God wants us

He wants all of us.

Whole heartedly.

He wants our time.

Our money.

Our talents used for Him.

Our resources.

He wants our worship.

Our praise.

Our friendship.

Our love.

He wants conversations with us.

He simply wants us.

There are no regrets when you give your life to Jesus.

What are you waiting for?

Once in a while this thought really hits me... "What are you waiting for?"

Sometimes in our busy lives we are looking forward to the next thing planned... the next trip or vacation, the next birthday, the next big event in our lives. A few years ago, a guy I grew up with died instantly in his home; his heart stopped beating. He had only been married for 15 months. A few weeks ago, my college roommate's husband died suddenly from a blood clot. He was married with a one year old at home. They didn't have "the next thing."

Today as I picked up my 7 month old son from his crib after a nap, I was overcome with joy and love for him. I waited for that miracle for a while, and now that I have him, I love him so incredibly much. I understand a "Mother's love" now and I hugged him close and told him I loved him and thought about how long I will get to love this little boy. My husband came home from work a little early and we all just played in our bed, tickled Miles, made him laugh. Then we took a little nap. These little things in life... these everyday moments... are the essence of God's love and life for us. And I had to stop and think about... why do I keep thinking about what the next big moments in my life are (the next trip home to Indiana, the next little vacation, the next time I'll hang out with friends...), when the little moments can sometimes be the most important.

I never really lived by phrase "live everyday to the fullest" or "live like it's the last day of your life." Until my friend died a few years ago. It quickly hit me that you're next moments are never guaranteed. And we may never understand why God chooses for things to happen, but he does tell us not to worry and that He has a plan for our lives. So enjoy those little moments... those everyday things, please don't take them for granted. Hug your children and tell them you love them... kiss your spouse so deeply and tell them what they mean to you... get in contact with friends and spend quality time with them. Take advantage of the time you have with people and the testimony you can be to others.

What are you waiting for?

Friendship

Proverbs 11:30

New International Version (NIV)

³⁰ The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
and the one who is wise saves lives.

(a wise person is a "model" of a meaningful life)

 

Friendships. Now here is a touchy topic for me. I feel like these past couple of years a lot has come to light about friendships for me. I've been on both ends of the friendship fence. There are times where I have not been a good friend, then there are times when I was left hanging thinking what happened?

I think this LAST year I really started to see friendships in a whole new perspective. After a loss of practically a whole group of "friends", I had to really sit back and pray about what was really going on. My husband and I were changing. We were rededicating out lives back to Christ. Giving all those "friendships" back to God. If he wanted my husband and I to be in these peoples lives, he would work it out! We have not given up hope on them yet.

 

Any relationship/friendship God leads us "into" our even "out of", naturally is to our benefit. With the intentions of molding us into the BEST Christian we can be. Without rocky relationships how is he to refine our hearts to pure gold?

 

Romans 12:2 New International Version (NIV)

² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

 

A common bond: Christ lover. Not just a Christmas and Easter Jesus lover...but a 365 days out of the year lover. I want to be a friend who has your heart and soul as a priority, knowing that I can pray for you with out hesitation. I expect the same in a friend. Friendships without Christ as a common bond become stale. Like old bread, flaky, dry and often moldy. The lifestyle I once enjoyed with friends left me empty. I was constantly on the go, doing fun things, but when the times got hard and I needed deep conversation. There was nothing there. That friendship road was a one way highway and I was headed to Lonerville. I was conforming to the world. Withdrawn and offended. I needed a renewing of the mind and a good praying session.

 

Proverbs 18:24 New International Version (NIV)

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

 

We all need friends who will stick close to us, listen, console, care and offer prayer when needed. The thick and the thin. Instead of praying for God to help me find a true friend,

 (cause I did that...a lot!) I started praying for God to help me become one. I wanted to be reliable, able, and willing. Everything that I was perhaps lacking in previous friendships.  

 

Eventually God removed those relationships from my life. Not by a dramatic outburst but by simply just filling that void with HIS presence. I was hurt at first for not having those "friends" but eventually I got over it. Since then...new relationships have formed. The only way to make any friendship/relationship work is to seek God first.

 

Make your friendships intentional. There is someone out there that is hungry for a Godly friend. You my friend are that person. Ask God to reveal them to you and be that friend that sticks closer than a brother.

 

 

Being Intentional: Friendships

"Make new friends but keep the old. One is silver and the other's gold."

Make new friends
I moved from Indiana to Arizona in the summer of 2010. Very extended family live here in Phoenix, but my husband and I had to learn to make new friends. It was hard leaving our close families, a church family we loved, and best friends we had shared life experiences with. Making friends in Arizona took a while, and is still a work in process. Once friendships are made, it takes effort on both parts to continue getting to know one another. And everyone needs a friend.

Keep the Old
I remember singing the song ^above^ in 2nd grade. Mrs. Stiver's class... Tiffany probably shares the same memory. She and I have known each other since then... 2nd grade. Although we weren't extremely close in high school and didn't communicate again until after college, our friendship has evolved into one of encouragement, no judgement, love, laughter, and discipleship. I also have other close friends from Indiana that I don't get to see often. But I genuinely care about their life and want to continue our friendship. However this takes work and time, effort and intentionality (see next paragraph).

One is Silver
You know what I'm also not so good at? ... Staying in contact with those friends I've had for a long time. Calling, texting, hanging out, sending a card. I WANT to do that;  my heart says, "I need to do this for this person." But I'm not always so good at making the time. So my challenge to myself is to continue reaching out to my friends. Ones from home in Indiana, friends I've made here in Arizona, and others along the way. Those friends you've known the longest have been refined by trials, experiences, and memories. Don't let those friendships made of silver fade.

The Other is Gold
Gold= shiny and new.
Keeping a relationship like a friendship growing takes two people being genuinely interested in each other's lives; caring about the other person. Friendship should have no judgement but be able to have the ability to be authentic and honest enough to tell each other the truth (in kindness and love). There are times I struggle with being completely honest in a friendship sometimes. It's hard to tell a friend that they hurt you or their sarcastic comments are getting old, or ask why they aren't reaching out to you as much as you're reaching out to them. I struggle sometimes with giving too much of myself continuously to a relationship, and often not asking for what I need of the other person. Is that wrong or selfish? I'm not sure. But I'm asking God to help me understand it better.

What I do know is that God talks about friendship in the Bible. He gives us guidance on how to treat others, how to love others, and how to work together.

Luke 6:31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

Romans 12:10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Out do one another in showing honor.

Ephesians 4:29-32 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Colossians 3:12-14 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

Ask yourself... Is there someone in your life you want to reconnect with? Do you have a friend or friends that you need to reach out to? Do you need to show a friend love and forgiveness? BE INTENTIONAL! Pick up the phone, send a card, schedule quality time with the people you care about. Because you would want someone to do the same for you.