Friends Are Friends Forever If....

When you are a part of a church you are a part of a community, a family. And when one of your family decides that the Lord is leading them to a new job, a new home and a new town, you know that you are happy for their new adventure and yet you are sad to see them go.

A long time ago, the Preacher and I were Deans at Gold Coast Christian Camp in Florida. We worked the Junior High week. We would have a "talent night" on the last day of the week. On that night the kids could perform at the talent show. Some put on skits and dramas, some would do gymnastics, others would play an instrument, but a lot of them would sing a special song. There always seemed to be one girl who would want to sing Michael W. Smith's song, "Friends". Here is the chorus to help you remember the song:

"And friends are friends forever if the Lord's the Lord of them. And a friend will not say "never" cause the welcome will not end. Though it's hard to let you go in the Father's hands we know that a life time's not too long to live as friends." 

 Invariably, during the song all the girls would begin to cry. They would hug each other and then cry some more and through the tears they would begin to sing along with the girl who began the whole thing. They had made some really good friends during the week and they knew their moms and dads were coming to take them home the next day. They would be going back to different churches and schools. Many would not see each other until camp the next year. Over the years, whenever the Preacher and I hear this song, we moan a little and look at each other. We both know what the other is remembering – 7th and 8th grade girls sobbing.

Today as I sit here at my desk, I was thinking of a friend of mine who will be moving four hours from our church and our town. And guess what song popped into my head? – Friends are Friends Forever....!

Sometimes when you're the one moving the reality of it all doesn't hit you right away. There are so many things to do and think about. You experience a whirlwind of emotions. But when you're the one who is left behind you just think about how you will miss your friend who is leaving.

My friend playing piano during a worship service.

My friend and I have been friends for seven years. She began attending our church a year or so after moving to our little town. We seemed to hit it off right away. She began playing the piano for the worship team that I was a part of, and our friendship grew. Her oldest daughter is the same age as our son and they were a part of the youth group. They became good friends right away. They even went to prom together. My friend and her husband have had us in their home for dinners and we have had them over to our house.

Home-made Skyline Chili. In order to be authentic you have to serve it on an elongated plate
and with oyster crackers and a thin mint.

I remember the time when she had traveled to Cincinnati for work. There she discovered Skyline Chili, one of our favorite restaurants, so we had them over for home-made "Sky" chili. We knew she was the only one who would really appreciate it.

We have laughed together, cried together, shared stories and worried over our children together and we celebrated the birth of her youngest child together.

As we count down the days before her move, I'll be strong and continually pray for her and give her encouragement, but on that last day, the day of the move, who knows I might just be like one of those sobbing girls who sang the song, "Friends", all those years ago.

Love from the Preacher and I

The Laughter Left Her Face But....

While we were in Tennessee last week, we were able to get

together with some very good friends. 

Bill & Melody worked side by side with the preacher and I in the ministry 

here in Colorado before they moved to Tennessee. They actually moved to

the town where the Storytelling Festival is held.

We love them to death and miss them terribly, but we believe that the Lord

has a plan for their lives and we are sure that they have touched

many lives and have shown the Lord's love through the

work they are doing.

We also were able to meet with Alvaro & Dennisse and their boys. 

They are very special people. In Florida we worshiped together, 

we went camping together, we loved going to Cici's Pizza on 

Sunday's for Church After Church. It was so great to get to seem them.

They have purchased an investment property there in Tennessee and were 

getting it ready for renters. We were able to spend just a few hours

with them eating Dennisse's awesome food. She is an amazing 

cook. She and Alvaro love to cook for the preacher and of course

the preacher is in heaven when we get together and break bread together.

There was a line in a story that Tim Tingle told, 

"The laughter left her face but the friendship stayed."

This is how I feel when we get together with these amazing friends.

This is how I felt when we had to say good-bye to our friends.

It is so amazing how the Lord brings us together.

I believe that when you build relationships through the love of Christ

those friendships never die. 

I did a word search and there are many scriptures that talk about 

friendship, but the one that I found fitting is John 15:12-15.

"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his live for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you." (ESV)

Jesus understands friendships. He wants us to have deep friendships with one 

another, but even better than that, He wants to have a deep relationship

with us. He calls us friend! Just like the song, "I Am a Friend of God" by Israel Houghton

says, "God Almighty, Lord of Glory, You have called me friend."

Think about the friendships in your life. Do you have deep friendships?

Now think about your relationship with Jesus.

Do you call Him your friend? 

Is your friendship with Him a deep relationship?

He wants to have that kind of friendship with you.

He calls you friend!