Two Ways to Prevent from Being a Contaminated Friend

**Tribute to Diane Reid**
*One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.* Proverbs 18:24

When I think about friendship, my thoughts immediately go to the song You’ve Got a friend in Me by Randy Newman and Lyle Lovett. The lyrics exemplify the definition of a true friend who “sticks closer than a brother” for me. You know, the person who knows your quirks and flaws yet, loves you anyway. Those who protect your head and heart by caring about your feelings and guarding their words because of their admiration for you.

Proverbs extends words of wisdom regarding friendship in numerous ways. I love how it delivers prevention methods to keep us from being a toxic friend. As I have been reading and studying the chapters, I have had to accept many corrective words. Ouch! – my toes have definitely endured some agony. However, God’s Word and the Holy Spirit’s promptings opened my eyes to several means which warrant being a noble and wholesome friend. Let me share a couple with you.

Your Lips: Yes, as lovely as they can be, they can release lethal poison. Proverbs 10:19-20 reminds us to be cautious with our words and double check to see if they are beneficial and worthy. Proverbs 12:17-23 heeds direction to utter kindness yet, be cautious in the overall flapping of the lips.

We find in the first few verses of Chapter 13 a promise of blessings for those using wise speech and pleasant words. But what about those times when provoking situations occur? Truth – they happen even in the best of friendships. Proverbs 14:29 reveals the solution is to restrain the lips and exhibit self-control over our responses. Proverbs 15:1 portrays this as having a soft reply and avoid harshness at all costs.

Then there is gossip. Yuck – the destruction it brings. Passing on all those juicy morsels and having no regard for someone’s reputation. It stems from a need to elevate self. Somehow it tends to capsulate half-truth, hearsay, etc. We can even become entangled in the web without initiating it.

Be on guard with your lips. Let your words speak life. Prepare to listen more and truly hear what others express. Make good use of your lip actions, avoid gossip, and be a friend indeed.

Your Heart: Have you ever found your heart to be in the wrong place? Self-centered living is an easy path to stumble upon. Proverbs 14:12 reveals that our “self-righteous” living may even be deceiving in its blessings because it is not sustainable. The truth is – it is a heart matter.

Luke 6:45 reminds us to guard our heart for the primary purpose of staying pure for God. We have to be mindful of what penetrates our heart and be very intentional to keep our focus on living for God and bringing Him glory, not ourselves. Proverbs 14:30 encourages us to have a “sound heart” because it generates “life to the body”. When embracing this lifestyle, we will be a friend who does not entertain a deceptive, harden heart and can offer love and goodness with the right motives.

Although there are numerous ways to produce great friend qualities, these two areas are primary issues that can make or break a relationship. Our motives and mouths can create excellence for His glory, but it requires discipline and righteousness of the Lord.

So, what does it really boil down to? A choice to love at all times regardless (Proverbs 17:17a) and to accept correction for our overall behavior for a lifetime. Not an easy decision but rewarding results – being “a friend who sticks closer than a brother” and receiving the same. A worthy blessing bringing pleasure to God.

June 11, 2020 1

Clothed in Love

Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
Colossians 3:14

Happy weekend friends! What fun are you having? I spent the majority of the morning cleaning closets and washing clothes. This crazy weather has had us wearing everything from shorts and t-shirts to thick sweaters and thermals within a week’s period of time. Instead of having a closet with clothes for the current season, it holds everything I own.

How do you decide what to wear during your week? Wake up and grab whatever is clean? Plan the night before and lay it all out? Start on Sunday and build your weekly outfits down to accessories? Do you iron everything or tumble the wrinkles? No matter the approach, none of us gets dressed accidentally. We all purposely choose to cover our body with clothing.

What if every morning we purposely clothed ourselves in love as well? Can you think of someone who exhibits a fine “love outfit” daily?

My thoughts immediately proceed to a neighbor I had for over a decade. Her name was Sally Richardson. This sweet lady displayed the finest evening gown of love day-to-day. She was far from being self-centered and always focused on other’s needs. Her prayers filled the room with love and wrapped around your heart like a high-end cashmere scarf on a snowy day. When life was difficult or she was sick, I would visit her with the intent of lifting her spirits. However, I was always the one walking away so elevated in God and filled with amazing hope and faith. How did she do it?

She believed…

Love is patient. She knew God was always patient so she strived to be patient with others. (I Corinthians 13:4)

Love keeps no record of wrong. She gave love without keeping score of what she received from others. (I Corinthians 13:5)

Love always protects and preserves. She was confident that when she prayed God’s love over the situation, the Lord would protect His children. (I Corinthians 13:7)

Love is controlled by actions not feelings. She would love people even when they didn’t deserve it. (Matthew 5:44)

Love is powerful, unconditional, and life changing. She extended love because she knew the power of the Lord and His miraculous, life changing abilities. (Romans 12:20)

What are you wearing tomorrow?

**Tribute to Sally Christine Richardson**

February 23, 2020 6

Advent Week Four: LOVE

Pure amazing love…Song lyrics flood my mind when I think of God’s Love.

