Struggles

"Some days I'm just stressed out," I say to the doctor.
"You just don't have enough faith then," he replies.

Hmm, I think. I don't know.... Ever wondered about statements like the helpful doctor's? It didn't help my level of stress decrease. As a matter of fact I had to stifle the urge to 'give him a piece of my mind'.

Do Christians ever have stress? Ever have depression, or struggles? Well, since we don't live in never never land, we all have levels of these things, regardless of what the doctor...or the world may think.

"Mommy, mommy!" Lucy says to her mother. "I'm melting!"

The day is hot and little Lucy is sweating profusely, and she thinks she's...melting. How funny.

"You always look so cool," Helen says to me. "Don't you ever perspire?"

It's afternoon, and we have just arrived at the church building. I feel like Lucy must have felt...I'm melting. You shower and get cleaned up, but by the time you get to the (un-air conditioned) church building you feel like you have just taken an exercise in futility. Then sister Helen pats me on the hand and says.... -- Well, imagine how startled I am. I always look what? Don't I ever...what? Well, thank you, and maybe I look skinny as a rail too? How funny!

Acts 4:13 Now when they beheld the boldness of Peter and John, and had perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

The key to our Christian life isn't that we don't have these things, but where is our focus. I love the part, " and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus." The 'watery grave of baptism' washes away our sins, and we then arise to walk in newness of life. Each day of our life in that walk is a new day, and each day we need to focus on growing closer to our God, and our Savior.

Matthew 9:29 Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it done unto you.

Stress usually, for me, occurs when something out of my 'comfort' zone happens, most generally quite suddenly. I believe Satan likes to 'throw us a curve ball' to throw us off balance. Catch us unaware, so to speak. How do we handle such things? Prepare. Prepare for the unexpected through prayer, prayer, and more prayer. Bible study is very necessary, but just having the 'knowledge' isn't enough. Just as James says in James 2:19 that faith without works isn't enough--"Thou believest that God is one; thou doest well: the demons also believe, and shudder."--knowing the scriptures is only half of the armor. We must arm ourselves with prayer--communing with our God. Only God knows the future and only He can see what we will need, and fortify our faith for that future.

The medical society tells us that 'depression' is a disease. However, more often it is something we can let ourselves 'fall' into. Some people have an odd condition. If they have a sore spot, a pimple, or some such thing, they will pick at that spot. In my own experience if I squeeze a pimple, get the pus out, wash it well, and maybe even put a little 'medicine' on it, then leave it alone and let it heal, it does just that. Depression is similar to that pimple. Face whatever the problem is, get the ugly pus out, wash and treat it. Then move on. Stop picking at it. But we often don't. We let it fester, we pick at it, brood over it, and wonder why it doesn't get better, or go away.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

How can we over come stress, depression, and struggles? By thinking on good things, reading your Bible, and praying, having good 'companions'. All of these things encourage 'good mental health'.

1Peter 1:5-8 Yea, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply virtue; and in your virtue knowledge; 6) and in your knowledge self-control; and in your self-control patience; and in your patience godliness; 7) and in your godliness brotherly kindness; and in your brotherly kindness love. 8) For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to be not idle nor unfruitful unto the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Hallelujah! What a Saviour!

Day Unto Day…

"You should have your first frost six weeks after you hear the first locusts," my Grandfather says.
Every year I listen for the first locusts--not because of the frost, but because of my Grandfather.
Grandpa has been gone now since 1992, and the seasons have continued faithfully these sixteen years just as the song says--one season following another laden with happiness and tears.

"Sometimes it is good to take a 'trip down memory lane'," the speaker says, then he adds with a laugh, "Until you come to one of those uncomfortable memories. You know, like when your mind is wandering as your mom is speaking, and you are jolted into the present by her very urgent words, "are you listening to me, son?!"

1Corinthians 10:11 Now these things happened unto them by way of example; and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come.

There is a new 'term', not really new I guess, it stands for laughing out loud, or 'lol' in computer jargon. Some times the memories are like that. I think, 'how could I have been so dopey', but it brings a funny memory, and makes me laugh. Sometimes I think we have the same effect on God as the speaker and his mother. God tells us things and we just-- la ta da-- and don't really hear.

