Keep in Touch with Your Best Friend!

Yesterday I had a real treat at lunch. I met at a local restaurant with one of my oldest and dearest friends. That in itself would be wonderful. But I had a double delight. We were joined by one of my newest friends! My “old” friend and my “new” friend are friends, so that just made it extra special. It was a wonderful visit. The food was so good. But the fellowship, now that was out of this world.

We talked about pets, friends, homes, and the Lord. We laughed and reminisced and found out more about one another. We caught up on things and shared important information – some things we can pray about for one another. It was all good.

The encouragement of the saints is such a spiritual and eternal delight. Without friends in the faith, it would be hard to make it. Their testimonies, their words of encouragement, their commitment and their joy spread from one to another like the wind fans flames. I feel refreshed, renewed and recommitted to taking more time for these little visits.

Even the Bible tells us that we need one another. In these days, when everyone is doing whatever they want, when Christians and their beliefs are being made fun of and ignored or cursed, it’s very comforting to have real friends.

If things were to change tomorrow and for one reason or another we could no longer visit I would be sad. I can’t predict what might happen, but I know the One who holds us in His hands. And I know the One who has caused our fellowship to be so sweet. I can trust Him to be my friend when others walk away or move away or pass away. Whatever the circumstances are, it is enough to know that God promises to be with us always.

Oh beloved, maybe you’re yearning for the sweet fellowship you once had. You long for the old days when friends remained friends forever and most everyone held the same values, hopes and ideals. God cannot promise you that you can return to your childhood world, but He does promise that in Him you can find all the joy, comfort and delight you need. He is your encouragement in sorrow. He is your joy in troubled times. He is your constant companion, no matter who comes into your life or who walks out. He promises to be with you always and to keep in fellowship with you by His Spirit and by His Word. He is a friend who lives forever, He is a confidante who never gives up, He is the King who will never turn you away from His kingdom!

Your very best Friend loves you and He’s for you and that’s worth keeping in touch!

Philemon 1:6 …and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christ’s sake.

Proverbs 27:9 Oil and perfume make the heart glad, so a man’s counsel is sweet to his friend.

Psalm 16:8 I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me.

Hebrews 10:22-23 Let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting Him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise.

Summer Vacation? Not From God...

Our pastor was talking Sunday about the drop in attendance at church which usually occurs in the summer with all the vacations and fun times people partake of during those couple of months, it gets easy after missing a Sunday to fall out of the habit. He encouraged us to call one another if someone misses, because it means more to get a call from a friend than to get a call from the pastor. The pastor is supposed to call. But if we do the calling it’s not something that’s generally expected of us. He encouraged all of us to keep in fellowship with one another.

It reminded me of our tendency in the good times, summer days if you will, to leave God’s presence.  We have hard times and we cling ever so closely to Him. But come a warm breeze and joyous occasions and we tend to drop the spiritual emphasis. Whether it’s Church or Bible Study or Christian fellowship, these things are important to our spiritual welfare. Yet these are generally the first to go when times are good.

Somehow we think we are safe to relax our relationship with God in the good times. We may have survived a storm where we called out to Him. Then He rescued us and made things right. Now it’s summer time and the living is easy. The only problem with this kind of thinking is that we don’t know when another storm of life may blow in suddenly, finding us out of fellowship and weakened from not having daily quiet time and Bible reading. As long as the lovely days of summer are in our lives everything looks rosy. You can’t really “see” a person’s spiritual relationship in the easy times. It’s when the storms come in that the strength or lack thereof in the person is found.

Oh beloved, summer’s arrived but winter will return. Won’t you take a few moments everyday just to thank the Lord for His benevolence. And then look into His wonderful Word and see how He has plans to take care of you, prepare you for hard times and bless you in good times? His amazing love will carry you through the seasons of life. His amazing care will keep you throughout all the changes that come your way. Even when you find yourself out in the storms, He will come after you and rescue you and return you to His loving arms. He knows your problems, He knows your history and He knows the weather ahead. Trust Him, for He is your everlasting God. He loves you and He’s for you and He will guide you always in His loving ways.

Psalm 27:4-5 The one thing I ask of the Lord— the thing I seek most—is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in His temple.   For He will conceal me there when troubles come; He will hide me in His sanctuary.
He will place me out of reach on a high rock.

Psalm 148:14 He has made His people strong, honoring His faithful ones— the people of Israel who are close to Him. Praise the Lord!

Psalm 25:4-5 Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in You.