their lives that are very difficult due to these very trying health situations. My part in this is to be a supporter, encourager, compassionate ...just being there and doing what I can. There have been sleepless nights and stress and lots of headaches! And most importantly LOTS of prayer! I just studied over my notes that I had taken from Saturday nights sermon at church and it rings true in our family's situation. Persistent Prayer..Always pray and never give up!
When I think of the word persistence in some instances means nagging to get what you want. I see that alot as a mother with my two children being very vocal... constantly persisting on something they really want. Like this past weekend I heard over and over how they really want the new Nintendo 3DS! And as a mother I am persistent(nagging) for them to do their chores..do your homework..finish all the food on your plate! Sometime I feel like a broken record! Sometimes I don't like being the victim, as I call it, from being persisted upon. ( if that makes any sense) In other words I don't like being nagged by my kids or by the ultra annoying telemarketers. I don't feel good nagging others as well.
Well I learned there is One that wants me to be persistent... God. He welcomes my persistency in my prayer life with Him. I have prayed so much over our family situation that sometimes I feel like God is saying.."enough already woman! I know your need..you don't have to keep telling me!" That is my human flesh talking because I am the type of person that doesn't want make people mad and think wrongly of me.
Christ said in a nutshell in Luke 11:9-10 that I should always Ask - Seek - and Knock.
I have learned from the parables Christ spoke in Luke11:5-13 and Luke 18:1-8 that when I live by faith, I am not to give up! As I persist in prayer I grow in character, faith and hope.
Christ lays out incentives for persistent prayer..things to remember as I pray:
-God is good and righteous - In Christ God has chosen me ( us)
- God is compassionate -God is my Heavenly Father
-God is just - In Christ God is very generous
I think how I pray will relate to it's effectiveness. As I have learned in Luke11:1-4 when Jesus is teaching His disciples on prayer. In the Lord's prayer it is opened up with Christ praising God. Praising God first puts me in the right frame of mind to tell Him about my needs. I believe that is more effective because too often prayers are more like shopping list than conversations. I have been guilty of that ...I'm in a hurry so I rattle off a quick prayer. I must remember that I am talking to the HOLY ONE. I need to focuse on the aspects of true prayer..my converstion with God. I need to praise Him first..I need to focus on the content of the prayer...I need to be persistent..and I need to rely on God's faithfulness to answer my prayers.
I also learned persistent prayer doesn't always have to be for a single cause or need like our family situation. It also means praying for daily bread for today..tomorrow..the next day and so on and so on. And not just for our daily bread but others as well.
I will leave you with two verses to ponder on as I will ponder on:
Luke 11;9-10...Ask and it will be given to you: seek and you will find;knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives,he who seeks finds and to him who knock the door will be opened.
Luke 18:1 Then Jesus told his disciples..that they should always pray and not give up.
Till next time my friend.
I will be praying for you!
When I think of the word persistence in some instances means nagging to get what you want. I see that alot as a mother with my two children being very vocal... constantly persisting on something they really want. Like this past weekend I heard over and over how they really want the new Nintendo 3DS! And as a mother I am persistent(nagging) for them to do their chores..do your homework..finish all the food on your plate! Sometime I feel like a broken record! Sometimes I don't like being the victim, as I call it, from being persisted upon. ( if that makes any sense) In other words I don't like being nagged by my kids or by the ultra annoying telemarketers. I don't feel good nagging others as well.
Well I learned there is One that wants me to be persistent... God. He welcomes my persistency in my prayer life with Him. I have prayed so much over our family situation that sometimes I feel like God is saying.."enough already woman! I know your need..you don't have to keep telling me!" That is my human flesh talking because I am the type of person that doesn't want make people mad and think wrongly of me.
Christ said in a nutshell in Luke 11:9-10 that I should always Ask - Seek - and Knock.
I have learned from the parables Christ spoke in Luke11:5-13 and Luke 18:1-8 that when I live by faith, I am not to give up! As I persist in prayer I grow in character, faith and hope.
