Monday, May 12, 2008 - A Tribute to Friendship, adult friends
I have several beautiful friendships. I hope that you've been as blessed as I have to experience it. The kind of friendship that doesn't need renewal. Friends with whom you have true fellowship. When you get together after long absences, it feels just the same. Mutual understanding, love and admiration are the ties that bind. The Lord has been gracious and generous and given me several relationships like these, but today is the day for highlighting two in particular. So don't feel left out those of you who know that our friendship is like this... maybe a different day I'll surprise you by highlighting our special relationship!! :)
The Lord has used these two particular friends in very special roles in my life over the last several years. We've all been through some pretty trying moments, but blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
I LOVE these girls SO much!
And we're all wearing zippered hooded wool sweaters! How cute. (We did NOT plan that) heheheh.
My friend to the left, Deb, has been such an encouragement in my life from the time when I was newly married still just starting a family. She opened my eyes to the beauty of God's word. There have been many times, when because of her sweet example, I myself am drawn closer to my Savior. The joy of the Lord shines out unabashedly from her happy smile and ready laugh, and there is such a depth of beauty that only comes from hungering and thirsting after righteousness. When I'm down, I can tell her everything and know that she will help bear my burden and pray for me. As sappy as it sounds, she has taught me how to love. :S Our families have both moved away from each other several times, but the Lord has allowed us several times of living in the same city, which I miss terribly. Our kids have an ongoing long-distance special friend relationship, and our husbands are good friends. She's WAY older than me, but age doesn't matter. ;) heheheh. This is my beloved friend. (Deb, if you're reading this, smile. I love you.)
My friend Betsy, is on the right in the picture (my left). We've become friends more recently in the last couple years through circumstances definitely brought about by the Lord. Praise Him for his all knowing. Betsy has been a steady source of encouragement through the joys and difficulties of ministry when we were in the States. She has such a heart for MuLTi-cUltURaL ministry and has taught me many things vital to being a missionary. She has provided a listening ear, and we've talked LATE into the night many times. I love her flair for decorating, it is such an inspiration to me to make a place beautiful. She has shown love to my kids, has been their aunt Betsy and remembered them and for that I am very grateful. She is my very special friend who I love, appreciate and miss SO MUCH!
To ALL my friends:
I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge - even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you - so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 Corithians 1:4-9
I am my Beloved's and He is mine.
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