Like all trips I plan, I have a hard time leaving but once over the bridge or up in the air I get excited! It is hard to tell Mike bye because we don't like to be apart much and its hard to tell Mom/Honey bye because we do stuff together every day. My girls are very good to step in and help but with school and work their time is minimal. A dear friend from church told me a long time ago she wanted to get to know my mom. Over the last year they have become good friends and now another friend has joined their "team." Saturday they took Mom to lunch at the beach, in the convertible, which Mom loves! Then to get ice cream! Today they are taking Mom to see my uncle. When I called this morning all I could hear was yelling and laughing! Made me feel so good!
I do not know what I would do without my friends. I have many of my childhood friends and am so grateful! I think friendships are a gift from God! I think true friends are to be treasured. Sometimes they are closer than family and sometimes know you better. Proverbs 18: 24, "One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."
Loyal friends are wonderful but a friend that will pray with you is the best! I don't just want this, I need this. I think of my husband and I praying together,, sharing our deepest needs with each other in front of God. I think of my best friends and I praying together during times of sickness, deaths and hard times. I think of our best couple friends coming together in prayer, in our homes, on the boat, in the hospital and at church. Recently before our husbands leaving on a trip, we four circled up and prayed together asking for travel mercies and thanking God for our friendship. Those are tender moments. I think of my small group - a group of different ages coming from different aspects of life - all praying for each other. We laugh together, cry together, celebrate praises, confess failures, and pray for loved ones whether a relationship or sickness. In all of these situations we are transparent. We have all witnessed miracles. We have all cried out to Jesus on each others behalves.
I read "companionship always deepens joy." I love that. Anytime we are going out to eat we invite friends. When we go on the boat or to the beach we invite friends. We want our friends to be a part of what we enjoy. Exactly why Mike and I have gotten to be a part of bringing the big boat back! But of all the joys, God is the greatest! Our joy is greatest when we share Him with others. Christian friends help us enjoy God by enjoying Him with us. John 15: 15, "I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you."
Remember singing, "What A Friend We Have In Jesus"? "What a friend we have in Jesus
All our sins and griefs to bear What a privilege to carry Everything to God in prayer..." I love this. As Christians, we have a friend in Jesus. He shares with us every thing we need to know including the good news of salvation as well as all the warnings about turning away from sin. And He left us His Spirit to live in us and guide us. We have all been hurt at some point by a friend but God will never hurt us. "Can we find a friend so faithful? Who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness Take it to the Lord in prayer." We will never have a better friend than Jesus. Like Abraham, we can plead with God to save our friends and family who don’t know him. We can share the gospel and our own testimonies, praying that these words will help bring salvation to others.
I leave you with Proverbs 27: 9, "Sweet friendships refresh the soul and awaken our hearts with joy,". To all my buddies out there, you know who you are, thanks! You do refresh my soul!