Friends

"One who has unrealiable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend (friends) who sticks closer than a brother."

Proverbs 18:24

Worry vs Concern

Back in the Burg for a couple of days before I hit the road again for a weekend trip to see two of my amazing friends :) On my way up, I was able to have some good, quality "Jesus time"...doing my share of talking then LISTENING!!! The last couple days, weeks, and months I've been asking God to just give me a sign (Isaiah 7:11 "Ask the Lord your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.") but on my way up, I was able to have some good, quality "Jesus time"...doing my share of talking then LISTENING!!!

I loved the weekend I was able to spend with my girl friends because we have not been able to just relax together in a really long time. All three of us are usually rushed or in a time crunch when we are able to see each other OR on the other side of the US. But it was sooo nice to do what ever we wanted to with each other while not having to be overwhelmed with other things.

On my journey back to the Burg (...again), I began to think about some things that have been going on in my life and those around me. The thing that really stuck in my mind was the difference between worry and concern then my mind went directly to the scripture where Jesus says "do not worry."

Matthew 6:25-34 (Luke 12:22-32)

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?... Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
"And why do you worry.... O you of little faith? So do not worry...But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

I am glad that I can say that this is the way mind my went because in most cases I try to take care of the problem or love on the person that much more in order to help. However, Jesus tells us NOT to worry because it does nothing for us (but give us more of a headache...ugh). So I directed my thoughts and feelings to being concern for these people and what is going on and continuing praying for them...it is not that I do not want the uneasiness or trouble in worrying but why should I do something my Lord tells me specifically not to. I pray that I will continue to be aware, engage, interest, and care for those important people in my life...ultimately it is my Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Is. 9:6b) who will take care of it all.

Thank you Father for being my firm foundation and ever help ALL the time. I love you!!

Friends :)

Friends possess remarkable keys. They open the locked doors of our lives. They give us entrance to places we'd never dare to go by ourselves. They fling wide gates of lush, secret gardens. They take us to treasure rooms glistening with gifts we're sure we don't deserve.

Friends unlatch the windows of our souls. They grip the drapes we've drawn around ourselves and yank them back to let God's gleaming light stream in. They pull and tug until the windows pop open and fresh, new breezes fill our musty hearts.

When storms throw trees across our path, a friend will lend her (or his) strength to haul the logs away. Friends are not fazed by our roadblocks. They come equipped with chain saws. They help us chop our obstacles life firewood then strike a match to them. They make sparks fly up from the flames. They say, "Why not sit awhile and warm yourself by this nice fire?" When the smoke clears, friends pass out coat hangers and feast with us on roasted marshmallows until the last ember dies.

Friends have sight where we are blind. They are guides through the jungles of our past. They are fearless to face the dangers we know lurk beneath the brush. Friends hack and slash at the wild, clinging thoughts that bind us. With grace, they loose us from our blindfolds then tie them on branches marking a trail for the future.

Friends create breakthroughs. The best ones are agents of God. Like him, they stand us in front of a mirror and introduce us to ourselves.

Leann Weiss "Hugs for Friends"


I want to thank all of my friends for being amazing people in my life. All of you guys have been such a blessing to me and have helped me in numerous ways throughout my journey called life. A hug is a priceless jester but can be that one thing some one else needs. A simple thing such as a hug can mean so much to a person and I encourage those that read this to give someone a hug today. I pray that God may bless you the way He has been blessing me. *HUGS*

Not Sure

so over the last month I have had something turning inside me. It might be something small but it hit hard. One day I went out to lunch with a "friend" and things were going well because I just passed my Praxis I exam finally :). We were talking and he said to me to be careful how much I hang out with another one of my friends (more or less giving me some sort of warning). At first I was totally taken of guard and took a step back by this and did not know what to think of this comment. He did give a couple reasons why, but what he said still has stuck with me for a while. Reasons: so I do not hide and people see me for me, guys take a step back or hesitate to talk to a girl when they are in a group, and I am a nice person to get to know. I know those are slightly (and only slightly now) legit reasons, but I was not satisfied by them and began to analyze why he said that to me in the short time period we have known each other.

I know many people usually say one with the other and people make comments about us being attached at the hip. At first I would just laugh it off; however, after time I was like "ok...you guys have said it numerous times and it is not like we 'have' to hang out with each other but we 'want' to hang out." There is a little bit of a different there. And a lot of the times we are with a group of people anyways. We have a lot of things in comment and have fun together and with others. I feel that God has made this friendship for a reason because if I did not find a great friend like her I think it would be hard to be down here. I am one that likes to find "my group" and stick with them. I would rather be very comfortable and content with a handful of people than be so, so with a ton of people. Then from this we went on a 12 hour journey to Michigan, which was a great all around trip and I feel like we were able to learn a lot about each other and have our friendship grow (and I would not take any of it back--yes, even the punch bug and the dancing). Some people probably would get sick and tired of each other on such a long trip; however, that was not the case for us. Since this comment or assumption was made before I went on the trip with her, I was fighting it the whole time whether to bring it up or not. I have been fighting it since then and it really took a toll on me and my body last week.

