Category: Friendship

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I’m Listening!

This morning I read a quote by Colin Powell and I’d like to share it with you.

“All children need a laptop. Not a computer, but a human laptop. Moms, Dads, Grannies and Grandpas, Aunts, Uncles – someone to hold them, read to them, teach them. Loved ones who will embrace them and pass on the experience, rituals and knowledge of a hundred previous generations. Loved ones who will pass to the next generation their expectations of them, their hopes, and their dreams.“

The truth of this statement rang true in my heart. I realized that it isn’t just small children who need a laptop but we grown-ups need one as well…and we have One!

We have a Father whose lap is available 24/7. He’s never too busy to spend time with us, to listen to us or to share His love with us.

“For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for well-being and not for trouble, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will look for Me and find Me, when you look for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11-13 NLV

It’s imperative to be a good listener if we desire to have strong relationships. Children need to know that their parents are listening; spouses must listen to each other; co-workers must listen to be an effective cohesive team and friendships are shallow without a commitment to listening.

Listening is caring! It says “You are important to me. I will give you the one commodity I can’t replace, my time.”

I haven’t always been a good listener – a good talker, yes, but not always a good listener. With age, I have improved. Now, when I know someone is wanting to talk and be heard, I will often say “Give me just a minute to finish this and then you will have my undivided attention”. I try to listen more and interrupt less. Relationships improve when we listen. The one talking feels valued.

“Then those who feared the Lord talked often one to another; and the Lord listened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him of those who reverenced and worshipfully feared the Lord and who thought on His name. 17 And they shall be Mine, says the Lord of hosts, in that day when I publicly recognize and openly declare them to be My jewels (My special possession, My peculiar treasure). And I will spare them, as a man spares his own son who serves him.” Malachi 3:16-17 AMPC

The Lord listens when we talk to Him and about Him; He says He sees us as a treasure, as valuable as jewels.

Not only does the Lord listen but He responds. He’ll provide us with answers. He gives us instruction, wise counsel, course correction and help. He tells us His hopes and dreams for our future.

“Call to Me, and I will answer you. And I will show you great and wonderful things which you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3 NLV

Listening is a two-way street. We are listened to and then we listen for is said to us.

The Lord hears our praise and our prayers. We need to listen as He tells us the great and wonderful things that He has planned for us.

Lord, I’m listening!

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Cultivating Friendships

Relationships are like beautiful gardens. The seeds are planted but must be watered and pruned so that they can grow in a healthy and productive way.

It’s so great to spend time with friends. Those special people who have been with you through life. They have seen you cry, laughed with you, encouraged you, picked you up when you were down and even corrected you and set you on the right path again. Friends are one of life’s most valued treasures.

John was one of Jesus’ closest friends. John had been with Him from the beginning and it was John who was standing with Mary, the mother of Jesus, at the foot of His cross. He loved Jesus. In the first few verses of I John he reveals his purpose for writing this letter.

“We are telling you what we have seen and heard, so that you may share in this life with us. And we share in it with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 We are writing to tell you these things, because this makes us truly happy.” I John 1:3-4 CEV

That’s how I feel each morning when I share my thoughts with you. I write this so that you will be truly happy.

The joy found in friendship/relationship with Jesus is indescribable, complete and will sustain you even in the toughest times.

Jesus is the one who initiates relationship with us; He’s the one who developes the friendship.

“I no longer call you servants, because servants don’t know what their master is doing. But now I call you friends, because I have told you everything that my Father told me.” John 15:15 ERV

This past year has kept us from many of our dear friends but social distancing can’t stop us from pursuing our daily relationship with Jesus. The Bible tells us that there is one who sticks closer than a brother. That One is Jesus.

When fear and depression sweep in like a tidal wave He is there. When inexpressible joy elevates us to the heights of emotion He is there. When our daily walk has us on an even plain He is there.

Maybe you’ve thought that God was too big or that you were too insignificant to have a real relationship, a friendship, with God. King David wrote these words. He marvelled at the thought of God’s pursuit of relationship with him.

