What Kids (we all) Need From Caring Adults

Proverbs2:3 Cry out for insight,and ask for understanding. 4 Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. 5 Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God. 6 For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding..

Pastor Dennis had good points about what we need in our families-

• Availability
• memories
• role models

But the thing that came to mind for me, came in light of the Drama this morning. It was a very thought provoking drama. What does Jesus want us to do with His teachings? Doormat vs Hard boundaries. What I thought of was something from biology class...semipermeable membranes. "WHAT!?",you say...no, really it is applicable.

The definition for semipermeable membrane - a membrane (as a cell membrane) that allows some molecules to pass through but not others.

I think God wants us to have semipermeable membranes as our boundaries. Turning the other cheek to some...to others...keep them at arm's length. It is interesting that semi-permeable membranes exist in living organisms. For us to know when to let some folks through and when to constrain others, we need to have a living relationship with the Lord. We need to be connected to His body (the Church) It's not about following rules...it's about following the heart of Jesus.

How To Be Wise In Our Relationships

James 3:13,17 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom...But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

I was enjoying Garth's message this morning... going along agreeing with his points, pretty happy that I am putting most of them to practice. But of course, there has to be one, that needs attention and in my notes I wrote "Yikes" next to "comparison"...I never, okay, mostly never say "why can't you be like..." but I am guilty of "You are just like..."oooo something to work on! Oh and maybe I have to work on getting past folks' mistakes...just a little. (Proverbs 17:9) But really, that's all....really....

What a great saying-Good relationships are buried by little digs. Just a reminder that the tongue is a small organ but capable of great good or great harm. (James 3:5;Proverbs 18:21).

I hope you enjoy working on your "yikes" this week as much as I will! Yeah!

How to Build Friendships That Last part 2

How do your friendships hold up to the "check list" Pastor Dennis gave us?

Are you-

• committed
  
• forgiving
• confidential
• honest
• constructive
• gracious towards your friend's successes
• dependable?

It's pretty simple this week, evaluate, smile, cringe and ask God to help us become better.

I love reading Proverbs and as these 2 messages reflect, there is so much wisdom about friendship in the Book of Proverbs. If you read a chapter every day, you read through the whole book every month. All kinds of wise insight for every day living available in a short daily read.

You will show me the way of life,
granting me the joy of your presence
and the pleasures of living with you forever.
Psalm 16:11 (I love reading Psalms, too)

How to Build Friendships That Last

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. 10 If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. NLT

We want to matter to others and we want others to matter to us.

We are designed by God for friendships...we are not meant to do life alone.

2 points Pastor Dennis made about having good friendships-

1. I must be committed-This is so where I want to live....I want to be a woman of my word. If I say "Let's do lunch," I put it on my calendar. If I say "I will pray for you," I ask God to remind me/ I write it down. I try to make time for people. Make the effort. And like he said last week, commit to listen. And like Garth said the week before...commit to loyalty.
2. I must be forgiving....whoa...I am looking forward to the series on this.
   

I think the key to both of these points is-How important to me are my rights? Am I willing to yield my (perceived) rights...to be understood, to be listened to, to be appreciated, to be acknowledged when I am right...to be apologized to in an acceptable manner? Instead, am I willing to be like Jesus, who did not hold on to His rights but loved and served sacrificially?

Are you willing? Then God will make us able!