Friday, October 21, 2011

"FAN THE FLAME" FRIDAY - Friend

Welcome to "Fan the Flame" Friday.

This is a weekly post that will be "short and sweet" (kinda like me...)

Just a word and a phrase, a sentence or a question...just a little something to "fan the flame" of your creativity!

Today's word: friend

What are the qualities that make a friend?

How is life enhanced by having a friend?

What does it mean to be a friend of God?


Let me know what you think!!


"This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you…For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline." (2 Timothy 1:6-7)


BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

7 comments:

  1. I think the word friend implies intimacy. You "must" love your neighbor, but you just can't help loving a friend. When a friend hurts or has fears or is in trouble, you don't have to keep it on a prayer list. Your friend's needs are listed in your heart.

    I don't think you have to know a person face to face to feel that way about them, either. I think the really supernatural thing about the internet is that someone can share his or her heart so intimately that you become invisible friends.

    Just sayin'...

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  2. Hi Sharon,

    You are a good friend. A friend stands by you in times of joy and sorrow, doesn't judge, encourages, empathises and comforts. Only Jesus can do all these things and countless more, all the time, but we can try and follow His Example.
    Thank you for your friendship

    God Bless - Nita.

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  3. I like Sandie's comment! I echo it! A friend is someone who loves you in spite of your "imperfections" who encourages you, laughs with you, cries with you, also has the courage to tell you if you are going down the wrong road and making poor decision. Qualities are loving, patient, kind, compassionate. Being a friend of God to me means hope and forgiveness, acceptance and love!

    have a good weekend Sharon!

    betty

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  4. There was a great book years ago by Dee Bresdin - "The Friendships of Women" - I think I still own it in my basement shelving somewhere. So many truths in how women form friendships and the many seasons of friendships. I know that no matter how dear a friend may be, I must never run the risk of elevating that friendship above my friendship with the Lord. There have been times in my life when I leaned more on my friends than on God. I've learned to hold my friends more gently - loosely, even. Giving them room in their lives, too, for keeping the Lord their BFF.

    Thankful for my Blogworld friends, like you - and wow! We get to be friends for eternity!

    Joy!
    Kathy

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  5. A friend... always there for you.

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  6. Blessings F-R-I-E-N-D,

    my dearest Sharon...I waited on this one in hopes that I would complete the other 5 or so and save the BEST for last. I'm working backwards now from the most current back...I think I'm loosing track.

    I thought this "Fan the flame" would be "what is a FRIEND?" and you changed it so my answer was to be:
    S
    H
    A
    R
    O
    N
    ...and that's without meeting you! There are some others online, that I would have to say the same, but in different ways. *(at this point I went back and cheated and read the others)(Someone (Sandi & 2nd by Betty)beat me to it and summed it up with YOU!)So I'm 3rding it!

    And I wanted to come up with an acrostic for both, but my mind's a bit dull with all the meds and being out in the sun doing laundry...

    1)What are the qualities that make a friend?
    YOURS... is the simplest way to answer this. List your qualities, and how you have embraced me and that's the qualities I need in a friend.

    Someone I can talk to...ok write to...
    Honest with what they share
    Available for whatever and whenever
    REAL and reliable and responsible
    Open with discretion,discernment,godly wisdom
    Nuts... like the calendar I sent, humor & fun
    Did you catch that???

    2)How is life enhanced by having a friend?
    I am saved from my loneliness... feeling isolated away from all that is familiar and having someone care, take interest, share interests, share Jesus and His Word (in English)
    I needed someone close to my age so I knew, we had/are/or will experience(d)/(ing)similar phases in life. In general, being able to share
    and sense that person touching you, in a concrete way(even via internet).

    3) What does it mean to be a friend of God?
    Knowing He cares and know the details of my life, and still loves or even likes me, and that I am getting to know Him intimately through His Word, prayer and time well spent! The worse part is not being able to really feel that human embrace or see His face as we talk... yet in some sweet moments, a sense washes over me like He just did hug me... I miss that concrete aspect in the spiritual and emotional parts of me... But He makes me feel complete! He accepts me as I am since He made me (He's stuck)! Not even my own ------ or ------- accept me as I am.

    I love the responses above and if my brain and heart were functioning and connecting better as I type (skipping my right pointer finger)perhaps
    I might have listed everyone of those qualities for YOU!

    Forever
    Remain
    Intimate
    Equals
    Negotiable
    Depth
    Sincere

    Without question ~ I remain your friend,
    Peggy

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"So [I] have been greatly encouraged in the midst of [my] troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith. It gives [me] new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord. How [I] thank God for you!" (1 Thessalonians 3:7-9)

Thanks for your comments - it is such a joy to be sharing my journey with friends like YOU!

(NOTE: Anonymous comments will be removed. Thank you for understanding.)