"YOUR ALL-the-TIME, EVERYDAY FRIEND"

Good Evening to All!

Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice. (Psalm 55:127 NKJV)

Have you ever thought much about "friendship"? Do you consider people you JUST met friends, or acquaintances? Do you like to get to know a person before you consider them a friend, and better yet, WHAT do you consider the attributes of being a friend or what you want your friends to be to you?

When I was a little girl, I had VERY LOW self-esteem, so if ANYONE showed me attention, I considered them a friend. Even those who just wanted to be around me when I would buy them cokes or candy, whatever. Now that I am grown, I still have a self-esteem issue, but I am still careful about who I pick as friends, ESPECIALLY since I became closer to God. I don't want anything or anyone getting in my way of His and my relationship. Bad habits are a lot easier to pick up and harder to get rid of than good ones. Therefore, bad influences will hinder our walk with God.

Developing a true friendship takes time. A person can have as close a relationship with God as they want. The key is just like with humans, you have to be willing to spend time with Him, talking with Him and listening to Him. Yes, I said that correctly. "Talking WITH Him". I say this because a conversation takes two. While one talks, the other LISTENS. We have a tendency, because God doesn't commonly speak with an AUDIBLE voice, to do all the talking. Now, I'm telling a little bit on myself, but my husband gets REALLY aggravated at me sometimes because I LOVE to talk. Then, I have the nerve to say to him, how come you never talk to me?! LOL! He tells me he would if he could get a word in edge-wise! As bad as I hate to admit it, it's true.

The same goes for our conversations with God. If we want Him to talk to us, WE have to let Him speak. He isn't going to yell over our voices to be heard.

This is the way to begin a relationship with God. Pray, listen, read His Word, Study His Word, talk to Him. The reason I say pray and talk, is because I would like to bring up a point. To me, praying and talking are one in the same. Jesus says He is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Well, if He is a friend, then you can talk to Him just like you would your best friend here on Earth. I am definitely not one of those people who can say an elegant prayer, or even speak eloquently. Therefore, I just call His name, tell Him how much I love Him, and How special He is to me, then I tell Him my prayer request, and thank Him in advance, because I know it will be taken care of, and end by letting Him know that I am praying in Jesus' Name because there is Power in the Name of Jesus. After that, I stay quiet for a while and listen to my spirit and I get an answer. Sometimes it comes right away, other times I have to wait because it will come in God's time, when He knows I am ready for the answer.

God is there ALL THE TIME. Even when we don't think He is. He hears all, sees all, knows all. There is nothing that we can do or say or that happens that He doesn't know about. This is why I am so glad that He is such a merciful, forgiving God. He loves us even with all our faults.

The more we walk with Him, the closer we will become. He is the ONE who will never leave your or forsake you. He is the ONE who you can depend upon for all your life and beyond.

Remember, don't be the kind of "friend" to Him that just goes to Him when you need or want something. Unfortunately, those kind of friends are a dime a dozen. Be a true friend to Him as He is to you. Be there all the time. Talk to Him when you are happy, praise Him for things He has given you and made possible in your life. Talk to Him when good things happen, just like you would call your best friend when you got good news about something or met a fantastic boy or girl friend. Let Him know you care enough for Him to include Him in your everyday life. He is interested in every aspect of your life, not just the "important things" so let Him be a part of it.

I guarantee even the GOOD THINGS will be MUCH BETTER when HE is included as a FRIEND.

Good Night To All and May God Bless!

Getting Personal

Good Morning Everyone!

As promised, I am going to try and get "last night's blog post re-done.

Ye are My friends if ye do whatsoever I command you. 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. (John 15:14-15 KJV)

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Jesus is telling us He wants to have a personal relationship. One of true intimacy, but that is a two-way street. According to His Word, He says, "if you love me, you will keep my commandments". This brings to mind where Jesus is talking to this man who asks Him "what must he do to have eternal life". Jesus told him to follow the commandments, (paraphrasing), which he said he had done from his youth. Jesus, looking at him lovingly said one thing he lacked. He told him to go sell whatever he had and give it to the poor, because he will have treasures in heaven, then take up the cross and follow Him. The man walked away, saddened. He took his possessions over following Jesus. This man didn't have the Bible to live by. He didn't know what Paul said in Philippians 4:19 , "My God shall supply All your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. This man couldn't understand that he didn't NEED all his STUFF because God would take care of him. We know this, yet we still "hang on" to stuff.

I wonder how many of us are like that to an extent. Yes, we say we love Jesus, but if He came up to us and asked that of us, how many of us would be "that man"? I don't know that Jesus would actually ask that of us, but the point I am trying to make is that He thought enough of us to die on the Cross, and we moan because we have to sacrifice a little? That sounds like a one-sided friendship to me. His friendship and love are UNCONDITIONAL, yet ours is So Conditional. "I'll go to church if I've got time". "I'm too tired to stand up and worship". I need this 5 dollars to buy cokes, I'll double up on my tithes next week. (Never happens).

Jesus is a friend which sticketh closer than a brother. (Proverbs 18:24) Don't we owe Him the same?

We need to get serious about an Intimate Relationship with God, not just be an acquaintance, or a "friend" when it suits us.

