The Battles We Face

Today I would like to talk to you about the battles we face, lies we believe and how they affect our walk with Christ. Let’s pretend we are a couple of old friends sitting across the table from each other sipping our coffee because that’s what I wish we could do for a conversation like this. This is a topic that could get pretty deep but I can only cover a part of the layers here on the blog. So let’s dive in shall we? 

Over the last few years, for me, it has felt like I just can’t catch a break. It feels like it’s always winter (spiritually and emotionally) even when it’s (physical) summer. It seems like every time I think I’m turning a new corner, like I will feel the sun again, I’m still face to face with winter. It is a little strange actually. I have felt it in my bones, in my soul that a season of rest is just on the horizon, the cloud will be lifted! I have felt it so strongly I even put it out there on social media. And then it doesn’t come. The winter settles in and I’m fighting against the grain again. And it starts to feel like it will NEVER come! When it gets to that point where I feel like I’ll never see the sun again (figuratively), I get weary and feel like throwing in the towel. 

Through all the battles I’ve had to face, I admit I have swallowed some lies. Somewhere along the way I bought this lie that if I just did all the right things that life would be peachy keen. I bought that lie that Christians aren’t supposed to struggle. And I bought the lie that if I was facing trial after trial that I was somehow being punished, but I couldn’t figure out what I was doing wrong. This is how those lies work, I knew they weren’t true, it wasn’t something I said out loud but I sure was operating out of those lies. So I began feeling defeated ALL THE TIME. 

So the other day I had this realization. It was the kind of realization where you knew it all along but all of the sudden it becomes real to you in a new way and your perspective shifts. I realized I wasn’t facing reality! And the reality is that...

1. In this life we will have trouble. (“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 NIV)
2. We have a real enemy and he’s not just out for blood, he wants our soul (“The enemy pursues me, he crushes me to the ground; he makes me dwell in the darkness like those long dead.” Psalm 143:3 NIV)

So here’s the thing, the enemy (that’s Satan by the way) wants nothing more than for me to keep quiet and pretend like I have got it all together. He wants nothing more than for me to keep my depression buried never talking about it with those closest to me. He wants nothing more than for me to keep trying to manipulate things to seem like “I got this.” Satan skips along happily if I keep all that bottled up inside because then I’m not being effective. If he can keep me distracted by trying to tie up those battles in a neat little package so everything looks fine, then he’s winning and I’m not stepping into what God has for me. 

There are many things I don’t understand about the spiritual realm but if there’s one thing the last few years have taught me it is that the physical realm keeps us distracted from the spiritual. Paul talks about it... a lot! Sometimes the daily battles we face can keep us stifled, paralyzed almost. God’s word tells us that He will fight for us (“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:14 NIV) but that doesn’t mean we are passive participants in the battle. If you read the rest of that story, Moses still had to use his staff and stretch out his hand and the Israelites still had to walk across the bottom of the sea. I don’t think crossing the sea between the parted waters was easy. Am I right? 

It’s not easy, facing our struggles and getting real with people. It’s not easy to face the battle every day, year after year. I thought my Christian life was supposed to be all peachy keen and if it wasn’t then I must be doing something wrong. It turns out, that’s just life. A season of rest may not be around the corner but I’m done letting Satan win because I’m waiting for rest. I don’t want to repeat the Israelites mistakes, moaning and groaning because they had to wait. 

Jesus gave us a battle plan. He gave us the armor of God, activated by prayer and I’m ready to suit up! 

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” Ephesians 6:11-18 NIV

There is a song called Diamonds by the duo JOHNNYSWIM and to me it’s kind of an anthem for victory. Some of the lyrics are: 

“You’ve taken down so many others 

Oh but you’ll know my name when you see

And in these ashes I’m stronger still ...” 

I get all fired up and start pumping my fists because this is how I feel about my victory over Satan! He might keep trying to wear me down so he can take me out but in the ashes I am stronger! Each time I rise again I am stronger and stronger!

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NIV

My God is bigger than any battle I face. It is time for me to stop pretending like everything is fine all the time because sometimes it’s mostly not fine, and that’s okay. 

You don’t have to fight your battles alone either. Let’s boast in our weakness all for God’s Glory! We love you ladies and we are here for you! How can we be praying for you today?

Post by: Jimmie Lee DiIanni

I Should Be...

I should be freaking out right now.  In fact, I should have been freaking out for a month now, at least. 

