"Why Me, God?" PART #2

Two are better than one,

because they have a good return for their work:

If one falls down,

his friend can help him up.

But pity the man who falls

and has no one to help him up!

-Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

Yesterday's blog I shared what the Lord is teaching me lately as I walk through my trial. A few days ago I called a close friend and just cried as I shared my heartache over this situation. She listened. She let me cry. She reminded me of truth. She "helped me up" after I had "fallen down."

Today I was blessed thinking of how my friend, Fran, took a SEC to edify and uplift me in my time of dispair. Many times a friend is in need and our preoccupation with the "To Do List" takes us away from being a vessel Christ can use. The other stuff can wait....take a SEC and be used by God today.

TAKE  a  S.E.C
Scripture - share a scripture verse with a friend in need via text, email or a quick phone call. Remind them of Truth. Give them hope.

It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it. - Isaiah 55:11

Encouragement - allow the Holy Spirit to use your voice to refresh. Pray before you make the call and ask the Lord to give you the words to say. Pray with your friend once you have listened to their "cry." 

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. - Ephesians 4:29

Challenge- poke and prod a little, ask questions about the situation that has your friend upset and remind them to have a Godly perspective in it all.  Remembering our home is in heaven.

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. - Hebrews 10:24

Have you taken a SEC to encourage and uplift a friend today?

Pray and ask the Lord to reveal how you can better serve your friends in this season of your life.

Do you need a friend to confide in and cry with? Pray. He will provide...after all HE is our Jehovah Jireh, our Perfect Provider.

DO YOU HAVE THE TIME?

Hebrews 10:24-25

and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near.

               I have a tendency to isolate. I don’t think I do it on purpose but when life gets busy I tend to put my head down and push through. I thank God that I have understanding friends, Godly women, that continue to text, call, and try to spend time with me. Sometimes I feel that if it weren’t for their perseverance I would isolate myself to my life and my family and not receive all that God wants me to learn. As women we are relational, we thrive on relationships. I can read books, hear sermons, and even do my own Bible study’s but I have found that when I spend time with other Godly ladies the Lord reveals Himself in ways that I never imagined. Hearing their stories, the way they do life, and the faith they have spurs me on to be a better daughter to our Heavenly Father. I come home with a new perspective and a renewed spirit!

Proverbs 13:20

He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will suffer harm.

               I praise God daily for the Godly friends He has placed in my life. I pray for Him to remind me when I become so focused on my “things” to reach out and spend time with the ladies that “spur me on” to be a better mom, wife, and Christian. When you spend time in fellowship and are transparent you develop a unity with other women that can’t be expressed into words. I know I am not doing life by myself. I have a group that is praying for me, listening to me, and supporting me. They point out when I am off in my thoughts and deeds, and they love on me through the trials. It’s an amazing thing.

Philippians 2:1-2

If therefore there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.

               My encouragement for you today is to find a group of ladies to do a Bible study with. Build relationships, be transparent, pray for the Lord to send you these ladies and pray for them. Do life together and I guarantee you will be blessed!

Heavenly Father, I thank you for hearing my prayers so long ago and sending me these amazing Godly women. Lord, help me to carve out time for fellowship. Help me to open up and be transparent with these ladies and to absorb all that you have for me. Guide me to be an encouragement to them and to listen wholeheartedly with love and gentleness. You are an amazing Dad who always provides what we need when we need it. Thank you! Amen.

An Outlet

 "A friend loves at all times." - Proverbs 17:17

Last night I was blessed to have coffee with a friend. We don't really know each other all that well but have the common bond of Jesus. After a few moments into our conversation I felt the prompting of the  Holy Spirit to just listen. She needed that. After talking, the weight was lifted and she felt better.

We all need that. An outlet. A place to come and bare our heart and know we will not be judged but prayed for. We all want to be heard.

As a mom we encounter so many struggles and question our decisions continually. We need to have a place we go to for refuge. Where when all that is within us wants to give up but the Lord is saying, "Be still and wait I am doing something here." When is that "coffee time" for you? Do you schedule in some "me time" to get out and talk with other moms to be encouraged and lifted up?

I am so thankful for  my close friend, Fran, that I can call up (even if I am crying) and ask her for prayer. She doesn't judge, but encourages and prays with me.  It is so important to have a friend that is like-minded (Christian) that will build us up (with scripture and prayer) when we are falling down.

Do you have that friend who is your "outlet"? Coffee time for yourself to be refreshed and renewed for your family?

If not, pray and He will provide. He made us for community and knows that there is life in communion with Him and others.