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Who’s your best friend?
It has been my privilege to have one of my “best” friends for over 50 years, Linda. She always includes me in the “Heart 2 Heart” women’s events at her church. Most recently we enjoyed a “Picnic in the Park” at Codorus State Part near Hanover (PA). We had food, fun and games. And, as always, one of their members presented a short testimony. The speaker was Lorrain Showers. She presented such a moving tribute to friendship, what it means and how Jesus is our truest friend. With her permission, I present you with her words. These are all hers including any emphasis in bold. My only edits were for spacing and removing any personal references. Now, without further ado…
His Provision, His Protection and His Promise.
In the Fall of 2020, my niece gave me a dead Sunflower head to feed the birds. Last July, I was at the store, and I thought about buying a sunflower, but decided not to spend the money. When I arrived home, I looked out my window and there was a lone sunflower from last year’s seeds. I was reminded of God's word in Mathew 6:26 that He Provides for the birds of the field, and I am more important than they are.
My husband Steven passed away in September last year. In October, during my respite in Tennessee, I was on the deck seeking God and the Lion of Judah appeared in a cloud. I was reminded of His Protection of His People. Then, those clouds transformed into an angel welcoming an ascending figure. I had His Promise of a future with Him for Steven and myself. His Provision, His Protection and His Promise.
Our Ladies Sunday School has been studying the book of John. John is all about relationships. So, let's talk about Relationships:
We all have relationships with Family, Employers, Neighbors, co-workers, classmates, businesses, etc....When we first meet people, we go through a Probationary period of sizing each other up, right?
We check the commitment or the contract. Then comes Decision time. Is this relationship worth keeping? What is the cost to me? What am I signing up for? And finally, do I want to go deeper with this relationship into friendship or should I just keep it casual?
His Provision, His Protection and His Promise.
In the Fall of 2020, my niece gave me a dead Sunflower head to feed the birds. Last July, I was at the store, and I thought about buying a sunflower, but decided not to spend the money. When I arrived home, I looked out my window and there was a lone sunflower from last year’s seeds. I was reminded of God's word in Mathew 6:26 that He Provides for the birds of the field, and I am more important than they are.
My husband Steven passed away in September last year. In October, during my respite in Tennessee, I was on the deck seeking God and the Lion of Judah appeared in a cloud. I was reminded of His Protection of His People. Then, those clouds transformed into an angel welcoming an ascending figure. I had His Promise of a future with Him for Steven and myself. His Provision, His Protection and His Promise.
Our Ladies Sunday School has been studying the book of John. John is all about relationships. So, let's talk about Relationships:
We all have relationships with Family, Employers, Neighbors, co-workers, classmates, businesses, etc....When we first meet people, we go through a Probationary period of sizing each other up, right?
We check the commitment or the contract. Then comes Decision time. Is this relationship worth keeping? What is the cost to me? What am I signing up for? And finally, do I want to go deeper with this relationship into friendship or should I just keep it casual?
Let's talk about Friendship: “Why do I call You Friend”
This is SO GREAT, because it tells someone how valuable they are.
But do you notice anything consistent? It's All about ME.
So, if you hurt me or I hurt you, if you let me down or I let you down, If we don't feel safe and loved …..., What happens?
We stop trusting, we stop talking, we stop being together. We begin saying, “What if?” and “If only?”
We have all had friendships that have been damaged or broken.
Next step is Intimate Love:
Think about your Best friend on this earth. It may be your husband, a son or daughter, or maybe a friend.
Who do you go to first? You just can't wait to share your joys, your sorrows, your concerns, or a new revelation?
What is different about that friendship? Maybe: You have History? You have Built Trust? You Know them? Communication is different? You can be Honest with each other. Forgiveness is built in? If there is a hurt or If there is anger, it just crushes you? Separation from them is not an option? You can't imagine your life without them?
I want us to think about Our Relationship with God.
Salvation, which is our guarantee of eternal life with God, starts with a Relationship, a Covenant/Contract. When you were born, you were under a Grace covenant, a kind of a probationary time. Jesus loves the little children.
At some point, you realize that you don't have that guarantee of Eternal life with Him. You've blown it and you have broken your covenant with God. In Paul's letter to the Church in Rome he says, “For ALL have sinned and come short of the Glory of God” (3:23) and in 6:23a, he says “the wages of sin is death”. God says that you need to take responsibility for your relationship with Him.
Your acceptance of his covenant/contract with you is a Personal choice. The Bible tells us that under the Old Covenant/Contract, made with Adam and Eve “in the garden”, forgiveness of sin and a restoration of our rightness with God required the blood of animals. Then, a New Covenant was signed in the blood of Jesus on the cross. It is free to all who believe and accept it.