Deadlines.
Business/work pressures.
Kids.
Responsibilities.
Unexpected bad news.
Holidays.

The month of November has been full of ups and downs. And there’s every indication that December will be more of the same. But this season has been different for me. It would not be unusual for me to have mini meltdowns silently in my head for weeks, fretting over the things on the list above, only to have it all spill out in a major meltdown with tears and snot bubbles.

But this season, I’m finding myself much less stressed.  Things I used to worry about no longer cause my stomach to clench in knots.  In fact, I’m going to be bold and say that this season has been a season of peace. Now don’t get me wrong, I have shed some tears and had a couple moments of silent panic this month but it has not overtaken me.  

So what is different for me this month than in the past? My thoughts.

Philippians 4:6 instructs us not to be anxious about anything.  We are told to bring our prayers and requests to God with a thankful heart.  And then when we do that, the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds.  

But, you might say, “I’ve done that and I am still fearful, worried, stressed, etc....”

Well, let’s keep reading in Philippians, because this is key to moving forward...

“Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” Philippians 4:8 (NIV)

After you have prayed, after you have cried out to God – where do your thoughts go? Are they heading back into the mire of worry and stress?  Are they diving deep into the dark unknowns? Are you trying to be two steps ahead of whatever is chasing you down?

As I have navigated this month, I’ve tried to be very careful and purposeful in where my thoughts go.  And I’m not talking about “the power of positive thinking” here.  I’m talking about focusing my thoughts on Christ. After I have prayed and allowed God’s peace to wash over me, I’ve been careful to not let my thoughts wander but to keep them focused on God. My desire is to hold on to the peace He has graciously given me.

“You keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you.” Isaiah 26:3 (NLT)

Where are your thoughts heading today? What’s trying to dominate your mind? May I offer up a bit of direction? Here’s where I have been trying to steer my thoughts to lately... 

Whatever is true – remembering all I know about God from what He has revealed in His Word.
Whatever is noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable – focusing in on Jesus and all He has done for me.
Whatever is excellent or praiseworthy – keeping my eyes open for all God is doing right now in front of me and thanking Him for it!

I hope that helps you, sweet friend, as much as it has been helping me!  May we move forward with our thoughts fixed on Christ and resting in the abundant peace that only He can give!

Post by: Marcy Gates

Overcoming Our Fears

I am not a fan of air travel.  Or waiting in long lines.  Or large crowds of people.  So, of course it would make sense that for our first real family vacation we would travel to... 

DISNEY WORLD. 

At this stage of their lives, two of my three daughters are past the Disney Princess thing.  They are more into Star Wars.  Actually, my husband and I are into Star Wars too.  My youngest, though, she still will dress up in a Belle dress or play with her Minnie Mouse puzzles here and there.  So while none of us are die-hard fans of a certain mouse, Disney World still sounded like a great idea.   With all the new Star Wars attractions and a few princesses thrown in for good measure, we decided we needed to start planning our trip!

The next decision was whether to drive or fly to Florida.  Y’all, I’m not going to sugar coat this at all.  I don’t like to fly.  The thought of being stuck in a big tin can 30,000 feet in the sky, where everything is out of my control, is terrifying to me.  In fact, the last time I flew anywhere was over ten years ago.  And I started to freak out and full on ugly-cry as we took off.  I know, I am a peach to travel with.  Just ask my husband. But I digress...

We estimated that we would lose a day and half of vacation time just driving from Pennsylvania to Florida.  And that was one way.  It almost seemed like we would be driving for the same amount of time we’d actually be at Disney.  So, we opted to fly.

Gulp.

As the morning of our flight to Florida drew near, I felt butterflies of anxiety flare up in my stomach.  I did my best to hide it though.  The last thing I wanted to do was let my kiddos know I was scared to fly.  I didn’t want to transfer that fear on to them nor did I want three terrified kids and one jittery wife for my husband to care for on a two hour flight. 

I prayed an awful lot before our vacation.  I prayed for our safety, good health, and for peace.  I didn’t want my family’s adventure to be clouded over with my fear and worry.  I wanted to have fun and enjoy this precious time when we could all be together.  I kept telling the Lord, “If You can just get me past this whole flying thing...”

And that’s when He whispered to my heart, “I am faithful.”  Then I remembered what I know about God.  He IS faithful.  He can be trusted.  He is for me.  He will protect me.  He loves me! As the day of our departure drew near, God kept leading me to Scriptures during my quiet time that reinforced what He spoke to my heart...