God is so Good to us. Look at some of the promises He makes to us. John 14:13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. John 15:7 I ye abide in Me and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Now this verse sounds as though there are conditions set. In other words there is a cause and reaction type of thing going on. According to the verse, IF you read and study the word (the only way to get God's Word to abide in your heart, and live for God) THEN you can ask anything in His Name and it will be done. The thing about that is, once your start doing this, the more you will receive the fruits of the spirit which are love, joy, peace, long-suffering (patience), gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance, against there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23). These are the best "gifts" anyone could ever receive. Can you imagine how much richer your life would be with these personality traits? We can receive these promises and more if we will just live for God. Love Him like we want to be loved. Treat Him with the same or (More) respect than we would treat our earthly friends. Man will let you down at one time or another. God Will NOT.

He is not just "some being" out there hanging around watching to see what happens. He is watching over us because He loves us. He is interested in everything we do and say. We are made in His image, we are His namesakes. We are co-heirs to His kingdom. Why would He not take an interest in our everyday lives?

I ask you. The latter days are here. His time is drawing nigh. Will you "re-evaluate your relationship with God? If you remember nothing else in this post, remember that a TRUE FRIENDSHIP is a two way street. God will do more things for you than you can imagine, if you will step out and show Him you truly care about Him. Talk to Him. You don't have to say some elaborate prayer. God hears everything you say. Talk to Him just like you would a friend sitting in your living room, or riding in your car. Ask Him for help. He loves to feel needed, but you must ask Him. He won't interfere. He needs to be invited. Follow His commandments and live for Him. Remember the order of priority. God FIRST, Family SECOND, and everything else last. If you go by these priorities, your life will be smoother. Notice, I didn't say a bed of roses. (I have never understood that saying, roses are thorny)! Anyway, He never said life would be easy, but He will help us through anything we come upon if we will ask Him.

Have a Blessed Day!

A Night of Inspirations

More Inspirations from
especially for Moms

I have chosen this story from a precious little book which I received at church one Mother's Day. I can't help but share because I feel that there are truly some "gold nuggets" to be read. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.

For a Glass of Milk and Cookies

Several years ago, a poverty stricken boy was selling trinkets from door-to-door in order to pay his way through school. On one particular day he found himself down to his last think dime and he was hungry. He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a beautiful young woman opened the door. Instead of asking for a meal, he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked sort of hungry, so she brought him a large glass of milk and some cookies instead. He drank it slowly and then asked, "How much do I owe you?" "You don't owe me anything," she replied. "Mother has taught us never to accept pay for a kindness." "Then I thank you from the bottom of my heart," he replied. As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God and human beings was strengthened. He had been ready to give up and quit. Many years later, that same young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled by her condition. She was finally sent to the big city where they called in specialists to study her rare disease. Dr. Howard Kelly was called for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately he went down the hall of the hospital to her room. Dressed in his physicians gown, he went in to see yer. He recognized her instantly. He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. He gave special attention to her case. After a long struggle, the battle was won...he had saved her life. Dr. Kelly requested the business office to give him the final bill for approval. He looked at it and wrote something on the bottom of the bill before it was sent to her room. She was afraid to open it because she was sure it might take all her resources to pay for it. Finally, she looked and on the bottom she read these words: "Paid in full with one cold glass of milk and some cookies." Dr. Howard Kelly. Tears of joy flooded her eyes as her happy heart gave praise and thanks: "Thank you, God, that Your love has also been shared through another human being because of the lessons shared with me by my mother."

Friends with God "It is a staggering thing, but it is true...the relationship in which sinful human beings know God is one in which God, so to speak, takes them on His staff, to be henceforth His fellow workers and personal friends." J.I. Packer

The above thought amazed me the more I think about it. How many employers do you know would hire you not caring what you had done in your past? To carry it one step further, to trust you with the lives and souls of their loved ones and everything they hold dear? How many employers call you "friend" to their peers and other colleagues? God does just that, and that is wondrous to me.

No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing: but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. (John 15:15-16)

I love this verse. Whenever I am witnessing to someone and telling them about how much God really cares for them, no matter what they have done in their life or what they think of themselves, this verse always hits home. He calls us "FRIEND". This may sound strange to a lot of people, but then again sometimes I sound strange to myself. I don't like to use the word "religion" in reference to my beliefs. I like to say I am of the Pentecostal Doctrine, but I have a "personal relationship" with God. Anyone can be religious about anything. Religious just means repetitive, such as I go to the gym religiously, she goes to the restaurant religiously everyday without fail. When a person says they have a "personal relationship with God", there is only one way that statement can be understood. Anyway that's why I have a special place in my heart for the above mentioned verse.

"I Am A Friend Of God" ( I love that song, also)



Well, Par for the course, I tried to upload that song for this post, but it keeps giving me an error message, and to contact support. If y'all are interested in that song it is by "Phillips, Craig and Dean and also Hill Song brought it out. I'm partial to PC&D though. I will try and figure out the problem of my video player and get it back in working order. Oh!! I downloaded this song off of YouTube. The actual name of the song is just that., "I Am A Friend of God". I hope you will check it out if you aren't familiar with it.

Good Night and May God Bless!

PJ