friendships

Choose How You Will Respond

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With every situation in life we are given free will by God which means we choose how to respond to what other people do or say.  This freedom also means we are accountable and responsible for our response even if the response is to do nothing.  If we are focused on self more than anything else we will often choose a poor response as self is only responding to the impact on me without regard for others.  God created us out of His love and we were made to choose the fruits of the Spirit in how we live our daily lives.  Be aware not only of ‘what’ you do and say, but also ‘how’ you do and say things when you respond to others.  Free will is a gift from God, how we respond with this gift makes all the difference in how we feel in our life.  May God’s joy and peace be with you.

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“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

Proverbs 15:1

(This photo was taken in September of 2016 at a lake in central Minnesota)

Friends

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Throughout our journey in life out of all the places and people we will encounter there are only a few who will last as our true friends through it all.  These are the few who know us better than any others, they know more about us and we have built up a significant amount of trust in our relationship with them.  They are the ones we want to call when we are struggling and they are one of the first people we want to celebrate with when things are going well.  We are willing to do more to help them and they are more willing to help us.  A true friend listens without giving you instructions on what you should do, a true friend sacrifices and makes time for us, a true friend accepts us unconditionally just as we are and a true friend is willing to stand by us no matter what happens.  As you can see this is a very high standard of friendship and we strive to meet it with a few people but the only one who can attain this level of friendship without fail is Jesus.  He set the bar on friendship and the human race should be eternally grateful.  May God’s peace be with you.

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“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.  My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”

John 15:11-12

(This photo was taken in June of 2016 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

 

True Friendship

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The words of Jesus as recorded in the Gospel according to John…

“My command is this:  Love each other as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.  You are my friends if you do what I command.”

John 15:12-14

(This photo was taken in October of 2014 while driving on the north shore of Maui)

Friends and Faith

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“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)

Friendships

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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.

The Heart Of It All – Mission Trip “Breaking Down Barriers”

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Everyday we all want to be doing something that is significant to somebody somewhere in the world. Whether it is volunteer work or our everyday job.  Many times we come upon a barrier of some sort that slows us down or may even stop us completely.  These barriers can be fear, selfishness, anxiety, worries about what if, etc.  It often takes great courage to break down these barriers especially in our everyday life.

As this mission trip week continues I am observing our youth breakdown some barriers that have been difficult to handle in the past.  These include interacting with people in need and building relationships with kids that may be living in difficult home situations.  I am also observing youth breaking down barriers within our group of mission trip people.  The mix of kids is very diverse with many groups of friends that in everyday life may hardly spend anytime together at all.  As this week continues new friendships are beginning to form and new connections are being made that may never have existed due to the barriers of everyday life at home.

One of the reasons you get so much out of a mission trip is you get to remove so many barriers of life and just be present with a group of youth and adults that are working together to experience life in a different way.  I feel blessed to be part of this opportunity and pray my contribution is making a difference in the lives of others.

Peace to you.

Friends and Friendships

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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.