True Friendships (Posted by Michae)

~TRUE FRIENDSHIPS~

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds…—Hebrews 10:24-25

As we read Paul’s letters in the New Testament, we learn a lot about how to build real friendships and godly relationships. 
To the Thessalonian believers, he writes, "Encourage one another and build each other up." 
To the Colossian church: 
 "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom…"
As he addresses the Ephesians, he writes "Be kind and compassionate to one another..."
The kind of relationships God calls us to develop includes extending
"kindness with a backbone." 
True kindness in friendship means we would not dream of looking the other way while a precious friend heads down a path guaranteed to cause him or her heartache. 
True kindness means being willing to gently ask the "hard question."
True kindness prays diligently for a friend’s heart-change.
True kindness risks being misunderstood, and sacrifices being "nice" for being loving.
 A real friend models his or her kindness after God Himself: 
It’s the kindness of God that leads to repentance (Romans 2:4). 
 Real friends humbly evaluate their friendships on the basis of whether their actions and words help their friends move closer toward the Lord Jesus.
Listen, according to Scripture, friends don’t let friends drive over cliffs! 
(MICHAEL ~MSN Grps)

The Broken Jar...Something to think about...

" JARS OF CLAY "
(Something to think about...)
(Author Unknown)
A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master's house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water in his master's house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you." "Why?" asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?" "I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master's house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts," the pot said.

The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, "As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path."

Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologized to the bearer for its failure.

The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master's table.

 Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house."

Each of us has our own unique flaws. We are all cracked pots. But if we will allow it, the Lord will use our flaws to grace His Father's table. In God's great economy, nothing goes to waste.

So as we seek ways to minister together, and as God calls you to the tasks He has appointed for you, don't be afraid of your flaws. Acknowledge them, and allow Him to take advantage of them, and you, too, can be the cause of beauty in His pathway.

Go out boldly, knowing that in our weakness we find His strength, and that "In Him every one of God's promises is a Yes".  
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."( Matthew 5:3 NIV)

" A LEGACY Of LOVE " (Unknown) If someone came to you
And said they needed help
Would you stop and help them?
Or say "I don't have time"?

If someone came to you, thinking suicide
Would you tell them how much God loves them?
Or would you pass them by?

If someone came to you, with cuts on their arms
Would you ignore their pain?
Or explain to them that Jesus can heal their scars?

People out there are lonely
They don't know what to believe
They've been hurt, abused and broken
They need friends like you and me.

Someone who will accept them, just the way they are
Someone who won't reject them, because of all their scars.

Jesus said to be like Him, and follow in His path
He'd be the outcast's friend
If someone said they needed Him, He wouldn't even ask.
He'd welcome them with open arms
And accept and love them as they are.

So next time someone comes to you
And says that no one cares
Explain to them that God is real,
Explain to them He's there.

Because He loves you unconditionally
He'll never leave your side
He'll be there catching every tear, every time you cry...
(Unknown) "Only a life lived for others is worth living."  ( - Albert Einstein)

" Let us Love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action."(1 John 3:18)

" For where your treasure is, there your Heart will be also." (Matthew 6:21)

" What we do in life echoes in eternity."

" Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get - only what you are expecting to give."

" Life is more accurately measured by the lives you
touch than the things you acquire."

" When you add value to others, you do not take anything away from yourself."

Kids Are Precious..Handle Them with Care...

" PRAISE "

(a touching story...) A mother once left her children with her single sister in order to work for three weeks overseas. Although she misses her children tremendously, she was also glad for a break. She was feeling worn out as a single parent, struggling to juggle her job and her role as a mother.Still learning to trust others and finding a soul mate for her self and a loving father figure for her children.As her tender heart is still mending upon her divorce. The demands of constant discipline towards her children sometimes seems too much. As she prepared to return to her family, she thought, I wonder how sis coped. I hope she heeded my parting words not to let them get away with things. The last thing she looked forward to was a round of arguing and reprimanding.

