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Wednesday, January 4, 2012
near the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon in Tioga County.
It's the coldest day of the season with temps down to nearly 10 degrees last night!
"What A Friend!"
"I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you" (John 15:15).
The term "friendship" is especially cheapened when the word is used for political purposes. I heard an interview with a politician speaking of how a political rival was such a good friend. The interviewer then played a tape of him calling this very rival a pig! Genuine friends don't call me a pig (Editor's note: not in front of others, at least)! This is a longtime problem illustrated by the expedient pseudo friendship between Herod and Pilate at the trial of Jesus; "And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other" (Luke 23:12).
But today let us consider One whom we reckon as our best friend. Many see Proverbs 18:24 as an allusion to this Friend, "There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."
In the daily Scripture text Jesus is speaking to His disciples. "I have called you friends." It's during his final hours and His final teaching. He does not use the designation "friends" often in the Gospels. It seems He wants to use this endearing term at this time to describe His relationship with the disciples as each of them faced such a dark time ahead.
There are many songs that describe our friendship with Jesus. Some of you will recall songs like "Friendship with Jesus, fellowship divine…", "I've found a friend in Jesus, he's everything to me" or "I've found a Friend, Who is all to me". And still one more, "There's not a friend like the lowly Jesus…"
What a joy today to have a friend in Jesus. This is a friendship we can all mutually share. Wherever you live, whatever conditions you are dealing with, this friendship is steady and enduring. Indeed, what a Friend I've found!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
Prayer: Father,
we thank You that in Jesus we've found an enduring Friend for all
eternity; One who laid down His life that we might be raised to newness
of life. There's no friend on earth that can provide the constant
companionship we experience with Christ through prayer, the Scriptures,
and the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit that resides in our hearts;
in the good times and the bad, during the testings and temptations
common to all. There's not a friend like the lowly Jesus, no not
one, no not even one. Thank You for this wondrous gift we
celebrate of Jesus coming to earth in the flesh to dwell among us and
to show us the more excellent way. Amen.
Mollie's Birthday: Yesterday, Ester excitedly celebrated Mollie's first birthday. In February 2011 she picked her out of a litter of four short haired border collie pups at the Humane League. She was 2 months old when she came to live with us. Definitely a busy, lively dog but a very affectionate one as well and an excellent retriever. We hope that in Year Two she gets through the destructive chewing stage which has been an ongoing challenge.
Mollie
Today's
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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and I make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and to prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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