From Sonya...
What's pouring out your spout?
Is it the compassion of a young mother praying over a family for healing?
Or is it the positive energy of young women providing food and clothing for our friends and neighbors in need?
What's pouring out your spout?
Is it the patience of grandmothers in our midst who read to small children, or
The experience of a faithful woman teaching new Christians how to love God.
What's pouring out your spout?
Is it the creative spirit of a woman showing passion for Christ by singing her heart out for our delight,
Or the woman with a career and family that opens her home week after week and year after year to fellow Christians yearning to share and grow together.
What's pouring out your spout?
Is it the passion of a woman with no inhibitions entertaining us with her God-given dramatic and musical skills,
Or is it the ambitious woman with a drive to reach the lost by traveling abroad on missionary trips.
What's pouring out your spout?
Is it the talented woman with organizational skills who keeps our church running smoothly,
Or the friendly and loving woman who greets our church family every Sunday morning with a warm smile and a gracious hello.
What's pouring out your spout?
Is it the unselfish woman who when asked to help others, replies "yes" with enthusiasm and a can-do spirit,
Or is it the humble woman who gives generously with her hard earned money.
What's pouring out your spout?
Is it the electricity of teenage girls developing their nurturing skills by taking care of the babies and toddlers in our nursery,
Or is it the expressive young girl using sign language to interpret worship songs for the hearing impaired in our family.
What's pouring out your spout?
Is it the compassionate woman who shows us the way on how to help save the used and abused in this world,
Or is it the beautiful young girl or woman sitting next to you that could use a hug right now.
What's pouring out your spout?
On Friendship, from Kathleen's notes...
Friendships are one of the greatest blessings in my life that I want others to have, as well.
Reasons/Barriers we have regarding friendships (walls we build, etc)
* I started asking friends about barriers
* I was reminded of some 'big points' that det. my view of friendships
1. Friendships can be for a season
a) Bulgaria PNG/Colombia/CR
- How to handle separation
b) Be at different levels (all part of community)
- Intimate, lifelong
- Close
- Acquaintances (gym, mom's group, work)
2. Expectations
- Get rid of them! Lower them, and lower again
a) Forgive}often/quickly/much
Repent} often/quickly/much
Keep short accounts
3. Perceptions/Assumption
- Don't have them
(i.e., they won't like me - they are different than me - they have it all together - they already 'have' their group)
(i.e., they haven't called yet - upset
they did this... must be mad)
- Get rid of them
or have an open mind to be charged
4. When I realized ALL women wanted/needed/desired friends it gave me such a freedom to be more of a pursuer! (CR)
We should all work to be pursuers.
5. Trust
- Be ones who trust others and be trustworthy
- Be wise in choosing friends
- Many women have been hurt/betrayed/let down, etc, but if we can learn to trust others, we have support, encouragement, help when needed. And, we are let down - forgive quickly and move on (address the issue).
- *My experience this year
- We women were designed for relationships, meant for community, and we do so much better when we are in a healty community!
Ecclesiastes 4:9
"Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed."
Announcement: Beth Moore's "Esther" study begins Saturday, March 5 at noon, at Planet Coffee.
On Friendship, from Debbie
Share about 'friendship' - you've got 5 minutes.
Really?
Well, after about 20 minutes of prayer and 30 minutes of thinking about what to share, I finally decided to list a few bullet points and let God give me the words. I didn't watch the clock, but no one pulled me away for taking too long, so it must have been close to the allotted 5 minutes. Here is what I shared...
"Since this is a church gathering, I thought it would be appropriate to start with scripture, but friendship is mentioned a lot in the Bible, both in good ways and not so good. A good one that stood out most for me is John 15:15 where Jesus is talking to His disciples: "I no longer call you servants because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I have learned from my Father I hve made known to you."
Mirriam Webster dictionary defines friendship as: 1. acquaintance, 2. one attached to another by affection or esteem, and 3. a favored companion. I think the third definition best describes Jesus relationship with his disciples. And, He modeled friendship by time; He and the disciples spent lots of time together. When we study the bible, we typically focus on Jesus' teaching. But Jesus was a person, he was real and he spent time with his disciples doing real, everyday stuff with them. He rested (example of him falling asleep in the boat while crossing the lake), they ate together, laughed, and Jesus even wept when his friend Lazarus died. They only time the bible specifically mentions that Jesus separated himself from his disciples is when he intentionally went alone to pray. So, they spent lots of T I M E together.
So how does friendship look for us? TIME. Time together, ladies. And, just like Jesus was real, we, too, need to be real. We have stuff we have to do, like errands and housework. I encourage you to spend time together even doing those things. Yesterday, I had some errands to do in the afternoon. But, I wanted to call Michelle to see how she was because I hadn't seen her Sunday. Well, I didn't want to let a couple of errands get in my way, so I called and asked if she wanted to join me. She came and picked me up! And, together we ran my errands and had a nice time together just talking and enjoying each other's company. When we were done she came to my house, even though I warned her that it was a mess (I knew there was dog hair all over the carpet, and dishes in the sink). She laughed and said, "You haven't seen my house!" So, we got to spend more time together, even taking a walk through the neighborhood.
I learned long ago not to let a messy house get in the way; when I was younger, living in TX, an acquaintance from church lived in the same neighborhood and we would meet while walking our kids to school. One day she invited me over for coffee and I jumped at the opportunity because we were relatively new and I hadn't made any friends yet. We walked into her house and the front room was beautiful - filled with antique furniture they'd inherited. I commented on how blessed they were to have such a valuable inheritance and she let me know in no uncertain terms that it was absolutely not a blessing but a burden. They never used that furniture for fear that it would be damaged. The beautiful front room was only a museum that was not shared or enjoyed. We walked back to the kitchen and family room where they lived, and it was a mess! There were dishes all over the counter and clothes covering all the furniture! I couldn't help but think that my husband would have a fit if I had people over when our house looked like that. She casually said, "Oh, I started laundry last night and never finished it. Want to help me fold clothes?" So together we folded their family laundry and that day, over 20 years ago, was the beginning of a deep and long-lasting friendship.