“If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. 9 If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, 10 even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. 11 I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night— 12 but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you.

13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. 15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. 16 You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.

17 How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! 18 I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!” Psalm 139:7-18 NLT

Maybe it’s been a while since you just sat and shared your morning coffee with Him or talked through things on your morning compute but He’s there waiting. Take Him with you on your camping trip, your next ride or hike; share a wave with Him as you surf or let Him go with you as you cast a line.

Friendship with Him is definitely worth cultivating. I guarantee if you draw close to Him He won’t walk away.

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Twas the Morning of Christmas

Twas the morning of Christmas and all through the house, the only creature stirring is me. The coffee is brewed and my cup is full but not nearly as full as my heart which is overflowing with love and appreciation for each of my family and friends who are reading this non-rhymning message.

A world changing event transpired over 2000 years ago when the sky was filled with an angelic chorus. A baby born affected the whole human race by introducing unconditional love in human flesh to reconcile us to a perfect and merciful God, the Father.

“A child has been born for us. We have been given a son who will be our ruler. His names will be Wonderful Advisor and Mighty God, Eternal Father and Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 CEV

Our prayer for you and your families this morning is that you know Him personally and that you have allowed Him to change your life. You have certainly impacted our lives through the year and left an imprint of your love, your caring and your joy. Your friendship is dear.

Merry Christmas from the Wilson’s casa to yours!

“This is what God commands: that we believe in his Son Jesus Christ, and that we love each other as he commanded. 24 All who obey God’s commands live in God. And God lives in them. How do we know that God lives in us? We know because of the Spirit he gave us.” I John 3:23-24 ERV

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We’ve Been Commissioned

What does that phrase bring to mind? Commissioned?

There are many things that can be commissioned – an artist, a designer, an auctioneer, military personnel, a ship or airliner. With each one of these the word commission means to 1. give an order for or authorize the production of (something such as a building, piece of equipment, or work of art) or 2. appoint (someone) to the rank of officer.

Each and everyone of us has been commissioned. We have been appointed for production.

Jesus has commissioned us to be ambassadors for Him. We are His representatives while He is away.

“For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” 21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” II Corinthians 5:19-21 NLT

When Jesus left this earth, He left us with the responsibility of living a life that exemplifies Him. He gave us His power and authority for a specific purpose. We are commissioned to bring a message to the world. That message is simple – God loves you, He’s not mad at you and He desires to have a relationship with you. Through Christ we can be made right with God.

These are some of the final words Jesus spoke to his disciples before He returned to heaven.

“Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 NLT

Jesus’ entire ministry was built on one commandment. He said the primary focus was to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength and then to love others as we love ourselves. He also told the disciples that the whole world would know that they were His disciples by their love for one another.

The commission given was a command to love. The example we have is to love in the same way that Christ loved us.

Accept the commission. We don’t fulfill it under our own power, Jesus has given us the ability.

Father, today I choose to walk worthy of your calling in my life and to be an example to those around me. Thank you for giving me the strength and the compassion I need to let others see Jesus through me.

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A Godly Heritage

My mother celebrated her ninety-seventh birthday yesterday! Yes, that is correct – 97. We had the joy of being with her, my sister, brother-in-law, niece, daughter and son-in-law as we celebrated her life. A few close friends dropped by to say hello and to wish her well. For the past few weeks her mailbox was filled with cards from friends, family and acquaintances. As of yesterday the total birthday cards received came to 110. She was overwhelmed by the expressions of love.

Mom talks a lot about leaving this earth and going home to heaven. It’s something she is looking forward too with much joy. She feels she’s been here long enough and is awaiting her departure with great anticipation. But while she’s here she continues to pray for her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren on a daily basis.

She tells her friends and the few people she is still able to interact with about her love for Jesus and how good God is. She always tries to have some sort of devotional book on hand to give to someone who needs to know about Jesus.

I know how blessed I am to have such a godly heritage. She and my dad both loved the Lord and brought my brother, sister and I up to love Him too.