Christ lays out incentives for persistent prayer..things to remember as I pray:
-God is good and righteous - In Christ God has chosen me ( us)
- God is compassionate -God is my Heavenly Father
-God is just - In Christ God is very generous
I think how I pray will relate to it's effectiveness. As I have learned in Luke11:1-4 when Jesus is teaching His disciples on prayer. In the Lord's prayer it is opened up with Christ praising God. Praising God first puts me in the right frame of mind to tell Him about my needs. I believe that is more effective because too often prayers are more like shopping list than conversations. I have been guilty of that ...I'm in a hurry so I rattle off a quick prayer. I must remember that I am talking to the HOLY ONE. I need to focuse on the aspects of true prayer..my converstion with God. I need to praise Him first..I need to focus on the content of the prayer...I need to be persistent..and I need to rely on God's faithfulness to answer my prayers.
I also learned persistent prayer doesn't always have to be for a single cause or need like our family situation. It also means praying for daily bread for today..tomorrow..the next day and so on and so on. And not just for our daily bread but others as well.
I will leave you with two verses to ponder on as I will ponder on:
Luke 11;9-10...Ask and it will be given to you: seek and you will find;knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives,he who seeks finds and to him who knock the door will be opened.
Luke 18:1 Then Jesus told his disciples..that they should always pray and not give up.
Till next time my friend.
I will be praying for you!
Friday, February 17, 2012
IN REMEMBRANCE FROM A WOMAN'S VIEW
JEREMIAH 2:32
DOES A MAIDEN FORGET HER JEWELRY, A BRIDE HER WEDDING
ORNAMENTS? YET MY PEOPLE HAVE FORGOTTEN ME, DAYS WITHOUT
NUMBER.
Yesterday I studied Jeremiah chaper 2. Talking about how God's people had forgotten about God and His promises and commitment to them. I will give my take on this chapter from a woman's point of view.
Jeremiah condemned the people for seeking security in worthless, changeable things rather than the unchangeable God.
I know that I have been and probably will again be tempted to seek security from POSSESSIONS( I may feel cold on the inside but I have my favorite things at home to keep me warm and secure and happy), PEOPLE( I will always have my husband to give me love and support..I will always have my favorite Dr. whom I fully trust to keep my health in check...most importantly I have my hairdresser to help me look my best and help me feel more confident) or MY OWN ABILITIES( as a mother I have that take charge attitude that I can do it all and I only trust myself to get it done the way I want) Well these things will ultimately fail me at one point or another. THERE IS NO LASTING SECURITY APART FROM THE ETERNAL GOD!
Remember that song from Olivia Newton John "Hopelessly Devoted to You" from the movie Grease?
That song came to mind as I was studying this chapter 2 in Jeremiah. As woman I really appreciate a friend who remains true to his or her commitment, who is devoted to her relationship with me. And I would get so disappointed with a friend who breaks their commitment or devotion. That is the same with God! He is pleased when we initally obey Him and place our devotion to Him but then He gets really disappointed with us when we refuse to keep that commitment!
Jeremiah had to constantly remind the people as they were getting further and further away from God these things that I need to read and know on a daily basis today:
- He reminded them of God's faithfulness- there is no other object or person in this entire world that is more faithful than God!
- He wanted to make sure that they never forget God.
- He wanted to emphasize God's love for them
- To remind the people that there was a time when they were close to God. I remember feeling God in my soul for the first time. It was an amazing feeling and it still is when I feel really close to Him. There is not a more fulfilling feeling than that! So why do I let temptations in my life that distract me from God!?!
I NEED TO THINK ABOUT MY ORIGINAL COMMITMENT TO OBEY GOD AND TO ASK MYSELF IF I AM REMAING TRULY DEVOTED.
