The Blessing of Friendship

Friendship, Uncategorized

 

 

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“There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”  Proverbs 18:24 NIV

 

For the last few weeks I have been part of an inspiring “Poetry as Therapy Online Retreat” sent out by Jenneth Graser of The Secret Place.  If you would like to check it out, there’s still time to subscribe and catch up on all of the previous posts, by clicking here. As my heart has been stirred, and as the Lord has been bringing thoughts and convictions to me about friendship, these are the words that He brought up from the deep places of my soul.

 

An Offering of Friendship

I’ve had my share of broken friendships,

Lord.

I’ve made more than my share of hurts

and wounds.

I’ve been wounded enough times that counting

doesn’t count

And I’ve intervened to FIX where I had no place

in being.

 

How do You restore my soul Lord?

After all the world’s wear-and-tear

How do You renew my mind Lord?

 

I’ve worked so hard trying to mend what’s

been torn

When all the while You are making all

things new

 

Restoring

Renewing

Redeeming

Remaking

 

Have Your way in me.

 

Because YOU are the friend who sticks closer

than all

Yours is the love that can never

be wasted

I bathe in YOUR Love and  I lift it

all back

All of my friends given and safely held

by You.

 

Have Your way in us.

–bg

 

When I came across this older song from the 90’s, I found His heart of love trickling over all the boundaries I might try to make for myself. He sets His love like a shield over all of our hearts:

 

 

My heart overflows with thankfulness for EVERY friendship given. The love of Jesus has been displayed in ways too numerous to count. I take Joy in His gift of loving.

I pray you will find His joyful loving too.

 

 

I am linking this week with:

#LMMLinkup

#Teaandword

#Tellhisstory

 

 

 

Published by Bettie G

Jesus follower, Wife, Mom, and Grandma, journeying through chronic illness one day at a time

Published

32 thoughts on “The Blessing of Friendship”

    1. Dear Lindsay,
      Thank you for your kind words! I am so grateful that you were blessed here today. And, I have been so thankful to start each day reading and praying and listening along with the Poetry as Therapy posts. Blessings to you also!

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  2. Oh, Bettie, thank you for words aimed straight at the heart of this fixer.
    I have been the wounded and the broken in this journey of friendship, but am also no stranger to the roles of wounder and breaker. Thanks be to God for the grace he extends to heal and also to forgive. It’s where our lives rub up against the lives of others that we most need His lubricating grace!

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    1. Dear Michele,
      It’s comforting to know I am not alone on the journey of fixing-ness. 🙂 What a wonderful Lord we have as He does extend us that “lubricating grace” for every need of forgiveness and wounding that we bear. I am forever grateful that He is always present giving His convictions, and pointing us to Himself through it all! Blessings to you!

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    1. Dear Mary,
      Oh, yes, how thankful I am for God’s great renewing and refining! He is our strength in the place of weakness again & again. And thank you for hosting such a great and safe place to share our posts and connect with each other. Blessings to you!

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    1. Dear Linda,
      I am so thankful you were able to leave such beautiful comments. Your presence here, and your friendship are such gifts. What a blessing to be able to continue praying for each other. Blessings to you!

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  6. This is a great perspective, Bettie. I think we’ve all had this experience where we have been hurt in friendships and where we have caused hurt in friendships. I’m really glad you addressed this in your poem.

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    1. Thank you Shannon for your sweet comments. It is such a common experience–shared through our human-ness, I think. Even there, friendship is such a gift! Blessings to you.

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    1. Thank you Lynne for your kind words! I am so grateful that you found blessing here today. We are so blessed to be given the gift of friendships, aren’t we? I pray that you have a beautiful week!

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  8. There is such grace in your words, Bettie. A depth only God could gift. This especially speaks to me:

    “I’ve worked so hard trying to mend what’s

    been torn

    When all the while You are making all

    things new”

    Oh what a gracious and compassionate God we serve. It’s hard to wrap our finite souls around, isn’t it? So thankful to God for your friendship.

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    1. Dear Anna,
      And I am so very thankful for the beautiful gift of your friendship also. He truly is so gracious and compassionate towards us. I can never get to the depths of His riches–He always has more for us! What a glorious Savior, who meets us in the middle of the torn places, and pours His healing right there. Only He can re-make those old places into new places of worship. Blessings, love, and hugs to you Dear Friend.

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    1. Dear Cheryl, I am so thankful for your sweet friendship also! I am so grateful that the Lord connected our paths, at just the right time. He does cover us with His favor as a shield, doesn’t He? He sees what we need, and sends encouragement through precious words from a friend! I appreciate your prayers so much! Blessings and love to you!

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  11. Dear Wendy, Thank you for your sweet encouragement! That means so much to me, knowing how your words and poetry have been such blessings to me. I am so thankful for the mercy that Jesus showers on us. Blessings to you Dear Wendy!

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    1. Dear Jennifer, Oh yes I am so thankful that our best friend is so sweet to help and give us HIS love for every friendship. I am so glad that you were encouraged here. Blessings to you!

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  15. Hi Bettie,
    It was so good to see your words over at my online home this week! It seems as if I’d little time lately to read my dear friends’ blog posts but as I read your beautiful words, I knew how much I miss that! Friendships are truly a mixed blessing aren’t they, when they’re good, they’re amazing and when a friend wounds us, it feels as if our heart is broken. But those are the invitations to run to our heavenly father, who is a friend who is closer than a brother and know that our healing is found in him! Sending love to you! xoxo

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    1. Dear Valerie,
      Yes, I love hearing your beautiful words also, dear friend! And I love how you put that, for the times when there is a brokenness in a friendship: “Those are the invitations to run to our heavenly father, who is a friend who is closer than a brother and know that our healing is found in him!” He truly is right there with us, calling us to His heart, isn’t He? I pray that you are having a blessed summer so far! Love & Hugs to you! xo

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    1. Dear Karrilee,
      Oh, you are so right, that every friendship is a gift, teaching us and bringing more of God’s purposes to us. What precious thoughts, when we look through our Father’s eyes! Thank you for sharing your sweet thoughts. Blessings to you!

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