What words do you like to hear from your friends? What words do your friends like to hear from you? Just in case you need some starters, here are some suggestions:
You teach me so much
I want to be like you when I grow up!
You are such a great friend
I’m glad we are friends
I believe in you
Let’s do lunch
Can I make your family dinner?
Can I help you get ready for….a party, or other big event?
You are a great…..wife, mother, friend, prayer partner, workout buddy
I’m better because I know you
I appreciate your prayers
Can I pray for you?
God is working in your life
You inspire me
I’m blessed by our friendship
God is working all things together for your good.
I love saying those words to my friends, and thankfully those are words I have heard from my amazing friends. With too many friends to mention, I am so thankful that words from friends have encouraged me in all circumstances in my life….joys and sorrows, laughter and tears, health and sickness, and the good and the bad. I hope you recognize the value of friendships, and that you let your friends hear encouraging words from you regularly.
Are you interested in finding a good friend? How to Win Friends and Influence People is a really good book by Dale Carnegie that was written years ago, which has great, timeless advice. If you need a friend, one piece of key advice he addresses is to be a good listener. When we show that we are interested in what someone else is interested in, very often you will find a friend. I have a friend who heard me speak one time about the kind words my dad used to say to me when he was alive. He was the king of kind words. Whenever I spoke with him on the phone, he would regularly mention 2 things that I have never forgotten. He always mentioned that I was a good mom, doing a good job with our kids, and he would say words that are kind about my appearance. I didn’t realize until he went to heaven almost 10 years ago, how much I hung on his words whenever we spoke. Well, my sweet friend Pharyl heard me say that about my dad, and now very often when she sees me, she tells me I am a good mom and that I look beautiful. Talk about a cup filler. What that made me realize is how much every mom needs to hear that they are doing a good job, and every lady wants to hear that they are beautiful. So I’m giving you an assignment. Find a way to encourage moms in your world with life giving words of blessing, and make sure you let all of the amazing women in your life now how beautiful and valuable they are! Your words can make a difference in their life.
One of the ways friends can encourage us with words is through prayer. My prayer partner and walking/workout buddy loves to walk in the rain with me, and is a person who I say is love personified. We see each other 2-3 times a week to work out and pray together. She comes to our church so I see her there too. We definitely have prayed for each other, and I would be more than confident to have her in my corner any day. She knows how to get heaven’s attention, and to storm the enemy’s gates. She is one tenacious lady who gets thing accomplished in the realm of prayer. I think everyone needs to have a prayer partner who you know you can count on. Mine just happens to be a workout buddy also. Gal 6:2 says for us to carry each other’s burdens, and that’s the scripture I think about when I think of Pharyl. She is like the scuba diver who is prepared with oxygen, flippers and a mask, who comes in as a rescue swimmer and gives oxygen so the swimmer without all the gear won’t drown. I think it is called buddy breathing when a scuba diver does that, and it can save someone’s life. I know having a good friend and hearing the encouraging words of a friend, not only breathe life into our soul, but put the wind back in our sail. So today, I want to encourage you…..do you know someone who can use some oxygen or some wind? Be a buddy breather, and let your words encourage your friend.
Laughter is like medicine. You’ve heard that Bible verse in Prov 17:22 that says a merry heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones. What is amazing is that this has been proven scientifically. Laughter helps to heal a body. I hope you have someone in your life who makes you laugh. Often it is our kids, and I can’t remember when I laughed so hard all afternoon when I took my son Carson and his friend Dawson on rides at the Fair. We laughed until our sides hurt! Sometimes the one who makes you laugh is a good friend – my laughing buddy and good friend is Carola. We relate to each other so well, we are both in the ministry, and sometimes it seems like we are twin daughters of different mothers. We think a lot alike and we often say the same thing at the same time….maybe because she was raised by parents from Europe too. She makes my day each time she happens to come in town and we get to go to lunch. We always have the greatest time, just relaxing and laughing until our sides hurt! I think about her words in my life, and what an encouragement she is. Not only through laughter, but by phone calls, and emails, and little gifts, she says to me I value you, and I value our friendship. Those words and deeds are what make great friendships. I thank God for my good friend Carola. Why not share some laughter today? Or call your friend, send a text or an email and encourage your friend. It might just make their day!
