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| Sunday, November 25, 2007 |
| Friends |
"It's friendship, friendship,
Just a perfect blendship,
When other friendships have been forgot
Ours will still be hot!"
I have a friend who sticks closer than a brother. (Prov. 18:24) That's saying a lot, because I know my two brothers would be by my side in a heartbeat if I needed them. But I love how the Lord has set up the church to fill that need for his children: the need for friendships.
Job needed friends. His friends were there for him, too. (Job 2:11-13) Granted, they would've been more help to him if they'd just stuck to their first reactions: "Then they sat down on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights with no one speaking a word to him, for they saw that his pain was very great." But it's a rare friend who doesn't offer advice in a well-meaning effort to 'fix' things.
We spent the last two evenings with different friends we don't see nearly often enough. It's funny how the relationship works. We share a meal or sip coffee together; we skim magazines in a bookstore or play dominoes at a kitchen table; we talk or we listen. But in those small pursuits, a connection develops. The more frequency, the more familiar and the more familiarity, the more intimacy and consequently we have friends.
Is it that easy? I think it's supposed to be. Christians have a ready-made community in their fellow churchgoers. The word 'friend' shows up in the New Testament only 15 times, but the word 'brother' appears 101 times. Call them friends or family, God expects us to develop relationships with one another that go even beyond friendship (see Monday, 3/13/06 post for ONE ANOTHER scriptures). He never addresses the issue of being too shy to make friends. He doesn't make allowance for us to spend life alone rather than interacting with one another, because the Christian life is lived in concert.
I'm thankful that God expects me to make friends. I'm thankful that He gives me what I lack to move past shyness and self-consciousness and ask someone if they'd like to talk over coffee or something. I'm thankful for people like the ones we passed the last two evenings with, who purposefully pursue friendships the way they do and include us in their pursuit.
Just the perfect blendship. |
| posted by Joye @ 3:11 PM |
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| 4 Comments: |
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You guys will always be some of our very best buds! And since you two, Mexican food and Borders coffee are never the same without you there, too! About 13 years' worth and counting........
Your buds!
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I LOVE that song!! When I was a teenager one of my best friends dressed up like a hill billy couple and lip synched (sp?) that song. It was FABULOUS:)!!
How much do I love Judy Garland?!? loving it that you mentioned her today!!
Can't wait to see you on Wednesday!!
Hugs!
Christin
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Merry Christmas Joye!
May you have a blessed time with your family. Am praying for a wonderful year for you and Mike!
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ok so this has nothing to do with this post, I just wanted to stop by and say hello :)
Had you on my mind and thought I would check in on your blog. I have hardly been on the computer lately. Life has been a bit busy to say the least.
Hope you and your family are doing well and had a very merry Christmas and a happy new year!!!
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You guys will always be some of our very best buds! And since you two, Mexican food and Borders coffee are never the same without you there, too! About 13 years' worth and counting........
Your buds!