“The LORD will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” Psalm 121:7-8 (NIV)

“But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.” 2 Thessalonians 3:3 (NIV)

When we boarded our plane for Orlando, I kept repeating God’s Word over and over in my head: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)

I purposefully did not seat myself next to the window, but in between my youngest and a stranger sitting in the aisle seat.  My husband sat across from us with our other daughters.  What I thought I had planned as a strategic parenting move was really God’s Hand at work.  My little one kept me occupied almost the entire flight!  She talked my ear off during take-off so I couldn’t focus on the plane leaving the runway.  She had me play games like “I Spy” and “Rock, Paper, Scissors”. We colored and did word searches.  She kept the shade down on the window because she felt it was too bright so I couldn’t really ever see how high up we truly were.  And when this little one had run out of things to occupy her mother with, that’s precisely when my neighbor to left of me decided it was a great time to chat about Pittsburgh, his trip to Yellow Stone, and his life in Orlando.  And then just like that... We landed.  Two hours blew by and I was fine.

Our vacation? It was wonderful!  We had a great time and left with so many memories!  Our flight back home to Pittsburgh?  Well, I had my special seat mate again and boy, she kept me busy.  Lots of coloring and games to play.  While I was still repeating 2 Timothy over silently in my head, it was less out of trying to squelch fear from trying to take hold and more because I was resting in God’s faithfulness displayed.  A declaration that I did NOT have a spirit of fear but a SOUND MIND.

I love this quote from “Jesus Always” by Sarah Young about when we are afraid, “Cling tightly to My hand and walk resolutely past those dark presences of fearfulness and despair.  Keep looking toward My radiant Presence that beams out rays of unfailing Love and endless encouragement.”

Is there something you really want to do but fear is holding you back?   Have you let anxiety take hold and keep you from trusting God?  I want to encourage you today to take it to the Lord. Lay it all out before Him and ask for His help.  God wants you to have a sound mind.  Fear is not from Him and He doesn’t want it to rule your life.  Worry can keep us from experiencing all that God has in store for us!

Let’s focus on trusting God with our fears.  Keep our eyes fixed on the One who has amazing plans for us.  When fear tries to knock us down, lean into His presence and rest in His unfailing love.  God will melt those fears away in His magnificent light.  And when you find yourself with a sound mind, you will realize just how faithful He is!

Post by: Marcy Gates

Keep It Simple

For my time with you this month I wanted to share a little shift I have experienced in my walk with Jesus. My hope always is that it will be an encouragement to you...

As Christ followers today we pretty much understand that having a daily "quiet time" with the Lord is an important part of our relationship with Him. But if I'm honest, I have struggled with this discipline for as long as I can remember. And if I'm super honest, well girl, I struggle with discipline period.

I will choose a certain thing I want to accomplish, like, let's say - lose 10 lbs. I get all psyched up. I make a plan. I'm ready! I eat healthy and exercise regularly for like a week then... I want a cheeseburger and cookies with milk at midnight again!  My intentions start out good but the motivation fades pretty quick because I want the results right away. 

I would approach my quiet time in similar fashion. I get all psyched up. I make a plan and I'm ready to go! But my plan always included some lofty goal so I would quickly get discouraged and give up because I wasn't getting results. 

I used to feel like my quiet time had to result in some revelation or lesson that I could share. It had to include this “big” moment or learning experience. And when it didn't that had to mean I wasn't doing it right... Right? 

Wrong.

There is one small thing that helped me shift my perspective, listening to the Word. 

I have had the Bible app on my phone for a few years now but more recently I began listening to it. There is a feature in the app that reads God's Word to you. You can audibly hear each word and either read along with it, drive in your car, sit with your eyes closed and imagine yourself in the scene, whatever! This feature has been dare I say... "life changing"?!  I started listening to the Bible regularly and two things happened:

1. I realized one day that listening to the Bible being read aloud felt similar to having a conversation with my husband or my best friend. It hit me, my quiet time with the Lord doesn't have to be a lofty revelation of some amazing lesson every single time to “count”. Those times might happen, but day in and day out it's just a sweet conversation with the Lord. Like when my husband shares about his day or my friend updates me on her life, audibly hearing God's Word feels like He's sharing part of His day with me. It doesn't feel as daunting or out of reach anymore. 