The price has been paid! It is a FREE gift. Romans 6:23b says, “For the GIFT of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”.
When you accept Salvation, meaning Eternal Life with God, through His sacrifice; His shed blood, you enter into a NEW covenant/contract with Him.
Now, you can stay in a causal relationship with God. He will keep His covenant with you.
BUT God loves you and He wants to be your friend.
Salvation as a friendship is seeking what our covenant/contract (the bible) says. It's Learning the give and take of this friendship with Him. God is all about His Kingdom, His people, His Promises AND His Purpose in our lives!
It's like our friendship list. You begin to trust God and depend on Him.
But, if you are hurt, if you are let down, if you are frightened, you might stop talking, listening, trusting, praising and hanging out with God. Maybe you have been there or are there now.
So my Question is? Where is the “if” in your Life? Is it “If only?” Is it “What If? Or is it, “If God is for me, who can be against me?”
Bonus: The closer our friendship and trust in God becomes, the safer you and I are with each other. We aren’t easily offended and estranged.
Salvation as an intimate Love. Starts with Knowing what my covenant/contract says. Ps 119:11
“Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against Thee” It’s Not just knowing the words, but knowing the Person, the Promises and the Purpose of the Your Contract with God.
Separation is not an option. You can't imagine life without Jesus.
This is SO GREAT, because it tells someone how valuable they are.
But do you notice anything consistent? It's All about ME.
So, if you hurt me or I hurt you, if you let me down or I let you down, If we don't feel safe and loved …..., What happens?
We stop trusting, we stop talking, we stop being together. We begin saying, “What if?” and “If only?”
We have all had friendships that have been damaged or broken.
Next step is Intimate Love:
Think about your Best friend on this earth. It may be your husband, a son or daughter, or maybe a friend.
Who do you go to first? You just can't wait to share your joys, your sorrows, your concerns, or a new revelation?
What is different about that friendship? Maybe: You have History? You have Built Trust? You Know them? Communication is different? You can be Honest with each other. Forgiveness is built in? If there is a hurt or If there is anger, it just crushes you? Separation from them is not an option? You can't imagine your life without them?
I want us to think about Our Relationship with God.
Salvation, which is our guarantee of eternal life with God, starts with a Relationship, a Covenant/Contract. When you were born, you were under a Grace covenant, a kind of a probationary time. Jesus loves the little children.
At some point, you realize that you don't have that guarantee of Eternal life with Him. You've blown it and you have broken your covenant with God. In Paul's letter to the Church in Rome he says, “For ALL have sinned and come short of the Glory of God” (3:23) and in 6:23a, he says “the wages of sin is death”. God says that you need to take responsibility for your relationship with Him.
Your acceptance of his covenant/contract with you is a Personal choice. The Bible tells us that under the Old Covenant/Contract, made with Adam and Eve “in the garden”, forgiveness of sin and a restoration of our rightness with God required the blood of animals. Then, a New Covenant was signed in the blood of Jesus on the cross. It is free to all who believe and accept it.
The price has been paid! It is a FREE gift. Romans 6:23b says, “For the GIFT of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”.
When you accept Salvation, meaning Eternal Life with God, through His sacrifice; His shed blood, you enter into a NEW covenant/contract with Him.
Now, you can stay in a causal relationship with God. He will keep His covenant with you.
BUT God loves you and He wants to be your friend.
Salvation as a friendship is seeking what our covenant/contract (the bible) says. It's Learning the give and take of this friendship with Him. God is all about His Kingdom, His people, His Promises AND His Purpose in our lives!
It's like our friendship list. You begin to trust God and depend on Him.
But, if you are hurt, if you are let down, if you are frightened, you might stop talking, listening, trusting, praising and hanging out with God. Maybe you have been there or are there now.
So my Question is? Where is the “if” in your Life? Is it “If only?” Is it “What If? Or is it, “If God is for me, who can be against me?”
Bonus: The closer our friendship and trust in God becomes, the safer you and I are with each other. We aren’t easily offended and estranged.
Salvation as an intimate Love. Starts with Knowing what my covenant/contract says. Ps 119:11
“Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against Thee” It’s Not just knowing the words, but knowing the Person, the Promises and the Purpose of the Your Contract with God.
Separation is not an option. You can't imagine life without Jesus.
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Cindy Lee, the author of Connecting the Light, publishes "Inspired Messages" every few weeks. Each of these messages provide insight and inspiration in a world gone a muck! Drawn from her own life and often reflecting current events, you will find these messages have a practical side when facing life in the real world. Want to hear what others are saying? Click Here.