Friend – Gfpacificbee’s Insights & photography

Friendship: Do You Have A Close Friend…A Best Friend Who’ll Always Be There?

“A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”
Proverbs 17:17 KJV (King James Version)

The Bible speaks often about friendship and what characteristics qualifies a true friend. Do you have a true friend, a best friend who is always there for you? A good friend is a blessing, but not everyone has one. You may have had one at one time, but life got in the way and you may no longer have one.

“A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”                             

~ Proverbs 18:24 NKJV (New King James Version)

Ever wonder if you are the reason you do not have true friends? I never really gave it much thought. I have online friends, but can’t say they are close friends. I have had work friends, but they were never close friends. I have friends I’ve known since my childhood, but distance limits the closeness of the friendship.

A friend is a person who has a strong liking for or trust in another person. Good friends handle conflict respectfully and respect boundaries. True friends may have differences of opinions, you might upset one another, but they will tell you the truth and let you know if you’ve crossed a boundary or hurt them in any way. Do you have a true friend?

A
***Friend***
***Loves***
***at all***
***Times.***
*~ Harvest House Publishers ~*

You might ask what qualities a true good friend should have. The following list are examples of those qualities of a true friend.

They live with integrity….
You can trust them….
“Dependability” is their middle name….
They’re loyal….
They have empathy for others….
They’re good listeners….
Their confidence is contagious….
Spending time with them makes you feel good…. ~http://www.betterup.com~
They understand you all the time…

A best friend is a blessing from God. Is one who will forgives as Christ forgives. Is someone who prays for you continually. Is willing to risk their life for you.

“***A Sweet friendship refreshes the soul.”*** ~***Proverbs*** ***27:9 ~***
*BibleVerseImages.com*

***A good friend***
***is like a***
***four leaf clover,***
***hard to find,***
***blessed to have.***
*~ LetterPile.com ~*

I am thankful for the friends I have regardless of whether they are near or far away. They are all close to my heart and I treasure their friendship.

Thank you God for the friends you have given me, for the sharing & the praying, for the laughter & the encouragement they bring to me. Thank you Lord for their presence in my life. Please watch over them and bring hope and blessings to them. I trust you, Lord, to protect them, comfort them, and surround them with your loving arms. Lord, help me to be a better friend & remind me to pray for them continually. Amen.

God Bless. Thank You! Do not ever forget I appreciate y’all.

A Friend Loveth At All Times

“A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”
Proverbs 17:17

Who is a friend? A friend is a person whom one knows and with whom has a bond of mutual affection. A friend is someone who has a strong liking for and trust in another person.

1 Thessalonians 5:11; 1 Corinthians 15:33; Colossians 3:13; Ecclesiastes 4:9; Ecclesiastes 4:10; Job 6:14; Job 42:10; Proverbs 16:28; Proverbs 17:9; Proverbs 18:24; Proverbs 27:9; Psalm 133:1; Romans 12:10; 1 Peter 4:8-10; John 15:12-13; Proverbs 17:17; 2 Kings 2:2; Job 2:11; Luke 6:31; Proverbs 19:20; Proverbs 24:5; Proverbs 22:24-25; Proverbs 13:20; Proverbs 14:4-6; Colossians 3:12-14; Proverbs 27:5-6; Ecclesiastes 4:9-10; John 15:12-15; Proverbs 27:17; Job 29:4-6; Proverbs 12:26; James 4:4; Job 16:20-21 — Proverbs 27:9

What are characteristics that a good friend should possess?