You Loved me First	When I was wandering, when I was hiding, Jesus, You found me and You loved me first. God of full mercy, take all the glory. Jesus, you found me and You loved me first. You loved me first!
Love came down at Christmas	Love will be our token, Love be yours, and love be mine. Love from God to all of us, Love for plea and gift a sign.
Give Love on Christmas Day	Why don’t you give love on Christmas Day, even the man who has everything would be so happy if you would bring him love on Christmas day. No greater gift is there than love.
How Deep the Father’s Love for Us	How deep the Father’s love for us, how vast beyond all measure, that He should give His only Son to make a wretch His treasure.
O Holy Night	Truly He taught us to love one another, His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Your Love never fails	The wind is strong and the water’s deep, but I’m not alone here in these open seas. Cause Your love never fails. The chasm is far too wide. I never thought I’d reach the other side but Your love never fails.
Some Kind of Love	What kind of love goes into the darkness and pulls you back when you’re on the edge. What kind of love finds you when you’re hopeless, and gives you another second chance.
The Proof of Your Love	If I sing but don’t have love, I waste my breath with every song I bring an empty voice, a hollow noise. If I speak with a silver tongue, convince a crowd but don’t have love, I leave a bitter taste with every word I say.
Love Came Down and Rescued Me	Love came down and rescued me. Love came down and set me free. I am yours Lord I’m forever yours. Mountains high or valley low, I sing out and remind my soul. I am yours, I am forever yours

And the list continues in my head…

Where would we be without the love of God? Christ gave the gift of His own life because of His unmeasurable love. I cannot seem to wrap my head around a life sacrifice of someone completely free of sin in order to pay the price for a guilty sinner like me. He gave us the flawless depiction of a modest servant yielding it all.

What defines love? Love is a gift given away. To me, there seems to be a sacrifice when it comes to selfless love. Relinquishing talents, gifts, time, selfish needs, etc. The love of Christ in us and through us brings change to circumstances, gives hope to the despair, and heals hearts. I believe genuine love is evident when a total submission to God’s will is present. When we yield to His calling and share His love, we acquire a marvelous love and discover a satisfaction like nothing else in the world.

Have you ever volunteered to feed the homeless, worked several hours for a women’s shelter, delivered food to the poor, visited a nursing home, offered your time to help others? Did you walk away with an unexplainable love in your heart from the Lord? This has been true for me personally. Even when I felt I had nothing to offer and was at an all-time low, a simple act of showing God’s love saturated my soul with goodness words cannot explain. The more of God’s love I give away, the more He seems to bestow.

When I ponder God’s love Becca Stevens, founder of Thistle Farms, comes to mind. She says, “Love is the most powerful force for healing and change in the world.” She began an amazing global program for hurting woman due to various matters such as domestic violence, sexual abuse, addiction, and human trafficking. Thistle Farms gives women a chance to heal and become economically independent. Stevens has surrendered to God’s will and extended the gift of His love to a hurting world. There are countless women around the globe testifying to the transformation God’s love has made. Stevens’ dedication is contagious and inspiring on so many levels. I encourage you to read more about the program.

https://thistlefarms.org/pages/our-mission

Locally, I can think of several individuals illustrating the love of God. Milton Jones, president of Christian Relief Fund (CRF), who oversees a mission to provide food, clean water, education, healthcare, spiritual training, and disaster relief internationally. Jena Taylor, executive director of Faith City Missions, an organization reaching out to locals who are homeless, addicted to alcohol/drugs, or just in need of shelter, food, clothing, and God’s love. Eveline Rivers, founder of a thirty-year project dedicated to providing coats, the joy of Christmas and literacy promotion. Elia Moreno, founder of Living Intentionally Ministries and co-executive director of Texas Christian Community Development Network. Their mission statement is based on God’s incarnational love through Jesus Christ in order to extend hope and healing. The list continues of a mass of local individuals empowered by God’s amazing love.

The greatest gift I have ever received is the Love of God. He rescued me and opened doors to extend healing, protection, and a true Father’s love. I am astonished by His love shown and I cherish a growing relationship with Him. I am forever grateful for His sacrifice. When He directs me to carry out His will and calling, I pray my answer will always be YES LORD! I find myself fighting against my human, selfish desires and continually disciplining myself to stay under His authority. It is far from easy and I fail often. Yet, our Heavenly Father accepts me and loves me despite my shortfalls.

As Advent begins to come to an end, how will you continue to fill your mind and heart with God’s love? What will keep you modest and under His authority? How will you remind yourself of the significance of God’s gift of love? Where will you serve in 2020 to spread God’s mercy and grace to others?

May we never forget the best four-letter word…LOVE, a gift from above.

December 22, 2019 0

Spiritual Gentleness

FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT MEMORIAL IN WASHINGTON, DC

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Galatians 6:1

A single sin can cause a destructive chain reaction in a multitude of ways. Sin quenches the Spirit, separates us from God, limits our fullness in the Lord, steals our inward peace, and can lead us to sin again. In Galatians 6, Paul addresses how we should embrace accountability for ourselves as well as gently walk beside our brothers and sisters with a concern for their spiritual maturity.

Concern and care for ourselves and others guides our knowledge of God’s loving-kindness. It reminds me of Brandon Heath’s song, Give Me Your Eyes. The chorus is filled with a desire to extend God’s compassion by praying for the Lord’s sight, love, heart, and empathy. God’s perspective directs our actions to extend a supernatural love we are unable to do on our own.

Our reaction to sin, especially that of others, can be just as injurious as the sin itself. Paul warns us of being critical and harsh when we see the iniquity of others. Their wrongdoing is no different from our own transgressions. When we humble ourselves in the Spirit and recognize our own weakness and susceptibility to sin then we can welcome spiritual gentleness for our brother in Christ.

Galatians 6:2-5 states:

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load.

Let us pray for eyesight which overcomes our blindness to see our neighbor as ourselves. May we desire listening ears without a judging heart. Let us permit the Spirit to give us empathy for others and the ability to comfort with God’s love. May every fiber within us be quick to extend compassion and understanding. And most of all, let us accept correction when we fall short in our spiritual maturity.

Mark 12:30-31

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’There is no commandment greater than these.

November 26, 2019 2