"a friend loves at all times..."

 OK.  When I say 'friendship', I'm talking about the unique relationship between two people (of the same gender) where common interests and a common direction forms a bond which stretches (grows) and satisfies both individuals.

In other words, true friendship is the lasting closeness felt between two sisters, or brothers, in Christ.  (More than mere acquaintances.)


 Here are four qualities involved in Christ-like friendship:
"The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the wicked leads them astray."  Proverbs 12:26

1. ETERNITY- a friend who's going where you're going (Heaven)

2. AFFINITY- a friend who's doing what you're doing (God's will)

3. CHEMISTRY- a friend who's feeling what you're feeling (love for the Lord)

4. LOYALTY- a friend who fights for what you're fighting for (Purity and Righteousness)

5. HUMILITY- mutually caring for one another.
         -admonishing you if you're in sin (Ephesians 4:15,16)
         -helping to bear your burdens (Galatians 6:2)

No other relationship can replace or be anything like that of two dear friends who are drawn together by their love for the Lord.  You are indeed very privileged and blessed of the Lord if you have such a friend! 

"Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" Psalms 133:1 

"The sweetness of a man's friend gives delight by hearty counsel." Proverbs 27:9

Remember that you become like the people you surround yourself with!  That's why it's so important to continually have fellowship with God's people, and equally important to avoid hanging out with or enjoying the company of nonbelievers.

"And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the day approaching."  Hebrews 10:25

"Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers.  For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?"  2 Corinthians 6:14

"How can two walk together, unless they are agreed?" Amos 3:3

Always treasure, maintain, and invest in godly friendships!  The Lord created them so that we could keep each other strong, accountable and passionate about His purposes! 

Casting Crowns - If we've ever needed you

Please take a moment and worship Jesus with me.  This is one of my favorite songs, and I often just get lost in thinking about HOW MUCH I NEED HIM.

The Lord has been so merciful, not only to each of us as individuals, but also to this country as a whole.

Please remember to pray steadfastly for our nation, and for our leaders.  America needs Jesus desperately.  Its people have turned their backs on the Lord and thrown Him out of their system almost entirely and if they do not repent, they will fall and be demised.  God cannot continue to reside where He is adamantly not welcome.  (He lets us choose!)  People have chosen to reject Him, and His blessing does not remain where He is not allowed to rule.

I really believe that this is a dangerous and critical time for our country and we must run, full speed, to the arms of Jesus, to escape the ever-encroaching pollution of sin.

I like the line in this song, "we're reaching out"... As Christians, we have a major duty to step up to in America!  We are to "reach out" to grasp the loving hand of Jesus to save us; then, in His name, reach out to others with the same hand of love that comes from the Lord.  We are called to come out from among the filth of world, to be pure and separate!  We are to stand up and be different, to defy the majority, and to eagerly proclaim the name of Christ no matter how unpopular it may seem. 

Jesus Christ is the Hope of the nation... the Hope of the World!  A glimmer of light in a dark, and perverted world.  We are so honored to be able to take His precious name with us wherever we go!

Read this verse carefully:

"...it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.  The night is far spent, the day is at hand.  Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.  Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.
"But put on the LORD JESUS CHRIST and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts."
Romans 13:11-14

Lord, we need you!  YOU are mighty to save!!!

      

His Love

"Therefore be imitators of God as dear children, and walk in love, as Christ also has loved us, and given himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma."
Ephesians 5:1,2

Isn't that beautiful?

Think of a little boy who tries to be just like his daddy, or a little girl who attempts to imitate her mommy.   The child may not be doing a very good job, but isn't is a sweet thing to see, as a parent?  Also, as the child gets older, he or she often does become very much like their parent!  (You become like the one you most admire and spend time with).

I want to love the way Jesus loved...  Don't you?  His love is very special, so unlike the superficial love that the most of the world offers.  

Humans will (for the most part) only extend love based upon what they can get from you-- they are selfish.  In contrast, Jesus loves everyone without expecting anything in return.  He even loves the people who curse His holy Name and are on their way to hell... because His love is unconditional.  He loved those people enough to die for them.  (Can you do that?  I know I would struggle to love, let alone die for, someone who hated me!)

God the Father saw that love... the perfect, sacrificial love of Jesus, and it pleased Him.  It was like a beautiful aroma to Him.

I want to love like that! Or at least try to!

Here are 10 aspects of God's love.  (examples from Exodus chapter 20)

1. love is LOYAL "You shall have no other gods before Me" (vs.3)
2. love is FAITHFUL "You shall not make for yourself a carved image" (vs.4)
3. love is REVERENT "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain" (vs.7)
4. love is INTIMATE "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy" (vs.8)
5. love is RESPECTFUL "Honor your father and your mother" (vs.12)
6. love is HARMLESS "You shall not murder" (vs.13)
7. love is PURE "You shall not commit adultery" (vs.14)
8. love is UNSELFISH "You shall not steal" (vs.15)
9. love is TRUTHFUL "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor" (vs.16)
10. love is CONTENT "You shall not covet... anything that is your neighbor's" (vs.17)

It may be hard to love this way all the time, but if we surrender ourselves to the control of our loving (and forgiving) Father and let Him chip away at the parts of us which are faulty, over time, we are molded more and more into His perfect image. It may seem like an overwhelming sacrifice, but at the same time, it also is like casting off a huge burden... just knowing that God can do anything.

"You shall be perfect, just as your Father in Heaven is perfect."  Matthew 5:48

"That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man."  Ephesians 3:16