2. I understand it in a new way. Listening to the chapters with the narrator's inflections and emphasis helps me to place myself in the story. New things stand out at me. I can highlight a verse or passage and go back to it later to study more if I want to. My favorite version to listen to is The Message. (It's not necessarily the translation, I just like that narrator best. 😊) 

“Instead you thrill to God’s Word, you chew on Scripture day and night. 

You’re a tree replanted in Eden, bearing fresh fruit every month,

Never dropping a leaf,

always in blossom”

Psalm 1:2-3 (MSG)

This has been a game changer for me. Having a quiet time doesn't feel as burdensome as it used to for me. I'll admit, I put that burden on myself, the Lord did not. He just wants to spend time loving me. I, on the other hand, make it into this bigger, weightier thing.

Goodness, it's not about me anymore but about learning who He is! Each time I turn on that feature, I imagine Jesus standing next to me in the kitchen the way my husband hangs out next to me while I'm making dinner. Often times that's how we connect these days and it helps to see my time with Jesus in the same light. It's really pretty cool, I think!  

Our relationship with God is a marathon not a sprint. It's not a microwave fix all, nope. Our relationship is a lifetime into eternity, it's built to last and last. 

“Come close to God, and God will come close to you.” James 4:8a (NLT)

This just happens to be the season I'm in with the Lord. You may be in a different place. That's the beauty about being in a community. I want to hear what works for you! Let's encourage and build each other up! Is quiet time is struggle for you too? Do you have any tips for spending quiet time with Jesus? Have you experienced any shifts in your relationship with Jesus?  Please share in the comments below...

Post by: Jimmie Lee DiIanni

From One Momma To Another...

I had the awesome opportunity to attend the Encourage / North Country Open House for new parents a couple weeks ago.  As I sat among the mommas-to-be with adorable baby bumps and others snuggling new babies, I remembered those early days of parenthood.  I did the math and it has been ten years since I was pregnant with my first baby. That’s a DECADE ago!  When they say that the “days are long but the years are short”, when you have a baby, it is so true...

But Marcy from ten years ago probably would not have believed it.  She was too busy reading every baby book she could.  She was tracking her pregnancy through “What to Expect When You’re Expecting”. And when that wasn’t enough, there were always plenty of blogs and articles to read up on. (Thanks Google.)

You know, you can read every blog, book, and magazine about parenting there is but nothing really prepares you for when they wheel you out the door of the hospital and you load that precious newborn into the car to head home.  It’s a bit daunting realizing the nurses aren’t there to help you at 3 a.m.  Most likely, something will come up with that little bundle of joy that you just can’t find an answer to in that stack of baby books. (I.e. why won’t he/she stop crying?!?!?)

And so that leads me to this piece of advice...  You are not in this alone.  The days are long.  And hard.  And very often, filled with more tears on your part than your baby’s!  (Sleep deprivation and changing hormones are a powerful force my friends.)  Remember that you and your husband are a team.  It will be you and him asleep in bed together, both pretending it is not your turn to get up with the baby for what seems like the twentieth time in the middle of the night, lol! It will be the both of you that your baby will save special coos and smiles for.  And it will be the both of you that will be picking up binkies and getting spit up on. 

You are a team.  That means both of you play an integral part and you both work together for the good of the team.  For me and my husband, that meant we both got up at night when the baby cried but switched off who fed her and who changed her.  For us, this was the best way to quiet our baby, feed her, and get her back to sleep. We were like a NASCAR pit crew with diaper changes and bottle preparation! And, bonus, whoever was on diaper duty, got to go right back to bed! (Let’s be honest, who is able to sleep through a screaming baby, knowing your partner is struggling to change a diaper and get the baby fed?!)

And you know what every team needs? A coach! Your team will need guidance, wisdom, instruction, and encouragement!  I just happen to know someone who is the PERFECT Coach and Father.  He knows you, your partner, and your baby – even better than YOU do!  Or course I am talking about God! You are not in this parenting gig alone.  God is with you every step of the way!  He is cheering you on and instructing you in the way you should go!

