“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9
(This photo was taken in August of 2016 at Arches National Park in Utah)
friends
Friends and Faith
“Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks his is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load.
Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor. Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please the sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”
Galatians 6:1-10
(This photo was taken in July of 2014 by my friend Matt while our families were spending time together at a lake place in central Minnesota)
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Friendships
Being a friend means listening…just listening.
Being a friend means putting the needs of others before your own.
Being a friend means making time to be together.
Friends can share thoughts…thoughts about dreams and goals as well as disappointments and frustrations without judgment.
Being a friend means laughing together…often.
Being a friend means offering your shoulder when someone needs to cry because the pain is too great to be alone.
A friendship is a give and take relationship…if your give and take are not balanced evenly the friendship will suffer.
This give and take in relationships is also necessary in your spiritual life…your friendship with Jesus requires both give and take…
“I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know the master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.”
John 15:15
We all have a friend in Jesus. Begin or continue to listen, to make time, to share your dreams and frustrations, to laugh with your friend Jesus…it is the one friendship that will definitely last forever.
Peace.
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Nature, Faith and Life
From time to time I come across an image or a scene of nature and it automatically can be associated to life…not sure why this happens or how my train of thought gets there sometimes but wanted to share a recent one.
In the picture above, that is a picnic table under several feet of snow on a deck. This amount of snow can come over many days from several different storms or as it has happened this winter it can fall all in one or two consecutive days! It will be several weeks or a few months before this table will once again be free of piles of snow. With the gradual warming in temperature (we hope) and the longer days of spring not far off it will eventually melt away…if we go out and give a hand it will happen much faster. Either way the snow will be gone at some point and we will be able to sit out at that table in our swimsuits eating ice cream in the warm afternoon air…hard to imagine looking at the picture but nonetheless true.
In our lives we can get buried under problems, worries and fears. They can come down on us over many days or very quickly. Depending on our attitude, these problems, worries and fears can take several weeks or months or even years to melt away…if we chose to be bitter and angry and “cold-hearted” that definitely will make the melting take longer. If we try to be positive and we are willing to accept help from those qualified to help us in our lives the problems will melt away sooner and we will once again be able to enjoy the blessings in life.
No matter how you look at them both situations need a center piece…
One needs the sun and the other needs The Son!
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”
Colossians 3:15
Peace to you.
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Friends and Friendships
I read a quote on a P.S I Love You poster hanging on the wall, it states:
“Friends are like a beautiful garden. They require regular care.”
How true that is. Friends are very much like a garden.
You could also add that you only get out of it what you put in to it! A garden can be a beautiful thing to look at and bring joy to you and others. If you spend time working on them every day. You start by making sure they have a good foundation or growing environment. You provide soil that is full of good nutrients and holds the moisture. When you put in the flowers you need to give them space to grow. Then there is the routine of watering and most importantly pulling out those stubborn weeds. With regular care your garden can grow and prosper.
When I consider my friends and my friendships I would say that the ones I give the most “care” or time too are definitely the relationships that are doing the best and have grown the most. In my best friendships I am aware that they have a good growing environment and are given space to change and grow. I often attend to them with phone calls, emails or a text message. Most importantly, I try to always be available when the “weeds” of life are becoming too difficult to deal with by themselves.
I have also learned that sometimes God brings friends into your life at just the right time to be messengers. Some friends are only in your life briefly; they serve a purpose in God’s plan and move on while others are with you much longer. God himself also wants to be one of your lifelong friends…all you would need to do for that to happen is give your friendship/relationship with God some regular care.
Meet with him every day in a quiet and peaceful place or room…there are no rules regarding how long to do it and no right ways or wrong ways to meet with him…just find a place that feels right to you and talk to him…as I stated at the beginning…you will only get out of it what you put into it! Talk to him, he is waiting to hear from you.
Peace be with you.
Take Your Faith With You 