BEST FRIENDS

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. 1 John 3:1

Have you ever been afraid to refer to someone as your "BEST friend", especially face to face to them?
What if you're not THEY don't consider you their best friend?
What if they only consider you a "GOOD" friend?
It would be a one way street, you would be embarrassed.

I use to think that way.

I didn't want to write to someone, in a card,

to my best friend,

in case they didn't feel that way about me or their "BEST" friend was someone else.

But it's just the plain truth. To me you are my best friend.
Whether you feel that way or not its true.

Christ is not afraid to call us his BEST FRIENDS.
EVEN if its not recipricated back to him. We may not feel he's our best friend but he calls us that anyways.
He's not ashamed, so neither should we be! Call him by his rightful name,
BEST FRIEND, FATHER, SAVIOR, KING, CREATOR, SAVIOR, PRINCE OF PEACE!!!!!
How amazing is that!
You are the creator of the universe, savior of all, His BEST FRIEND.
Not only does he call you his bestie, your his child, his very own!!

So even though you may not consider him so, he's not afraid to tell the universe that you mean the world to Him.
He's the best friend you could ever ask for,
and with arms stretched open wide, and nailed to a cross he proved this to you.
So go ahead. Tell someone their your best friend. Don't be shy.

John 15:15 As a disciple, I am a friend of Jesus Christ.
I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

Ever wonder why somethings come so easy to other people.
There's the athletically gifted classmate who you can't stand to watch as they effortlessly blow past you in the 100m dash.
The girl who never seems to study but somehow seems to get straight A's.
The guy who has no stage fright and just sings melodious songs of blessings every time he steps on stage.
Your friend who can perform a skill you'll never be able to dream of trying. (my specific struggle this week:(
Somethings really come easy to other people who seem more skilled then we are...

There is a skit on youtube done by onetimeblind called "More Coke"
This skit can take the words right out of my mouth sometimes as I seem to be jealous those around me.
Jesus gives a girl a small bottle of coke (for my purposes I say sprite!) but he gives another guy a bigger bottle and so on until the girl gets so mad that everyone else is getting better "gifts" then her.

There's also a story I use to read all the time when I was little in a book of the Bierenstien bears called "Green-eyed monster", all about a sister who is miserable in the jealousy she has of her brother's better birthday gifts.

Sometimes I get so caught up in other people gifts I completely ignore God's plan for me. Have you ever really thought about all the potential you have in Christ? It may not be upfront, center stage but someone's gotta work backstage too:) My mom always reminds me to stop looking at other but to look to Jesus. He's the only one who can help us use what we have, great or small. I have a not stuck to the top of my mirror that reminds me to do just that. "Turn your eyes upon Jesus" I just have to keep reminding myself that!

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2

So what are you going to do with your "gift of sprite" today?? whether its a small 20oz or a whole liter it's for you to use to the best of your ability.

Love like a child

For this spring break I've been working in the wellness center and specifically in Child Care. Parents can bring their kids and I will babysit while they go and workout on the fitness floor. Normally I'm a floor worker however this was a nice break and change of pace from standing around in the weight room so I was enjoying my time to relax in there. I haven't had many kids stop in so I was not prepared for a brother and sister to come bouncing in to the room with their parents close at foot. They were real lively kids and kept me on my toes for the hour that their parents were gone. The boy wanted to watch 3,2,1, Penguins however he didn't want to watch the whole thing. He kept rewinding the last 2 minutes of it and watched it over and over and over and over probably about 15 times. The little girls always wanted me to do what she was doing. If she was coloring she wanted to me color. If she was playing with blocks she wanted me playing with blocks. If she wanted to play firetruck well I was the house on fire for her. To say the lest they were fun kids. As they got ready to go we cleaned up the room and put the toys away. They showed their parents their drawings and were excited to go swimming next as their parents had promised them. On the way out the little girl latched on my leg squeezing for all she was worth. I bent down to her level and gave her a hug. She pulled back and puckered up her lips so I gave her my cheeck and she planted a wet one right on my face. It was so cute. "buh bies" she whispered and quickly she ran off after her brother and mom heading out to the swimming pool. I just kind of stayed squatted and took it all in. What complete trust that little girl had. To her I was a complete stranger just 45min ago and now she takes me in her little arms in a big hug and to her I'm a friend. How many of us can say thats how we treat those around us. With complete trust and LOVE. Love like Jesus loved. It made me stop and think of how I treat strangers I meet. Do I stereotype the minute I see them and judge them based on appearance. Unfortunately I can't say I don't. We created an opinion on someone before becoming their friend or getting to know them. To this girl I was her best friend the moment I began to color with her. She has no bias against me, no preconceived ideas but just was happy to have a friend and to ultimately love my like Jesus. No faults. If I could love the way a child loves. Does not keep track of wrongs but simply loves. I learned my lesson today. Lord Help me love like a child, to Love like YOU DID.

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.” Psalm 91