I really love this quote and I think its safe to say I can fully sum up the friends I have (or least the ones I think are my friends...ha!) with this one simple statement. You know what I loved so much about Lysa's Blog was the fact that her daughter (who is going through the wonderful middle school years) reminded her that we are all a "package deal." So when you take the fact that we are ALL "package deals" and that our friends are the family we choose....that could get a LITTLE messy...LOL!!!! I'm not sure if you can relate, but I know who I am, and sometimes I am NOT really "friend material" But I do know that my own sister (who is my BEST FRIEND) has been with me through thick and thin and I would like to say that I have done the same for her (you can ask her if you need clarification...ha!) SO, what's the point?? Well the point is this, family deals with the "package" because we love each other and want the best for one another.
I'm being very convicted about who I am as a FRIEND! (Hints the choice in blog post)
In leadership, friendship can sometimes be very tricky! But I do know that God has required us to be in relationship with others and for us to LOVE people. Now, in my own personal life, that does not mean that I spend all of my time hanging out with my girlfriends neglecting my husband and kids, and planning lunches and play dates instead of taking care of my home, but rather PRAYERFULLY asking God who He would have me to invest in and MAXIMIZING my relationship as He would see fit. I think so often we think we have all the answers and we just stumble upon relationships and we are like "oh, this would be a cool person to hang out with" and then we end up in more trouble because it wasn't who God had intended for us to focus all of our time and energy on.
I believe that God wants us to be INTENTIONAL about who we are in close relationship with and I'm determined to KEEP HIM FIRST and the better I get at being close with HIM I believe the better FRIEND I will become TO Him and FOR Him!!!
God has really been dealing with me about "friends" in general and rather than sharing a story about a friend I would simply like to leave it at this...."THIS FRIEND (ME) is being REFINED" And just a friendly reminder, REFINING is not always easy, but is worth it in the end!!
I can't wait to hear what you have to say about this whole "friend" thing!! Also please have a read over at Kim's Blog SHE IS AMAZING WITH HER WORDS - you won't be disappointed!!!
And here's the topic for next week, picked by Kim. She writes:
Risk... that's this week's topic (first Fearless and now Risk... what is God trying to tell me lately? Sheesh!). Let's read the story of Rahab together this week. She might possibly be my favorite woman in the Bible and of all things, she was a prostitute! Say what??? But her story is, well, amazing really. God used her in BIG ways... a woman whom you'd least expect. Her story is not elaborated as much as I would have liked, but can be found sprinkled throughout the first 6 chapters of Joshua in the Bible. If you want to go one step further, I highly recommend downloading and reading Unashamed by Francine Rivers (although you don't have to... but it can be found here) or there is a pretty good free article that can be found here. Her story is such a good one and shows that God can use anyone, regardless of their past or current situation, to do BIG things. And then I want you to share what BIG things God is (or can) do through YOU!
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