Good morning to everyone. Grace and peace be with you.
Great news at the doctor’s office. Stitches came out and some of the restrictions were lifted. Enough so that I will return to work next week.
Yesterday I also caught up on my Gem devotions. You would think that being home I would not have fallen behind, however, being home is probably the very reason I fell behind. My clock is backwards like a newborn and my priorities are scattered like a child’s Legos.
One of the things that I learned in my catch-up reading is the importance of having the right people in your circle (and) in your corner. As we are growing up, we find ourselves in groups that seem to be well suited to our personality. Over the years we have gravitated to other groups for the same reason. Before making the choice to follow Christ, sometimes those friend groups are not the best. They could put alcohol first. Drugs. Sex. Their feelings and needs over yours. Any number of items. Then when you decide to follow Him, those friends use all the cliches the enemy has to make you feel like you have failed as friend. However, you can tell who your true friends are by what happens when you need someone. When you need someone to lean on. When you need someone to talk to without conversation back. When you need advice. When you just need a hug. The most important tell you will find in a true friend is the one who will tell you the absolute truth … not to hurt you, but to show you that you are wrong.
I have been blessed with several friends in this category. Some at work stood up to me as I was not even close to a Christian walk. I have some that know exactly how to word things that point the finger directly at me, without pointing their fingers at me. I have some that listen to me whine or cry and then ask me if I am okay. Afterwards, they ask me if I am done sulking and if I forgot who I was … that I am a child of God. I am blessed that none of my friends try to flip script and make my struggles about them. They are firm and yet encouraging and supportive. This is the kind of circle that you need. One that will listen, truly hear you, cry with you, hold you, and … when it is necessary … tell you to put on your big kid pants and remember who you are.
As the body of Christ, we are to hold each other accountable expose sin, but we are also supposed to hold each other up and walk in support and truth.
The other day I was talking to a friend, and a popular TV preacher came up in conversation. We agreed that he is more than like on a path to hell. That same preacher’s name came up in a video this morning and the content creator said he was shocked at how many people zeroed in on the preacher’s name instead of content the video was about.
Friends, we are not to hate on people. We are supposed to love on them just as Christ has done for us and to us. We are to hate the sin they have committed and hold them accountable in the eyes of the church. I can only pray that this preacher has a circle of friends that is not overwhelmed with his ‘status’ and will continue to speak Life into him. Everyone needs that circle of truth speaking friends. Even those we do not agree with.
Join me today in praying for those who do not have that Godly circle and that today that circle begins to build for them. I know that my circle has pulled me out of the darkness more times than I can count. Everyone needs those friends.
Be blessed today my friends.
*** 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. – Romans 8:16-17
Great news at the doctor’s office. Stitches came out and some of the restrictions were lifted. Enough so that I will return to work next week.
Yesterday I also caught up on my Gem devotions. You would think that being home I would not have fallen behind, however, being home is probably the very reason I fell behind. My clock is backwards like a newborn and my priorities are scattered like a child’s Legos.
One of the things that I learned in my catch-up reading is the importance of having the right people in your circle (and) in your corner. As we are growing up, we find ourselves in groups that seem to be well suited to our personality. Over the years we have gravitated to other groups for the same reason. Before making the choice to follow Christ, sometimes those friend groups are not the best. They could put alcohol first. Drugs. Sex. Their feelings and needs over yours. Any number of items. Then when you decide to follow Him, those friends use all the cliches the enemy has to make you feel like you have failed as friend. However, you can tell who your true friends are by what happens when you need someone. When you need someone to lean on. When you need someone to talk to without conversation back. When you need advice. When you just need a hug. The most important tell you will find in a true friend is the one who will tell you the absolute truth … not to hurt you, but to show you that you are wrong.