Mark 9:31 For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered up into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and when he is killed, after three days he shall rise again. 32) But they understood not the saying, and were afraid to ask him.

How many times Jesus taught his disciples things! These very important things happened to be about his death, burial, and resurrection, but you see, they didn't understand. Even after he was crucified, when the women came back from the tomb and told them he wasn't there...they still didn't get it.

Apparently a number of folks today still don't get it. Funny, we all know that when Jesus died on the cross he became our sacrifice. He took our place, it was our sins that put him there, and without his death on the cross there would have been no forgiveness of our sins. Yet, how many denominations affirm that Jesus had come to establish a physical kingdom, but the Jews foiled God's plans when they wouldn't accept Christ as their Messiah. Therefore God had to go to a new plan, and that was when he came up with the idea of the church. But wait...

One thing--we humans don't 'foil' God's plans. Jesus fulfilled the prophesies that were made of his rejection. He himself even foretold of that rejection. But after it's all said and done...since it was his death on the cross that 'paid our debt'--what if he hadn't?

These people are missing the obvious. If Christ hadn't died...there would have been no forgiveness of sins. We would not have the hope of heaven...and no one else would have either.

Many things are written for our learning. The history of the Jewish nation was one long example of how God deals with people. It shows us that God has a plan, and we can fit into that plan one way or the other, depending on our choices. But no matter, His plan will be accomplished.

Galatians 4:4 but when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,

How long suffering He is, but his righteous judgment won't wait for ever, and there is a sure punishment as well as reward awaiting us.

"Are you listening to me?!" It's Bible class, and Grandma is teaching the 'little' people. Sometimes they forget, "When teacher is talking its teacher's time to talk, and your time to listen." And some days they aren't speaking--but they aren't listening either. No matter which it is--an "are you listening" question still calls them back.

Hebrews 11:32 "And what shall I more say? for the time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah; of David and Samuel and the prophets: 33) who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions..."

They like the Bible stories and the application points. So many things that so many have missed.

Their Uncle comes in after class, "Did you baptize somebody today?" he asks as he looks at the two 'clothes pin dolls' dressed in their wet 'robes'.

Little Amos shakes his head yes, his eyes very sober, very serious. His older brother points to the Jesus doll, and with prompting remembers, "Jesus and John".

Matthew 19:14 But Jesus said, Suffer the little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for to such belongeth the kingdom of heaven.

So many lessons, so little time.

Hallelujah! What a Saviour!

Searching

They call it emotional eating...eating comfort food...or some such thing. Some days when I'm pondering on...well, it can be just about anything that is niggling in my mind...I find encouragement in nibbling on what ever is handy. It could be popcorn, carrots, zucchini sticks, even celery-- stuff that doesn't take a lot of thought. Nothing with lots of calories, just something to use as food for thought...that's emotional eating. Comfort food? That's chocolate!

Growing up I was always more of a loner, going my way, doing my own thing. As kids my age were listening to 'Blood, Sweat, and Tears', and other bands of that era, I liked Sergio Mendez and Brazil 66. I lived on top of a bluff overlooking the valley and I often identified with their song, "The Fool on the Hill". I thought it rather sad but amusing. As I have grown older there are a number of things that I find rather sad but amusing.

My Grandmother had a saying, "I'm just a little old woman trying to get along". I am at the point that I have put her saying and the song, "Just an old hippie...trying to get along," together. No, I'm not really, nor was I ever, a hippie...I was just different. A round peg in a square society...rather sad, but amusing in some ways.

The world has never liked round pegs, it wants everyone to conform to it, and tends to make things uncomfortable if they don't. If you're an old wealthy woman whose a bit on the odd side, you are 'eccentric'. If on the other hand you're an old poor woman whose a bit on the odd side, you are just plane weird. That's amusing...even if you are someone like me...weird. Smile :p)

One person in a world of billions. Often the cry is heard, 'what am I here for, what is my purpose?'. There are many people who are searching for the meaning not just in life, but in their own life. It may be a young person just looking for their direction in life, it may be a middle age... or older...person in life thinking 'have I used my direction in life, or just wandered aimlessly?