“The LORD says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.  I will advise you and watch over you.” Psalm 32:8 (NLT)

“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ear will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21 (NIV)

I distinctly remember being terribly sleep deprived with my third baby.  Just the exhaustion of recovering from being pregnant and having a baby is tough, but I also had two other little ones to take care of as well. On top of that, neither one of them were very fond of naps or sleeping through the night.  I recall sneaking into the bedroom to nap while my newborn was napping and my husband was entertaining my two older girls.  They were loud in that oh so special toddler way and I was just so, so tired.  Think of the time that you were the most exhausted you have ever been in your life.  Now multiply that by ten and that, my friends, is how tired I was!  I prayed, no, literally begged Jesus for sleep.  God met me in that moment and my eyes closed.  I think that may have been the sweetest, most restful nap of my life.

Don’t be afraid to ask God for what you need in the moment.  Don’t think a request for a nap is selfish or silly.  God wants to meet your needs.  He wants to help you be the best mom or dad you can be.  If that means praying your baby sleeps an extra ten minutes so you can shower or asking God to show you the best way to calm your baby down – go for it!  After all, no one knows your little one better that the One who created that tiny miracle.

“How gracious God will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you.” Isaiah 30:19 (NIV)

So you and your husband are a team. God is your Coach. Well, who is cheering you on??  All of us!  Your family, your friends, your church family.  We are all here for you!  We are your wildest fans!  We are lifting you up in prayer.  We are encouraging you at every twist and turn. And we are bringing you food.  (Because new parents are tired.  Y’all need a good casserole, you know, to keep your strength up, lol!)

Seriously, your “fans” are going to be there for you too!  Grandparents will want to rock their grandbabies.  (Side note new parents: that is when you NAP.  Have I clearly stated how important naps are yet?! Ha!) Family and friends will be on your doorstep with gift bags and smiles!  (And even better, with take-out!) Your church family will be so excited to see you bring your little one through the doors of West Ridge for the very first time! 

Another side note: it is no secret, those Bunny Room Volunteers in North Country LOVE babies!  I think the awesomeness of the Bunny Room is one of the reasons North Country is so special.  There are plenty of people to snuggle your baby and to read them Bible stories all while Christian music plays in the background.  Plus, when you drop off your little peanut in the Bunny Room, then you are able to really focus on worship and the message in the Sanctuary. Which allows God to pour into you, thus making you able to pour out what God has given to you.  Essentially, it’s a win-win for everyone!

So to all you couples expecting babies and those of you who are new parents, remember, you are not in this by yourselves!  You have God, you have each other, and you have all of us!  The days will be long, the years will be short.  In ten years you will look back on these days and remember what a blessing they truly were. You will smile and remember... You were never alone.

 Post by: Marcy Gates

Cranky Pants

I was already in a hurry when I opened up my jewelry box to pick a necklace to wear before I headed out the door to run errands. I reached for one, but after second thought, I selected another. And, apparently I put my cranky pants on that morning too.  I was in a grumpy mood for sure.  A few nights of the one of my kids interrupting my sleep with bad dreams, combined with fluctuating hormones (you know what I’m talking about ladies, lol!), on top of wrapping up a week of my girls home all week from school on spring break, and I was not a happy camper.  My hopes of spending Good Friday at home, reflective on the weight what the day represented, were dashed.  Now I had to run to the store and grab a gift for a birthday party the next day.

I hurriedly said goodbye to my family and hopped into the car.  You all know, I have a habit of praying in the car.  That day was no different.  I knew as I drove that I needed to shake that bad attitude.  So as my car zipped down the road, I prayed.  I thanked the Lord for the day, for the great sacrifice made on my behalf – Jesus dying on the cross. And I asked Him to correct my attitude:  “Lord, please show me who I can bless today.  Show me who I can pray for.  Show me who I can love on and encourage. Take this crankiness away from me and replace it with joy...”

I finished up my prayers, pulled into the store parking lot, and got out of the car.  That’s when I noticed her.  She was sitting on a bench all by herself.  As I walked closer to her, I heard the whisper of the Holy Spirit, “Take your necklace off and give it to her.”

Isn’t funny how God works? I literally just finished praying to bless someone and immediately this opportunity presented itself! That didn’t mean my heart didn’t start pounding as I nervously slipped off the necklace. I held it in my (possibly sweaty, ha!) hand as I got closer to the lady on the bench.

But as I approached the woman, I heard her, speaking loudly, confidently.  She was speaking with authority.  I thought for a second that she was talking to someone on the phone.  After a closer look, I realized... She wasn’t on the phone.  She was PRAYING! Trust me when I say this lady was approaching the throne with boldness!  She was on that bench, eyes closed, pouring out her heart to her Father.

