standing with friends

Often I look around the places I get to go and notice some particular blessings that God has given me. Blown away by the grace of God is a correct statement especially as I realize the people God placed in my life are making me much stronger.

We are stronger together. It is easier to see what is really going on. It is easier to get through any situation when you are not alone. At times those friends lift us up because we are weak. Then there are other times when we lift them.

These people I stand with remind me of God's goodness. Real friends let us know that we have messed up and need to keep walking with Jesus in this life. God didn't create us to be alone.

Friends make life sweeter. The people we stand with make us stronger.

Here are three things that friends do for each other as we help each other stand strong:

Proverbs 27:17 (NIV)

As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

We sharpen each other as we stand and do life together. This includes everything from learning from each other or helping a friend with a project or a problem. Listen, we need to be sharp in difficult situations understanding that Christians have Satan as an enemy. Lets sharpen each other.

Mark 13:9 (The Message)

... You're placed there as sentinels to truth.

A "sentinel" is a guard. Some say "I am not my brother's keeper" and if they do, they would be wrong. We are to stand tall in our world for Jesus. The next verses in that chapter of Mark say that the Gospel has to be shared. One way we help each other is when we share truth. Our world, lost people around us and our friends, needs to see and hear truth. People long to see truth lived out in front of them. By the way, Truth is a person, and His name is Jesus!

Proverbs 27:9 (NLT)

The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense.

Friends make life sweeter. We need each other. Another thing we can do as we are standing with friends is counsel each other and simple live life together. Life is sweeter as we share life.

How are you standing, encouraging and sharpening your friends today?

NOTE: much of this post appeared on my blog in January of 2010.

Have you heard of EDITH BURNS?

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas . She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns. One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns. When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her. Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved. Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying,"My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Beverly said, "Why yes I do." Edith said, "Well, what do you ...

wash feet, sharing hope

John 13:4-5,14 NLT So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him… 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. Jesus set the example we follow. He served. He valued and gave value to others. That is why we choose to serve. For 18 years our church has shared an outreach called back2school, and for 16 of those years we have chosen to give students brand new shoes and socks as well as washing their feet. It is one of the most important parts of this event. Washing feet is a humbling experience where both the give and the receiver learn how to share some moments that might change their lives. Jesus said we should do this. See the verse above. Follow His example, do what He did, and give far more than you will ever know....

Catalyst ticket arrived

My ticket to the Catalyst Conference, in Atlanta Oct 8-10, just arrived. I'm excited!

Michael Harrison's e-devotion

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