I have been blessed with several friends in this category. Some at work stood up to me as I was not even close to a Christian walk. I have some that know exactly how to word things that point the finger directly at me, without pointing their fingers at me. I have some that listen to me whine or cry and then ask me if I am okay. Afterwards, they ask me if I am done sulking and if I forgot who I was … that I am a child of God. I am blessed that none of my friends try to flip script and make my struggles about them. They are firm and yet encouraging and supportive. This is the kind of circle that you need. One that will listen, truly hear you, cry with you, hold you, and … when it is necessary … tell you to put on your big kid pants and remember who you are.
As the body of Christ, we are to hold each other accountable expose sin, but we are also supposed to hold each other up and walk in support and truth.
The other day I was talking to a friend, and a popular TV preacher came up in conversation. We agreed that he is more than like on a path to hell. That same preacher’s name came up in a video this morning and the content creator said he was shocked at how many people zeroed in on the preacher’s name instead of content the video was about.
Friends, we are not to hate on people. We are supposed to love on them just as Christ has done for us and to us. We are to hate the sin they have committed and hold them accountable in the eyes of the church. I can only pray that this preacher has a circle of friends that is not overwhelmed with his ‘status’ and will continue to speak Life into him. Everyone needs that circle of truth speaking friends. Even those we do not agree with.
Join me today in praying for those who do not have that Godly circle and that today that circle begins to build for them. I know that my circle has pulled me out of the darkness more times than I can count. Everyone needs those friends.
Be blessed today my friends.
*** 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. – Romans 8:16-17
Good morning to everyone. Grace and peace be with you.
Great news at the doctor’s office. Stitches came out and some of the restrictions were lifted. Enough so that I will return to work next week.
Yesterday I also caught up on my Gem devotions. You would think that being home I would not have fallen behind, however, being home is probably the very reason I fell behind. My clock is backwards like a newborn and my priorities are scattered like a child’s Legos.
One of the things that I learned in my catch-up reading is the importance of having the right people in your circle (and) in your corner. As we are growing up, we find ourselves in groups that seem to be well suited to our personality. Over the years we have gravitated to other groups for the same reason. Before making the choice to follow Christ, sometimes those friend groups are not the best. They could put alcohol first. Drugs. Sex. Their feelings and needs over yours. Any number of items. Then when you decide to follow Him, those friends use all the cliches the enemy has to make you feel like you have failed as friend. However, you can tell who your true friends are by what happens when you need someone. When you need someone to lean on. When you need someone to talk to without conversation back. When you need advice. When you just need a hug. The most important tell you will find in a true friend is the one who will tell you the absolute truth … not to hurt you, but to show you that you are wrong.
I have been blessed with several friends in this category. Some at work stood up to me as I was not even close to a Christian walk. I have some that know exactly how to word things that point the finger directly at me, without pointing their fingers at me. I have some that listen to me whine or cry and then ask me if I am okay. Afterwards, they ask me if I am done sulking and if I forgot who I was … that I am a child of God. I am blessed that none of my friends try to flip script and make my struggles about them. They are firm and yet encouraging and supportive. This is the kind of circle that you need. One that will listen, truly hear you, cry with you, hold you, and … when it is necessary … tell you to put on your big kid pants and remember who you are.
As the body of Christ, we are to hold each other accountable expose sin, but we are also supposed to hold each other up and walk in support and truth.
The other day I was talking to a friend, and a popular TV preacher came up in conversation. We agreed that he is more than like on a path to hell. That same preacher’s name came up in a video this morning and the content creator said he was shocked at how many people zeroed in on the preacher’s name instead of content the video was about.
Friends, we are not to hate on people. We are supposed to love on them just as Christ has done for us and to us. We are to hate the sin they have committed and hold them accountable in the eyes of the church. I can only pray that this preacher has a circle of friends that is not overwhelmed with his ‘status’ and will continue to speak Life into him. Everyone needs that circle of truth speaking friends. Even those we do not agree with.
Join me today in praying for those who do not have that Godly circle and that today that circle begins to build for them. I know that my circle has pulled me out of the darkness more times than I can count. Everyone needs those friends.
Be blessed today my friends.
*** 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. – Romans 8:16-17
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