It's good to know that when you are in a ditch you have friends that will come pull you out. I happened to slide off the road this evening, and had to call on one of my neighbors to get me out of the ditch. It's a good feeling to know you have people who care about you. I'm blessed to serve in a church full of people who care about each other.
I am also grateful that I count on so many people to pull me out of other tough spots in life. God has truly blessed me with a wonderful family and wonderful friends. It is good to remind ourselves of all the great things in our lives. God blesses us continually, but we need to develop the eyes to see it. I hope you have family and friends you can count on to get you out of tough spots. It makes it so much easier to get by.
Showing posts with label Friends. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Friends. Show all posts
Monday, February 8, 2010
Saturday, June 27, 2009
The Wounds of a Friend
"Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy" (Prov. 27:6, ESV).
The wounds discussed here are the wounds that come from correction. Friends address one another with a frankness unparalleled in our society. Close friends often don't pull punches; they speak their minds with forthrightness. If they don't like something, they might just tell you-in detail. If you put on weight, they won't hesitate to let you know. The goal of their frankness is not to cause injury to their friend, but the prevention of injury.
However, those who fail to correct and challenge those around them who err, are not friends. This passage tells us they are enemies. An enemy multiplies kisses, that is, they tell you what you want to hear. Their kisses allow sin, ours and theirs, to go unaddressed, unconfessed, and unrepented of.
We need to surround ourselves with friends who will love us enough to speak the truth. Sometimes the truth hurts, but when so wounded, we know our friends are acting faithfully. When we find those friends, we need to keep them close and thank the Lord for them.
The wounds discussed here are the wounds that come from correction. Friends address one another with a frankness unparalleled in our society. Close friends often don't pull punches; they speak their minds with forthrightness. If they don't like something, they might just tell you-in detail. If you put on weight, they won't hesitate to let you know. The goal of their frankness is not to cause injury to their friend, but the prevention of injury.
However, those who fail to correct and challenge those around them who err, are not friends. This passage tells us they are enemies. An enemy multiplies kisses, that is, they tell you what you want to hear. Their kisses allow sin, ours and theirs, to go unaddressed, unconfessed, and unrepented of.
We need to surround ourselves with friends who will love us enough to speak the truth. Sometimes the truth hurts, but when so wounded, we know our friends are acting faithfully. When we find those friends, we need to keep them close and thank the Lord for them.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Wilderness Wonderings
A friend and I spent some time traversing through the woods today on 4-wheelers. As we drove through the paths so many things went through my mind. I was captured by the beauty I saw. My mind began to wonder what it must have been like for our first parents, Adam and Eve, in the garden of Eden. What did an unspoiled world look like?
On one path we had to pass through some brambles and I was quickly reminded of the curse brought into this world because of Adam's sin. Now amid beauty there is thorn and thistle. As we passed by a creek, I was reminded of how much the world must have been changed by the Flood of Noah's day. The world we now see must be so different from the world Adam first laid eyes on.
I thought about the hours I spent as a child playing in the woods in my backyard. I thought about the trails I hiked with friends when I lived in Pineville. I thought about a similar excursion Delia and I had two years ago in Cozmel, Mexico, and I hoped I wouldn't kill my friend's 4-wheeler (like the one I killed in Cozmel).
One thought that kept coming back to my mind revolved around our Lord. I kept thinking, if this place is so beautiful, so majestic, so breathtaking, so enlivening, what will it be like when we see Jesus face to face? When Jesus comes in all his glory, and we are able to behold him in his splendor, what will that be like? I can't say that I came up with an answer. I only know that if this world, even in its fallen state, is any indication of the beauty of that moment, then it will be something marvelous to behold. In that moment we will truly know what "awesome" means.
I thank the Lord for his marvelous creation, for the eyes to see it, the ears to hear it, the nose to smell it, the ability to taste it, and to be able to feel it. I am thankful for wonderful friends. I am grateful for the opportunity to just hang out and have a good time. I am thankful for so many things, things that I often take for granted, but bless my life in so many ways. I am grateful that I was able to get out and enjoy a glorious day, to laugh, to pray, and to play.
