A Friend Loves at All Times

The tagline on the Facebook post caught my attention first, “Do You Fit the Profile of the Average Christian Woman?”  Ooh!!! That peaked my interest! I immediately clicked onto the blog post, ready to tackle some kind of questionnaire.  (What is it with us ladies and answering questions?  I love to ask them and answer them. Even better if it is multiple choice with an assessment at the end!)

But as I read through the article, it described me (tired mom, lol!) and just about every other woman you could imagine walking through the church doors.  From old to young and every stage and circumstance of life.  It was a great reminder that we ALL are LOVED.  And it reminded me too of what we are all here for. 

Jesus said the greatest commandment was to love God but He also said that to love others was second.  By the time I reached the end of that blog post, my heart ached.  All sorts of emotions were stirred.  Am I loving others?  Am I being a good friend?

Sometimes I hold back. I let that little voice in my head talk me out of saying hello to the new lady I see in church or at the preschool pick-up line.  I’ll think, why would she want to talk to me?  Why did I say that? Am I even interesting enough to hold a discussion with? Is there something in my teeth? These jeans make me feel fat. So and so is so cute and put together, why can’t I look like that when I walk out of the house?  I’ll just stay over here…

But I need to remember to tell that voice to be silent.  I need to listen to the still, small voice of God whispering from my heart, “She needs you to say hello.” Or, “You need to pray with her right now.” Because that is really the only voice that matters.  That is the voice that tells you to open your heart and share life with others, to love them.

Ladies, we cannot do life on our own.  When we reach out to each other, there is a balance in it all.  We need each other.  The single lady wondering if Mr. Right will ever come along needs the advice of the lady who has been there too, encouraging her that God has a great plan for her life.  The brand new momma needs to hear from the mother of three that yes, it will get better, God’s grace is sufficient for you, and you will sleep through the night again (but not for at least the next five years – trust me on this). The widow who goes to work and comes home to an empty house needs to know she is welcome and wanted by friends who smile at her when she comes their way, that she is very precious in the sight of the Lord.

We all can relate to feeling like we are not enough.  We all know what it is like to struggle.  Though the specific struggle may be different, the answer is the same for all of us.  Jesus.  He wants us to love Him and He wants us to love each other.

So, do you fit the profile of the average Christian woman?

“Jesus, replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Matthew 22:37-39 (NIV)

“A friend loves at all times…” Proverbs 17:17 (NIV)

Post by: Marcy 

If you are interested in reading the post that inspired this one, please visit: http://www.kimberleysuchta.com/2015/01/27/do-you-fit-the-profile-of-the-average-christian-woman/

Fully Known

February. What comes to mind when you think about February? I bet the word “love” pops in your head eventually. Oh, that four letter word, L. O. V. E.

I love to talk about the word love! So, let’s pretend we are sitting in a cute little coffee shop, sipping coffee and sharing our hearts with one another. (Side Note: C. O. F. F. E. E. is another way to spell love, you know?)

The world will feed you a lot of conflicting ideas about love. Sometimes the church (as a global body) can... And you know what? I probably will too! I wish I could easily explain what love is, just let it all pour out on this screen.  What love really does... what love really looks like. But I come up against an obstacle.

“For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” 1 Corinthians 13:12 (NIV)

I don’t know about you, but this verse is fully loaded, no? Reading this just gets my heart excited! Then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. Amen? Amen!

I think about this verse and focus in on the word mirror. I can’t imagine that in biblical times the mirrors they used were as crystal-clear as the ones we have today. I suspect it was harder to see your reflection in the glass that they used. Imagine looking at your reflection in a pool of water. You can basically make out what you are looking at but no matter how hard you squint, some parts are still dim, maybe faded or even missing.

It’s like that with many things we try to understand, isn’t it? Right now, we do not fully see. The big picture is dim. Sure we can put the pieces together and imagine what something will be, but we do not fully know. So this leaves me with a conviction. I am convinced that if we could fully know, if we could truly see God’s love for us, we wouldn’t get tripped up on all the things we get tripped up on.

And the truth in all this, the hope? WE are fully KNOWN. Right now. Right where you are. YOU, my sweet sister, are fully known by the God of the Universe! Isn’t that something to rejoice over!?  

FULLY KNOWN.

That truth is astounding! I just can’t wrap my mind around it. But it is something I know I want, like I could reach out and touch it. I think every woman wants that, to be fully known.

If you’re like me it is difficult to accept that gift. We see now as if we are staring at our blurred reflection in a hazy mirror. We know it’s there, we can see the outline but we can’t quite take hold of it. We struggle to see it clearly. So we search for a piece of clear glass, thinking that it will repair our vision. We go looking to the wrong things to help us see clearly and all it does it fog up the glass even more.

But God says you will see face to face, you will know fully. Let us visit that scripture again and look at what follows to conclude the chapter. I like the Message translation of this verse and I think it will help paint a beautiful picture.

“We don’t yet see things clearly. We’re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won’t be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We’ll see it all then, see it all clearly as God sees us, knowing Him directly just as He knows us! But for now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:12-13 (MSG)

Cling to love! No matter how dim things seem, cling to love. And if the sun is bright, cling to love! This verse makes me want to wrap up the little faith and trust I have in a box and protect it as it grows, like the invaluable gift that it is.

We see now like in a mirror, dimly. But then! Then, we will see face to face. Sweet sisters, cling to this truth. That you are fully known right now and that one day (before you know it) you will know God just as he knows you! Isn’t that good news?!

I like to give assignments, lol! This week look up the word ‘known’, read what the definition means and think about what it means to be fully known by the God who created you. Then, throughout the week look for ways that God is showing you that you are fully known by Him! Oh, that’s exciting!!!

Post by: Jimmie Lee