Witnessing others Faith, Strengthens my own

[BigWaterBigFish]

I'm seeing both sides of the coin today.
A very good man, a kind man, who had lead the kind of life and has the kind of loving relationship with his wife that I admire and try to model myself after - has the cancer. And each week, the diagnosis keeps getting worse. But there he and she are, walking the talk, honest and open, realistic and determined to be happy. We don't speak too much about Faith but you can see it in how they act - their character.
Another man, a friend I've known for over a decade, a fishing partner, lied to me today on the phone. Told me he has the flu, that's why he hasn't called as of late and I haven't seen him. He's sick alright, he has the disease of alcoholism and he's made the decision, followed by the action to take his "medicine" which is really poison. I can tell you, from my own experience, that he had done what he could to solve his drink problem, except the one crucial part - he has failed to enlarge his spirital life - to surrender to the possibility that the center of his life is not him but a loving God.
I am blessed by Our Father to share my life with so many people who's lesson of Faith and Failing can guide me.

[Dullhook]

Good post. All of those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior have the assurance of sharing eternal life with Him in Paradise. Makes all of the trials, tribulations, and eventual death that all of us will face in this earthly life a whole lot easier to endure. Please pray with me for your friend.

[SharkbaitHoHaHa]

When I found out that a friend of mine that had told me she was a Christian but never went to church but she did read her Bible. She said she try so hard to leed a good life. Her and I never really talked about our faith because she always told me that sense we belived the same way why do we need to talk about it. Than she decided to attened a church that is so far far far away from the Christian belief that it shocked me. I had told her that this really desterbed my soul. I then went over to her house a week later. We just chatted like normal friends. I felt the Lord telling me to talk to her about why she choose this type of church. She explained to me and I listened then I asked her a few more questions? Told her that I respect that she was trying to search for what God wants for her life and to have a closer walk with Jesus. THen I said that the type of church sh choose was not teaching the truth about God and Jesus. We talked about that and then she just said that she did want this to be an agrument. I said that I was not arguing that I like this decussion about what we belive. It is good to discuss what we belive with each other as friends. In the Bible it says that we are to put on the Full Armor of God so to defend our selves against the Satan. At that time I only had about half. I now have all my armor so that when I talk to her again. I can be protected and at the same time show her the truth in Love. She is my best friend and I want her to know the Truth that the Bible teaches. This just gave me so much strengh. I was shaking that day when I first talked to her about everything.

The Lord pointed to me to get her New Email address and e-mailer a Buble study to help her show the way.

Please keep in prayer my Best Friend and my stregth to be a light of truth in the Dark of Satans lies.

God Bless

P.S. Sorry so long.

[Duckwheat]

I shared these thoughts with Jennie the other day in a PM discussing a friend of hers. When someone has Cancer, family and friends rally around the person and support them with out question. It can heal families, I have seen it.

An addict has a disease that is going to kill them just as surely as the cancer will. But before it is done with you, it will kill every relationship you have with the people you care about.

Another thought that God some how loves those who openly espouse his name and acceptance is somewhat foreign to me. I have been raised and come to believe that God is in all of us. To say he loves one over another, would mean he is arbitrary in choice. That sounds like a human trait and not one I would assign to God.

BWBF's friend to me personally is a more powerful example of the strenght that living life the right way, than all the preachers combined.

Thoughtful in Idaho

DW

[Dullhook]

I have been raised and come to believe that God is in all of us. To say he loves one over another, would mean he is arbitrary in choice. That sounds like a human trait and not one I would assign to God.


I would say that all of us are in complete agreement with this statement, DW. We need only look to what God tells us through His Word to verify it. John 3:16-17

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved." Amen.

God unconditionally loves all. Even old sinners like myself who have not led model lives. :throb:

[BigWaterBigFish]

Bit of an update - friend with the cancer is hopeful they can find someone, somewhere doing research and at least get involved in finding a cure or participating in some study - even if he doesn't make it, at least his participation will aid in the future - my friend that's "in the ditch" showed up for work yesterday all shiny and bright but couldn't last the day, called in sick today, hasn't called me or others who have made the pledge to have our hand out as was there for us ... you can't make someone willing and our experience is that without willingness, all our experience, strength and hope in the area of alcoholism is without effect.

[Grantspastor]

Good post