FRIENDS

John 15:13-14

We like to think of ourselves as rising to the occasion when a time of great crisis arises. We all hope to emulate what the heroes of faith did. But as great as they were, Jesus says here, "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you." It is very easy to think of the sacrifice implied in "lay[ing] down one's life" as dying for another in one moment of time. Though that may occasionally occur, the context shows this sacrifice within the framework of friendship. Friendship occurs over months and years, not just in one moment in time.

In true friendships, because we are eager to help, we willingly spend ourselves ungrudgingly, without tallying the cost. Friends open their hearts and minds to each other without secrecy, which one would not do for a mere acquaintance. True friends allow the other to see right in and know them as they really are. Friends share what they have learned. Finally, and most importantly for this article, a friend trusts the one who believes in him, and risks that the other will never doubt his loyalty but look upon him with proven confidence.

Though the principle given by Christ is applicable to all friendships, He has one specific friendship as His primary focus: ours with Him, or more generally, ours with God. Proverbs 18:24 says, "A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." That friend is Jesus of Nazareth, but He made it very clear that if we are His friends, we will show it in our obedience to His commands. But before we can obey, we must trust Him.

Take a moment to evaluate yourself. Are you as open and frank with Him as He is with us through His Word? Often our prayers are stiff and formal, not truly honest. Besides that, sometimes we become bored in His presence and soon have nothing to say to Him. Is it not true that we do not trust Him as fully as we should? That we are often quick to doubt Him? That we easily grow suspicious of Him? That we lose heart or fear that He has forgotten us? That He is not really trying or is unequal to the task of shepherding us into His Kingdom? Though He has never failed us, we are so quick to suspect and blame Him!

John W. Ritenbaugh
Wandering the Wilderness in Faith
quoted in BibleTools.org's commentary on John 15:13-14

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Keep on raining --- I won't drown;
My feet are planted on higher ground.
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MY JOB

Some years ago I was fretting and fuming and working long, lonnnngggg hours to serve my Lord, when He gave me a quick vision of a banquet table. He showed me that I was trying to handle all the preparations myself, but He only wanted me to look after the cream and sugar pitchers at one stretch near the far end. Oops! *G*

It has taken me far too long to realize that the way to fill my God-given responsibilities is simply to share with others what He has done and is doing in our lives, and to praise and trust Him to continue to work through us as we leave ourselves in His hands.

What a simple, joyous job! and what a joy it is to share - not what I have "learned" from those perhaps blessed with a differing experience or more weighty spiritual responsibility, but just what our wonderful Lord is able to accomplish through such an erring, wilful child of the King as I. Thank You, Jesus!!! May I ever have a testimony to Thy glory, and may many, many others be blessed to learn that Your strength is made perfect in our weakness. :-) Amen.

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Keep on raining --- I won't drown;
My feet are planted on higher ground.
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Keep on raining --- I won't drown;
My feet are planted on higher ground.
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OHzone UPdates...

As promised last issue, here's the latest on our new home (we haven't moved yet, but it is OURS as soon as the Lord brings us the buyer for Follow Me Farm, so I'm shouting HALLELUJAH! and packing):

Our new home has absolutely everything conceivable for the comfort of our four-legged family and us as their keepers. The stalls are large, bright and secure; the paddocks are well-fenced, spacious and adequately shaded, with good dry footing and room to run. As for Archie and I, our house there is even more wonderful to our eyes than our delightful bungalow at Follow Me Farm, which is itself the nicest place either of us has ever lived in. Trust the Lord to out-do even our wildest imaginings, in preparing our new home base from which to serve Him. :-)

I'm not sure whether we are taking our store with us when we move or not. That's what it's looking like, and it's what I'd love to do... but the Lord has final say. Personally I'd miss the interaction with customers who leave smiling with joy over their purchases, and the opportunity the store provides of helping others clothe themselves well at minimal expense.

With or without the store, it looks like we will be in our new home before Christmas. What a joyous celebration that will be THIS year, with so much to be thankful for. Thank You, Jesus, for EVERYTHING! You are a mighty God and a wonderful Saviour - and an unbelievably omnipresent Friend, and we praise You from the bottom of our hearts.

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Keep on raining --- I won't drown;
My feet are planted on higher ground.

Keep on reigning; You're my Lord!
Sharpen my mind by Your Spirit's sword.
Compliments of NicksHumor.net
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That's about it for now, folks. Short issue, but plenty of food for thought. May God bless you and keep you, one and all!

PAYMENT DUE!!

The OHzone E-Clips is no longer free... it is now 'Helpware.' Each week you must help one person on the web who has less knowledge than you. Pick a newsgroup posting or an email each week and help that person even if you have to visit their site to find the best answer or do a little research and get back to them. Trust me, this will make you feel better, and will help a lot of people get their sites running better. That includes me, so if you've got a great idea you'd like to see on OHzone, let me know, okay? joy@ohzone.net

OK, you're on your honor.... Ready... set... GO HELP SOMEBODY!!! -)

(((HUGS))) and blessings to you all,


(Mrs.) Doris E. Howie <><
Editor, OHzone E-CLIPS