A Two Way Street

Friendship is a two way street, it is not a one way street.


Friends are always there to help you out, comfort you, and they truly know you, there has been a joke going around that says a friend loves you when no one else does. They know a friendship is something to work on continually not just when you or they need something from the other.

Proverbs 18:24; "A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother". You can not expect to have a friend if you can't be a friend yourself.

Debi, my daughter, has been a friend of mine for years. She has never let me down. I, in turn am a friend of hers. We can talk about anything and if we don't see eye to eye we don't give up on one another. Dave, my husband and friend has very seldom let me down. I can talk to Dave about most anything but there are some things a woman needs to talk to another woman about and Debi is that woman for me.

The one and only true friend a person has is Jesus Christ. He is the one that knows every single thing about you, He knows your thoughts, dreams, dislikes, and He knows exactly where your heart is. John 15:14; "Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you". When we have a friend we want to do things for them and walk with them. Jesus has said we are His friends if we do what He commands us to do. We need to be a friend to Jesus as well. A friend is someone we love so we should try with all our might to do what He has asked us to do.

John 15:15; "Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you". Friends do not keep secrets from us. They want you to know what they know just as Jesus wants us to know what God has told Him. What a true friend we have in Jesus.

Always remember friendship is not a one way street but a two way street. It is something we must work on and remember Jesus is our true Friend; He gave us life so that we could live. John 3:16; "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life".

May you always know the love, joy, and peace of the Lord!

Disappointment and Anger

Today started out just like almost every day. I am thankful for the day the Lord gave me even though it has not been a good one. I guess we can't expect every day to be the perfect day, can we?


This has been a disappointing day. I have had several in the last week but the Lord had helped me through them but today has been different. I know the Lord is right by side to help me but because of the disappointment I have let anger step in. I know anger is something the Lord doesn't want us to have unless it would be righteous anger. If I could just cry I would probably feel better but for some reason I can't. I know if I continue to let the disappointment and anger to grow it will turn into something worse and I certainly don't want that.

Ephesians 4:31; "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you with all malice":

Now why would God want me to put away my anger? Well, for one thing right now it isn't hurting anyone but me but if I don't rid myself of this anger it will lead into other things. It doesn't make any difference who caused the disappointment that caused my anger; God wants me to rid myself of it. It is my responsibility to get rid of it. It is up to ME to do it.

Ephesians 4:26-27; "Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
v. 27 Neither give place to the devil". If I don't start praying to be released from this anger it means the devil has already gotten his foot in the doorway. I don't want to give him any room at all.

Sometimes we know what is best but we don't do it and I have to remember I am hurting me, not anyone else. I need to forgive this person for disappointing me and then letting it turn into anger. I want to forgive them and pray for them. This is the first place to start and even though I know it is hard for me I know God will help me.

Dear Lord, I ask that you forgive me for letting my disappointment turn to anger. I ask that you help me to let go of this and to forgive this person and I ask that you would please bless them and keep them safe. Lord, I thank you and praise you for the victory over my disappointment and anger. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

May you always know the love, joy, and peace of the Lord!

Is Everything Taxed

There is not a day that goes by that we don't pay taxes of some sort. It seems as though taxes just keep going up and up. I hear people saying we are being taxed to death, perhaps this is so. Have you ever wondered if there is anything that you have that isn't taxed?


I found the following and it is so true, there are some things that are not taxable.

Taxes

A tax assessor came one day to a poor Christian to

determine the amount of taxes he would have to pay. The

following conversation took place:

"What property do you possess"? asked the assessor.

"I am a very wealthy man", replied the Christian.

"List your possessions, please". The assessor instructed.

The Christian said:

"First, I have everlasting life",

John 3:16

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten

Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but

have everlasting life".

"Second, I have a mansion in heaven",

 John 14:2
"In my Father's house are many mansions:

if it were not so, I would have told you. I

go to prepare a place for you".

"Third, I have peace that passes all understanding",

Philippians 4:7

"And the peace of God, which passeth all

understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds

through Christ Jesus".