“Remember these commands I give you. Keep them in your hearts. Write them down and tie them on your hands and wear them on your foreheads as a way to remember my laws. 19 Teach these laws to your children. Talk about these things when you sit in your houses, when you walk along the road, when you lie down, and when you get up. 20 Write these commands on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates. 21 Then both you and your children will live a long time in the land that the Lord promised to give to your ancestors. You will live there as long as the skies are above the earth.” Deuteronomy 11:18-21 ERV

At this point, each time we say good-bye and leave we understand that it may be the last time we see Mom alive on this earth. It is a bitter-sweet experience. Mom says we are to have a party and not be sad because she will finally be home. My daughter text me yesterday after she left and said “the good-byes are so hard”. To which I replied “Then just tell her ‘see you later’ because you know she’ll be waiting to see you when you get to heaven”.

Mom never had great monetary riches, she never had a plaque or monument placed in her honor, she never traveled world-wide or excelled to great heights – not by the world’s standards. However, her life has been filled to overflowing. Her home was always open, her table fed whoever was hungry, she shared love and friendship and loved the Lord.

A life well lived! I am very blessed to have such a godly heritage. As Mom said yesterday “I never knew so many people were watching what I did and that it effected them the way it did”.

That’s true. We don’t know whose watching so let’s live each day in a way that can change lives and point people to Jesus.

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Look On The Heart

I really like the characters from Winnie the Pooh. For years I have felt that the people I meet could be characterized by one of the beloved animals in those stories. I think Pooh is a good example of a dedicated Christian. How much better it would be if we were a bit more like that. Not that we should be like Pooh, but we should be like Jesus!

Pooh is always helping. When Piglet is scared he helps calm his fears, when Rabbit is working too hard and becomes stressed Pooh helps him see the value of rest. When Eeyore is overcome by depression and loneliness Pooh is always there to cheer him up. When Tiggerr offends others by being too focused on fun and hurts feelings or causes damage Pooh is there to point out his good heart and desire to do what’s right. And when Owl drones on with instruction and philosophy Pooh listens respectfully and appreciates his wisdom.

Jesus looked for the best in everyone; spoke the truth with love, encouraged the broken hearted, corrected the misguided and disobedient and calmed the fears of those who were anxious.

Jesus lived the Scripture. “Man looks on the outward appearance but the Lord looks on the heart”. Since we are in Christ, we should be thinking the same way about the people we encounter.

Lord I want to look on the heart of people today! I want to be there to help when needed and not to judge.

“If our faith is strong, we should be patient with the Lord’s followers whose faith is weak. We should try to please them instead of ourselves. 2 We should think of their good and try to help them by doing what pleases them. 3 Even Christ did not try to please himself. But as the Scriptures say, “The people who insulted you also insulted me.” 4 And the Scriptures were written to teach and encourage us by giving us hope. 5 God is the one who makes us patient and cheerful. I pray that he will help you live at peace with each other, as you follow Christ. 6 Then all of you together will praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

7 Honor God by accepting each other, as Christ has accepted you. 8 I tell you that Christ came as a servant of the Jews to show that God has kept the promises he made to their famous ancestors. Christ also came, 9 so that the Gentiles would praise God for being kind to them…13 I pray that God, who gives hope, will bless you with complete happiness and peace because of your faith. And may the power of the Holy Spirit fill you with hope.” Romans 15:1-13 CEV

Letting God live His life through us can be challenging but the rewards are so great!  Encouraging, teaching, being patient, living in peace and hope; these are all things that Father wants for us. He’s also given us the opportunity to provide these for others.

A quote from Winnie the Pooh puts it this way: “Love is taking a few steps backward maybe even more… to give way to the happiness of the person you love.”

Look for opportunities to give unconditional love; you’ll be richly rewarded!

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My Top 10

It seems like every industry or walk of life has a Top 10. Top 10: restaurants, vacation spots, songs, movies, players, employees, cars, etc. This morning I would like to talk to you about the top distractions.