If you are young, middle age, or older use your talent to glorify God. As in the new fangled GPS on cars--you are not going in the right direction...at the nearest juncture make a u-turn and go back.... We can't always 'go back', but we can take stock of where we are and where we want to go...and how to get there.

Acts 17:27 that they should seek God, if haply they might feel after him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us:

Luke 11:9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

"Just pray this prayer," the advertisement says, "and wonderful things will happen..."

Is that the way we seek? How do we ask, and knock, that it shall be given to us and the door will be opened? Is it merely 'praying their little prayer'? If we are truly seeking, be assured we will truly find. No, it's not just praying their prayer. It isn't just 'laying your hands on the radio, (or t.v. for that matter). The true answers are in the scriptures. That is where people need to search.

Matthew 18:2 And he called to him a little child, and set him in the midst of them, 3) and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye turn, and become as little children, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4) Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5) And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me:

And as for a direction in life, and the answer to the age-old cry, 'why am I here, what is my purpose'?

How many times do we want to do some wonderful, magnificent, perhaps even awe-inspiring thing? And like the knight left behind to watch the castle gates while everyone else 'rides out to glory and honor', we fret because we are just doing the little things, the unimportant things. But the knight at the castle gate kept out the evil giant by doing the things he was instructed.

John 14:15 If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments.

2Timothy 1:12 For which cause I suffer also these things: yet I am not ashamed; for I know him whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to guard that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Hallelujah!

Will Jehovah Wait?

Isaiah 30:18 And therefore will Jehovah wait, that he may be gracious unto you; and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for Jehovah is a God of justice; blessed are all they that wait for him.

"But God didn't answer my prayer!" Larry says. "I prayed for a new bicycle and He didn't give it to me!"

Do we sometimes find that we have the understanding of little children? I have told people, as I'm sure many have, that God always answers our prayers. As parents we know we always answer our children's requests, but not always in the ways they want. It seems in this day and age that to tell children something they don't want to hear, as in 'no', or 'wait awhile', or even worse 'you need to work for that', is not popular. Parents want to be their child's 'friend', or better yet the 'year around Santa Claus' not their guardian and mentor. Certainly not someone who guides them to do the right thing--to live God-fearing lives.

Isaiah 30:19 For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem; thou shalt weep no more; he will surely be gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear, he will answer thee. 20) And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be hidden anymore, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers;

How many times are we willing to wait on Jehovah? And we certainly don't want the bread of adversity, nor the water of affliction. Yet both of these items can be 'teachers', for those who are willing to look, for those who are meek enough to accept the 'chastening of the Lord'.

Most of us have heard of the 'Great Depression' which began with the 'stock market' plunge, however there have been a number of 'Depressions' that have affected this country...the difference is in how they were handled. In previous financial depressions people turning back to God, were looking for His deliverance. In the '30's people turned to the government for their solution, and it has been a long slide downhill ever since.

Would the 'Founding Fathers' looking at our country today recognize any of it? I doubt it. They began a 'Republic' not a Democracy. They looked at a democratic society with disdain, realizing that it was more of a 'mob' rule, where as Thomas Jefferson says "A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine."

Why is it we have ceased to turn to God for our solutions?

Isaiah 65:24 And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.

Acts 16:25-26 But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns unto God, and the prisoners were listening to them; 26) and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison-house were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.

2Corinthians 3:5 not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God

Revelation 3:11 I come quickly: hold fast that which thou hast, that no one take thy crown.

Hallelujah! What a Saviour!

Have We Forgotten?

"If you take of the Lord's Supper every week...doesn't it become...old?" my friend asks incredulous.

The Lord's Supper was instituted 'on the night he was betrayed' so it is 'old', but what she means of course is--doesn't it become redundant, habitual, have no meaning.

Luke 22:19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and gave to them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.

"I'm starved, mom!" my son says to me.
"Really, my son? I hate to tell you this, but quite honestly, honey--you don't appear starved." I say shaking my head.
"Well, it's been several hours since we ate," he answers indignantly.

