Friendship for Grown-ups-chapter 7
Women of Faith-
chapter 7
This was a meaty chapter, full of friendships, God's hand moving and placing Lisa at the right place at the right time.
Chapter 7, discussed finding her Emmitt (her special dear friend) and feeling at times like she walked about asking like the little bird did, "Are you my Emmitt" (though the bird was in search of his mother.) In this section she shares how God leads her to the friend she had been longing for, and how she ministers to the deep hurting areas of her heart.
Chapter 7, discussed finding her Emmitt (her special dear friend) and feeling at times like she walked about asking like the little bird did, "Are you my Emmitt" (though the bird was in search of his mother.) In this section she shares how God leads her to the friend she had been longing for, and how she ministers to the deep hurting areas of her heart.
What spoke to you in this chapter?
God spoke to me in two verses this week. The first one speaks to my heart in fortresses that I have put up, walls so to speak, or perhaps my *box,* as some may refer. The second verse spoke to the sadness I had been burdened with. The heaviness that went on for months, had me on my knees and ended with God closing off the friendship, I had hoped would be restored. Our ways are not His ways, still I remain waiting and hoping and expecting from Him! In sharing these, maybe He will also speak to your heart?
2 Corinthians 10:3-5
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh,
for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.
We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.
2 Corinthians 7: 9-10
I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, in order that you might not suffer loss in anything through us.
For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation; but the sorrow of the world produces death.
God spoke to me in two verses this week. The first one speaks to my heart in fortresses that I have put up, walls so to speak, or perhaps my *box,* as some may refer. The second verse spoke to the sadness I had been burdened with. The heaviness that went on for months, had me on my knees and ended with God closing off the friendship, I had hoped would be restored. Our ways are not His ways, still I remain waiting and hoping and expecting from Him! In sharing these, maybe He will also speak to your heart?
2 Corinthians 10:3-5
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh,
for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.
We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.
2 Corinthians 7: 9-10
I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, in order that you might not suffer loss in anything through us.
For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation; but the sorrow of the world produces death.
I think most of us are not at the same point as Lisa, we are still on the search. Or we have friends, but perhaps need to deepen the relationship and open them up to greater dimensions of intimacy.
Are you ready for God to move in your life in the area of friendship?
Have you invited Him to move, as only He can?
Have you invited Him to move, as only He can?
How is your soul today friends?
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5 comments:
I was unable to get the book to start this reading with you, but the more I read from you, the more I know I will read this book. Thank you for sharing, thank you for praying. I am praying for you also.
Paula
I think I am still looking for my Emmit too. If I could put a bunch of my friends together, I'd have one awesome Emmit. Unfortunately the people who have known me the longest don't share my same spiritual views so they aren't able to relate to a huge part of me. The ones that do share my spiritual views aren't in a place where they'd make a good Emmit for me. I'd be a good Emmit for them, but not the other way around. Finding a good Emmit is definitely going to take some breaking down walls and conquering fears.
I certainly do not have an Emmit. Usually, I am the "Emmit." Because I have been so disappointed in the friendship department, I can feel that I have closed my heart a bit. Not completely, but I am much more reserved about setting my hope toward anyone for fear of rejection. My heart feels fragile and I don't want to open it to just anyone. The most needed quality in a friend right now is someone who will reach out to me. I often feel like I am the one reaching out and really want someone to do the same.
What I do know is that my Father knows my heart and knows who and where my Emmit is. When the time is right, she will be revealed to me. Perhaps I need to do some more growing...
~Julie S.
Nurturing friendships takes so much work. I find that I spend so much time touching base with so many people that I don't allow time to focus specific ones. Perhaps that is my way of protecting myself... my excuse for not pursuing people because I, like others mentioned in their posts, feel like I am always the one reaching out and, truthfully, I get tired and discouraged by that. I tend to give someone a chance to reciprocate, and if they don't I move on. I don't disown them as friends, but I stop putting forth so much effort. I always feel like people don't have time for me or that they aren't as safe as I once thought. I am dealing with a situation now where I confided in a friend I thought was safe, and now I am seeing a different side of her. It is painful to feel betrayed and rejected. But then I remember that Jesus knows those same feelings. He, too, was betrayed and rejected. I take comfort in knowing He truly understands...
I have endured a lot of hurts in friendships (betraying confidences, rejection, just the mean way people can be) but I realized about 4-5 years ago I had to keep pressing on, for me. I think with all those hurts, as long as you don't put up permanment walls, God will use those friendships to show you what healthy friendships are. In this past, I would never ended a friendship. I would just keep trying and trying but recently a friend revealed to me she was a "scorekeeper" and I was realized I am just not interested in friends like that. And that has been so freeing for me!
I do have an "Emmit" and it IS worth the search. Someone than knows you better than you know yourself, someone that is there for you day or night, someone you can tell absolutely anything to, someone that breathes God's Word in your life IS a huge blessing. In reading this book and reading everyone's comments, I am realizing even more what a gift from God a fun, healthy God honoring friendship is.
So for those of you longing for your "Emmit" continue to pray and BE a friend! He wants to grant us the desires of our heart!
Natalie
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