Kindness
Honesty
Individuality
Adventurous
Playful
Protective
Trustworthy
Nurturing
Good Listener
Helpful
Clairvoyance
Optimistic But Practical
Respectful
Fearlessly Huggable
Open-Hearted
You can be Your Real Self around them
You can sit in Silence without Awkwardness
You are Genuinely Happy for Each Other when Good Things Happen
Conversations Goes Beyond Small Talk and “Catching Up”
They Confront You if you are Self Sabotaging
They Will Encourage rather than Disparage You for trying New Things
They will Forgive You for (Almost) Anything
You are GenuinelyExcited to See Them
You don’t Feel Guilty about Turning Down an Invitation from them
You Feel Comfortable Enough to Ask Them a Favor

The qualities of a good friend and true friendship are numerous. The most important qualities for a person to truly be called my friend are: (1) They love and respect you no matter what, (2) They forgive you always without regret, (3) They encourage and build you up, never tear you down, (4) They Listen to you, Cry and Laugh with you, are always there for you, and (5) They pray for you always during the good times and bad.

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
1 Thessalonians 5:11

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
John 15:12-13

Some friendships feel like spring to our hearts, ….

The Bible has plenty to say on the subjects of friends and friendship. We are to be a friend to everyone, show them love, kindness, and respect. We are to pray for them and forgive always. A true friend always encourages and builds you up. They are they for you through thick and thin, the good and the bad.

Oil and incense
bring joy to the heart,
and the sweetness of a friend
is better than self-counsel.
Proverbs 27:9

The righteous choose
their friends carefully,
but the way of the wicked
leads them astray.
Proverbs 12:26 NIV

My intercessor
is my friend
as my eyes
pour out tears to God;
on behalf of a man
he pleads with God
as one pleads
for a friend.
Job 16:20-21

Jesus Christ is my intercessor, he hears my cries and pleads with God on my behalf. What better friend can I have than Jesus.

https://youtu.be/znWu2HCJ92c What a Friend We have in Jesus song by Alan Jackson.

What a friend we have in Jesus
All our sins and griefs to bear
And what a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer

Oh, what peace we often forfeit
Oh, what needless pain we bear
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged
Take it to the Lord in prayer

Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness
Take it to the Lord in prayer

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Charles Converse / Joseph Scriven

God bless. Be a friend. Be kind. Be forgiving. Be there for them no matter what. You never know when you’ll need someone to be there for you. Remember Christ is always there to help you out. God loves you!

I appreciate y’all. Thank you for visiting. Feel free to like, comment, and follow.

Rambling on ….. ranting ….. sometimes you just need to vent hoping someone understands.

I don’t get out much since the pandemic began, not sure 🤔 who is safe to be around. My eye sight is not as good as it used to be, therefore I do not drive and go places much. Sometimes I am so lonely I could cry. Maybe it’s of my own making, maybe it’s an inner turmoil, and maybe it’s a feeling of being unloved.

It doesn’t matter what you call it, feelings are real. People, especially family, don’t seem to understand. They are too wrapped up in themselves and their phones to even notice.

I was able to borrow my daughter’s car yesterday, so I went for a drive. I checked my mailbox 📫, mostly junk, but it needed cleared out. Later I went and visited a friend I hadn’t seen in person for two years. It felt good.

My daughter texted and asked if I was okay since I was in the same area for a couple hours. I hadn’t realized I was on a time limit with her car. Who knew? Not me.

I said to her I was visiting a friend. She replied “Huh, a friend????” That was like a slap in my face, as if she didn’t think I had any friends. True most of my friends I only communicate with online nowadays, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have any friends at all. It makes me sad that she thinks I have no one, not a single friend.

After her text, I left my friend’s home and headed back “home”. I say “home” in quotation marks because I get reminded all the time it is not my home. I’ve just been staying there for the past two years taking care of my grandson, but I can’t call it home according to them.

After all that, I arrived back to find out she wasn’t even home. So then I wonder why was she so concerned about his long I was gone. After all she said I could use her car. I think she thought I would only check my mail & come straight back. I guess I surprised her when I didn’t.

Today, I’m sitting all alone in room. She hasn’t checked on me, texted me, or anything. At times like this it seems, to me, I don’t exist to her.

Enough ranting… I know God loves me and cares for me. I’ll be alright.

God bless. Be a friend. Let people know you care about them. Show others love and kindness.

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