I also learned from Jeremiah 2 that the stain of iniquity is more that skin deep. The stains from my sins can not be easily washed away with Olay facial cleanser! Spiritual cleansing must reach deep into the heart and this is a job only God can do.I cannot ignore the effects of my sin and hope they will just go away.My sins have caused a deep stain that God can will remove if I am willing to let Him cleanse me! That means swallowing my pride and just letting go...easier said than done in some cases!
FORGETTIN GOD CAN BE DANGEROUS WHETHER IT'S INTENTIONAL OR AN OVERSIGHT.
Jeremiah taught that the more we focus on the pleasures of this world the easier it is to forget
-God's care - His guidance
-His love -Most of all God Himself
-His dependability
I should ask myself two questions
1. What pleases me most?
2. Have I forgotten God latley?
I read this in my devotion that I wanted to share with all the fellow wives and mothers out there. I though it was really neat and so hits home with me!
Things to ponder on daily:
-If I am lucky enough to sneak in a shower: Praise God for the cleansing that Jesus' forgiveness provides.
-As I am getting dressed:Thank God for clothing me with Christ's rightousness.
-As I apply my makeup: Thank God for being the foundation of my life.
-As I put on my earrings:Thank God for beautifying my life with the fruits of the Spirit.
Have a blessed day and don't forget what God has done and will continue to do for you.
DOES A MAIDEN FORGET HER JEWELRY, A BRIDE HER WEDDING
ORNAMENTS? YET MY PEOPLE HAVE FORGOTTEN ME, DAYS WITHOUT
NUMBER.
Yesterday I studied Jeremiah chaper 2. Talking about how God's people had forgotten about God and His promises and commitment to them. I will give my take on this chapter from a woman's point of view.
Jeremiah condemned the people for seeking security in worthless, changeable things rather than the unchangeable God.
I know that I have been and probably will again be tempted to seek security from POSSESSIONS( I may feel cold on the inside but I have my favorite things at home to keep me warm and secure and happy), PEOPLE( I will always have my husband to give me love and support..I will always have my favorite Dr. whom I fully trust to keep my health in check...most importantly I have my hairdresser to help me look my best and help me feel more confident) or MY OWN ABILITIES( as a mother I have that take charge attitude that I can do it all and I only trust myself to get it done the way I want) Well these things will ultimately fail me at one point or another. THERE IS NO LASTING SECURITY APART FROM THE ETERNAL GOD!
Remember that song from Olivia Newton John "Hopelessly Devoted to You" from the movie Grease?
That song came to mind as I was studying this chapter 2 in Jeremiah. As woman I really appreciate a friend who remains true to his or her commitment, who is devoted to her relationship with me. And I would get so disappointed with a friend who breaks their commitment or devotion. That is the same with God! He is pleased when we initally obey Him and place our devotion to Him but then He gets really disappointed with us when we refuse to keep that commitment!
Jeremiah had to constantly remind the people as they were getting further and further away from God these things that I need to read and know on a daily basis today:
- He reminded them of God's faithfulness- there is no other object or person in this entire world that is more faithful than God!
- He wanted to make sure that they never forget God.
- He wanted to emphasize God's love for them
- To remind the people that there was a time when they were close to God. I remember feeling God in my soul for the first time. It was an amazing feeling and it still is when I feel really close to Him. There is not a more fulfilling feeling than that! So why do I let temptations in my life that distract me from God!?!
I NEED TO THINK ABOUT MY ORIGINAL COMMITMENT TO OBEY GOD AND TO ASK MYSELF IF I AM REMAING TRULY DEVOTED.
I also learned from Jeremiah 2 that the stain of iniquity is more that skin deep. The stains from my sins can not be easily washed away with Olay facial cleanser! Spiritual cleansing must reach deep into the heart and this is a job only God can do.I cannot ignore the effects of my sin and hope they will just go away.My sins have caused a deep stain that God can will remove if I am willing to let Him cleanse me! That means swallowing my pride and just letting go...easier said than done in some cases!
FORGETTIN GOD CAN BE DANGEROUS WHETHER IT'S INTENTIONAL OR AN OVERSIGHT.