How ironic that the very things we should do--the things which are so very important--we blow off as if they aren't important. We don't forget to eat--usually--we don't forget to watch our 'favorite' t.v. shows, listen to...well, we know what we count 'important'.

When does something become important?
"We should all be on our knees, praying fervently. Our country has become more and more wicked, and God will not tolerate such evil for very long. We are in trouble, my friends. But we have so many 'things' happening, and we are so busy, we just don't have the time! Listen, when 9-11 happened--everything stopped. People suddenly found time. We need to find time now BEFORE something else happens--something that could be far worse."

"I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that his justice cannot sleep forever."
Thomas Jefferson

"So, why do you wear your hair long?" an acquaintance asks.
Truthfully, some days I do things because that is the way I've always done something. It's convenient and comfortable. Some times I do things because that's the way I like it...then somethings I do things because that's the way I'm told to do things.

"Women who wear their hair long are lazy," the hair dresser tells me. "They don't have to 'do' anything with their hair."

Funny isn't it? Most folks say they don't like long hair because it takes too much time.

"When I was young my mother had such long beautiful hair. Then, when she took a job at the post office, she cut it. I cried and cried, but of course she couldn't take the time when she took the job..." Ernie tells of a happening back in the 1930's.

1Corinthians 11:15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.

Styles in hair and clothing change through the years...some for the better...some for the worse.

"I love your hair!" a sister-in-Christ exclaims over another woman as she comes into the assembly.

I look at the new comer, and I wonder-- hasn't that sister ever heard of Revelation 21:8? She can't possibly 'love' that hair style. Its short spikes stick up all over. The total affect is not quite like the Joker in a Batman movie, but it does have a hint of something macabre. Does THAT really belong in the assembly of Christians? Who are we glorifying? Maybe we are glorifying the society we live in (we have become like the nations around us?) or maybe we are trying to glorify ourselves (even if we miss the mark). However, we aren't glorifying our maker nor our Lord, Jesus Christ.

1Peter 3:15 but sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord: being ready always to give answer to every man that asketh you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear:
Many folks never question why they do certain things, nor do they question what they do. They do what they do--because....

I reach for what looks to be our first ripe tomato of the season. It is red and looks just right, but as my hand closes around it...the part I cannot see is squishy and rotten. Yuck! I pitch it over the fence. How disgusting! I think-- Lord,-- I begin talking to the Lord--that is awful can't this garden do better than that?! Why....-- But a small voice in my conscience says, "Did you pray for this garden? Did you ask a blessing on it? Why do you expect a blessing on and from this garden when you--yourself--did not think enough about it to pray for it?

Yes, that was a sobering thought. We should know that God cares for His children, and takes thought for their welfare...even in the small things.

Luke 12:6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pence? and not one of them is forgotten in the sight of God.

"Take care of your pennies; and the dollars will take care of themselves!" my Grandmother used to admonish. How true, but we often lose sight of that idea. "Well," the woman shrugs, "I don't think God will judge me in this matter." A small thing, the length of her hair. Maybe he won't, but wait...

"An outward manifestation of an inner grace." Luke 16:10-11 He that is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much: and he that is unrighteous in a very little is unrighteous also in much.
11) If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?

If we are not careful in the way we present ourselves to the world...if we don't look and act as Christ would have us look and act, but we present ourselves to look and act as the world around us...then Christ in us is useless. If instead of setting the standard for the world, we only follow the world's standard, something is wrong.

God didn't create a unisex world. He created...and wants...men to be men and women to be women. Deuteronomy 22:5 A woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment; for whosoever doeth these things is an abomination unto Jehovah thy God.

Matthew 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye tithe mint and anise and cumin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the law, justice, and mercy, and faith: but these ye ought to have done, and not to have left the other undone.

Those who profess Christ, were buried with him in baptism, were raised to walk in...well what were we raised to walk in? In the ways of the world around us? In the same old way we were walking in? Raised to walk in our own way--the way we want to walk?

Romans 6:4 We were buried therefore with him through baptism unto death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.

Hmm. In newness of life. I look at my life differently now than before I was a Christian. The clothes that I wear, the length of my hair, my speech; I try to bring all things into harmony with the Word of God and how he would have me live.