With my heart still pounding, I gently placed my hand on her shoulder, closed my eyes, and agreed with her in prayer.  When she finished and we said, “Amen.” I handed her the necklace and told her that I wanted to bless her with it.  That I wanted her to have it.  She gave me a look of gratefulness and asked me to sit next to her on the bench.

She asked me if she was praying right, if she was praying enough.  I assured her that yes, it seemed to me that she was praying just fine.  I reminded her that we should always be praying. But whenever she was able to pray, that the Lord was always happy to hear from her. Then this sweet young lady asked if she could pray for ME!

I thought for a second, “What do I need prayer for? Crankiness? That’s kind of silly to ask someone else - a stranger even - to pray about my bad mood.” But then I felt another nudge from the Lord and the words just spilled out of my mouth.

“You could pray about my mood.  I’ve been kinda cranky today and I’d rather not be.” I replied.

My new prayer partner got to work!  We held hands on that bench and closed our eyes as she began to pray for me.  Cars drove by.  I’m sure people walked by too, wondering what in the world was going on.  But it didn’t matter.  As my newfound friend thanked the Lord for setting up this “Divine Appointment”, I was so grateful I had asked the Lord for what I needed – an attitude adjustment! And I was so glad I listened to that still, small voice and been obedient to the Lord. 

“For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:20 (NKJV)

I left that “Divine Appointment” and my whole day was different!  The crankiness had disappeared and a wave of joy came over me.  I returned home to my family renewed and refreshed, excited to share with everyone what had happened.  God had totally turned around my attitude and it was amazing!

“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” Galatians 6:10 (NIV)

Post by: Marcy Gates

Holding the Hand of a Friend

Several times, I have heard Pastor John or Pastor Erik talk about the kids worship in North Country at West Ridge. Since my husband is the drummer for the worship team, I have somewhat of an inside scoop and he often tells me I should pop in and experience how the kids worship. I finally took him up on his offer and sat in during kids worship one week. I sat in the back, because that’s how I do, and observed the kiddos singing praises to God. During a slower song I caught this beautiful picture that made me tear up.

I look up and see two little girls standing next to each other holding hands and swaying together. I know these sweet girls on somewhat of a personal level and as I watched them my heart was so filled with joy and I thought to myself, “This is what I want my friendships to look like!” And then I snagged a little video to share with their momma’s because I mean… come on!

I am sure I am not the only one who struggles with friendships. Especially in adulthood. When you are 9, friendships can be mostly easy. As you get older friendships get harder. Am I right? I want to be the type of friend who stands beside you and holds your hand, just because. Hand holding looks different in adult friendships though.

It looks like bringing someone a meal or watching her kiddos because she needs sleep to heal.

It looks like staying after service so she can cry with you because she isn’t sure how she can move past this hurt, the one that blind-sided her.

It looks like a coffee date in her “messy” house because she needed a listening ear or just some adult time.

It looks like ordering pizza at 10:00 at night because she had an incredibly difficult day and you are the one that understands.

It looks like a card sent in the mail just because you are thinking of her. Or a text message with that verse God gave you.

It looks like sitting with her on her floor while she sorts two weeks worth of laundry because she wants to spend time with you but… life!

Holding hands as an adult can look drastically different than at 9 years old, but the heart is just the same. The heart says I am here, right beside you, doing life and it’s a joy!

In Exodus 17 it tells the story of Moses having to hold his arms up to win a battle being fought by the Israelites. Not an easy task, such is life. I remember learning about this story in the context of friendship and it struck a chord with me. In verse 12-13 you see that Aaron and Hur come along side Moses to help him hold up his arms, they stay that way until sunset and the Israelites are victorious. Without friends like Aaron and Hur, Moses would have failed and the battle would have been lost. I don’t know about you, but I am thankful for the Aaron’s and Hur’s in my life when I just can’t hold my arms up any longer.

“By yourself you’re unprotected. With a friend you can face the worst. Can you round up a third? A three stranded rope isn’t easily snapped.” Ecclesiastes 4:12 (MSG)

I would like to leave you with this... There was a time in my life when I felt like I didn’t have these types of friendships. And maybe you are feeling that way as you read this. I would like to encourage you to ask God to send these friends to you, to reveal them to you. He did it for me. He will do it for you! 

Post by: Jimmie Lee DiIanni