Friends - For a Moment, A Season....For Eternity

My Brother recently sent an email which had multiple views of different friends that are apart of our lives...for a Moment, A Season and Eternity.

It reminded me that we often spend a lot of time with things that are very temporary....mowing the grass that will yellow and fade, flowers that will wither....and accumulating "stuff" that in a few years will either become a lost treature in our attics or garages...or will become someone elses "treasure" at the next Garage sale.

But "PEOPLE" are Eternal....they are currently "Body, Soul and Spirit".....and our current body is "temporary" but we really are an eternal treasure....and, the friendships we make (regardless of how short) are connections that are significant because People are "Forever".

I used to spend time on "chat rooms" when I first got into using the internet (at age 40)...and there I found "connections" that were often "fleeting" but I prayed that God would make my intersection with these distant "people" significant...that something I said would impact them for the now and eternity. God knew my heart...and, I believe that He did use me during those times

I say all that to say.....Friends, and People are an Eternal connection that we need to value and cherish -- some we will never see again till the end of this world and God restores heaven and earth for our Eternal Life with Him.....but, God help me (help us all) to view every person like YOU DO....someone Fearfully and Wonderfully made, someone with gifts and abilities (although some may still be hidden) -- help us look beyond the "cover" of the book....look beyond the "age" or the habits...to see a precious "Friend" .....Jesus called us all to be "friends" and "Friendly" to others -- maybe we could learn something from others if we were not so absorbed with Ourselves all the time......If I sound like I'm ranting....I could be......we're just approaching our annual "Love Winnipeg" event for 2010 and we plan to make ourselves available to people in the Core....it will be a stretch for both myself and Janet, but I am praying that by God's Spirit, He would be able to use us to bring light, love and acceptance to someone who needs it...and, just maybe they will show us something we really need to see in Jesus Name.

We also have made new friends recently, and realize again how "Special" it is to "connect" with people outside our own lives...to laugh together, to discuss our issues together and get a different perspective. God intends us to connect with others, because he believes in community...not "Lone Rangers".

I'm thankful for all the friends ....the ones for the moment, a season, and for the great friends I look forward to spending Eternity with that have crossed my paths over the years of my life Journey.

I also Thank God for My BEST Friend, Janet my Wife -- She Blesses me beyond words, and I enjoy each day we share together. Though tiredness, work or other issues may crowd out our time together - still, just being in the same room with her is "Special" and she is not just for a moment, or a Season...she's My Best Friend FOREVER!!!!!  8-)

Thankfulness

As I return back to my blog site.....I'm amazed how much time has passed by.....WOW. Does it ever slow down??

Life has been busy -- Lots of stuff happening at work - with Physical Inventory on the horizon and a trip to Saskatoon to help out.

Amidst all the busyness....I am Thankful !!! It's funny - Thankfulness is something we all remember our parents coaxing us to "do" -- "say Thank YOU!!!" We'd spit out the word to avoid further pressures and knowing we would be restrained until we did. But, I think Thankfulness is a "KEY" to enjoying life to it's fullness. When we lack Thankfulness-it's replaced with a range of possibilities....Discouragement, Discontentment, Disappointment....those three "D's" spell "Discouragement" and Despair (I think I'm on a roll??)

I heard it said once.....if you are lacking "Thankfulness".....look around closely, and you likely can see somebody who has "less" than you....and you just might realize things are not so bad and regain some "Thankfulness" in your Journey of Life.

I always remember the verse "In Everything Give Thanks, for this is the Will of God concerning You"
(1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV "give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

That's a tough verse to walk without God's help.....but, I can confess that keeping "Thankful" is a KEY to happiness. God help me to keep Thankful in all circumstances. AMEN