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Bible teaching ministry of Stephen
& Brooksyne Weber
A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. Home About Us Archives Free email subscription ![]() Follow Daily Encouragement on ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() <Previous Message Next Message> Monday, April 4, 2016
"Unlikely Friendships"
Message Summary: Consider real friends that have enriched your life. In a quote from "It's A Wonderful Life" George Bailey is reminded by Clarence the angel, "Remember, no man is a failure who has friends." ![]() "The righteous choose their friends carefully" (Proverbs 12:26). "And the next day we touched at Sidon. And Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself" (Acts 27:3). "But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you" (1 Thessalonians 3:6). All through life we collect memories, some pleasant, others not so much. We may be able to benefit from the unpleasant as a means of instruction or identifying with others in similar circumstances, but the pleasant memories are a source of strength and blessing. Today I want to share a longtime pleasant memory that is a blessing. It concerns an unlikely friendship. ![]() But Buz and Cloyd were very good friends. Cloyd was the older of the two, and as he aged, Buz helped take care of him. Today, let's consider the blessing of friendships, specifically the blessing of unlikely friendships such as Buz and Cloyd. Have you observed friendships like that? Do you have a friendship that would be deemed unlikely, when measured by the usual standards? ![]() Paul had only lived in Thessalonica a short time but was heartened by the "pleasant memories" the Thessalonian believers had of him. What a great joy it brought to hear of their faith and love for him. He expresses a mutual longing to see them. Do you have people in your life like that? The greatest source of fulfillment in life is ultimately found in our relationships. First we consider our restored spiritual relationship with God in our redemption. The phrase, "It's not religion, it's relationship", says it well. ![]() Consider real friends that have enriched your life. In a quote from "It's A Wonderful Life" George Bailey is reminded by Clarence the angel, "Remember, no man is a failure who has friends." Perhaps you have a few minutes to consider a person that you befriended, or one who befriended you, in the most unlikely of circumstances, then, and even now. As you do so, it will surely warm your heart and bring a smile to your face! Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber ![]() Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources "I'll Be Your Friend" Video Michael. W. Smith "Prayer For A Friend" Video Casting Crowns "Broken Together" Video Casting Crowns "Jesus, Friend of Sinners" Video Casting Crowns To receive the "Daily Encouragement" each Monday-Friday through email see this page to subscribe to our email list. You can also subscribe to the Wordpress rss feed or through a Wordpress email subscription. (See the email subscription on the right side after opening this page.) ![]() ![]() Permissions: Please feel free to pass on, reproduce and distribute any material on Daily Encouragement Net, in part or in whole, in any format, provided that you do not alter the wording in any way or charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. It is our desire to spread this material, not protect or restrict it. I do request that you keep the contact, copyright and subscription information intact. 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 make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity." © Copyright 2016 Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA |