Let's Talk About Friendships.

Hello my friends!

First of all I would like to apologize for not blogging more. It has been an interesting 15 months since I wrote last, and hopefully it won't be another 15 months until I write again. 😬

I am actually excited about where I am in life right now. In November I moved closer to where I work, and I have an amazing church to serve in, an awesome pastor and church family to serve with, and some great friends that I have the had privilege to meet, both in person and online across the country (and even a few around the world!) God has been so good to this guy.

It's such a blessing to be able to have such good friends, and that is actually what I want to talk about a little bit. Friendships, what a blessing they are and how we should always strive to be a better friend.

The bible has a lot to say about friendships. It tells us how to conduct ourselves as friends, and warns us of things we shouldn't do as friends, too. God even calls some of His servants "friends" as well! Think about it. As God was giving us His Word through His men, he took time to tell us about those people He considered His friends. Abraham was His friend. Moses was His friend. Guess what, if you are born again, you are His friend, too! Jesus said, "Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
  Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you." John 15:14-15

I just wanted to share some thoughts that have been weighing on my heart about having and maintaining good friendships, and I dearly hope this simple blog post will be a help to someone. 

1.  A Friend cares about you in the good times, and the bad times.

"A friend loveth at all times, ..." Proverbs 17:17

A true blue friend will care about you and check on you when things are going well, and when you think things are falling apart. The last few weeks have been a little stressful for me, I have to be honest. Now things are starting to turn around, and I appreciate the multiple friends who have helped me throughout it all. Y'all are the best.

Not only do they check on you, you need to check on them. If you notice that your friend is going through a hard time, a visit, call or even a message or text would most likely be appreciated. Sometimes even a small note or card offering to help or at least letting them know you are praying for them can be a huge encouragement to them. Be that friend. Be the one they can go to when they need prayer, and a little encouragement along the way.

2. A Friend will not kick you or judge you if you go through a hard time, they will help you and encourage you to get back up.

Job had a pretty rough time when the Lord was allowing him to be tested. Then his friends came to comfort him. For a long time, they just sat there with him and did not say anything. That was probably the best thing they did. Then they started talking and basically telling him that he brought this on himself by committing some sort of sin bad enough for God to bring judgment on him. Friends, don't automatically assume that God is allowing them to go through that hard time because of some evil sin that they have committed. Maybe He is using it in their life to make them grow in their faith, or use them through their trial to reach others with the gospel. Just help them where you can, and encourage them with scripture, kind words and prayer.

3. A Friend prays for you and others always.

The Lord Jesus was always praying for His disciples. When they were going to be tossed and turned in the storm upon the sea, He was praying for them. When he was in the Garden, He prayed for them. He was always praying for them! It's important that we lift up our friends in prayer! They have needs, burdens, trials that they are going through as well, and we need to be praying for them as much as we have the opportunity!


4. Be their Friend, even if they want to cut you out of their life.

Sometimes your friend is going through a hard time and they tend to isolate themselves from all  other friends and not be the friend that they used to be. Maybe it is another controlling thing or person in their life that is pulling them away from you or pulling them toward  something that could be potentially destructive in their lives. They may even commit the almost unforgiveable evil there is in this world: (cue dramatic music) unfriend you on social media!!!

Do not stop being their friend. Love them, encourage them if you can, and most importantly, pray for them. God still does hear and answer prayer, friends.


I am working on trying to be more of a friend to others the same way I would want other people to be a friend to me. The Lord has been working in my life in this area, and I really am working to apply it in my everyday life, and my prayer is that you will also.

Until the next time,

Ethan

New Year, New Blog.

Hello there!

This is new territory for me, so bear with me as I am challenging myself to write more and study more in the precious Word of God, our King James Bible.

A few things I would like to accomplish with this blog.

1. Try to share some things I’ve found in my study and reading of the Bible.

2. Random things that are going on in my life. (As if you care... 😂)

3. Encourage others who are struggling in their Christian walk to keep in the battle, and to keep looking up! (We’re almost out of here! Jesus is coming soon, y’all!)

4. And, share other miscellaneous likes, dislikes and hobbies of mine. 

So I meant to post some thoughts I had on the New Year and some encouragement to keep those New Year’s resolutions that we all make, but usually end up breaking not long into the month of January.

I have set some goals and challenges in my life that I would like to see accomplished in 2018. One of them is to lose some weight. Those of you who know me know that I am a pretty big guy. (I’m 6’2 and xxx lbs. 😂 I’m not giving my weight away until I reach my goal, if then even. Sorry. 😂)

I am also planning on some other things as well, Lord willing, in 2018 but I don’t want to say anything yet until those plans get a little closer and more concrete. 

But there’s a few things we can put in place in our lives to make sure we keep those goals we set for ourselves and have a happy and productive 2018.

1. Have a PLAN. 

Most of you already have this if you have set goals for yourselves in 2018. It’s good to have a plan in place as to how you are going to achieve those goals. It would be silly to say, “I’m going to do x, y and z” and not have a way in which to accomplish it. It’s not just going to happen on it’s own just because you want it to happen. Have a plan in place.

2. PURPOSE in your heart to do what you have planned.

I think this is where we fail most of the time in our goals that we make for ourselves. We don’t purpose in our hearts to do it. In other words, we don’t follow through. In Daniel, chapter 1, we find that Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat or his wine. Not following the King’s orders in those days meant certain death. But Daniel stuck to it, ate healthy food and water, and looked much better and healthier than the other servants who partook of the king’s food. The king was amazed at their countenances, and they were promoted in the kingdom as a result. Bottom line here is: follow through with what you planned to do. Don’t give up because it gets hard, difficult or seemingly out of your reach. If you set a goal for yourself in 2018, go for it, and don’t stop until you achieve it!

3. Bathe your Goal in PRAYER.

Make sure that your goal is one that the Lord would have you achieve. Pray about it. Get a peace about it, then go for it! Now obviously there are some things that the Lord wants you to do and some things He wants you to get better at, like prayer, bible reading, soul winning, get healthy, etc., I’m talking about goals like, “Should I move here? Should I buy this (car, house, boat, you get the idea...)”

This is why we should seek the Lord first in prayer before we make them goals in our lives because He may not want those goals for us. He might have something better prepared for us.

Bathe your goal in prayer.

And lastly,

4. PURSUE it.

Enough said. Go for it. Don’t let anything stop you! Go, go, GO! Until you cross that  finish line and achieve whatever it is you are going for!

I hope this helps someone today.

Until next time, have a great day!