A Great Time of Year to Be a Friend

Friends are truly priceless. To gain a friend takes some time. Those we may think are "friends" may not turn out to be the ones we can really trust and confide in as time continues. Acquaintances are not always friends. People we spend time around most are not always friends. Sometimes it seems as if I can count on two hands those who I would consider in this category. Those who would not be judgmental by an action I performed or offended by something I said. They would know me well enough to understand why I did or said the things I did.

One cliche my parents (probably my mom) always said was something like "You have to be a friend to have a friend." This time of year is a great time to experience that, whether it is to people you know or those you don't. That brings us to this week's quote...

Your friendship is a glowing ember
Through the year; and each December
From its warm and living spark
We kindle flame against the dark
And with its shining radiance light
Our tree of faith on Christmas night. ~ Thelma J. Lund

This time of year has a lot of opportunities to be a friend (or even a nice person) to people you are around. With all the shopping that is happening the "hustle and bustle" that takes place, why be the calm one? Why not wish others a "Merry Christmas" when they say "Have a good day" or "Thank you for shopping at ___."

Now it's your turn...how will you be a friend to someone this holiday season?

Purpose: Even as a Brick

A few years ago a book came out called "Purpose Driven Life" that swept the nation. It may still be very popular among people. I have read the book and taught the material a couple of times. It is a good book.

Part of the point of the book lies in the title - purpose. Trying to find a purpose in your life. Being a person without purpose is like a ship without a rudder. You really have no steering mechanism to take you to a particular spot. You go on with life but that is really all you're doing...just going.

Sunday, we looked at this idea of purpose. Not from the book I previously mentioned, but just thinking about our, individual purposes. Even within that, it wasn't nailed down what your purpose was versus the person sitting near you, but just the fact that you have purpose.

We focused on a brick. Some feel a brick, by itself, would not hold much of a purpose, but we focused on togetherness and working together for a greater purpose. Here are some applications to choose from to use this week...

Being Involved ~ I just saw a portion of one of my kids' cartoons the other day where one of the characters wanted to complete a task by themselves. They were allowed, but part way into the project, the character came into some trouble. They needed help. Much like you and I, we need others to help us get through life and any "trouble" we may fall in. Being involved will help us get to know people and them us, so we can be a great force for Him.

Reduce the Load ~ As Jesus tells us to "go out" to the ends of the earth, when we are committed to the cause and each other it will reduce the weight of the responsibility and allow us to be more productive in the meantime.

What a Structure ~ When you look at a pile of bricks, they aren't that impressive. But when you look at a structure - building, road, wall - it can be very humbling. When you work together with your fellow believers, it can create something that is really awesome! Work together and see what awesome structure you can create!

Teamwork ~ Most of you have heard the phrase "there's no "I" in team." We must keep in mind that we work together as an individual to make the team that much stronger. There is power in every person that is involved.

Maybe there are days that you feel like a "brick." Small, insignificant bricks will turn around in a brief second to make something incredible. What will you create or team up with someone else to demonstrate your purpose(s)?

Awareness of Weaknesses - Judges 16:15-21

In sports, when you become aware of a weakness of the other team or opponent, you want to try to take advantage of that weakness. When your team has a weakness, you want to try to avoid that weakness being exposed. The awareness of a weakness will take on a different strategic move depending on which side you are sitting. However, when the weakness is on your team, you still try to accomplish your goal. Teams are made up of individuals, but to reach the goal takes everyone working together and committed to each other.

Yesterday, we continued with discussing Samson (Judges 14, 15, &16). Samson was one who had a known weakness. He was ignorant to think that after three times of Delilah trying to find out his weakness and showing that she can't be trusted, he told her on the fourth time. Samson told her it was his hair. She cut it off and God left him, thus becoming weak. He was captured. Later to "bring down the house" and kill 3,000 men and women. He allowed his knowledge of his weakness to interfere with his quest to serve God. As a church, in any given area, someone is going to be weaker. When we know that, we cannot turn on our own brethren, but to not allow that to interfere with our quest to serve God and expand the Kingdom.

As we reflect back on that, here are some applications to choose from to use this week...

Pray that you will not fall into temptations - knowing, already, you're susceptible in those areas. (Luke 22:39-45)
Be conscious of times when you're critical of others and ask God to turn you from that thought
Be conscious of times when you're self-righteous and ask God to turn you from that thought
Be conscious of times when you're tempted to either spread rumors or listen to gossip, and ask God to turn you from that situation.
Be conscious of times when you're ___________ (you fill in the blank) and ask God to turn you from that thought/situation.
Ask God to strengthen you with your weaknesses, that it will not inhibit your church/work/team
Ask God to strengthen those you are associated with through church/work/team so you can accomplish the task.
Ask God to keep the Enemy away from you as to make it easier to accomplish the goals you are striving toward (presuming the goals are helpful to your walk with Him).
Praise God that we're a family!

Keep in mind...Rule #1...We are family! That is so important when it comes to trying to accomplish goals.

We have weaknesses, about ourselves and within a group, but we need to be aware of those so that we can do everything we can to serve Him better.

Being aware...

A New Found...Togetherness - Acts 2:44

Family reunions are times that tend to bring people from all different places and backgrounds to a common spot. These times are filled with catching up with loved ones, seeing how people have changed, and enjoying good food.

As a church, we are a family. I like to think about the opportunities that we have to get together, both formally and informally, as "family reunions". These are times that we get to catch up with each other, see if people are different than the last time we saw them, and, sometimes, enjoy good food. Each week I look forward to seeing the "family" and catching up with their lives, while sharing a bit of my life with them.

As we've been examining the "early church", from Acts chapter two, we've seen how their actions created a great growth pattern. This is a challenge for us see the principle and see what we can do to help the church of today grow. Here are a few applications to choose from...

1. As electronic devices become "in sync" with each other, to make sure they both have the same information, how do you "sync up" with your Christian brother or sister? Or, do you even attempt to do that with others? Do you pick out your "favorites" and neglect the others? If you do fall into that last category, try to pick out someone new each week to talk to that doesn't sit by you or not someone you normally visit with.
   
2. There is strength in numbers. One snowflake has no chance of surviving when it lands on your skin, as it will melt quickly. However, several put together can freeze your skin. You up against Satan/temptation/evil are going to have a very difficult task at winning. However, take God along, you're a majority. In addition to that, have a good group of brethren helping you through a struggle/difficult time, and you have a strong resource group to pull from.
3. A healthy church is striving to get from one place to the next. Pray that your church and its leadership can be unified so that it will have success in making it to its goal.
4. Who sits by themselves in your church? Who sits by themselves at lunch/breaks or goes to lunch/breaks on their own? Look for those people to see how you can get to know them - it may be the day when they needed that attention you give them the most.
   

The overwhelming majority of people like to have friends. Friends create a place of comfort and warmth. A place you can go to in times of trouble. A person you can call in the middle of the night. They are important and they are what the church should be made up of.

If you are struggling with something, I don't want you to be "alone" and I will be willing to pray for you if you e-mail me at ichthus_man@hotmail.com. You can be as open or discreet as you choose.

May God be with you as you enjoy the "togetherness" that is one of the ingredients of the "early church" that helped launch its growth.

Looking forward to the next "family reunion"...