Are You a Friend of God

Sunday Morning Worship included a song that I have not heard in quite some time. It's entitled, "Friend of God". As Bro. Rusty and the Worship team began to sing the first few lines, he waved off the worship team and the music came to a grinding halt.

"Listen to those words!" he exclaimed as he drew us in. "I am a friend of God, He calls me friend."

Since Sunday those words have stuck with me. Am I a friend of God? What makes a person His friend? As I searched through the scripture I was able to find one person that God specifically called His friend.

O our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? 2 Chronicles 20:7

He took him outside and said, "Look up at the heavens and count the stars—if indeed you can count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be." Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness. Genesis 15:5-6

"But you, O Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, you descendants of Abraham my friend, Isaiah 41:8

Abraham believed God. Although he had been demonstrating his faith through his actions, it was his belief in the Lord, not his actions, that made Abram right with God.

Although Abram and Sarai were now in their nineties, far beyond the child bearing stage of life, God spoke to him a promise and Abram believed.

It was that belief that was credited to him as righteousness. He took God at His Word.

I just have one question for you. Are you a Friend of God? I know I am!

Who am I that You are mindful of me?
That you hear me, When I call
Is it true that You are thinking of me?
How You love me, It's amazing
(Repeat)

~Chorus~
I am a friend of God, I am a friend of God
I am a friend of God, He calls me friend
~ lyrics by Phillips, Craig & Dean ~

Lavished Love

What a time away! God has been so good to me. I left on vacation totally spent. I was mentally, emotionally and physically exhausted. I arrived in CA to the love of family and just a wonderful time.

We had a cookout the second day as my whole family came together at my parents home. I honestly can't remember a time when I laughed so hard. My brother and sister-in-law telling the story about her playing "four-square" with the fourth graders and the injuries she sustained had us all in stitches.

On Sunday I visited my old church and I cannot adequately express the overwhelming sense of love that I felt. This verse comes to mind.

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! 1 John 3:1

It was so good to be at home with Gods people once again. Just a glimpse of what the fellowship will be like when we all get to heaven. Oh how I'm looking forward to that day.
This is my Heart Friend Connie. We've sure been through some times together. On Tuesday we went to breakfast and spent the day in a beautiful park, just taking in God's glory. We shared from our hearts..., (although I think I did most of the talking as I unloaded everything that I had been holding in). Thank You God for allowing her to be your ears, your hands, your heart to me that day.



I spent the afternoon and evening with the most precious family I know, the Tajima's. Cindi is one of my Heart Friends - God has definitely knit our hearts together as one. Before leaving that night the entire family joined in a circle and each one prayed for our family. What a gift they have been to our lives.


On Wednesday we headed to the coast for what Randy calls my "Sand Therapy". There's something about the ocean, the waves and just running your hands through the sand. As my Sister, Brother-in-law, Jonathan and I walked the beach at Pismo, God just ministered to my heart. With every sand dollar or sea shell I collected it was as if the stress and strain of life was lifted away.

Just walking and giving praise to my Lord for all that He has done. Exalting His name for Who He is! He is King of King and Lord of Lords. He is Creator of all of the beauty I was seeing. He is the composer of the symphony that I was hearing each time that the waves crashed on the shore. He sent the sun to shine brightly on my skin and the Son to shine brightly in my soul. Oh how He loves me.

Thank You God for lavishing your love on me through my family (especially my sister), through my Heart Friends, through your church, through all of creation! I am truly overwhelmed! Who am I that you would love me this way?

A Special Award

Beth over at An instrument 4 his glory gave me this sweet award! It is called the Promixity Award. My very first! Thank you, Beth.


The citation which read: These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers!


There's an instruction that comes with this award. Deliver this award to 8 bloggers who must choose 8 more and include this text into the body of their award.

My list includes:

Heather - A Woman's Worth

Patty - God is Able

Kristen - Over the Backyard Fence

Beth - Just Me...

Holly - Crown Laid Down

Micey - Thoughts and Confessions of a Girl Who Loves Jesus

Mariah - Pure Joy

Bethanne - Waiting For The Shout


These women share the attributes of a true friend. They have brought joy and encouragement to my life. Isn't it amazing how you can have an impact on the life of someone whom you have never met in person... God Bless You All!

Lisa

What makes a friendship a good one?

I hope at this time in your life that you have surrounded yourself with good friends. Through the years I have have had many friends. Some have been in my life for a short time, others for many years. But the ones I treasure most are the ones who, it's almost as if our hearts have been stitched together with an unbreakable strand of golden thread.

This morning I was reading in 1 Samuel chapter 18 about the friendship between David and Jonathan. David was the shepherd boy from Bethlehem that had been anointed by Samuel the prophet as the next King of Israel while Saul was still the King. God told Samuel, "Rise and anoint him; he is the one." (1 Sam. 16:12) Jonathan on the other hand is the son of King Saul, heir apparent to the throne of his father. With those two descriptions alone you would expect these two young men to be enemies, but God definitely had another plan.

1 After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. 2 From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return to his father's house. 3 And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. 4 Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt. (1 Samuel 18:1-4)

Talk about becoming 'fast friends'. In fact, their friendship is one of the deepest and closest friendships recorded throughout the pages of the Bible. The footnotes in my Bible talk about what made their friendship so special:

1. They based their friendship on commitment to God, not just to each other.
2. They let nothing come between them, not even career or family problems.
3. They drew closer together when their friendship was tested.
4. They remained friends to the end.

As I began to reflect on those statements, God brought to my mind that this is not only a picture of my friendships, but also of my marriage.

• When Randy and I stood before our Pastor and friends in 1984, we made a commitment to God and to each other. We entered into a covenant relationship. A relationship that is meant to stand the test of time. That commitment meant something then and it means everything today.
• Marriage is hard work. When you get two strong-willed people together there are bound to be disagreements. It took us quite a long time to smooth out all of the rough spots. Life will throw all kinds of distractions your way meant to conquer and divide your household. It takes determination to not allow those to divide you.
• You must learn to pick your battles. "He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends" (Proverbs 17:9). Learn to forgive quickly and easily so that nothing can come between you.
• Just like "testing of your faith produces endurance", testing of our marriage has brought us closer together. I love him much differently today than I did when I married him. Like gold that has been refined by fire, so has our love been refined.
• I can honestly say that outside of Jesus, Randy is my best friend.

Jesus said it this way, "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you." John 15:12 If we follow this command, our lives will be rich with friends, good friends that will last the test of time.