Loyalty And Friendship 5/4/2017

Good Morning,

You might be staying home today or you might be going to work. Regardless of what you are doing or where you are going, I wish for you a great day! My mug was just filled with steaming hot Door County Cinnamon Sugar Biscotti Coffee. Let's go Thursday!

I was talking with a guy about my age while waiting for a doctors appointment the other day. As two old guys will do, we talked about football, hunting, cars and then our ailments. Our wait time was a little longer than both of us thought was appropriate, but we both were enjoying some guy talk.

Somewhere along the way during this conversation we decided that the nurses, office staff and the doctors all looked young enough to be going to prom instead of caring for people. We both laughed and figured those same people were wondering of we survived the sinking of the Titanic.

My new acquaintance remarked that one of his buddies would be picking him up from the doctor. His ailment recovery was preventing him from driving his car. He went on to say that they both help each other out all of the time. They vacation together, fish together and their families are also very close. This friendship started 50 years ago.

Our conversation made me think a little and I concluded that I too have friends, who throughout the years have remained close with me and in good times or bad times. They have been loyal to our friendship.

Loyal friendships take work and if you have one. You are blessed. All good things come from God and friends are one of those good things. I am copying and pasting some Bible verses about friends.
As you read through them, try to place a name of who the verse reminds you of. Then pray for that person, thanking God for them, and ask Him to bless them.

Jesus on Friendship

John 15:12-15 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

God is our Greatest Friend.

James 4:8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Choose Friends Wisely

Proverbs 12:26 One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
Proverbs 13:20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
Proverbs 14:6-7 A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding. Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge.
Proverbs 22:24-25 Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.
1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”

Be Friendly

Luke 6:31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.
Romans 12:10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Out do one another in showing honor.
Ephesians 4:29-32 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Colossians 3:12-14 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

Friends are gifts from God.

Never is friendship to be taken for granted.

Always remember to be a friend.

Love your friends at all times.

 

Proverbs 11:14 Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.

Proverbs 17:17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Proverbs 19:20 Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.

Proverbs 24:5 A wise man is full of strength, and a man of knowledge enhances his might,

Proverbs 27:17 Iron sharpens iron, and one man      sharpens another

Have a great day Friends.

Marty