Friend to Friend - Series on Friendship

As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. Proverbs 27:17 NLT

(unknown photographer)

The sharing of the Holy Spirit lays at the root of Christian friendship. Mutuality involving encouragement, good counsel, and accountability remain essential components, but a relationship that has Christ as its core becomes a priceless interrelationship. Ecclesiastes 4:12  describes the strength of more than one: A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better than one, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. A common proverbial expression in ancient literature, this "threefold cord" indicates value in companionship and preparedness. Experiencing unity and grace through Christian relationships helps to deepen our understanding of God's love.

While every relationship differs, certain characteristics define Christian friendship. God must be first. This friendship must share a common love for God which brings spiritual joy, even in times of distress and chaos. Communication involves giving and taking both encouragement and counsel. Within the relationship, security comes from loyalty, from honoring confidences without fear of betrayal. Christian friendship can be an enduring kinship ~ but only if Christ makes three! 

Consider this Yiddish Proverb: There are 3 types of friends; those like food without which you can't live, those like medicine which you need occasionally, and those like illness which you never want. Then ask yourself: What kind of friend am I? ~ dho

Christian friendship can be an enduring kinship ~ but only if Christ makes three! - Donna Oswalt

Series on Friendship previously posted on BreathingRoomForMySoul.com @copyrightDonnaOwalt

Faithful Friendship - Series on Friendship

"No one has greater love [no one shows stronger affection] than to lay down (give up) his own life for his friends." John 15:13 AMP

Among the ancient Greeks, according to Biblical scholar Luke Timothy Johnson, "friendship was among the most discussed, analyzed, and highly esteemed relationships." In many Greco-Roman stories, dying for the sake of friendship speaks to strong moral character, heroic but rare. Jesus tells His circle of friends how much He loves them and with the cross, proves that amazing love. Even in suffering, Jesus remains faithful.

Examples of God's faithfulness can be seen throughout the Bible. In 2 Timothy 2:13 Scripture reminds that even in our unfaithfulness, God is faithful. When Jesus says, "but I have called you friends," He is sharing more than heartfelt emotions. Jesus reveals His relationship with God the Father and shares this deep intimacy with His chosen friends. This intimate friendship between God and a few fishermen in Galilee over 2,000 years ago remains the model for Christians today. A rare, faithful Friend, Jesus demonstrates the greatest love, the strongest affection for every person with His willingness to endure the cross. This holy gift of faithful friendship is designed to be shared with others. ~ dho

Series on Friendship previously posted on BreathingRoomForMySoul.com/copyright DonnaOwalt

Genuine Friendship - Series on Friendship

We can never replace a friend. When a man is fortunate enough to have several, he finds they are all different. No one has a double in friendship.  

Johann Von Schiller

Birthday Party (Spring 1962)

Twelve years ago (2013), I wrote a series on Friendship. At the time, I had no plan for how many posts about friendship I would write, but turns out it was a lot! This was the beginning of it (best I can tell). After reviewing many of the posts, I am planning to re-visit them, re-post them in the weeks to come. Hope you find some truths in the words and true value in the thoughts. -dho

Although we all have friends for seasons, those who come and go, they are individually unique, irreplaceable for those particular times, and certainly not forgotten. Yet, as new seasons arrive, it would seem God does fill their void, sometimes, both different and same. I also find those who remain true soul friends, despite time and distance, are NOT so irreplaceable. When circumstances claim them, for a while or for eternity, their place remains. Occasionally, life returns them in planned reunions or at unexpected intersections. In these moments, we pick up where we left off and later, we pause reflective and grateful. Genuine friendship is a matter of the soul, a holy engraving by the Giver. They are all different! ~dho

"And these God-chose lives all around - what splendid friends they make!"

Psalms 16:3 The Message

Series on Friendship previously posted on BreathingRoomForMySoul.com/copyright DonnaOwalt

Living His Way

"Here is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey His commands, for this is the duty of every person." Ecclesiastes 12:13 NLT 

The writer of Ecclesiastes is searching for the answer that most all of us desire ~ the meaning of life. For each person, there are particular paths or callings that influence his or her choices of career, family, and community, but I believe this question reaches deeper and, if honesty prevails, becomes a common desire for all people ~ what gives my life meaning? After an exhaustive survey, the researcher in Ecclesiastes reaches a final conclusion, a universal answer to finding meaning in life: Fear God and obey His commands.