"Fourth, I have joy unspeakable",

I Peter 1:8

"Whom having not seen, ye love;

in whom, though now ye see him not,

yet believing, ye rejoice with joy

unspeakable and full of glory":

"Fifth, I have divine love which never fails",

I Corinthians 13:8

"Charity never faileth:"...

"Sixth, I have a faithful wife",

Proverbs 31:10

"Who can find a virtuous woman?

for her price is far above rubies".

"Seventh, I have obedient Children",

Exodus 20:12

"Honour thy father and thy mother:

that thy days may be long upon the land

which the Lord thy God giveth thee".

"Eighth, I have true, loyal friends",

Proverbs 18:24

"A man that hath friends must show himself

friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh

closer than a brother".

"Ninth, I have songs in the night",

Psalm 42:8

"Yet the Lord will command his lovingkindness

in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be

with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life".

"Tenth, I have a crown of life",

James 1:12

"Blessed is the man that endureth temptation:

for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life,

which the Lord hath promised to them that love him".

The tax assessor closed his book, and said, "Truly you are a very rich man,

but your property is not subject to taxation".

I pray that of you will have this kind of tax free 'wealth'.

Have a richly blessed day and may you always know the love, joy, and peace of the Lord!

What If...

When we have our quiet time with the Lord, have you ever had a thought come into your mind and wondered if it was God talking to you? I have. Sometimes I am sure God is trying to get my attention for one reason or another. The other night when I was having my time with the Lord 'what if' kept coming into my mind. What was He trying to say to me? Then it hit me, He was trying to tell me to think about several different things.


What if, God took away the Bible because we would not read it?
        Did you ever stop to think the reason He gave us the Bible is because there is so
        much in it that tells us how we should live our lives, a godly life? He didn't give us
        the Bible for entertainment; He gave it to us so we would be able to understand the
        things He wants us to know. He wants us to know about His love, mercy, and
        compassion for us.

What if, God took away His message because we failed to listen to the messenger?
        He gave us messengers so that we would be able to hear the Message. We may not
        care for the one giving us the Message but we should want to hear the Message and
        give the Lord the praise and glory that He so deserves for giving us a messenger
        that will give us the Message.

What if, God didn't walk with us today because we failed to recognize His walk with us?
        The Lord wants to walk with us every single minute of the day, we just need to
        recognize the fact that He is with us, and He never leaves us. Don't you ever feel
        His presence? I do and it is one of the most wonderful feelings I can have.

What if, God decided to stop leading us tomorrow because we didn't follow Him today?
        God wants to lead us in everything we do not just ever once in awhile. He knows
        what is best for us and doesn't want us to go the wrong way. What would we do if
        we didn't have Him to follow?

What if, God wouldn't take the time to bless us today because we couldn't take the time to thank Him?
        God blesses us every single day and He wants to bless us all the time. Sometimes
        when He blesses us it is because it is something we have wanted. So much of the
        time He blesses us with things just because He loves us and wants to bless us. No
        matter what the blessing we should always take the time to thank Him, praise Him,
        and give Him the glory. He doesn't have to bless us but He wants to. Shouldn't we
        want to take the time to thank Him?

What if, God took away the animals, trees, and flowers because we didn't take the time to enjoy them?
        Have you ever thought how quiet it would be if you didn't hear the birds singing,
        have the trees for shade, or flowers to smell? It would be pretty dull, wouldn't it?

'What if' should make us stop and think about a lot of things. Have you ever thought about these things?

What if, God hadn't loved the world so much that He gave His Son, Jesus Christ so that we wouldn't have to die for our sins?

What if, God stopped loving and caring for us because we failed to love and care for others?

What if, God would not hear us today because we would not listen to Him yesterday?

What if, God answered our prayers the way we answer His call to service?

What if, the door of the church was closed because we did not open the door of our heart?

What if, God met our needs the way we give Him our lives?

May you always know the love, joy, and peace of the Lord!