Tag: Friendship

I Am With You

Scripture

With over 200 instances in God’s Word of the declaration “I am with you,” is it any wonder that God’s heart is to alleviate our sense of aloneness and assure us of His presence? Are we still unwilling to see Him as the Anchor for our souls when we are threatened by life’s storms? Do we ignore His palpable Presence available when we are in the midst of scary circumstances? Do we miss the Quiet Breeze of His Spirit when we are still and prayerful? Do we forget that He is our Refuge when our tears must be poured out and when our fears must be safely processed?

I am currently back at a place of remembrance – a small cottage at the Outer Banks where I spent approximately 10 years doing bi-yearly weekend retreats with my friends, lovingly referred to as the “Outer Banks Girls.” What started out as a Bible study group reunion idea blossomed into now “twice a year” week-long retreats. God has been extremely detectable in this group from long before the actual beach trips. We jumped into the complexities of each other’s lives years ago in a Bible study entitled “Master Life.”

Friends are indeed the best helpers. There has always been a lot of compassion and love in our group. And the wisdom for living came directly from God’s Word. All we did was listen to it and try to appropriate it in all our seasons of life. We had the right credentials – we felt quite weak and ordinary, real messes. But, we had God’s Spirit.

Psalm 46:1-11 says (NKJV), “…God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea…There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her…Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge.”

I am reminded that relationships are where we find the best and worst of life. I am very thankful for my friends, the “Outer Banks Girls.” The gift of friendship, especially among Christian friends, is the best of life. Speaking honestly with friends from the heart and in a safe space is a treasure, not to be hidden away, but to be similarly shared with others. We are able to minister because we’ve been ministered to. All conversations have been roads to our relationship with God Himself, the One Who is Present, the One Who is With Us. We have helped each other to be conscious of God and to recognize His voice. And I am extremely grateful.

Acts 2:28 says, “You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of joy in Your presence.”

Grandiflora

Family, Psalms, Scripture, Tribute

IMG_2926

One of my “happy” experiences is visiting a dear friend. A “Grandiflora” living room is a personal reminder of one of these wonderful times with my dear friend who lives in Charleston. Grandiflora is the name of her street. But, it was exactly the reunion of friends that made the street name so special. So, I’ve adopted it as one of my “happy places.” Well worth a 10-hour train ride, for sure.

To me, Grandiflora has taken on a whole new meaning. The sweet smelling rose is now a reminder to me of the gift of friendship. Grandiflora is really the name for hybrids of tea roses and floribunda roses. (Now I am truly out of my element since green-thumbing is far from my list of abilities… but, thank you Google.) I simply have been thinking about happy places and what makes them happy… A street named for a rose. A wonderful friend who lives there…

Here’s another. A few hours of quality with my two daughters and my daughter-in-law on a beautiful sunny day in the spring. A 30-minute drive up Route 5 to Upper Shirley Plantation makes it a beloved route – a happy place. But, not because of the means of getting there – on an unclogged 2-lane byway on a pretty day (which is quite nice).  Instead, because of the sweet end – the treasured bonding between sisters and mother, even mother-in-law, the happy place became happy. The delicious food and drink were only reminders of the laughter and “girl time” that we enjoyed for a few hours.

These treasures, these “ends” to be found in and around happy places, remind me of the treasures that are found in a heart rightly related to Jesus Christ. He is the  Grandiflora of my heart. There is a phrase in the hymn Fairest Lord Jesus: “Fair are the meadows, Fairer still the woodlands, Robed in the blooming garb of spring: Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer, Who makes the woeful heart to sing.”

Billy Graham said that the message of the Bible is Jesus Christ. It’s about “humanity’s redemption through Jesus Christ. It’s the message of salvation primarily. It is only incidentally concerned with the history of Israel or a system of ethics.” God’s Word becomes a “happy place” only if it leads one to become a true believer. Fair are the Bible stories, Fairer still the faith of saints over the years, but Jesus is fairer.

Fair are happy places. Fairer still the quality relationships with friends and family. But, Jesus is fairer. He is the Giver Who makes hearts thankful. He is the Savior Who redeems us from the destruction of sin. He is the Grandiflora of the Gospel. He is the Provider of life, peace and eternity with Him.

Psalm 30:11,12 “You turned my wailing into dancing; You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give You thanks forever.”

The happiest place.