Skip to main content

what a friend


 

I continue to share a message series at The Community Fellowship titled “Classics” as we examine the hymns we used to sing a lot.  These and more help build firm faith in touch times, and today we looked at “What A Friend We Have In Jesus”.


This hymn was written by Jospeh Scriven in 1855 as a message of comfort to his mom who was back in his native Ireland which he was in Canada.  His life has many difficulties that brought him grief, but this hymn was and is laced with the fact of who Jesus is.


May we be a friend like Jesus.  Following are some of the verses I used during the message to remind me of how Jesus is our friend and how we can be a friend to others!


Matthew 11:28-30  NASB

“Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is comfortable, and My burden is light.”


Psalm 55:22  NASB

Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.


That truth is amazing because a good friend helps carry your burden and even makes your burden lighter.


John 15:13  NLT

There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.


No greater love than doing for others and thinking less of yourself.  That makes us more and more like Jesus.  


Proverbs 27:9  NLT
The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense.


Show up and share your heart.  God will use your story, your experience, your learning to help others push through and even to experience God as you have.


Matthew 14:27  NASB

But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”


That’s one of those points I don’t want to miss, and I don’t want you to miss this.  When Jesus shows up, our fears will fall away.  His presence brings us peace.  His strength cures our weakness.  So, take courage because God is always with you!


Proverbs 17:17  NASB

A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.


That is maybe my favorite verse about being a friend.  It makes me want to strive to be that kind of friend because that is what our God and our friend Jesus has done for us!


Finally, we celebrated Mother’s Day which also reminded me that often our moms taught us how to know what a friend is and how to be a friend.  We are blessed!

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Catalyst ticket arrived

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

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 ...
Post a Comment
Read more

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....
Post a Comment
Read more