What kind of friend are you? Do your words point out your friends flaws? Or, do you overlook flaws and say something nice? Or do you determine to help fix flaws gently? We like the ones who just don’t see our shortcomings, but the ones who help us grow and who gently instruct us are the ones we should really appreciate. It happens pretty regularly that I have a typo or two in my email…and sometimes people point them out. I usually spot them in other’s work, but hate it when mine are pointed out. Then there are those who either notice them and don’t say anything, or notice and comment. And then the third kind, who notice and ask if they can help make it better. Linda, is a person just like that. She has started coming along side me to make my articles better, and be an encourager in my ear. The words, I would love to help you, were the best words I could hear from my sweet friend. What words can you say to your friends? The words how can I help, or even I would love to help you, may be the best words they could hear as well. I would love to thank all those who have helped with my dailyeword through the years. Chris, Michelle, Jo, Kristi, Tawnya, Katie, Leah, Ben and Kelley, thank you for your help. I’m thankful for the time you spend to make dailyeword as good as it can be.
Is there anything better in life than knowing the love of a good friend? Someone once said, “A friend is someone who understands your past, believes in your future, and accepts you just the way you are.” Hi, this is Dorette Schaal with your dailyeword. Another thing a good friend does for you is encourage you with their words. Their words in your life can feel like oxygen to your soul. This week I get to spend time with my good friend who lives in Switzerland. I’m so excited and so thankful for the love of a good friend. Here is your dailyeword.
May 18
There are many circles of friendship. We look at Jesus and see that he had 3 very close friends in his closest circle, the next circle had the 12 disciples, and the next circles were larger than that. Whoever you have in your circles, make sure the ones closest to you are the ones who help you grow. You need to have people around you who speak life into you! To be a good friend, we have to do the same in our relationships. We want to be around people who fortify and defend us, not flatten and defeat us!
What are some ways you can fortify a friendship? Our words can make a world of difference. 1) Take time to really listen. 2) Think about what you would like to hear if you were in their shoes…..is it time for a 3 point sermon, or do they need some empathy? 3) Fill your words with God’s Word. Find scriptures that pertain to their situation and let it wash over them to heal and cleanse. All of us can use come refortification, and a friend can be a burden lifter.
What are some ways you can defend a friendship with your words? 1) Stick up for them! Be a loyal friend, keep your word, and use your words to guard and support them. 2) Speak honestly – don’t let them go down the path of sin, call a spade a spade! Be sure you are honest both ways, and give them credit when it is due. 3) Most of all, be a person of prayer, and pray a hedge of protection around them. Our words in prayer are powerful! Things change when we pray…..circumstances can turn around! Why not distribute some of the wonderful treasure of encouraging words to the friends in your life. It may be just what they need to find victory in what they are walking through.
This is your moment. Right now God wants you! Are you sure he wants me – you may ask. YES! It is you He wants. Your age, social status, body shape, personality, all the things that make you uniquely you – that is what God wants! He doesn’t do copies, and he made you an original. What is different about this moment from any other? It is the moment that you have right now, and now can be the best moment of your life! Why not choose to make it amazing? Think about these things – they should bring up a specific scripture reference.
Live for God now! (Eph 5:15,16)
Don’t get stuck in yesterday. (Phil 3:13)
Don’t be waiting for your big break in the future (Phil 4:6)
Choose to be joyful and happy now! Live fully alive today (Phil 4:4)
Now is your time:
To seek God’s face (Matt 6:33)
To become more intimate with God (Phil 3:10)
And then – help someone else with what you learn!
