One of the biggest blessings in my life is sharing time with family and friends, especially when they come to visit at our home.

 “Friends and family make time spent together a beautiful treasure.” Lisa Blowers (click to tweet)

The times are marked with laughter, reminiscing, a tour of some favorite spots in town, and the sharing of Godly wisdom. Many times, these friends have shared the wisdom gained from their own journeys with the Lord, speaking directly to the struggles in my own life.

We gather round our kitchen island, chopping vegetables, making sandwiches, whipping up the best spicy guacamole this side of Mexico, and talking. Sharing all that has happened in our lives since the last time we could spend hours without counting. No worries about deadlines or interruptions from other events on our schedules. With ease we share our hearts and all that we have learned from the Lord.

These friends have seen us in our deepest trials and have rejoiced with us in the victories. They are here for the long haul. And they see us through with heart-felt prayers.

Just recently, one of the couples who visited stopped our browsing in the middle of a garden pottery yard. We had just found out that our oldest son had the opportunity to interview with a major employer in town. The wife said they would pray for him, and then decided we should do it right there. We joined hands out in the open–really, no one else was wandering through at the time–and we prayed. Right there. Amidst the clay pots. A touch of heaven was felt and I choked up as we gathered with the Holy Spirit in community lifting up the situation. These are the moments that make memories into priceless treasures.

In Mel Caldicott’s article on friendship she points out the importance of these relationships. That God intends for friendships to “reflect the glory of God” and to be an encouragement to each other as we share our journeys through marriage, parenting, life’s changing seasons and the Lord’s call on each of our lives.

 

Just recently, I was given the privilege of watching God answer the prayers of 12 friends I had asked to pray with me for 40 days regarding some personal issues in my life. The wisdom to ask for this kind of prayer came from the head of our women’s ministry. The faithfulness of my friends to commit to this intensive prayer and to counsel me through the journey was a gift from God.

At one point, I was ready to give up and one of those friends wisely advised me to continue holding on. To give up was to give into the enemy’s desire, she said. Her encouragement and willingness to talk me through the valley set my feet and heart back on God’s path.

Encouraging each other in our walks with the Lord is the essence of true friendship. (click to tweet)

Not everyone will be a close friend with whom we can share our deepest secrets, our fiercest fears, our heart’s longings. When God brings along those who can walk through life with us, we are blessed with His image living in another. (click to tweet) Someone who can wipe away our tears, share our burdens, encourage our hearts, forgive us for our sins or hurts against them, help us to fulfill our dreams, share God’s word with us, and fill our days with laughter, joy, and moments that live forever in our hearts.

“Friends are hard to find. In a lifetime you only get a few. And when you find them, you always know them by sight and heart alone, you always grow a little bit taller in your soul, and you know you have been blessed just to know them.”
― Ashley Rice

 

 

“For the sake of my family and friends, I will say, ‘May you have peace.'” Psalm 122:8 NLT

When you read all of Psalm 122, you will see that the psalm is praising God as the writer journeys with family and friends to Jerusalem to worship and celebrate their faith together The peace is prayed for Jerusalem. But I believe it signifies the peace we will find as we worship Christ together with those we love, here on earth and in our heavenly home.

Remembering the treasured times we’ve just shared with those whom we are privileged to call family and friends.

 From My Heart To Yours,

Linking with Essential Fridays,  Sunday Stillness,  Still Saturday,  Scripture and a Snapshot,   Spiritual Sundays, Sunday Community