On one path we had to pass through some brambles and I was quickly reminded of the curse brought into this world because of Adam's sin. Now amid beauty there is thorn and thistle. As we passed by a creek, I was reminded of how much the world must have been changed by the Flood of Noah's day. The world we now see must be so different from the world Adam first laid eyes on.
I thought about the hours I spent as a child playing in the woods in my backyard. I thought about the trails I hiked with friends when I lived in Pineville. I thought about a similar excursion Delia and I had two years ago in Cozmel, Mexico, and I hoped I wouldn't kill my friend's 4-wheeler (like the one I killed in Cozmel).
One thought that kept coming back to my mind revolved around our Lord. I kept thinking, if this place is so beautiful, so majestic, so breathtaking, so enlivening, what will it be like when we see Jesus face to face? When Jesus comes in all his glory, and we are able to behold him in his splendor, what will that be like? I can't say that I came up with an answer. I only know that if this world, even in its fallen state, is any indication of the beauty of that moment, then it will be something marvelous to behold. In that moment we will truly know what "awesome" means.
I thank the Lord for his marvelous creation, for the eyes to see it, the ears to hear it, the nose to smell it, the ability to taste it, and to be able to feel it. I am thankful for wonderful friends. I am grateful for the opportunity to just hang out and have a good time. I am thankful for so many things, things that I often take for granted, but bless my life in so many ways. I am grateful that I was able to get out and enjoy a glorious day, to laugh, to pray, and to play.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Friends, Fellowship, and Fun
We have all heard it said that laughter is the best medicine. There is a great deal of truth in this statement. I got to hang out with my best friend yesterday. We had a long talk about ministry and calling. These talks always seem to encourage me and solidify the calling in my life. Proverbs 27:17 states, "Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another" (ESV). God has continued to use my friend to encourage me in the ministry, and I hope he has used me to encourage my friend. He has a passion and commitment in ministry that is rare. He is a humble servant of God who seeks the spiritual well-being of his flock. I thank God for him and his ministry.
He went with me to the hospital to visit. I went to visit a church member's family member. Armed with the information that this person was in the hospital and the number of their room I headed to the hospital. It was not until I got to the door of the room that I realized I couldn't recall the person's name. So there I was standing outside of this hospital room staring at the people inside, looking to my friend to help me (and knowing that it would have been a miracle for him to have identified complete strangers) trying desperately to recall the patience name. At last I introduced myself, confessed my ignorance and discovered I was indeed in the right place. I don't know if the family laughed after I left, but my friend and I did. Humility is a lesson taught often, if we will learn it.
I also got to hang out with Delia' s Sunday school class. We had a time of fellowship at the church. I love to laugh and cut up. I'm a bit of a goof. Through this time of fellowship I was reminded that I am part of something bigger than myself.
At the end of the night, when the lights were out and my head was on the pillow, I came to the conclusion: when we are connected to our great God and Savior life cannot help but be great. I don't mean to suggest that it is all fun and laughter in Jesus. There is a lot of hard work and heart ache, but life in Christ is far better than life without him. Thank you Lord for a wonderful day, and thank you all for a lot of laughter.
He went with me to the hospital to visit. I went to visit a church member's family member. Armed with the information that this person was in the hospital and the number of their room I headed to the hospital. It was not until I got to the door of the room that I realized I couldn't recall the person's name. So there I was standing outside of this hospital room staring at the people inside, looking to my friend to help me (and knowing that it would have been a miracle for him to have identified complete strangers) trying desperately to recall the patience name. At last I introduced myself, confessed my ignorance and discovered I was indeed in the right place. I don't know if the family laughed after I left, but my friend and I did. Humility is a lesson taught often, if we will learn it.
I also got to hang out with Delia' s Sunday school class. We had a time of fellowship at the church. I love to laugh and cut up. I'm a bit of a goof. Through this time of fellowship I was reminded that I am part of something bigger than myself.
At the end of the night, when the lights were out and my head was on the pillow, I came to the conclusion: when we are connected to our great God and Savior life cannot help but be great. I don't mean to suggest that it is all fun and laughter in Jesus. There is a lot of hard work and heart ache, but life in Christ is far better than life without him. Thank you Lord for a wonderful day, and thank you all for a lot of laughter.
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