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A few months ago my husband received a notice that his high school reunion
was to be this Fall. He had not thought much about high school for years,
but as he did he started to get excited to see some old childhood friends.
He did not keep in touch as he should have, with one thing or another always
taking precedence over any thought of writing or calling an old friend.
Then, he received a letter from one particular friend who was now a Christian.
He had been through many tough times, but now he had peace and joy.
He called his friend and they talked for a long time.
We went to see his wife and him a month or so later.
It was like no time had passed at all.
They were friends in the world, and now they are brothers in Christ.
They are now closer than they ever were in high school,
and are both looking forward to the reunion. His wife and I were instant friends.
We felt as if we too had known each other always.
She confided to me that she had been praying for a friend who
would accept her as she is. She said that she prayed for someone who
would understand what she is going through, and with some of the same type of memories.
As it says in Philippians 3:6-11
3 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless."
7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.
8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness
of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.
I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ
9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes
from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—
the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.
10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection
and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead".
She brought her needs to the Lord, and then thanked Him for a speedy answer.
We both grew up in the same area near the ocean, and we are about the same age.
We write a couple of times a week and can tell each other anything.
So many times we have been through what the other is now entering.
So we can advise or pray for each other.
Although we live many states apart from each other, we have grown close.
God will always provide what we need. He is always Jehovah Jireh,
our Provider, (Genesis 22:14) even when what He supplies is someone to call friend.
was to be this Fall. He had not thought much about high school for years,
but as he did he started to get excited to see some old childhood friends.
He did not keep in touch as he should have, with one thing or another always
taking precedence over any thought of writing or calling an old friend.
Then, he received a letter from one particular friend who was now a Christian.
He had been through many tough times, but now he had peace and joy.
He called his friend and they talked for a long time.
We went to see his wife and him a month or so later.
It was like no time had passed at all.
They were friends in the world, and now they are brothers in Christ.
They are now closer than they ever were in high school,
and are both looking forward to the reunion. His wife and I were instant friends.
We felt as if we too had known each other always.
She confided to me that she had been praying for a friend who
would accept her as she is. She said that she prayed for someone who
would understand what she is going through, and with some of the same type of memories.
As it says in Philippians 3:6-11
3 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless."
7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.
8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness
of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.
I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ
9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes
from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—
the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.
10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection
and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead".
She brought her needs to the Lord, and then thanked Him for a speedy answer.
We both grew up in the same area near the ocean, and we are about the same age.
We write a couple of times a week and can tell each other anything.
So many times we have been through what the other is now entering.
So we can advise or pray for each other.
Although we live many states apart from each other, we have grown close.
God will always provide what we need. He is always Jehovah Jireh,
our Provider, (Genesis 22:14) even when what He supplies is someone to call friend.
| DO YOU NEED A FRIEND? by Kathleen Puccio |
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