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Wednesday, April 17, 2013

# 3 Key: Holding One Another Accountable...6 Keys to Lasting Friendships

Did you watch for opportunities last week 
  • to be a friend to someone, 
  • carry her burden, 
  • encourage her, or 
  • spur her on to love and do good deeds?





 #3 Key: HOLDING ONE ANOTHER ACCOUNTABLE

Before we get into this one, can we pray? This chapter isn't the most glamorous of topics and we often times shrink of doing it & receiving it. 

"Father I come to you in the precious name of Jesus, I thank you for this opportunity to read your word and grow in a new area this week and that my new friends will grow too. 

I ask you to help us hear the words of your holy Scripture today. I ask that the blinders and scales be removed and we truly hear the message of truth tempered with love. Please prepare our hearts and open our minds to receive our portion today.

In Jesus' Holy name we ask theses things...
AMEN!!"

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

#2: Key to Lasting Friendships: Bringing Out The Best in Each Other

How did your challenge go last week? Did you look around at your area of influence and take notice of a woman whose younger or newer in faith than you-
  • Were you available to be present for her
  • To encourage her
  • to be "WHATEVER" God would like you to be in her life for this season?


One of my younger sisters was heavy on my heart as she struggles through some life changing situations. Actually she isn't struggling, 
the rest of the family is, and right, wrong or indifferent she is my sister and 
we all love her and support her. 

Friday, April 5, 2013

        The trees are falling, the trees are falling!!!!!

Last night I had a dream.....I was sitting in a front yard under a shade tree with some people and we were eating. We were laughing and enjoying the day, conversation was great. The sky was blue and partly cloudy and the wind was gentle. It seemed like the perfect summer day. I noticed a line of trees in the distance at the other end of the yard. The first one was a large maple with bright maroon leaves, followed by a row of very tall slender pine trees, you know, the kind you can see the first half of the trunk then the branches half way up the tree.

The wind kicked up and I happened to be looking at the maple tree. I noticed it swaying, then more like leaning, til all of a sudden it was falling! Then one by one the pine trees began to fall like dominoes. Chaos had soon ensued and I forgot WE were sitting under a shade tree, then it hit me! No not the tree, the thought..... MOVE!!!!!!

 I grabbed my plate and as I began to stand up, the tree started to fall! I made a mad dash and ran for the edge of the yard. It was like you see in the movies or cartoons, I narrowly escaped, with only small branches and leaves hitting my backside. As I assessed the damage, I remember thinking, how in the world could those trees with their roots so deep, fall so easily?!?

I went from thinking it to asking that out loud. "how in the world could those trees with their roots so deep, fall so easily?!?" A very wise looking, older gentleman appeared. He was tall and slender, wearing a plaid shirt, and he had gray hair and lots of soft wrinkles. He looked like the kind of man that knows things, that's been around the block a few times. He said " that's what happens when the well goes dry. The ground becomes dry and brittle and the roots of the trees no longer have solid ground to hold onto." WOW....then I woke up...

This dream speaks so many things to me about our lives in the spiritual sense....

  • First, when we think we're all settled in and foundationally set, that our roots are secure, we better make sure what our source is.

Luke 3:9 NAS

"Indeed the axe is already laid at the root of the trees ; so every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."

  • Second, Whats on top? Are we bearing too much worldly burden? Are we carrying the weight of others, the world, our sin? Or are we evenly yoked with Christ who wants to help carry our burdens?

Matthew 11:28-30 ......."Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, 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 easy and My burden is light."

  • Third, When times of trial come are you easily swayed (back and forth), do you lean (only see things from one side), or just fall over(run from trouble)? 
James 1:2 NAS
Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,

Hebrews 3:6-8  but Christ was faithful as Son over His house -whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end. Thereforejust as the Holy Spirit says, "TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME, AS IN THE DAY OF TRIAL IN THE WILDERNESS,


Hebrews 12:15 NAS

See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God ; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled

Finally, Like from the beginning, in the Garden of Eden, two trees played a very important roll....

Genesis 2:9.... Out of the ground the LORD God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food ; the tree of life (*Christ Jesus) also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (*sin and the world).

Which tree are you connected to? Which tree represents your spirit life? Has my well run dry? That's a question I will be asking myself moment to moment.

*emphasis mine



Wednesday, April 3, 2013

6 KEYS TO FRIENDSHIP: CHAPTER 1 UNDERSTANDING INTIMACY

Fortunately the publishers have created a PDF so potential buyers can get a sneak peak at this study, so if you have yet to purchase this chapter is available at the link above. 

This week the chapter is:

  UNDERSTANDING INTIMACY

Wow, what a statement! Originally I purchased this study nearly 10 years ago in hopes of sharing this study with a group of ladies I went to church with. Truthfully I was in no shape or form to even attempt to read the first the chapter. (Funny how after all those years of holding on to this study, the moment is now...LET'S GROW TOGETHER!)