To her great surprise, she arrived at her sister's home to find her children playing quietly, eager to see her but quick to obey her sister's slightest request. " What did you do? " she whispered to her sister. " They're never this well behaved ! " Her sister replied, " Nothing, really. Before you left, I read a little article about parenting and I just did what it said." The woman said, " What was it? Give me the formula please ! "

The sister picked up the article and read, " tell children what to do, far more than you tell them what not to do. And then praise them for what they do- instead of criticizing them for what they don't do." Smiling at her sister, she added, " It seemed to work." Mothers, touch your children,
Fathers, hug them tight.
Let them know you LOVE them
Morning, noon, and night.

Put your arms around them,
Hold them near to you,
Feel the beating of their hearts,
The life that you made new.

Roll around the floor with them,
Tease and laugh and play.
Listen to what they'll tell you,
They have so much to say.

Take time to get to know them,
See the colors in their eyes.
Appreciate that person
That deep inside them lies.Let them run their fingers through
your hair and down your face.
Fill their hearts with words of praise.
Make home their favorite place.

Cuddle with them on the couch
And watch a t.v. show.
Sing with them or share a book,
And help their world to grow.

Take a walk into the park,
Hold each others hand,
Build castles in the sand.

Mothers, touch your children,
Fathers, hug them tight.
Show them what a gift they are.
To LOVE them feels so right. (Author Unknown)  " Train up a child in the way he should go:
and when he is old, he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6) " While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is." " Children are the anchors that hold a mother to life." " Children need love, especially when they don't deserve it." " Live so that when your children think of fairness and integrity, they think of you." " You can learn many things from children. How much patience you have, for instance." "CHILDREN ARE GOD'S GIFT " (Something to think about...)If you are a parent, read this. Better yet, keep it where you can read it regularly...

# 1) My hands are small, don't expect perfection whenever I make a bed, draw a picture, or throw a ball. My legs are short, slow down so that I can keep up with you.

# 2) My eyes have not seen the world as yours have; let me explore it safely; don't restrict me unnecessarily.

# 3) Make time for me, housework will always be there; I am only little once.

# 4) I have feelings too; don't nag me about my inquisitiveness. Treat me as you would like to be treated.

# 5) I am a gift, treasure me as God intended. Hold me accountable, give me guidelines to live by, discipline me with love.

# 6) I need encouragement to grow, not empty praise. Go easy, you can correct the things I do without putting me down.

# 7) Give me the freedom to make decisions, even if they are not always right. Permit me to fall, so I can learn to walk.

# 8) Don't do things repeatedly for me; that makes me feel like my efforts do not measure up to your expectations. Please do not compare me with others; I am me, not them.

# 9) Don't be afraid to leave me with grandparents so that you can have a weekend together. Kids need some times away from parents, just as parents need some time away from children. Besides it shows us that your marriage is something very special.

# 10) Take me to Gods house and introduce me to Him, because I will need Him for the rest of my life. " Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward." (PSALM 127:3) God sends us little angels
That needs special care
Do " Take care of these tiny gifts
For they are very rare."

"Watch over them with all your love
And let them feel your touch
Take care of their every need
For you are needed very much."

" These gifts will grow up very fast
As you soon will see
Love them with all your heart
And let them be what they will be."

" When these gifts have fully grown
Look at Heaven up above
Know they exist because of God
And all his precious grace and love." (Compiled) Thanks Brother Anthony.

Who is a friend?

NO FRIEND ON EARTH CAN BE A BETTER FRIEND THAN OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST!

My Lord and Savior...

A FRIEND IS...

Faithful

A friend is always faithful to you, even during the bad times

 Reliable

A friend is reliable..you can count on them to always be there. 

  In touch

A friend stays in touch, even though it may not be as often as you'd like!

    Enduring

A true friendship is enduring, lasting even when friends lose touch for a while.

