Blessed Are Those....Good Friends That Are A Rare Commodity

I know what you are thinking..."It's about time that you wrote a blog Natalie!!" Many changes have been happening in my life, and I've been learning to appreciate God's timing as well as His grace. I've also noticed that good friends are hard to come by. Don't get me wrong, I love mentoring my younger siblings in Christ, and I love the friends I have. It's just that sometimes I wish I could find more "real" and "genuine" people that can equally sharpen my iron and I theirs in every respect. At this point in my life, I am praying for those kind of friends whose mutual confidence and spitirual wisdom is reason for empowerment. I am praying for friends who stick with me, who hang with me, even in the most mundane situations. I love letting loose and having fun but I also enjoy my down time. When I am not loud, I am quite inward and deep. Really, anything goes for me (with discretion), as long as I am spending time with my dear friend(s). I'm not a person who entertains her "guests" for the sake of their enjoyment. I like to be me... Just the one and only Natalie without the frills to impress. I just want those around me to know that I have nothing to hide. All of my flaws are openly displayed in acknowledgement of my blatant imperfection. I just want people to know they can be the same way with me.

All of this mixture has brought some difficulty over the years. I have had great experiences with receptive people. I've also had bad experiences with people who thought it was rude of me not to go out of my way to impress them in a show of extravagance. Although, I believe that what I desire in a friendship is not wrong, I have doubted the validity of such desires. Many questions have gone through my mind, mostly pointing the finger back at myself. I wonder, "am I asking too much?", "am I pushing people to perform for my expectation of friendship, even if I don't intend to?", and "am I such an arrogant and prideful human that I have overlooked what is before me?" Sometimes I joke with myself that what I am asking for is actually the specifications of a husband (which I'd very much like!).

Before you get the feeling that I'm complaining about what I lack, I actually want to encourage you to step up to the plate to be a friend of God to others. WWJD is not a reminder limited to simply conviction of right or wrong. Whether you wear the bracelet or not, don't pull a WWJD stunt without showing the whole spectrum of His love to Christians, and non-Christians alike. Fo-shizlle my Christizzlles. A famous scripture that spells this out is spoken by Jesus.

" I command you to love each other in the same way I love you. And here is how to measure it - the greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends." John 15:12-13

Jesus was the ultimate example. He proved His friendship to us in the most extraordinary way, going above and beyond what we thought we were worth.

Another example of friendship is the story of David and Jonathan in 1 Samuel 23. They had an ordinary friendship but what set them apart in their relationship is that they had an extraordinary God right in the centre! Their friendship points out key affirmations of a friendship.

1. "I will be there for you in times of trouble"
- Jonathan had commitment to David in the face of adversity and possible death.
- He presented God as the answer to David's problems and NOT himself.

2. Are your friends stronger or weaker for the time that they spend with you?
- Jonathan and David consistently challenged eachother by making an environment of honor and accountability --> constant sharpening of each other.

3. "I will seek to be a source of emotional stability for you."
- Jonathan traveled a long distance, risking his life, to comfort David a time of trouble.

4. "I will be a self-afacing and loyal to you no matter what the cost."
-Loyalty means that two people help eachother grow up in God through their trials (Prov 18:24).
- A loyal friend will put aside their desires to recognize what God wants for YOU.

These examples can live outside the Bible through all of us. It's not so untangible that we can't step out of our own little world's and towards others. What's to loose besides pride and image? We don't need those anyway! And if you are worried that people will find out that you are not perfect, it's kind of too late! All the more reason to learn what "drawing upon Jesus" means (no art supplies included). For those of you who have stepped out, I am SOOO thankful. I applaud your servanthood. Won't you send some of that my way? LOL.

A friend being a friend in service to God will always be the best kind....Blessed are those good friends that are a rare commodity.


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