I'VE FOUND SUCH A FRIEND!

I’VE FOUND SUCH A FRIEND!

 

I am sitting here on this grey day, knowing that Thanksgiving Day is just one week away, and then the holidays are upon us again.  I think back over the past year and the storms that have come into my life, and I could be discouraged, as it seems to be ongoing.  But I look forward to the day when this is only a memory. 

 

But this year has also been a year of great blessings.  I have made new friends, and my precious church fellowship has been pouring out their blessings on my household as we have walked through this trial.  My daughter also has been through great trials this year, and because of our precious friends, she has been blessed and healing has come into her life.  And my precious dear friend, who has moved out of state has been there for me every step of the way.  God bless such precious friends!

 

When I think of “friends” I want to go back to my childhood.  I had a best friend whose name was Nancy, and we started our friendship in the second grade and on into high school.  About that time in my life I accepted Jesus as my Savior, and witnessed to everyone and carried my little New Testament.  We could do that in those days, remember?  She was from a non-Christian home and I did my best to tell her about Jesus.  I wonder if my childhood witnessing bore fruit and somewhere down the line, she accepted Him?  And that someday in heaven she will be there, thanking and praising God for her salvation.  I didn’t have a lot of close friends, but the ones I had were very special.

 

But I want to tell you about a Friend of mine who will never fade from my life, will never betray me, or go home to heaven.  My Friend “sticks closer than a brother.”(Proverbs 18:24).  My Friend will always be there for me and hear me when I call.  He is just a prayer away.  Do you have such a Friend as Jesus?

 

I’VE FOUND A FRIEND

 

I’ve found a Friend, oh, such a friend! He loved me ere I knew Him; He drew me with the cords of love, and thus He bound me to Him.  And round my heart still closely twine those ties which naught can sever, for I am His, and He is mine, forever and forever.

 

I’ve found a Friend, oh, such a friend! He bled, He died to save me; and not alone the gift of life, but His own Self He gave me! Naught that I have mine own I call, I’ll hold it for the Giver, my heart, my strength, my life, my all are His forever and forever.

 

I’ve found a Friend, oh, such a friend! All pow’r to Him is given, to guard me on my onward course, and bring me safe to heaven.  T’ eternal glories gleam afar, to nerve my faint endeavor; so now to watch, to work to war, and then to rest forever.

 

I’ve found a Friend, oh, such a friend! So kind and true and tender, so wise a Counselor and Guide, so mighty a Defender! From Him who loves me now so well what pow’r my soul can sever?  Shall life or death, shall earth or hell?  No! I am His forever. (James G. Small-1866).

 

Oh, as a child I knew about Jesus, was raised from birth in church.  But when I was 8 years old He became my best Friend, and He drew Himself to me with those cords of love, God’s love that has never failed me down through the years.  And that love took Him to the cross for me, for you, my friend.  It was nothing I could do on my own, not my own works could save me, but only through His death and shed blood would my salvation come.  And He is my very life, my all, my strength.  How can words come to describe such a Friend? 

 

And He will continue to guard my homeward course, that path He has chosen for me.  Heaven may be only a glimmer right now, and someday face to face.  Right now He calls me and you to watch, to continue the work He has called us to do, and be on guard against the enemy always, and someday we will rest in His arms forever.  Oh, Praise the Lord!  He is my Mighty Defender, Counselor and

Guide.

 

“For I am persuaded , that neither death nor life, nor angels or principalities, nor powers, or things present, nor things to come, nor height or depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is Christ Jesus our Lord”  Romans 8:38-39.

 

And He is the ultimate Friend forever!  Earthly friends may fail or fade from our lives, but I have a Friend and He is mine forever!  And I pray He will be your Friend forever too!  Just call on Him today.

 

In Jesus’Name,

Pastor Sharon

 

 

 

 

HOW FAR HAVE WE COME?

HOW FAR HAVE WE COME?

 

As I sit here this morning, my mind goes back over the last year.  We are approaching the Thanksgiving season once again, and Christmas and the New Year.  Christmas decorations are filling the shelves, and a continuous flood of Christmas magazines fill my mailbox.  Do you remember with me when the Christmas season started the day after Thanksgiving?

 

There was always a great parade and Santa came to town, the season officially started.  Then the decorations went up, lights went on.  And we children started learning our little Christmas poems to say in the Christmas program at church.  Do you remember?  Oh, such wonderful memories!

 

We have come far from those traditions.  But what is on my heart is how far we have come in our walk of faith over the last years.  As we look back we see moments of great joy and sorrow, and pain.  We see our world losing touch with that walk of faith that we have known.  So many don’t know Jesus and are wrapped up in worldly pleasures.  Many have walked away from the walk of faith that they once knew.  With the holiday season approaching, a time of celebrating our Lord’s birth, many will be wrapped up in the materialistic part of the season, ignoring the carols of His birth, and all the splendors that speak of His coming.  Yes, we have come far.  Look back and see how far you have come.

 

As I look back over this last year, I can see a pattern of where I have walked, and it has been a year of pain, being unable to do the things on my heart in ministry.  I saw several dear ones go home to be with Jesus, even a loved family member.  I have been able to comfort a grieving widow, even in my own pain.  As I look back I remember praying for the sick over the phone, doing what I could do for Him.  I haven’t been able to share as much as I like here, but with the Lord’s help I will be able to share more of what is on my heart.  So how far have you come in all your struggles this past year?  Look back over the year, the path you have trod and see that “We’ve Come This Far by Faith.”

 

WE’VE COME THIS FAR BY FAITH

 

Refrain:

We’ve come this far by faith,

Leaning on the Lord;

Trusting in His holy word.

He’s never failed us yet.

Oh! We can’t turn back,

We’ve come this far by faith.

 

Don’t be discouraged

Trouble in your life;

He’ll bear your burdens

And move all discord and strife. Oh!

 

Refrain

 

Just remember with good

Things He has done;

Things that seemed impossible,

Oh, praise Him for the vict’ries He has won. Oh

 

By Albert Goodson

 

So how far have we come?  We have come down this path totally by faith, leaning on Him for every detail of our lives.  And there is no way I can turn back, I have walked too far with my Lord and the older I get the closer I am to seeing Him face to face someday and He will make the path plain behind me, and show me the reasons for things in my life.  He’s never failed me and He won’t fail you.  Just keep your eyes on the goal ahead.

 

And not one word that He has promised will fail, His Word stands true through the ages, and now it continues to speak to us His people.

 

“Blessed be the LORD, that hath given rest unto His people Israel, according to all that He promised; there hath not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised by the hand of Moses, His servant” I Kings 8:56.

 

So let us remember the good things He has done in our lives.  Let’s praise Him for the work He has done in our lives, and the victory He has brought.  Thank Him for our salvation and for our eternal home.  Thank Him for the cross, and His love for us.  And thank Him for our walk of faith that has brought us this far and we look forward to the year ahead as we continue this journey of faith, walking with Jesus and trusting His holy Word.

 

In Jesus’ Name,

Pastor Sharon