I NEED A FRIEND!

 The right type of friends in your life is so important!

     The bible says, in 1 Corinthians 15:33 that "bad company corrupts good character." Another way to say this is "Evil company corrupts good habits."

     Do not let anyone FOOL YOU! When we associate and love the company of people with worldly behavior, or habits, we run the risk of mimicking their behaviors, and their language. 

      Negative influence is not always easily spotted in a person.

     This is why we must practice what the bible instructs us to do. It is our moral code book. Many people would not find themselves in a mess if they would just read the bible and DO what it instructs us to do.

     Amazing thought isn't it. Yet I know many people who have thought they could help someone by hanging out with them to their dismay to discover the bad habits, and wrong choices captivated their good morals, and character.  

Proverbs 12:26 The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray. 

 Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. 

     The bible says in The Passion Translation in John 15:13-16 this:   

For the greatest love of all is a love that sacrifices all. 

And this great love is demonstrated when a person sacrifices his life for his friends.

     A true friend will not take advantage of you.

     A true friend will not dishonor you.

     A true friend will do what is right for you not themselves.

     A true friend will love you and only do good to you.

     You may be feeling that no one understands you. but Jesus will never leave or forsake you.

       

How do we get the right friends in our life.  Pray, and ask the Lord to send a godly, good character friend to you.  He will.....it may take some time but He goes to work immediately on your request.  He loves you and until the right friend comes in your life, remember this:

Always Working for Him

LouEllen

      NEVER believe or think that the place you feel stuck in life won't change!  It can and will!

     It could be the job you are working now, where you live, what's going on in your physical body, a relationship you are stuck in, or many other things in which you find yourself involved.

     Life has shown me that it moves on and we must be willing to let go of the current to move into the new place, position, or plans that Christ has for us.  That is so hard to do sometimes.  We feel stuck or in the rut, going through all the motions and routine of life.  

   Today, I want to give you a new perspective on this.  My closest friend made a statement several years ago which has helped me and motivated me to change my stinking thinking about things.  She had been complaining for awhile that she was sick and tired of the job and her workplace.  I listened as a good friend and attempted to motivate her into accepting it as the will of God.  Many weeks later she seemed to have a completely different mind set regarding the work place.  Her attitude was so different, and I knew it wasn't all the things I said to her, and pondered what in the world could have changed her attitude so much.  She had accepted her job and time there.

     As we began to discuss this imagine my amazement as to what changed her outlook.  This friend described how she had been praying and complaining to God over her job, cause she really wanted to quit, and the Lord spoke to her and said, (my words) "You have not completed your assignment there yet."

     Did you get that?  "You have not completed your assignment there yet!"  My head began to spin as I contemplated the power in that statement.  That meant, to me, that nothing is by accident.  Where ever or whatever you are feeling stuck in right now, is an ASSIGNMENT from the Lord.  

     Sometimes we are in certain situations because of choices we have made.  But never fear the Lord says  " And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."  (Rom. 8:28)

     From that moment of hearing "You have not completed your assignment there yet" changed my life.  No longer did I drag myself to work, or get frustrated at that situation I felt stuck in, but I began to LOOK for the assignment for which God had me involved.  Do you get it???  I want you so to be encouraged today that He is always for you, and not against you.  

     Start looking at your job, etc., with this new perspective that God has an assignment for you and it will transform who you are into a person who is accomplishing their God assignment in life.  Believe me it seems that in this life nothing stays the same.  Relationships change.  People move on!  Sometimes locations change!  HE love you and cares what you are going through right now!  Start looking for your assignment in whatever place or position in life you find yourself.  WooHoo!  We've got this.

     Always Working for Him

              Lou Ellen