Do you really know what makes a friend fall into the "Great Friend" category?
I have a few really great friends, no we don't talk every day, no we don't hang out as often as we want to, in some cases we don't see or talk for a year or more. You know it's a great friend when you do talk and it's like you just saw them yesterday. I have a few of those that fall into that description for me, my Dad (Bill), James, Rory, Todd, Jason, Chris..... I know there are more but you get the idea. A Great Friend doesn't care if they see you or not (they would love to hang out with you), or have a long talk with you (even though it would be a good time), you see a Great Friend is just that, no matter what. A friendship shouldn't be hinged on such things as whether you talk to them this week or not. A true friend is there always whatever life might bring. Some of those in my list are not God living guys, one isn't even God believing, but still a Great Friend. No conditions, no requirements, nothing but being Great Friends.
Are you being a Great Friend to your friends?
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost but now I'm found
Was blind but now I see so clearly
I don't care how bad you were/are what you've done or to whom you've done it too. I was up there with the worst of the worst, and now my life is 180 degrees thanks to the Grace of God. He can do the same for you.
I do, constantly. That is my way of living. It is nice sometime to know what to expect most of the time, but it can also really just flat out suck due to the fact that you over analyze EVERYTHING. Some of the simplest statements can cause a chain reaction of thoughts to try and figure out if it is really possible. The results of this way of life often end the same way....fear to try. I struggle with the fear to try thing every day, only due to the unknown outcome. It is not impossible to overcome, but it is difficult at times. I learned how to recognize this normal way of thinking for me, and also learned how to deal with this from Pastor Mel. She held this class called Leading With Your Strengths, and it changed my life. It introduced the four basic elements of the way people think and act and re-act. It made it allot easier to notice what I was doing and why I was doing it and more importantly that not everybody thinks like I do so don't expect them to. In fact it also helps me when Robin needs to talk or is going through a challenge, cause Robin isn't like me and requires a different approach to dealing with things than me. So don't get frustrated when others don't think like you do, learn to deal with people how they are, and you will see better results. You can find more information on Leading from your strengths at The Rock Church website under activity based reach teams.