When I wake EARLY in the morning I have several options. 1) I can fight to go back to sleep 2) I can worry about anything and everything 3) I can pray about everything and/or 4) I can praise God and rest in Him.

Honestly, I go through several of these steps each morning when I find myself awake early, very early. This morning it was 2:30. So I stopped and prayed and said “Lord I really would like to go back to sleep”. Then I laid there for another 30 minutes but sleep didn’t come.

Things began to fill my mind and so I began to pray. Pray for my children, my family, friends, our nation, my neighborhood, health, finances, the world condition. I heard a pastor say once that when you find “distractions” flooding your mind while you are trying to pray you should move them to the top of list, pray about them, get them off your mind, out of your heart and into God’s hands.

And when I did that, immediately I felt a song come to mind. A song written by Hillsong, Mighty to Save

“Savior, He can move the mountains
My God is mighty to save.
He is mighty to save.
Forever, author of Salvation
He rose and conquered the grave.
Jesus conquered the grave.”

My God is mighty to save – think about that! We tend to paint salvation with strictly a spiritual brush but that’s not the way God sees it.

His purpose and plan from the beginning was to have a people who would be in relationship with Him. Friendship! Sonship! And He provided for “His” people all along – He gave Noah an ark; Abraham a son; Isaac a wife; Joseph reunited with family; Moses deliverance; Joshua a new land; David a covenant; Isaiah a prophesy; Jesus a purpose; Peter a message; and Paul a revelation of God’s grace.

We have received salvation for our spirit, our souls and our bodies. He is mighty to save!

“The Lord your God is in the midst of you, a Mighty One, a Savior [Who saves]! He will rejoice over you with joy; He will rest [in silent satisfaction] and in His love He will be silent and make no mention [of past sins, or even recall them]; He will exult over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17 AMP

As we take our top distractions to the Lord and leave them in His hands we will find we have more room for praise and thanksgiving.

“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” I Peter 5:7 NLT

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Each Day’s A Gift

I try to look at each day as a gift from the Lord. When I get up in the morning I write two or three words in my journal – things like strength, wisdom, joy, family, inspiration, health, etc. These are the gifts that I realize I received the day before. Sometimes it’s the same gift several days in a row – there are times that peace, health, freedom from pain and inspiration are directing my life during that season and I never want to take them for granted.

To say my life is blessed is not clique nor is it a self-righteous proclamation. It is a statement that comes from a humbled and grateful heart. I never want to take the goodness of the Lord for granted. His blessings fill me with awe!

How could the Almighty God who made heaven and earth be so loving, so personal that He would care about the smallest details that effect my life? I can only explain it one way – His love! He loves me unconditionally, in spite of my failures and shortcomings, even when my heart is rebellious and I sin willfully He loves me! That’s who He is and what He does.

“Christ died for us at a time when we were helpless and sinful. 7 No one is really willing to die for an honest person, though someone might be willing to die for a truly good person. 8 But God showed how much he loved us by having Christ die for us, even though we were sinful. 9 But there is more! Now that God has accepted us because Christ sacrificed his life’s blood, we will also be kept safe from God’s anger. 10 Even when we were God’s enemies, he made peace with us, because his Son died for us. Yet something even greater than friendship is ours. Now that we are at peace with God, we will be saved by his Son’s life.” Romans 5:6-10 CEV

I could fill the pages of my journal and every subsequent one with “God loves me” and still truly never completely comprehend the depth of that statement. A part of His expression of love to us is friendship, deep abiding commitment and loyalty.

The gift of friendship with God! Amazing!

The Apostle Paul takes it one step further. Unconditional love, friendship and then peace with God. He says that peace with God is greater than friendship with Him. How can that be?

Everyone of us know that when we love someone or are friends with someone there isn’t always peace in the relationship. We don’t always see eye to eye and conflicts come. How sweet it is when the relationship is restored and peace rules.

The Apostle Paul also wrote these words: “And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.” Ephesians 3:18-19 NLT

We have before us a table piled high with gifts. Life, itself is a gift. I pray that you open the gifts of God’s love, friendship and peace today. They’ve been custom-crafted just for you.