As our church celebrates its 27th anniversary today, that is what we have endeavored to accomplish in all the years since AGF was established. Help people and train people to help others. That comes right out of one of my favorite scriptures in II Cor 1:3,4 where it says that what God has done for you, in you and through you, you can use to help someone else. How awesome is that! God’s comfort in your life, is a seed sown in you to comfort someone else! He has begun something great in you. He wants to see it come to completion as it says in Phil 1:6. So live today – full on for God and expect great things! Greater things are yet to come!
We have been talking this week about the wonderful women and the marvelous men in our lives. We’re ending this week talking about the male gender! Men, be encouraged to get tuned up to RUN BETTER. A tuned up man is a better man! When you are restored, rebuilt and refreshed, you life will run better! We want to run our race effectively! To run better, we need to be filled, stay filled, and keep our life shiny clean. Strive for the prize.
How do we do that? Here are some ideas:
Identity – Knowing who we are in Christ
Relationships – having a happy home, wife, kids, and other meaningful relationships
Money Issues- Finding strengths and strengthening weak area, using wisdom, and recognizing God’s priorities for His money in our lives
Time and priorities – Making time for important things – deciding what’s important – Here’s a clue, money isn’t at the top of that list!
Temperament – controlling our emotions, and not letting them control us
Integrity – Doing life right when no one is looking…..
when you’re on the computer,
when you’re alone in another city,
when you think no one sees you,
Integrity is when you are driven by an internal compass (the Holy Spirit) to do I do the right thing all the time.
Men, if you want to strive for the prize, let’s stay full of the Holy Spirit, and be equipped to fulfill our purpose on this earth. That’s great encouragement for men today!
We want the men in our lives to sense our respect and love for them, but also let them know we are thankful for what they do. Everyone of us can use encouragement. How long has it been since you thanked your dad, your husband, or your brothers or sons for being a godly example in your world? These are words they need to hear.
If men don’t take care of ourselves, they won’t operate at optimum capacity. (It applies to women too!) The best way not to get run down and need an overhaul is to do regular maintenance. That means doing the basics everyday! That means when we feel like it and when we don’t. It means we do what is right when no one is looking. It means that we are full of integrity, character and courage. We keep our eye on the prize….not only an eternity in heaven, but taking as many people with us as humanly possible. Here are some practical every day things you can do:
Money – Spend less than you earn! Invest in your future
Family Life – Love them with your whole heart! With words and actions
Integrity – Practice kindness – Walk in love, let love cover when it is needed, be patient, demonstrating the character of Christ. It pays off in the long run! The dividends are remarkable.
What can women do to encourage men to be their best?
Be thankful
Recognize our differences, but valuing a man’s perspective
Showing respect to them
And most importantly, use our words to tell them all of these things. Words have the power of life and death, so spread some life with your words! Encourage the men in your world with your words and actions. Let them know how marvelous they are!
I put ladies first this week, but don’t want to forget to address what great value God places on godly men. In our world’s system, men are seldom given the respect and honor they deserve. What the world focuses on is the negatives found in men without God… pride, insecurity, being moody, making everything perfect, working too much, insensitivity to others and being negative. Those attitudes of “my way or the high way”, or “if I want your opinion I’ll tell you what it is”, that are so often found in the world’s system sadden the heart of God. These negatives don’t have to be a part of a Christian man’s life! God’s men aren’t domineering, pushy, or have unreasonable beliefs and actions. God’s men are just the opposite, they are strong but not overbearing, they have opinions and beliefs without demanding, and they love life and bring joy to the people in their world.
Who we really are is what God says you are! Both men and women are a treasure in an earthen vessel. Something supernatural within a common shell. Gold within a jar of clay. You are MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD! You are someone in whom Christ is being formed! That means you look a lot like Jesus. Those are pretty big (huge) shoes to fill, but because of the Spirit of God living on the inside of us, we can look like Jesus. Isn’t that our aim, as children of God? Let’s act like Jesus, walk and talk like Him, and look like Him. Eph 5:1 tells us to be imitators of God. As a kid, we imitated our dads, the way he walked, the way he talked, the way he acted. We should do the same with God….let’s be just like Him.