The Friendships of Women

Many years ago my father-in-law loaned a book to me... or maybe he gave it to me... I'm not sure which.  I still have it.  If it belonged to the library I would owe a HUGE sum of money on it by now.  But, I digress.

The book, entitled The Friendships of Women, was a great read.  It described how God created women to be relational - emotionally and spiritually, showing us a true picture of who He is.

As I was headed out of town last weekend to visit my longtime friend, AKA  BFF - I considered her place in my life... as well as the other women that I consider family.  There are not many, but those that the Lord has placed there are so special for so many different reasons.  It's actually funny when I think that the Lord placed these wonderful women in my life... because I couldn't have done as fantastic of a job as He did.  And typically, just when I think that things couldn't get any better and that all is right with the world, He up and moves one to remote places where I can't chat with her regularly  (That's what I get for living in a military town. :) ) or allows her to somehow not be as primary in my life.  But as He moves her, and I weep and mourn over the loss that I am feeling by watching another special friend move away - He drops another right in my path... not to take the place of the one that has left - but to build a new relationship to hone me in a different way.  Just like a stone has many facets - if one of the facets isn't buffed and rubbed in just the right way it won't show it's brilliance to the fullest extent.

Each of these women hone me - to encourage me to shine brilliantly.  Each one has different strengths and weaknesses... each has different talents and dreams.  And just like a puzzle - each one fits me "just right" in certain areas - challenging me to be who God intended for me to become.

As I reflect on each of these girlfriends, I realize how much I am loved by God Himself.  He specifically chose each one of these women to be in my life at this time... He knew I would need each of them for talking, laughing hysterically, weeping, confiding, receiving admonition and advice, and just being.  They challenge me, check on me, encourage me, and pray for me.  And as I just finished visiting BFF - I praise the Lord Almighty for all of the ways He shows His love for me... specifically today, for the relationships of precious women who I consider special friends.  To those women - I love you more than you'll ever know.

Dinner with a Spiritual Giant

We invited a friend over for dinner last night...a friend who has been in the midst of a storm for a while now... I'm talking years.  Every time I hear her speak I am utterly amazed and dumbfounded.  She has dealt with infidelity more than once, divorce, the pain of her boys hurting, death, ridicule, false accusations, court issues calling her an unfit mother, and just all around ugliness that is almost laughable.   But what is so different about my friend?  

I know that by her nature she would be embarrassed by this post of her... because she knows.  She knows and believes with all her heart that it's NOT her!  You see, she has Jesus Christ as her Savior.  She has the Holy Spirit dwelling inside her - enabling her to make good decisions - and what's even better is that she "plugs in" to that power.  She is in the Word DAILY!  She is on her knees DAILY! Her words are seasoned with love, grace, and mercy that could only be supplied by God's divine love and character.  She is salt and light in a dark world.  I've witnessed her loving her enemies and doing good to those who persecute her.  I have heard her give all praise and glory to GOD in everything that has happened in her life... both good and bad.  She. is. AMAZING.  She is a testimony - not only to those who don't know the LORD... but also, to me and to many like me who love the LORD.   She is an encouragement just by observing her and hearing her display God's grace and mercy.  WOW!  

 As the waves rise about her and the hurricane force winds begin to blow... she gets on her knees and faces the storm - not cowering - but confident - in her LORD JESUS to bring about good for her through all of this that He may be glorified.  And that is all she wants.  His Glory!  WOW!

As I live through my days... may I remember the lifestyle of this spiritual giant - and display more grace, more love, and more mercy... that I may bring glory to my Savior!

Divine Appointments (cont.)

How is it that over the past several months that the LORD has decided to get HIS hands on me? It feels as if all of a sudden He has caused me to wake up and pay attention to what is going on - what HE wants me to do. Since January every devotion I read, every sermon I hear, every Bible study lesson could definitely have my name inserted into it for a personal invitation to take heed and apply the Word spoken. It's as if every message delivered was for me personally. When I think of it, it was. He must be ready to do something BIG in my life that He has gotten my attention in this way. I don't know if I've just been so blind up to this point, however, in my prayers I have been praying to grow into a deeper relationship with my Jesus.
Whenever we gather, or hear the Word of God, it is personally for us. God speaks to us where we are. He has a message for all of us. We may be needing to apply it differently, and obviously are living in different circumstances - but as the Bible says -

For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Heb 4:12

The fact that God's Word is active says that even though it doesn't change - it is able fit and to apply in 3 different circumstances of 3 different women studying the same passage in a Bible study. That is amazing to me. God is so personal that He provides His word to me.

I must confess that the obedience to which I am being called causes me fear. I'm not being asked to leave the comforts of home to travel to a far away land to share the Gospel. However, I am being asked to give up something that brings me some amount of comfort and security. There is a conflict within me. My old self thinks that it is CRAZY to give up my comfort and security. My old self is quick to bring up all of the "what ifs". "What if this doesn't work?" "What if the kids get sick?" "What if Jeremy loses his job?" "What if?.... What if?... What if?" On the contrary, my spiritually controlled self is excited to see how God is gonna work this one out. It is a HUMONGOUS GOD THING!!!! This is the kind of thing that only HE could pull off. And it's so easy for HIM. What is too hard for Him? NOTHING! My spiritual me wants to see my faith grow, and this is how God is gonna do it. My spiritual me is ready to see something miraculous. I'm excited to be on the other side of history in this situation, as if it's already the past, to see what God has allowed and how He has worked His miracles. The awesome thing is that God is already there... in the future, as if this situation is history. He knows how I've handled all that will happen to our family. My utmost prayer is that whatever comes, be it joy and pleasure, or pain and suffering, that I bring glory to His name. For He alone is worthy!

This is a great segue to my May 30 Bible verse -

Psalm 32:8
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you and watch over you.

Divine Appointments

On Tuesday, I was invited to a monthly luncheon at our church. I am not usually able to attend due to only having a half hour lunch, however, I took off of work early and came at the request of my friend who happened to be speaking that day. My friend invited me to sit with her, which - if you are familiar with Let's Do Lunch, is a cool place to be - because it's up at the front. Let's Do Lunch always sells out quickly!

Well, Tuesday's Let's Do Lunch date was a DIVINE APPOINTMENT. For anyone who understands how the LORD Almighty works - it was no coincidence why I was there. DIVINE appointments are God's appointments. God had purposefully arranged for me to be there to hear the message my friend was planning on giving. Funny enough, I think she was in on it being aware of the decisions going on in my life and family currently.

Her story was moving! It was EXACTLY what I needed to hear. I was moved to tears, not only because of how far God had brought her to make the HUGE decisions that she and her family were making (moving to seminary and then to the mission field), but also in realizing that God is calling me to obedience in what HE is asking me to do.

My friend and her husband have sold most of their things and will be leaving to go to a dangerous place all for Christ. They felt God's call. It was not an easy decision. It seems quite foolish to some. Many acts of obedience to God seem foolish at the time, Noah's building of the ark, walking through the Red Sea, getting out of a boat to walk on water, and bathing in the Jordan river seven times. The point being, if God asks it of you, it is not foolish. It's obedience.


Thanks Deanna - you inspire me to grow closer to God and to trust Him for all He's worth!