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Best Friends

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What if you had a friend you could call at any hour that would show up in any mess you found yourself in? Even if you were the cause of your troubles?  What if that friend would never judge you or make you feel shame? 

Psalm 103:12 “..as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”

Hebrews 8:12 “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”

What if they knew you so well that they could anticipate your needs before you even recognized you had them? 

Matthew 6:8 “Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”

What if they never asked for the favor to be returned?

Hosea 6:6 “For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.”

What if when you went through a phase of silence, they just waited for you to call? 

Luke 15:13-24 13“Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living…. “17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.”


What if this friend was the type of person that even in the moments that you were most resistant to guidance, you trusted their instinct so profoundly, you knew you could count on the words they poured into you? 

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

I’m excited to remind you that we all have a friend like this. His name is Jesus. There are times when we struggle to attend church, read our bibles, or thank God for all He’s given us. When I think of how God loves us, I am amazed at how patient, forgiving, and merciful He is. I would jump at the opportunity to have an earthly friend as I described above, yet sometimes I fail to be thankful for my Heavenly Father, who is all of these things and then some. 

Psalm 40 1-3 “I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.”

Thank you, Jesus, for always showing me grace and being the friend that only You could be. 

 

Posted by Sarah Roberts with

Know You Will

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I’ve been in a new season of my life the last 6 weeks. After quitting my job and having no source of income, I found myself in a place of discouragement, doubt, and anxiety. I knew in my heart that the Lord had moved me from my previous job but as more time passed, I started feeling nervous. These feelings come with the territory of being human sometimes. But I also knew that the Lord was using this season to strengthen my relationship with Him and grow my faith. However, it’s been no smooth ride. 
 
I did get another job as a Sales Consultant. I prayed over this job and I prayed hard. According to Indeed, there were a couple thousand people who applied for the job and when I found out it was between me and 2 other candidates, I was a mix of emotions. I had one more day to wait and find out if I got the job or not and I was in constant prayer that the Lord’s will be done. I got the call the next day that I was selected and I was over the moon. I went through the training feeling so ready and excited but after I got into the field and started working, I realized that it was going to be harder than I anticipated. 
Two weeks into the job and I was ready to quit. I was hearing, ‘No’ left and right and becoming increasingly discouraged. I was crying in my car between walk-ins. I even went back on Indeed to apply for more jobs. I had prayed so hard for this job and was doubting if I was really where the Lord had called me to be. 
 
Sunday Morning (9/12/21) rolls around and Pastor Benny, in usual fashion, brings a good word in season that really touched my heart and encouraged me so much. He started off the sermon with Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” and I knew this sermon was going to feel like it was made just for me because that has been my anthem verse these last few weeks.
The sermon was about Nehemiah and his journey to Jerusalem. (If you haven’t heard this sermon, I recommend going back to give it a listen. Good stuff.) But one of the main points really spoke to me: “Push Through,” was written in bold letters in my notebook. Where there is opportunity, there will be opposition. (Nehemiah 2:10) This was so comforting to me. “If you don’t run into the devil, you might be going the same direction,” was probably my favorite Benny quote of the sermon. 
 
I’ve learned so much in the last few weeks. The best things in life don’t come easy. Trusting the Lord can be hard sometimes, but at just the right moment, He’s going to give you the reassurance you need to remember how good He’s been to you and that He’s got you right where He wants you. In the last five days I’ve made three sales. This is so mind blowing to me because just a week ago I was so discouraged. The song Know You Will by Hillsong Worship has been on repeat in my playlist lately. We can believe Him for big things because of His history. I look back and think of How good He’s been to me. He will always see it through. (Romans 8:28) 
Posted by Emma Gossett with

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