Kidz Topic ... FRIENDS

This is a new segment of my blog where I will be sharing a variety of thoughts, scripture verses, and “sparkle” ideas just for kids. Feel free to pass them on to your children, grandchildren, or any other young people that God has put in your life.

KIDZ ☮ PEACE ...  I know a person that has over 1,200 friends (on FaceBook). She is a super friendly person, and loves to chat & text on her phone How many people do you consider to be your “friend?” In this world of technology, we have so many connections to others, but it is important to remember that it should not be about the number of people you have on your “friend list” (in your email contact list, or in your circle of friends at school), but the quality of your friendships. Ask yourself these two questions...

What good is it if you have a person on your friend list that is always gossiping about you?

Is someone really your friend if they chat with you on the computer, but ignore you when they see you at school?

To have good friends, you must be a good friend - but friendship isn’t always easy. There are “real friends” and then there are people who only claim to be your friend. So you might be wondering how we can tell the difference. Here are some tips about good and bad friends.

1. Characteristics of a good friend:
• has similar values, interests and activities
• honest and trustworthy
• listens (and shares)
• offers you encouragement
• shares your good times and bad times
• accepts you for who you are
• makes you laugh, you enjoy being together
• respects your opinion and doesn’t criticize

2. Signs of a bad friend:
• lies to you (and others)
• always wants things done their way (bossy)
• acts like they are better than you
• makes fun of you, swears or yells at you
• talks about you behind your back (and gossips about others)
• judges you and is always trying to change you
• gets jealous when you hang out with other people
• tempts you to make bad choices

3. What does God’s Word tell us?
When we go to God in prayer and read our Bible we can find words that instruct us on why we should be a friend and how to be a good friend. Check out these verses: 1 John 4:11, Ecclesiastes 4:9, John 15:13, Proverbs 18:24, 1 Corinthians 15:33, Luke 6:31

The Bible also gives us many examples of “friendships.” You can read the story of David and Jonathan (1 Samuel 18:1-3). Ruth and Naomi were friends who stuck together in good times and bad (Ruth 1:16-17). You can also read about Job’s friends - Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar (Job 2:11).

Friendships are a gift from God and should not be taken for granted. It is important to thank God for our friends and also let your friends know how important they are to you!

The next two weeks our Kidz Peace topics will also be tied to friendship ... they are “respect” and “trust/forgiveness.” So be sure to check back next Wednesday when we talk about RESPECT.

Kidz Thought for the Week: "The only way to have a friend is to be one." – from Ralph Waldo Emerson

Keeping you in my prayers. 'til next week ... make a friend, be a friend and bring that friend to Christ! God's Peace, Donna

Definitely “Over the Top”

“Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment

from him, so you will grow in faith” - Colossians 2:7

Yesterday I spent most of the afternoon trying to focus on putting together the words that I wanted to share about my two days at the Women of Faith  Conference (held here in Denver, 9/29 & 9/30/11).

I M P O S S I B L E ! * ?    After lots of prayers and scrunched up papers ... here it goes ...

The conference was everything I expected it to be, and so much MORE... it was definitely “Over the Top.” The entire event was centered around the scripture verse found in Romans 11:33 (MSG), “ Have you ever come on anything quite like this extravagant generosity of God...?”   How fitting for such an event!  Through an outrageous, passionate, and power team of speakers and singers, thousands of women got to experience God’s amazing, extravagant, and generous love.

The only way I can express what the Women of Faith event was like, is by saying that we encountered the words of Eccelsiastes 3 all in the span of 48 hours. There was a time to pray (Lori Robertson), a time for worship (WOF worship team), and a time to laugh (Patsy Clairmont). There were stories that told about a time to weep (Andy Andrews), and a time to mourn (Brenda Warner). There was a time for outreach (World Vision), and a time for praise (Mandisa) - and that was just the first day.

