Social media today, it is a blessing and a curse. I am still amazed at what people will put out on Facebook. Sometimes, to be honest, I cringe at some of the language that is shared. We and our children are surrounded by friend requests, followers, and instant communication. It is easy to have a lot of “friends.” We have to be intentional in what friendships we want to grow.

Our Pastor Chris Hodges  ALWAYS says, Show me your friends and I will show you your future. These words are engraved over my heart.

Jesus was our example. He showed us how to be a good friend. We can pray with them, eat with them, teach them, travel with them, and grow together. We just have to take the time to do it and this does not mean when it is just convenient for us.

You don’t have to tell me it’s hard…I know. You have to share your story. You have to be real and transparent. But, believe you me! It is worth it. You will grow in your friendship. You will grow deeper. You will be able to care and not compare.

I hope you will take the time to evaluate your “friendships ” and realize who you want to do life with. I have learned that the best kind of friend is a praying friend. As iron sharpens iron a friend sharpens a friend.

A true Christian friend is not an ordinary friend. It is a bond that has been grafted by the Lord. God’s spirit plants the seed and makes the friendship grow.

Romans 12:9-10 reminds us to not pretend to love each other.Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tight to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection and take delight in honoring each other.

This fake it until you make it attitude will not work with genuine friendships. This what is in it for me attitude or the me first attitude will simply not work for lasting friendships. The “less of me and more of you God” attitude that we must abide by everyday has long lasting benefits. One of them is the benefits of true friendships.

My Mother always told me if you have one true friend IN THIS LIFETIME, you have a treasure. Through all the trials  that I have gone through since August, (Grandmother dying, My ex’s father dying but what restoration and forgiveness God brought in that process. My beloved horse hurt, My heart attack scare/health concerns) the Lord has revealed many things to me. The Lord has brought such beautiful restoration in my life. I am so thankful.

There is a saying that true friends are always revealed in tough times. This statement is so true. I am so thankful for the beautiful friendships that God has revealed to me. I will never taken them for granted. I will cherish them. I will encourage them and I will PRAY for them DAILY ~

I have made a promise to myself when I really experience the rare occurrence of someone being real and transparent that I will tell them how much I appreciate them. How beautiful it is to watch and see and experience.

Thomas Monson is quoted as saying….CHOOSE your friends with caution, PLAN your future with purpose and FRAME your life with faith.

The Lord created us to do life with others. We are created for friendship. Will you pray for true, life-giving friendships?

So thankful, for some of the most beautiful woman I know,  call me friend. I am also thankful to the Lord that he opened my eyes to see that some of these beautiful gifts of friendship were there for me all along. I had to change the lens in which I viewed them and let down my protective walls. Sometimes walls are a good thing, they are for protection BUT sometimes walls are keeping blessings from being able to enter. May the Lord show us what walls to keep and what walls to tear down ~

God is so faithful. The more I know of him, the more I stand amazed. How gracious is he that he gives us friends to do this thing called life with and help us each and every day.

Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends. Proverbs 16:28

Another translations says… Love prospers when a fault is forgiven BUT dwelling on it separates close friends. I LOVE this one ~ IT is the dwelling on things (the wrong things) that can get us in trouble. As I have learned, it is not the boulders that we stumble over. We see those in our path and walk around them. It is the pebbles along the way that we stumble over.

Lord, open our eyes and our hearts. Reveal to us any ways that do not line up with your perfect will. Reveal to us what walls need to come down. Lord, also reveal to us what wonderful friendships you have placed in our life and may we never take this gift for granted. Thank you for your grace. Thank you for your heavenly gifts from above ~

Today…..  Let’s follow in the footsteps of Jesus.