Jeremiah taught that the more we focus on the pleasures of this world the easier it is to forget
-God's care - His guidance
-His love -Most of all God Himself
-His dependability
I should ask myself two questions
1. What pleases me most?
2. Have I forgotten God latley?
I read this in my devotion that I wanted to share with all the fellow wives and mothers out there. I though it was really neat and so hits home with me!
Things to ponder on daily:
-If I am lucky enough to sneak in a shower: Praise God for the cleansing that Jesus' forgiveness provides.
-As I am getting dressed:Thank God for clothing me with Christ's rightousness.
-As I apply my makeup: Thank God for being the foundation of my life.
-As I put on my earrings:Thank God for beautifying my life with the fruits of the Spirit.
Have a blessed day and don't forget what God has done and will continue to do for you.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
FRIEND OR FOE TAKE TWO
Good morning everyone! I must apologize for yesterdays blog. I didn't realize till I read over it this morning that only part of the story was saved and published! The whole story was never published on the website like I thought. As I read the part that actually did publish I was actually embarrassed! It made me look like I was playing the victim and dwelling too much on my childhood. The story actually had a lesson to it that I am hoping will help someone else ..to help my children or someone else's child. So today I will just summarize what my actual thoughts and experience and what I learned from it and how I and many others out there reading this can apply to our children's walk in life dealing with friendships.
In a nutshell my experiences with friends growing up were not the best experiences atleast most of them weren't. Due to my lack of confidence and inadequacies I made some really bad choices that I can never take back but that I can learn from and as I get older I am that much wiser for it. It was so bad it took time away from my mom that was dying at the time from breast cancer. I was so consumed in my self pity that I was not thinking of her needs and the seriousness of the issue. Believe me I paid for that as I struggled with guilt for so long after she passed. It wasn't till the year 1998 that I finally woke up to what the Lord was trying to tell me for soooo many years. That year it took my mother dying..suffering alone in my apartment...meeting Wayne three months later.. getting married and moving to Iowa for me to finally wake up and see what is really important. I was so focused on having a close friend that would always have your back and would do anything for you, thinking of your interest. Well I found that when God gave me Wayne. The move to Iowa was bitter sweet. I knew no one! I was really starting fresh in my life. It was hard at first but am so glad I went through it. It strengthened Wayne and I's marriage. I made better choices in friends. The breaking ah ha moment was when I renewed my life with Christ in front of the entire congregation at the church we were joining on what would have been my mother's 62nd birthday Dec. 13 1998.
I have learned that I have a BFF that will never leave nor forsake me, ever...that truly wants to be my friend. JESUS CHRIST. He brought me Wayne and most importantly wisdom on the issue of true friendship.
What really brought me to write this blog is my children. I see what they go through with friends and it took me back to my childhood and what I experienced. Bethany is like me now..she wants to be friends with everyone..she loves everyone through the love of Christ and would do anything in the world to help someone not matter who it is. She has such a bubbly personality you can't help but love. She takes what her peers tell her with a grain of salt. She has been played numerous times..so and so wants to be her friend then a week later tells Bethany she doesn't like her anymore. She has come home in tears several times over this. We have lots of discussions over this. And she has grown a backbone. She is stronger for it and tries to pick her friends wisely. She is open to her so called friends on how she feels then walks away. 9 times out of 10 that friend comes back apologizing for what she did. Bethany is learning to forgive but at the same not fall back into that trap. I am hoping this frame of thinking sticks with her through the coming years. She is more confident at that age than I was.
Daniel is a little more like the old me but surely not as severe at this point. He is more shy and reserved and is seems a little more vulnerable. He is in middle school where all that peer pressure starts. He is doing great in school and so far has made some wise choices in friends. He has a few really good friends that I hope he continues to develop.He learned a couple of years ago what damage it can do when you think you have a friend and turns out to be a foe. It was good learning experience for him and gave me the opportunity to share some of my stories as a teaching tool. He is gaining more confidence now and as he approaches those teenage years more lesson will be taught and lots of prayers going up!