Needed

A friend is always there for you when you need.

  Devoted

A friend is devoted to your friendship and will never do anything to destroy it.

My Lord.....

A reminder to respect our elders especially the sick the lonely....

This is such a touching, beautiful poem, please read it through.

God Bless,

Julia

     When an old man died in the geriatric ward of a small hospital near Tampa, Florida, it was believed that he had nothing left of any value.

     Later, when the nurses were going through his meager possessions, they found this poem. Its quality and content so impressed the staff that

copies were made and distributed to every nurse in the hospital.

     One nurse took her copy to Missouri . The old man's sole bequest to posterity has since appeared in the Christmas edition of the News Magazine of the St. Louis Association for Mental Health. A slide presentation has also been made based on his simple, but eloquent poem.

     And this little old man, with nothing left to give to the world, is now the author of this "anonymous" poem winging across the Internet.

                            

 Crabby Old man

************

What do you see nurses? 

What do you see?

      What are you thinking......

when you're looking at me?

   A crabby old man,not very wise?Uncertain of habit...with faraway eyes...?           Who dribbles his food...and makes no reply?

    When you say in a loud voice....."I do wish you'd try!"

       Who seems not to notice ...the things that you do?

    And forever is losing a sock or shoes?   Who, resisting or not...lets you do as you will,

With bathing and feeding ... the long day to fill?

    Is that what you're thinking?   Is that what you see?

Then open your eyes, nurse......you're not looking at me.

                           

      I'll tell you who I am .... as I sit here so still,

As I do at your bidding, as I eat at your will.

    I'm a small child of Ten......with a father and mother,

  Brothers and sisters .......who loved each other

         A young boy of Sixteen ....with wings on his feet

   Dreaming that soon now. ..........a lover he'll meet.

     A groom soon at Twenty .........my heart gives a leap.

  Remembering the vows........that I promised to keep.

                                         

         At Twenty-Five, now..... I have young of my own.

    Who need me to guide ........ and a secure happy home.

       A man of Thirty....... my young now grown fast,

  Bound to each other .....with ties that should last.

                                         

      At Forty, my young sons have grown and are gone,

 But my woman's beside me........to see I don't mourn.

    At Fifty, once more, ........ babies play 'round my knee,

Again, we know children ......... my loved one and me.

               Dark days are upon me..... my wife is now dead.

  I look at the future .............I shudder with dread.

   For my young are all rearing ........young of their own.

And I think of the years...... and the love that I've known.

         I'm now an old man.........and nature is cruel.

    It is jest to make old age .......look like a fool.

         The body, it crumbles..........grace and vigor, depart.

   There is now a stone........where I once had a heart.

                                         

      But inside this old carcass....a young guy still dwells,

   And now and again .........my battered heart swells.

      I remember the joys............ I remember the pain.

   And I'm loving and living.............life over again.

                                           

       I think of the years, all too few......gone too fast.

    And accept the stark fact........that nothing can last.

        So open your eyes, 

people...open and see..

    Not a crabby old man.  Look closer....see....ME!

***********************************

      Remember this poem when you next meet an older person who you  might brush aside without looking at the young soul within...we will all, one day, be there, too!

~Kind thoughts~ (COMPILED)

Dear Friends,

Kind thoughts are so much better than either kind words or deeds.

They imply a great deal of thinking about others kindly.

Try this experiment. For the next 21days, do your best to suspend all judgment and criticism of others.

Instead, wrap every person you meet in a warm and loving thought of kindness. Don't just limit this to people around you, but apply it to everyone who comes to mind.

And for those you consider enemies, make certain the thought is especially kind.

(Remember we are to love our enemies and pray for those who mistreat us?)

There is a very good chance that by the time the experiment is finished, the way you habitually think about your fellow man will be forever changed.

May this day be filled with kind thoughts of me & others,

(COMPILED)

God Bless,