"Why do you wear your hair long?"

Because I like long hair...and because my husband prefers it. It is supposed to be a woman's 'crown of glory'. It sets me apart from most women of the world. And when did long hair... on women become such an oddity?

Have we forgotten? 1Corinthians 6:20 for ye were bought with a price: glorify God therefore in your body. Why do we do the things we do? Partaking of the Lord's Supper every first day of the week doesn't cause it to lose its potency...doesn't make it 'old', attitude is a dangerous thing.

Matthew 26:39 And he went forward a little, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass away from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.

I am afraid for Christians--not just the women. We do things from habit, not questioning our self, not examining our self --if we are walking in the light. Yes, we should 'rise to walk in newness of life', and that should be according to the will of God. We often fall back into living the life we lived before we became new. Much of that life didn't seem really bad so we never question how much of it we need to change. We would be shocked if a thief still practiced thievery, or any such sins. Are there perhaps things we accept as 'alright' things...but they aren't?

Christians need to wake up. The man was right...we do need to be on our knees praying fervently. We need to make--take--time now...before we find ourselves on our knees for an entirely different reason.

Matthew 26:39 "...nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt." Luke 22:19 "...This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me."

Lest we forget...Hallelujah! What a Saviour!

Cry

Job 19:6-8 Know now that God hath subverted me in my cause, And hath compassed me with his net. 7) Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry for help, but there is no justice. 8) He hath walled up my way that I cannot pass, And hath set darkness in my paths.

Have you ever felt like the Proverbial 'voice crying in the wilderness'? Poor Job has been suffering hideously. He has lost all of his former 'wealth'. His flocks, his herds, and worst of all his family and friends--all gone. Now he's sitting in the junk heap, the place where trash was burned, scraping his oozing sores with a broken piece of pottery. Worst of all his three 'friends' have come to 'comfort, and advise' him. This is truly where the phrase 'with friends like these who needs enemies?" comes from. They add to his torment, accusing him of being a wicked sinner. Consider a sample of their accusations from chapter 18:

"Job 18:5-21 Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, And the spark of his fire shall not shine.... Job 18:21 Surely such are the dwellings of the unrighteous, And this is the place of him that knoweth not God."

Many times through out the book of Job he cries out in anguish with his sufferings. He knows-- and we know--that he is not a ' wicked, unrighteous, sinner,' as his three friends accuse him of being. He doesn't understand why God is 'punishing' him. We aren't told exactly why Job was tried, but we do know God allowed Satan to test Job.

The challenge in Job was from Satan: Job 1:10 Hast not thou made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath, on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. 11) But put forth thy hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will renounce thee to thy face. Satan continually accused Job, telling God does Job serve thee for naught? Job is only a 'fair weather friend', so Satan says.

In chapter 19 Job makes this beautiful statement:

Job 19:25 But as for me I know that my Redeemer liveth, And at last he will stand up upon the earth: 26) And after my skin, even this body, is destroyed, Then without my flesh shall I see God; 27) Whom I, even I, shall see, on my side, And mine eyes shall behold, and not as a stranger. My heart is consumed within me.

"I know that my Redeemer liveth..." what a affirmation of faith. "Mine eyes shall behold, and not as a stranger." Not as a stranger? Abraham is known as 'a friend of God', apparently, Job was at least a friend of God.

There are many lessons for you and I today. Like Job, we don't always understand why we are suffering. Sometimes we need to check our lives and be sure that it isn't because of something we need to change. Something we need to do--or undo in our lives to bring ourselves into line with God's law. If, after examination--using God's standards not our own, we find that we are walking in "His light" then realize that God uses trials for other reasons.

Ephesians 3:9 and to make all men see what is the dispensation of the mystery which for ages hath been hid in God who created all things;
10) to the intent that now unto the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places might be made known through the church the manifold wisdom of God,

God uses trials to 'make men see His wisdom, and he uses them to show principalities and powers--in heavenly places (could that be Satan as well as the 'heavenly host'?) His wisdom.

