1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV — Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

As I reflect on my friendships, I realize how blessed I am to have friends so in tune with what’s going on in my life who send me encouraging texts at all times of day. Sometimes I receive a phone call from a friend that is right on time that helps me to persevere in the midst of a bad day. A good friend embodies today’s featured scripture. A good friend builds up and encourages others. Are you a good friend? Are you in tune to the trials and tribulations of your friends? Do you reach out to your friends to encourage and build them up? How can you be a better friend today? Encourage a friend today by sending an encouraging text, note, or phone call.

Let’s pray. Dear God, Thank You for friends who are right on time with their encouragement. Help me to follow the example of Christ and be a better friend. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Proverbs 18:24 ESV — A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Think about all the friends you have in all the areas of your life. You may have childhood friends, friends from work, friends from church, friends you know through your children’s extracurricular activities, college friends, etc. As I reflect, I realize I have friends that fall into all of those categories except lasting childhood friendships. As the daughter of a United Methodist minister, I moved often which made it difficult to form lasting childhood friendships. Lacking childhood friendships doesn’t make my life less full of love. Each of the groups of friends have different dynamics and different blessings. However, they are all human friendships which means that like me, they have faults. There are times that each of us fail one another because each of us is flawed. However, we all have a friend in Jesus Christ who is perfect. He will stick closer to us than anyone else will.

Let’s pray. Dear God, Show me my imperfections that sometimes cause me to hurt my friends. Help me to be a better friend. Thank You for the perfect friend we have in our Savior. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

John 15:13 NIV — Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

This week we will talk about friends and friendship. Merriam-Webster defines a friend as someone attached to another by affection or esteem. Spend a few moments today thinking about all of your friends. Reflect on friends you have had in years past as well as your current friends. Then reflect on our best friend, Jesus, who laid down His life for you and me. As you worship today, thank God for the friend you have in Jesus and the relationship you have with Him. Are you a good friend to Him in return? What ways could you be a better friend to Him? Be open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Listen, reflect, and obey. Begin your day of worship by listening to Alan Jackson’s rendition of “What A Friend We Have In Jesus.” May each of us have a Son-filled Sunday.

Let’s pray. Dear God, Thank You for Your Son, Jesus Christ, who is truly the best friend I could have. Open my eyes, ears, mind, and heart to ways I need to improve on being a better friend to Him. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Deuteronomy‬ ‭7‬:‭9‬ ‭NIV — Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.‬‬

Join me here for See You Saturday as I talk about a thousand generations of worship.

Worship with “Holy Forever” by Chris Tomlin.

Exodus‬ ‭20‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — But showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

Psalms‬ ‭105‬:‭8‬ ‭NIV — He remembers his covenant forever, the promise he made, for a thousand generations.‬‬

1 Chronicles‬ ‭16‬:‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — He remembers his covenant forever, the promise he made, for a thousand generations.

Jesus wrote in Matthew ‭11‬:‭28‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

One of my favorite and more widely used hymns, “Spirit Song,” was written by John Wimber in 1979. You can read more on umcdiscipleship.org. Some of the lyrics sing, “Let Him have the things that hold you and his Spirit like a dove, will descend upon your life and make you whole.”

In reading our key verse I envision myself surrendering all my burdens over to God so that He can give me rest. 

As our week on hymns comes to a close, I thought by sharing this musical video we could sing the words ourselves. Watch as Greg Sungshik Shin guides us through the musical notes.

Let’s pray. Dear God, Thank You for a week of beautiful hymns. I, as Your lamb, ask that you fill me up on this Friday. I surrender all my burdens to You and ask for rest.

Psalm 25:14 —The Lord Confides in those who fear Him; He makes His covenant known to them.

John Sammis and Daniel Towner first published “Trust and Obey” in 1887. You can read more on Hymnologyarchive.com. Some of the lyrics sing, “While we do His good will, He abides with us still and with all who will trust and obey.”

In our key verse we read about that holy, healthy fear I talked about a few weeks ago. Our Pastor recently asked us if we had enough faith. He went on to say, we have enough faith that God has assigned. If we need more, God will provide it. The real question is, do we have enough confidence in God to act on our faith. 

I had to search a little harder for a version that I enjoyed, eventually finding this rendition by Chelsea Moon and the Franz Brothers.

Let’s pray. Dear God, Thank You for giving me all the faith I need to accomplish Your will. Give me the confidence I need to act on my faith. Abide in me as I do Your will. May I have the holy, healthy fear that I need. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

‭‭James‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.

Kurt Kaiser wrote the words and music to “Pass It On” in 1969. You can find more information on Hymnary.org. He was a great musician who eventually was elected into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. I love this song because of the simplicity it takes for one spark to get a fire going. Once you experience God’s love, you want to share it with the world. 

In our key verse, James instructs us that our tongue is a small but very powerful tool in spreading the Gospel to everyone. How will you pass it on today? Will you be elected into God’s hall of fame for passing on His love to others?

This hymn isn’t as widely sung. A very cool music video to view is by EMC Vesper Choir. I encourage you to watch the video. It is amazing to see all these singers harmonize together, yet each is in a separate location.. 

Let’s pray. Dear God. Thank You for the tongue. Help me to use it for good and not for bad. Help me not fall short of gossip or anger. Help me to pass on Your love through my words and actions. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.