I must be one crazy person for knowing someone for six weeks then going on such a long journey with them (hehe) but I did not feel that way at all. I feel that the trip made my respect for my friend grow and how I do look up to her because I feel that she is a true friend who sees me for me and wants to shine for Jesus and is very knowledgeable. Seeing her love for Jesus makes me want to love Him that much more and there is so much more to life than the earthly materialistic things. In Deuteronomy 10:12 it says "what does the Lord God ask of you but to fear the Lord God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul." I think where I am at in my life and walk that I need to love Him even more and become more dependent on Him.

I knew I needed to ask this guy "friend" why he said it and what he meant behind it which is really hard for me. Because in most (probably 90%) of the time I will just let something go. Here I was not sure what would come about it so I let it go for as long as I could before I could see what it was doing to me. I did not say anything about this comment/assumption to my good friend because at the time I felt like there were a lot of pieces that I did not know about her. So I kept everything inside and just faced it myself because I was not sure how she would react to it and I did not want to cause her the pain I am going through. However, I felt something tugging at me that I needed to say something to this guy "friend" to get clarifications so I gain enough guts and did it. He did try to explain why he said it and what he thought but I was still unclear about it. It made me think more and have my poor little tummy in more twists.

For a month now, I have been contemplating on what I should do (or even say). I really let this affect me in a big way. The other night I was with my friends playing cards and my friend (who I can say is my best friend now) brought up that one of the other guy friends maybe a comment how he felt/thought she eclipsed me (more or less I was in her shadow). When she said that his jaw hit the ground and my friend react was "explain!" He did explain his side because he felt like over the last two weeks he was able to really get to know me (because my friend was on a missions trip so I was the only girl so he could focus more on me instead of balancing it between both of us). Even thou he made the same comment as the other guy "friend" I took his differently because I feel like this guy friend has really take the time to get to know both my best friend and I.

The other day this topic was brought up in the car between my best friend (or as other say my other half....grrrr) and I. I felt like at that time I needed to tell her abou this comment/assumption this one guy "friend" made. If this topic did not come up the way it did, I really do not think I would have said anything to her because I would not have wanted it to affect our friendship in any way. However, I feel that since I did tell her and where our friendship is at we are/were able to talk about it. And the weird thing is that from the same comment both of us were affected differently. I think since we talked about it and both of us are/were in distress we will be able to work through this together and make our friendship that much stronger.

I lay it all out there for God to take care of because it has been an issue that I have been dealing with for a while. I ask God to calm both my best friend and my hearts and comfort us through this time. For me it is not easy and I will probably struggle at different times because that is who I am. I pray that You let something good come out of this in a way which will strength both of us.

Anxiety, Sharpens, & Strength

1 Peter 5:7 "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." (NIV)

Proverbs 27:17 "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." (NIV)

Psalm 121
"1-2 I look up to the mountains; does my strength come from mountains?
No, my strength comes from God,
who made heaven, and earth, and mountains.

3-4 He won't let you stumble,
your Guardian God won't fall asleep.
Not on your life! Israel's
Guardian will never doze or sleep.

5-6 God's your Guardian,
right at your side to protect you—
Shielding you from sunstroke,
sheltering you from moonstroke.

7-8 God guards you from every evil,
he guards your very life.
He guards you when you leave and when you return,
he guards you now, he guards you always." (The Message)

Over the last week, these verses have really hit home for me. I had a bumpy road throughout the week and things twisted all over the place. The order these verses are in seem to follow how I have felt. A great friend was very encouraging this week to help me keep my focus on God to cast all my anxiety to him and help sharpen me. I thank God for what He has blessed me with especially wonderful friends. I also thank my precious friends for being there for me and helping me out in those times when I feel down and almost out.

Friends-Surprise!!

So it was 8:05 p.m. Monday and I was sitting at my kitchen table doing school work when I had a random surprise walk in my front door. :) I could not stop smiling for the next hour. I had no idea that my one friend was helping another friend surprise me for my birthday. All I have to say is I have some pretty amazing friends.

Once in a lifetime, you find a friend who touches not only your heart but also your soul.
Once in a lifetime, you discover someone who stands beside you, not over you.
Once in a lifetime, if you are lucky you find someone as I have found you.
Very special people we can be ourselves with, talk with, laugh with, hope with and believe with...

I thank God for blessing me with some wonderful people!!