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Greater Love has no one than this, that one lay down His Life for His Friends . – John 15:13 – “God’s plan is for you to be in relationships that provide mutual help and assistance. As much as you need other people for help and friendship, they need you for the same reasons.” – Charles F. Stanley – What does it take to develop a lasting Friendship ? Time Together Philippians 2:4 encourages us to “not merely look out for (our) own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” When you care enough about your friends you put them first, you love them lie Christ loves you. Communication Genuine friendships are built on honest and transparency. “Oil and perfume make the heart glad, so a man’s counsel is sweet to his friend” (Proverbs 27:9). Shared Life Experiences Is there someone you can laugh and cry with? Godly friends rejoice over accomplishments, give wise counsel, and are loyal at all times. “Iron sharpens iron, s...

Patience may be one of the most revealing traits about us and our relationship with the Lord. In our readings this week, I was caught off guard by the connection between idol worship and patience. It seems like a stretch, but when you dig in you'll soon see that when our trust in God to answer our prayers begins to fail, our lack of patience leaves us to put stock in something else—someone else. Our impatience becomes a hindrance to all that God has for us when we doubt His intention for our lives. Patience is an essential component to our calling.  We can't do the things of God with the mind of God on a time table we created. Things of God are on eternity's calendar. We have to remember that just as God is working things out for us, He is working things out for the rest of those that love Him. He's transforming them as well. Patience partners with gentleness and humility (which we'll study later) to give us the endurance we need to dig down deep and bear w...

Knowing God More than any other prophet, Hosea emphasizes the importance of knowing God. Israel would ultimate be destroyed (4:6) because they did not know God (4:1). For us, knowledge means information, facts, and concepts. But in biblical times, knowledge was centered in personal relationships. To know someone is to enter into a close relationship with that person. Knowing God involves much more than simply mastering facts and information about Him. It transcends discussions, about the nature and character of God, as important as those are.  Knowing God means entering into an intimate relationship with Him. It means identifying with God and learning to view everything as God does.  Knowing God will transform our thoughts and actions, our priorities and values, and our relationships with fellow human beings. It is far more important than religious rites, sacrifices and burnt offerings, or any other religious activities.  (see Jeremiah ...