It will be an ongoing lesson for all of us for quite awhile as the kids go through thier changes and since we have the propensity of moving around with Wayne's job with John Deere.
As I go through this my with children and as I look back on my on life these lessons come to mind:
The Dictionary describes a friend as -a person whom one knows well and is fond of. An ally.supporter or sympathizer.
It describes a foe as - an enemy. That may sound harsh for this particular blog but in my experience they really were the enemy as well as my selfishness. Satan, the true ememy really had a hold on me for so long.
What scriptures says about Friendship:
-Proverbs 17:17 A FRIEND LOVES AT ALL TIMES
-Proverbs 18:24 A MAN OF MANY COMPANIONS MAY COME TO RUIN,BUT THERE IS A FRIEND WHO STICKS CLOSER THAN A BROTHER.( you have don't have to be popular to feel wanted. Sometimes it's better to have one or two really close friends that will truly be a friend to you. Its not quantity but quality. That"s what I try to instill in my kids. I also tell them that they already have a good friend in Jesus)
-Proverbs 27:10 DO NOT FORSAKE YOUR FRIEND ( I try to teach my kids that once you make a committment to be a friend to someone you work hard to maintain that friendship.. don't dump a friend because you think you found a better one) I have been dumped by friends before and it's not a good feeling. It's hard because you think you know someone but sometimes you really don't.
-Proverbs 13;20 HE WHO WALKS WITH THE WISE GROWS WISE, BUT A COMPANION OF FOOLS SUFFERS HARM(Thus the foe)
-Proverbs 16:28 A PERVERST MAN STIRS UP DISSENSION, AND A GOSSIP SEPARATES CLOSE FRIENDS
- John 15:13 GREATER LOVE HAS NO ONE THAN THIS, THAT HE LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS.
A FRIEND OFFERS SINCERE ADVICE
Ecclesiastes 4:9 TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE..
Ecclesiastes 4:10 IF ONE FALLS DOWN,HIS FRIEND CAN HELP HIM UP
All I know is if it wasn't for my Savior Jesus Christ I would still be in a low state I was in years ago. I am so blessed to have a BFF as Jesus. Not only does He give me hope and wisdom and understanding He also gives me the tools to pass that hope, wisdom and understanding to others!
So to my readers out there , if you are struggling with a friendship or if you are facing these issues go the Jesus first He will surely guide you through. And if you don't know Jesus as your Savior call on Him today. He is waiting with His loving arms opened wide for you to come to Him. He so wants to be your friend. And believe me there is no better friend to have.
God bless you all :)
In a nutshell my experiences with friends growing up were not the best experiences atleast most of them weren't. Due to my lack of confidence and inadequacies I made some really bad choices that I can never take back but that I can learn from and as I get older I am that much wiser for it. It was so bad it took time away from my mom that was dying at the time from breast cancer. I was so consumed in my self pity that I was not thinking of her needs and the seriousness of the issue. Believe me I paid for that as I struggled with guilt for so long after she passed. It wasn't till the year 1998 that I finally woke up to what the Lord was trying to tell me for soooo many years. That year it took my mother dying..suffering alone in my apartment...meeting Wayne three months later.. getting married and moving to Iowa for me to finally wake up and see what is really important. I was so focused on having a close friend that would always have your back and would do anything for you, thinking of your interest. Well I found that when God gave me Wayne. The move to Iowa was bitter sweet. I knew no one! I was really starting fresh in my life. It was hard at first but am so glad I went through it. It strengthened Wayne and I's marriage. I made better choices in friends. The breaking ah ha moment was when I renewed my life with Christ in front of the entire congregation at the church we were joining on what would have been my mother's 62nd birthday Dec. 13 1998.
I have learned that I have a BFF that will never leave nor forsake me, ever...that truly wants to be my friend. JESUS CHRIST. He brought me Wayne and most importantly wisdom on the issue of true friendship.
