November 5, 2009
These are thoughts from a year ago (almost). As I write these down, I am reminded once again that my desires here should be directed to the Heavenly things, not the earthly. Even in friendships, I should seek to please God in these as well. My heart should not yearn for the friendships lost through gossip and speculations against me or my loved ones. Rather, I find comfort that in Christ, I have a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. And that true friendship is found with Christ as the center. That, with Christ, we can have deep and meaningful relationships, not shallow and surface, rainy day friendships that the world offers. It is a sad thing when "brothers" and "sisters" in Christ follow the ways of the world in how they handle friendship. "Lord, may I never lose a friend because of my sinful heart, ugly tongue, and complete disregard to what Your Word tells us. And may my reaction to those who offend be that of forgiveness and your love shining through me."
"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." Ephesians 4:29-32
"By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." John 13:35