Saturday gave us a time for friendship (Lisa Whelchel), a time of humor and hope for healing (Patsy Clairmont), a time to embrace (Karen Kingsbury), a time to sing and reminisce (Amy Grant), a time for sharing life changing stories (Sandi Patty), and a time for biblical teaching (Marilyn Meberg). Woven throughout the event were several dramatic performances which reflected moments in our lives when we might face a time to search, a time to keep, and a time to throw-away (Katharine Everett). There was also a time for fellowship, a time for eating, a time for dancing and hula-hopping (not sure where they all fit in to God’s word), but they certainly fit in to His plan for time filled with “extravagant generosity.” There is a time for everything ... and our God most definitely showed-off in all His glory, through the Women of Faith team.

Here are just a few of the many words that touched my heart. Bear in mind that these came from my notes that were written in the dark arena (hope they’re an accurate representation of what the speaker was saying):

Patsy Clairmont
• Be selective in your purpose for the hours of your day.
• When you embrace the truth about yourself, change can happen.
• My faith has to be more than words that I speak.
• Sometimes we get so good at making excuses, we begin to believe them ourselves.
• Those I’ve known with the deepest well have suffered the deepest hurts.
• Sarcasm is anger gone underground and came up in a clown suit.

Andy Andrews
• We need to have perspective, more than answers.
• Learn God’s principles, it’s easier than going to Google when a question comes up.
• Fear is the misuse of the creative imagination that God has given to us.
• Every great thing that happens comes from how you act when “life isn’t fair.”
• Shouldn’t we be as concerned about the people we hang out with, as we are for our children’s friends.
• The proof of hope is that you are still breathing.

Brenda Warner
• Our circumstances don’t determine who we are, He does.

Lisa Whelchel
• A real friend doesn’t pull away when you’re imperfect, she draws closer.
• Pay attention to how someone is talking to you about others. That is probably how she is talking to others about you.

Karen Kingsbury
• Life is not a dress rehearsal. We have one chance to write (live) the story of our life.
• Without Jesus being the hero in our story, we have much to fear.

Sandi Patty
• God said “yes” to a dream I couldn’t see yet.
• Don’t say you want to “lose” weight. Lose means you want to find it again. Use the term “release.”

Marilyn Meberg
• We have a constant craving. We always want more than we don’t have.

Suggested Reading:
• Stained Glass Hearts, by Patsy Clairmont
• The Travelers Gift, by Andy Andrews
• The Final Summit, by Andy Andrews
• Tell Me Everything, by Marilyn Meberg
• The Edge of the Diving, by Sandi Patty
• Friendship for Grown-Ups, by Lisa Whelchel
• One Call Away, by Brenda Warner
• Let Me Hold You Longer, by Karen Kingsbury

Suggested Music:
• Rejoice CD, Women of Faith Worship
• What If We Were Real CD, Mandisa
• The Edge of the Divine CD, Sandi Patty
• Somewhere Down the Road CD, Amy Grant

The Bible tells us “Where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them" (Matthew 18:20, NIV), and God was definitely present at the Pepsi Center on Friday and Saturday night. It’s very easy to get swept up in the excitement of an event like Women of Faith. The challenge began once we left the arena. We walked back through our front doors, only to find the same busy schedules, jobs, and daily trials waiting for us. But we now have new tools; a renewed spirit, helpful teachings and encouraging words, to help us face each day. We also know that our God is an “over the top” God and He wants a relationship with us like no other. What more could we ask for?

Many of you participated in the event, and I pray that you will continue to experience God’s “over the top” love for you! Those of you who didn’t share the experience - I pray that someday you might have the opportunity, but in the meantime, I hope that my words have generated interest in the books and CD’s which will offer you a “taste” of the same extravagant generosity of God.

There is a peace that is found in resting in His presence. May you find time this week to “Taste and see that the Lord is good...” (Psalm 34:8, NIV).

Blessings and God’s Peace, Donna Weaver