What really brought me to write this blog is my children. I see what they go through with friends and it took me back to my childhood and what I experienced. Bethany is like me now..she wants to be friends with everyone..she loves everyone through the love of Christ and would do anything in the world to help someone not matter who it is. She has such a bubbly personality you can't help but love. She takes what her peers tell her with a grain of salt. She has been played numerous times..so and so wants to be her friend then a week later tells Bethany she doesn't like her anymore. She has come home in tears several times over this. We have lots of discussions over this. And she has grown a backbone. She is stronger for it and tries to pick her friends wisely. She is open to her so called friends on how she feels then walks away. 9 times out of 10 that friend comes back apologizing for what she did. Bethany is learning to forgive but at the same not fall back into that trap. I am hoping this frame of thinking sticks with her through the coming years. She is more confident at that age than I was.
Daniel is a little more like the old me but surely not as severe at this point. He is more shy and reserved and is seems a little more vulnerable. He is in middle school where all that peer pressure starts. He is doing great in school and so far has made some wise choices in friends. He has a few really good friends that I hope he continues to develop.He learned a couple of years ago what damage it can do when you think you have a friend and turns out to be a foe. It was good learning experience for him and gave me the opportunity to share some of my stories as a teaching tool. He is gaining more confidence now and as he approaches those teenage years more lesson will be taught and lots of prayers going up!
It will be an ongoing lesson for all of us for quite awhile as the kids go through thier changes and since we have the propensity of moving around with Wayne's job with John Deere.
As I go through this my with children and as I look back on my on life these lessons come to mind:
The Dictionary describes a friend as -a person whom one knows well and is fond of. An ally.supporter or sympathizer.
It describes a foe as - an enemy. That may sound harsh for this particular blog but in my experience they really were the enemy as well as my selfishness. Satan, the true ememy really had a hold on me for so long.
What scriptures says about Friendship:
-Proverbs 17:17 A FRIEND LOVES AT ALL TIMES
-Proverbs 18:24 A MAN OF MANY COMPANIONS MAY COME TO RUIN,BUT THERE IS A FRIEND WHO STICKS CLOSER THAN A BROTHER.( you have don't have to be popular to feel wanted. Sometimes it's better to have one or two really close friends that will truly be a friend to you. Its not quantity but quality. That"s what I try to instill in my kids. I also tell them that they already have a good friend in Jesus)
-Proverbs 27:10 DO NOT FORSAKE YOUR FRIEND ( I try to teach my kids that once you make a committment to be a friend to someone you work hard to maintain that friendship.. don't dump a friend because you think you found a better one) I have been dumped by friends before and it's not a good feeling. It's hard because you think you know someone but sometimes you really don't.
-Proverbs 13;20 HE WHO WALKS WITH THE WISE GROWS WISE, BUT A COMPANION OF FOOLS SUFFERS HARM(Thus the foe)
-Proverbs 16:28 A PERVERST MAN STIRS UP DISSENSION, AND A GOSSIP SEPARATES CLOSE FRIENDS
- John 15:13 GREATER LOVE HAS NO ONE THAN THIS, THAT HE LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS.
A FRIEND OFFERS SINCERE ADVICE
Ecclesiastes 4:9 TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE..
Ecclesiastes 4:10 IF ONE FALLS DOWN,HIS FRIEND CAN HELP HIM UP
All I know is if it wasn't for my Savior Jesus Christ I would still be in a low state I was in years ago. I am so blessed to have a BFF as Jesus. Not only does He give me hope and wisdom and understanding He also gives me the tools to pass that hope, wisdom and understanding to others!
So to my readers out there , if you are struggling with a friendship or if you are facing these issues go the Jesus first He will surely guide you through. And if you don't know Jesus as your Savior call on Him today. He is waiting with His loving arms opened wide for you to come to Him. He so wants to be your friend. And believe me there is no better friend to have.
God bless you all :)
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