I get by with a little help from my friends

Friendship is the underrated art of modern times. 

Let's be honest, Friendship is: 

Difficult                                       Stressful

Demanding                                Subjective

Risky

It is also:

Reassuring                       Supportive

Entertaining                       Healing 

Teaching

So, according to God, what is friendship?  

He has already set the ultimate example: 

2 Corinthians 1:4

Praise be to the God and Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God." 

The key words: Compassion and Comfort. If you don't remember where this verse is cited, and you cannot quote it on cue, just remember those two words. 

~Compassion

~Comfort

He did/does it for us, and we are to do it for others. 

I hate to break it to you, but there is no such thing as a "fair weather friend"

Galations 6:2

"Carry each other's burden's, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." 

This reminds me of that old song "Lean on me". 

Now, when you it the "real world" this is a concept that is shockingly easier said than done. It's quite easy to become self-centric with the worries of the world, but put simply, if you are baring other's burdens, there will always be someone willing to bare yours. 

You have to keep it real:

James 5:16

"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."

There are 3 parts to this. 

Part one: Being willing to air your dirty laundry so it can be washed. 

Part two: Praying for each other in LOVE without condemnation.

Part three: Having faith in the healing power of prayer.... powerful.... effective

Nobody is perfect. We need to accept the fact that sometimes our friends will hurt us or themselves and we need to love them anyway.

1 Peter 4:8

"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins."

Comfort, Compassion, Carry the burdens, be real, pray, and love love love love love 

Thank you Lord for setting the ultimate example of love and friendship. Please unite your people and give us all the strength love one another the way you love us. 

HOPE

The difference between a life, and a life worth living is  hope. 

"As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more." Psalm 71:14

This has really wrung true for me lately.

 In an act of transparency, I will tell you it hasn't been easy for my family the last few months. I am of the opinion that money should not be overvalued and is, in general, just little green pieces of paper, but our creditors (ie medicals bills and house payment) are of a much different opinion regarding the importance of said green pieces of paper. There have also been a series of other stresses that have arisen that make you think of the possibility of spiritual attack in your life. 

When you get to a state of exhaustion in which the thought crosses your mind

  Is anything going to go right? 

Your hope begins to be weathered away like the paint on an untreated deck. Each time it rains a little more damage is done, until eventually you have to start from scratch. 

 If we rely on our own understanding and on our own strength, we are doomed to weather away to nothing but rotted splinters, and what good are we to the Lord in that condition? 

Let's talk about our understanding 

"...But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans." Romans 8:24-25

Wow... I mean... WOW. Think about that. When we are not strong enough to reach out to God, he does it for us! When we no longer have the words, there is the Holy Spirit baring our soul, watching out for us, and interpreting our thoughts, hopes, dreams, and pains to a Loving God. 

All we have to do is put our hope in Him. 

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

... and he will answer. He will work in your life. Sometimes, not in the way we expect, but he deserves our hope. 

"What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all- how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died-more than that, who was raised to life-is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us." Romans 31:35

It is true. I may not always get my way, but 

I WILL NOT LET THINGS OF THIS WORLD STEAL MY HOPE

I WILL NOT LET THINGS OF THIS WORLD STEAL MY JOY

I WILL NOT LET THINGS OF THIS WORLD KEEP ME FROM BEING CLAY IN THE POTTERS HANDS! 

Lord, I am yours! Mold me, make me, teach me, forgive me! I am yours! 

My hope is, and always will be in YOU!" 

What to know before having Kids!

I think it's terribly vital that I am not claiming any form of "expertise". I do feel, however, that every single  day of parenting is a new learning experience. 

Embrace it. 

Some of my daily lessons include the following: 

You cannot teach a child to do something that you yourself are not willing to do. You also cannot teach a child NOT to do something that they witness you doing. *It is physically impossible to submerge a sponge in fluid and expect it not to absorb said fluid. *

Love is stronger than all things, stenches, and fears. 

 Before having children I used to hear horror stories of poop, vomit, etc and think to myself could I HANDLE that. The answer: Yes!  You find an inner strength to handle such things... you'll never be happy about it, but you'll do it!! 

I also am TERRIFIED of spiders. Not only do I not want my children to share said fear, but I  also have to strong enough to smash that spider when the man of the house isn't around. So guess what... I summon the inner strength and I go crrrazy on that mutha!!!!! 

You don't come at my babies you 8 legged freak!!!! 

Parenting is NOT a talent, it's a skill.

 Everything in parenting takes practice and education. The only thing that comes naturally about parenting, is to love your children.

 If you feel like you're stumbling your way through it, it's because you are, and that's OK.

 You cannot fail, unless you quit. 

Don't be afraid to ask for a second opinion and ignore all unsolicited advice. 

Anchor a few select people, in your life, that you trust and respect to advise and help you through parenting; listen to everyone else and keep your "grains of salt" handy, because all unsolicited advice should be taken with such.  Everyone  has a opinion and most people are just trying to help, but if you take it all to heart it will make you want to take a toasted into the bath with you. 

Take life a moment  at a time.

 Parenting can be an exceedingly overwhelming job. The easiest way to combat the stress of this is to plan for the future, but then live in the moment. 

If you are always living in the future, you'll miss the moment. 

Don't fight the change. 

Being a mom changes you. If you have a friend that tells you "You used to be so much fun!"... smile to yourself and realize that they just don't  get it. 

You're mission in life should not be to entertain others. 

Choose what matters!

Pick the most important things and be strong, uncompromising, and thoroughly concreted in them. (i.e. health of mind body and soul) and "pick your battles" with everything else. 

If a person allows themselves to be stretched too thin, they will inevitably break, and loose track of not only the little stuff, but the important things as well.