You Are My Friend

James 2:23 (NRSV)

“Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God.”

Patti Belle has a song “You Are MyFriend.” I love the song, more than that I love knowing that God is my friend.

You see, have that same intimacy with God now as Abraham. My my, a friend of God. We sometimes miss that we are that close to him, that he hears and answers. We are special to him, we are his beloved. Let us not miss how he loves us, and how he lifts our cares as we commune with him. Too often we tell others about our struggles and never tell him. Yes he knows, but he wants us to have conversation with him. 

Society will say it is about who you know. Yes, it is about who you know, and we know God and we are known by God. That is special. Let that rest in your spirit today. Walk in that knowledge. more later.

Praise Him

Prov. 13:14 (NIV)

“From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things, and the work of their hands brings them reward.”

Good morning. There is something about giving God thanks. About praising God. We don’t do it to get something back, but we do it because he is worthy. And when we focus on the positive that comes out of our mouths, we see what can happen. Thanking God, and working to his glory makes a difference- in whatever we do. 

Happy Father’s Day! 

Not Our Talk but Our Walk

Mark 11:12-14 NRSV

“On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see whether perhaps he would find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. He said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it.”

We to say that Jesus cursed the fig tree. He withdrew the blessing of life. If the leaves were there, the fruit should have been there. But The tree was out of season for leafing or bearing fruit. It was early.  The tree was a many people,”Talking loud, saying nothing.” The fig tree represented Israel and they were not producing as they should have. 

We too are to produce in season - not running ahead of what God wants. But in season- when he says and how he says. And then we will fruitful for him. Everything we do should point back to him. God has blessed us in so many ways, and yes all we must do is be ready - by our walk and our talk. Love you all.

Bless His Name

Psalm 34:1-3 NRSV

“I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.”

Blessings on this day of Pentecost! The birth of the church. You can go back and read Acts 2 for the powerful move of Holy Spirit. But I want us to hold on to a different passage- Psalm 34:1. “I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” 

Just that right there. If we are continually praising him the there will be no room for any negativity. And the more we stay there - the more we bless the Lord and the more we are blessed. Just as the disciples and believers were gathered in that place together, let us be gathered together in this psalm of praise. Let us continually praise his name. Let us continually bless the Lord. enough for now.

God Knows

1 Samuel 16:6-7 NRSV

“But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

God has rejected Saul as king and as his anointed. He sent Samuel to anoint one from the house of Jesse. Go back and read that whole passage. Samuel learned a extremely valuable lesson- We don’t see as God sees, God looks at our heart. 

We must check our heart to make sure it is beating- “yes Lord, your will.” It doesn’t mean we won’t act crazy or go through things. It does mean that we know how to get to God - how to get to ground. He grounds us. He keeps us in spite.

And when we check our heart we are clear not to judge, because we don’t know- but God does. enough for now.

Determination

2 Samuel 21:10 NRSV

“Then Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it on a rock for herself, from the beginning of harvest until rain fell on them from the heavens; she did not allow the birds of the air to come on the bodies by day, or the wild animals.”

Go back and read this story. This a story of a mother’s determination, her fight, her voice. We understand that all actions have consequences. We see a formula in her story her love + her pain - her status = her voice. We all can be encouraged by her determination. Happy Mother’s Day!

Keep On

Hebrews 12:1-3 NRSV

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. 

Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart.” 

That is it right there. To see what the ‘therefore’ is there for, Go back and read chapter 11, the hall of faith😎. And even consider those who have gone before us showing us the way. Don’t give up, don’t give in, continue on, and watch what God is doing. enough for now.