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Summertime Fun

Yesterday, after I had been transferring files to the new computer I took a little time to glance at new posts on Facebook. I saw this delightful image drawn by one of my Facebook friends, Barbara Ann Kenney. It brought back so many dear memories.

For a number of years we spent our summers in Iowa working for friends who have an aerial application business. With all the corn and soy beans grown in Iowa’s rich soil it made for very busy summers. We worked from before sun rise until long after sun set. My friend, Melody, and I had pictures saved to our computers of two chairs on a beach with two drinks with umbrellas in them, big white puffy clouds in the sky and the waves gently rolling in. We said “this is our summer vacation”.

One of the things I enjoyed the most about those summers were the prayer times I had with her and one other friend. We would take time to pray over all the pilots, ground crew, airplanes, weather, office staff and the growers and their crops. As best we could, we made our office area a place where the love of Jesus and the peace that He gives could be felt.

It was a time of refining for me. There was so much to learn on the computer. So many different personalities. Safety precautions were paramount. It was a time when the Lord taught me a lot about how to treat people, to keep my calm when things around me were chaotic and to trust Him implicitly in every circumstance. He taught me how to be joyful even when I was weary.

“My Christian brothers, you should be happy when you have all kinds of tests. 3 You know these prove your faith. It helps you not to give up. 4 Learn well how to wait so you will be strong and complete and in need of nothing. 5 If you do not have wisdom, ask God for it. He is always ready to give it to you and will never say you are wrong for asking.” James 1:2-5 NLV

It was a time of sweet fellowship. I miss those days and the friends that the Lord blessed me with.

Our circumstances may be rough and rocky at times. We may be stretched more than we ever hoped to be but if we keep an attitude of joy and not give up, the Lord will bring us through it with strength. We will grow during these times and the Lord will use us to bring His light to those around us.

Every time I see a picture of chairs on a beach I remember those days surrounded by Iowa cornfields. A place of deep friendships and enduring love.

We can enjoy summertime fun, even if it’s just a picture on a computer, when we keep our focus on Him.

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Do Something Fun!

It’s time to do something fun! Here in Arizona a lot of people have pools in their backyards and it’s the perfect time to get the kids and head outside. Several weeks back our grandson, who is 4 1/2, talked about things he couldn’t do because of Corona. The playgrounds in the neighborhood were closed, he couldn’t have play dates with his friends, he couldn’t go to church, he couldn’t go to Auntie’s and he couldn’t go camping with us because the campground was closed.

I’m sure many of us feel like he did. His whole world had shut down.

But the world isn’t shut down; it’s just been rearranged for a while. This is Mother’s Day weekend so Mom’s let’s take the lead. Let’s ask the family for suggestions on what’s something fun they would like to do this weekend. Nothing fills a Mom’s heart more than the laughter and joy of her family.

“A cheerful heart is good medicine…”Proverbs 17:22 NLT

We should all take a big dose of anti-Corona medicine. Let’s laugh and have fun! It will do all of us a lot of good. Have s’mores for dinner, don’t just send the kids out to play – go join them in the sprinkler or the pool. Watch cartoons, sing silly songs, play tag or ring-around-the rosy, go for a bike ride, have a backyard picnic. And when the day is done, have bedtime prayers and thank our heavenly Father for the joy that we had with our family. Thank Him for the wonderful gift of love!

Now for us who are empty nesters or are all by ourselves may I suggest that we call, Facetime, Skype or Zoom with our families and special friends. Take time to enjoy their presence, they truly are a gift. I had a friend post that she had lunch with one of her friends. They both got take out, drove their cars to a parking lot, opened their windows and visited while they had lunch.

God likes to have fun. After all, He said when we get to heaven there will be no more tears. It will be a time of joy, so start now.

“I’m thanking you, God, from a full heart, I’m writing the book on your wonders. I’m whistling, laughing, and jumping for joy; I’m singing your song, High God.” Psalm 9:1-2 MSG

No excuses – start planning now – fill your weekend with joy!

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