In his book, Living the Resurrection, Eugene Peterson gives insight into what demonstrates our truest Christian identity. How does one live the resurrection? He writes, "We embrace and cherish a firsthand, personal life with God and one another." Peterson explains, "we engage in a life that is permeated by the presence and companionship of the resurrected Jesus in the company of friends." The meaning of true life always comes from the Giver of Life. At the core of our being, this personal relationship refines the soul.

What gives my life meaning? It is having a personal, intimate relationship with God and growing that relationship through willingness to live His Way. Living the Resurrection gives God glory and allows God's faithfulness to fully embrace His promise of Everlasting Life. While life will always be full of mystery and unanswered questions, God remains full of majesty and blessings. Remember, worship God, and let your dedication to Him define how living the resurrection is the greatest secret to the meaning of life! ~ dho

originally published on BreathingRoomForMySoul.com, 2012; copyright Donna Oswalt

Soul-Song of Hope

I pray to GOD - my life a prayer -
and wait for what He'll say and do.
Psalm 130:5 The Message

The Living Bible uses these words in Psalm 130 ~ I wait expectantly, trusting God for help, for He has promised. When we wait expectantly, that is called hope! In A Long Obedience in the Same Direction Eugene Peterson writes this about Psalm 130 and hope:

Hoping… means going about our assigned tasks, confident that God will provide the meaning and the conclusions... It is the opposite of desperate and panicky manipulations, of scurrying and worrying… [Hope] is imagination put in the harness of faith… a willingness to let God do it His way and in His time.

Is it our lack of trusting in God's faithful promises or the our cynicism towards hope that binds us to despair? Do we worry more about not being able to control circumstances than confidently going about our assigned tasks? Allowing God to work in His way and in His time often requires us to wait. By studying the Scirptures and through prayer, our relationship with God grows; our understanding of His character increases. In His presence we find a peace within the uncertainty; we are embraced by His peace through the waiting. We must wait expectantly on God ~ Who is Faithful, Who is Promise, Who is HOPE! ~ dho

Gracious LORD, 
I come to the altar shouting praise for 
all the blessings in my life. You are the Light 
that writes the words of my soul-song. It is 
You that gives my heart its desires. You are Hope!
Faithful Father, I am God-strong; my blessings 
abundantly exceed my needs. Creator, gather the 
details of my life, take Your holy threads and weave 
a tapestry of Your design. . . You transcend all 
circumstances, expose all evil, reveal all love but 
never measure Grace. I am God-strengthened! ~dho

Hope in God Endures

I do not believe that sheer suffering teaches. If suffering alone taught, all the world would be wise, since everyone suffers. To suffering must be added mourning, understanding, patience, love, openness and the willingness to remain vulnerable. ~ Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Why are you in despair, O my soul?
And why have you become disturbed within me?
Hope in God, for I shall still praise Him
For the help of His presence. . .
Deep calls to deep at the sound of Your waterfalls;
All Your breakers and Your waves have rolled over me.
The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime;
And His song will be with me in the night,
A prayer to the God of my life. Psalm 42:5,7-8 NASB

The soul must remain willingly unguarded in its struggle with suffering, not for the lessons of despair, rather hope. It is hope that reaches into the chaos and rescues us. Lindbergh's description of suffering is more about hope than despair. If hope prevails, God must have access to our suffering souls, and it is only in our willingness to remain vulnerable that He can offer lessons on mourning, understanding, patience and love. While not bound by time, His Grace is released in our praise, released by His presence, released through His unfailing love, released with our prayers. Hope in God endures. ~dho

Faithful Father ~
I come into the Holy of Holies! On my knees, my head
bowed in reverence, I ask for wisdom and understanding.
Sometimes my faith seems weak as circumstances crowd
around me and threaten to come between You and me.
Forgive me when the noise of the world drowns out Your
voice, when the chaos inside my heart closes the door to
Your beauty, when the ramblings of my thoughts interfere
with Your desires. In my weakness, I need You more than
ever. Let me love with a tender heart. Fill me with hope. 
Come with me - wherever I must go. Remind me of Your 
unforced ryhthms of grace. In Your loving arms I can always 
find rest from the world. In the name of Jesus, Amen! ~dho