So, ladies, I want to encourage you... if you feel alone/lonely, know that God created you incomplete, and He did that intentionally. We are supposed to live together in community and friendship. We each have different gifts and talents so that we can complement one another and learn/grow from each other. I know your days are busy, but don't let obligations and housework keep you from friendship. If you've got errands to do, or laundry to fold, pick up the phone and invite a friend to join you; it could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship. God bless you!"
On Friendship, from Mildred's notes...
Friendship: 1. The state of being friends. 2. An attachment between two friends. 3. A friendly feeling or attitude.
Friend: 1. a person whom one knows well and is fond of, intimate associate; close acquaintance. 2. a person on the same side in a struggle; one who is not an enemy or foe, ally. 3. a supporter or sympathizer (a friend of labor) 4. something thought of as like a friend in being helpful, reliable, etc. 5. to act as a friend.
Vines Expository Dictionary: Friendship involves the idea of loving as well as being loved.
My view of friendship:
On January 31 of this year there was a newpaper article concerning a Bridge group formed in 1950, of ladies of different ages, consisting of new wives, mothers, some were an only child, schoolmates, new natives to the city of Columbus looking for friendship and social gatherings. This article reminded me of myself and how God provides for all our needs.
God put people in our lives who we call friends. There are those whom we know for a short time and then there are those who are with us a long time (everlasting).
For example:
I left behind classmates and family whom I called friends in my home town, went to college in Frankfort, KY. Someone (an acquaintance) yelled out that Billy Graham was speaking at the state capitol and we were off to hear him. I later married and settled in Cincinnati, OH.
I left behind friends and family members from my husband's side when leaving Ohio and moving to Pittsburgh, PA. My lifestyle in Ohio was not pleasing to God. The Bible had a special place on the table, we attended church but we were guilty of being lukewarm in our relationship with God. We were going through heartaches and taking the world's way of doing things. We did what we thought we were suppoed to do rather than knowing what God would have us to do. Our friends were not grounded in the word either. I was like the Israelites, lost in the desert, listening to the wrong people (friends).
In Genesis 12:1-4, God called to Abraham
v.1. "Leave your country, your people"
v.2. "I will bless you.... and you will be a blessing"
v.4. So Abraham left
Also, to Moses in Exodus 33:1
Then the Lord said to Moses, "Leave this place...
Go up to the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob...
Exodus 33:12 Moses ask... whom will you send with me?...
Exodus 33:14 The Lord replied, "My Presence will go with you and I will give you rest."
Exodus 33:13 If You are pleased with me, teach me Your ways so I may know You and continue to find favor with You.
Exodus 5:22 Moses asks "Why"
6:1 "Now you will see what I will do" (God promises deliverance)
I was called Mildred before moving to Pittsburgh.
I was a stiff-necked person concerned about what people thought about me (example - socks) and what things they did to encourage or discourage my lifestyle and family affairs. Pittsburgh became my foreign land, without close acquaintances, friends or family except my husband and our son. Deborah was here attending Capital University, so I was without the female interaction. But, God had Virginia!
My friend, Virginia, became my Moses, she called and continues to call me Millie today. Romans 10:12. For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile - the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on Him. 13) For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (she caused me to hear the message of being Born Again and its meaning)... she invited me to her home, church, her womens monthly luncheon, the Christmas pageant, weekly Bible study, she introduced me to Bible teachers that are nationally known, Charles Swindoll, and I began to watch Christian programs, I purchased my first study Bible (Scofield), we bowled together, visited the nursing home and promised not to let anyone put her in a nursing home. The list goes on. She was and has continued to be that loving friend that God provided when I had a need. Her friendship has truly being a text book in how to love as Christ loves regardless of who, what, when and where. Our families still visit today, we love, hug and encourage.
God introduced me to my friend, Virginia, when we moved to Pittsburgh so that I could come to know Him in a special way. To see what it means to love Him and others. To be hospitable (Virginia would leave coffee made, and the door open to their home). To encourage others to not be reserved. To not be negative. To not bring up hurtful issues of the past. Philippians 2:1-5. To learn how to fellowship with all people not just a select group. To trust Him to provide.
The Bible says that a friend loves at all times. Proverbs 17:17
What is needed is found in Gal. 5:22-26
A relationship - come to know a person well, respect, support, like, trust and feel safe and secure.
My friendship is not with the world (move to Memphis) like another world!
Separation from friends; hurtful, but as God commanded Joshua (who was taking Moses' place with the nation of Israel) Joshua 1:7-9.
Be strong and very courageous.
Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you... do not turn from God.
I believe He moved me to Memphis, TN. And, He introduced me to people so that His Word would be open for me to study and to interact with others having learned from Virginia what to focus on in life. Someone shared the blessing of keeping a journal, which I started to do and the materials of Gods Word was so plentiful and available that to today it is missed.
Ecclesiastes 8:1 says - Who knows the explanation of things? Wisdom brightens a man's face and changes its hard appearance.
Why move to Memphis besides a husband's job?
To see God work in the lives of people whom He choose to put in our pathway since we did not know anyone there, and to see what and who we based our faith and trust upon. God gave m a FRIEND for the Day (meeting the young lady at the library who invited me to a nationwide Bible study). Today the Bible study is worldwide. It was a way to put into action all He had given and shown me through Virginia and her family.
It wouldn't be our Tea without delicious delicacies....
Our Tea Coordinator, Sonya
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