Job 19:25 But as for me I know that my Redeemer liveth, And at last he will stand up upon the earth: 26) And after my skin, even this body, is destroyed, Then without my flesh shall I see God; 27) Whom I, even I, shall see, on my side, And mine eyes shall behold, and not as a stranger. My heart is consumed within me.

Ephesians11&12) according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: 12) in whom we have boldness and access in confidence through our faith in him.

Ephesians 3:13 Wherefore I ask that ye may not faint at my tribulations for you, which are your glory.

Hallelujah! What a Saviour!

He Who Hath Friends

Proverbs 18:24 A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

We know that there are various degrees of 'friendship'...or are there? In my youth and foolishness, the first years after my marriage, in talking to people I would use the phrase, 'a friend of mine...'. After a few years it became obvious that, in reality, these were 'acquaintances', not necessarily 'friends'. What was the difference? Investment (and sacrifice)...honesty...agape.

Friendship requires work, and investment. We have some friends that we see only once a year at most--and we send them the cards at the end of the year telling them what has happened in our year and wishing them 'a good new year'. They are good people and we enjoy seeing them when we can. When traveling through their area we always try to slip over and see them.

There are other folks we had thought of as 'friends' who--although we live in a closer proximity--don't take advantage to stop and visit us. After a while--we...rightly or wrongly...feel as if they don't really value our friendship. We went the first two miles--but they don't return the favor. We are all busy people and the need to choose where we are going to invest our time and friendship is valid. They aren't bad folks...we aren't bad folks...and we are still on 'friendly' terms, just not really 'friends'. There is no investment from their end.

Then there are real friends. Maybe you live close, or maybe there is a distance, but there is a closeness of heart no matter where your homes may be. When our barn burned down...they were there. When some of our kids left home unpleasantly...they were there. When people said unkind things about us...or them...(there has to be something wrong with you, else your children wouldn't leave in such a manner, etc.) we didn't believe evil of them, nor they us...we were there... together. When our children came back, got married, graduated from high school...good times or bad we were there.

"...there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother."

The commentator Gill says, "Friendship ought to be mutual and reciprocal, as between David and Jonathan; a man that receives friendship ought to return it, or otherwise he is guilty of great ingratitude."

That's the kind of friendship that 'sticketh closer than a brother'. These kind of friends invest part of their heart as well as time. They honestly care...that's the agape part. They don't just say the words--'stop in and see us some time'. They say, 'come on over Saturday' (Sunday, or whatever day) they make a space on their calendar, as well as a space in their heart.

"The Exodus of Young Adults", the title reads. Main line churches are losing their young people. Specifically the 18-23 year old group. Of course there are various reasons, but underlying most, they say-- is a lack of love. But when they say we need to 'start living Christ's call to love,' here are some questions to think about: just who are they talking about? And (as was asked on another blog: http//doomandgloomchristianityblogspot.com/) what does love look like? We might also throw in there the question, 'How do we value', also, because all of these questions run together.

Friendship. Friendship takes a sacrifice of love, of work, and of time.

John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Romans 5:10 For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, shall we be saved by his life;

What are we teaching our 'young adults'? Do they emulate us? Do they see a lack of sacrificial love in our lives...therefore they also lack that sacrificial love? Jesus died for them (as well as us), so the lack is not on His part. (Maybe there isn't a love from other 'church members', however, honestly-- the fault isn't usually only with the other members, but also with self). Then the question; what does love look like? Some people--young or old--if you 'correct them, even if it is a correct correction, take offense. In a sense the correction though painful, is a manifestation of love. So what does love look like? All fuzzy and warm feelings? Throw out the cross, if that's the case!

Perhaps, then, the real question is; how do we value? Hmm... John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. And...

Romans 5:10 For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, shall we be saved by his life;

Luke 12:6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pence? and not one of them is forgotten in the sight of God. 7) But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

We know how God/Jesus value. So, how do we value? If "Friendship ought to be mutual and reciprocal, as between David and Jonathan; a man that receives friendship ought to return it, or otherwise he is guilty of great ingratitude."

Luke 17:15-17 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, with a loud voice glorifying God; 16) and he fell upon his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. 17) And Jesus answering said, Were not the ten cleansed? but where are the nine?

Hallelujah! What a Saviour!