A Month to Cherish Friendships

Friend, praise the Lord! I know that God has kept you well up till now. We are already in the Month of October. It is amazing how this year has gone so fast. Friend, I decree that even though there are hardly three months left to the end of the year, that which the Lord has destined and purposed for you will not pass you by in Jesus mighty name. Amen.

My wife and I are well. We are always pleased when we hear from you and are incredibly blessed by your testimonies. We continue to covet your prayers.

This Month is A Month to Cherish Friendships!

The Bible tells us in the book of Proverbs that “…but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24(b)).

This month, purpose to cherish the friendships you have.

A True Friend

This past month, a dear friend of ours went to be with the Lord. She was a very special person and what I will remember most about her was her love for others. The love of God for others radiated through her and was contagious. Even when she was admitted to the hospital some weeks before she went to the Lord, she never ceased to share the Gospel and encourage those in the same ward with her as well as those of us who spoke to her over the phone. Mrs. Davies is the wife of Pastor Davies who writes the Monthly Articles that has been on this site for years. Together they have ensured that no month went by without them sending in an article. (View the articles). My wife and I loved her very much. The Lord has not only used her to be a blessing to us but through her life we have been taught many lessons on friendship. She lived in Australia, but true friendship is not limited by distance and true friendship never fails!

In this month of cherishing friendships, let us look at some qualities of friendship:-

True Friendship

Transcends Age – True Friendship is not limited by age. You can be a young John Mark but a very close friend of Peter, or a young Joshua and yet a friend to Moses. Mrs. Davies was over eighty years old but we loved her and cherished our friendship. Friend, may the Lord bring true friends your way in Jesus Mighty Name, Amen.
Transcends Color – God is no respecter of persons. He can use anyone of any race or color to be a blessing to you. Understanding this is a key to true friendship.
Transcends Time – Years after the death of Jonathan, David still asks in 2 Samuel 9:1 “ …Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan's sake?” . Friend, time never kills true friendship. May the Lord bring your way friends who will stand with you through “thick and thin” in Jesus mighty name, Amen.
Is blood tight – Friendship sealed in the blood of Jesus Christ is strong and resilient. Jesus Christ is a Great Unifier. Just knowing that we are blood brothers because of what Jesus Christ accomplished for us on the cross is a great joy which makes our bond greater.
Is with actions - Faith without actions is dead. The same applies to true friendship. Without actions, there is no true friendship. May the Lord help us to show our commitment to our friends not only by word but also by deed.

Never dies

Even though our loved ones close their eyes in death, we are confident that one day we will see them again. The Apostle Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” When our friend, Mrs. Davies, was about to die, she knew it and she told the family members that were around her bed that she is not fearful but hopeful and after blessing them she closed her eye and departed to glory. “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” 1 Corinthians 15:55. “… the righteous has hope in death.” Proverbs 14:32b.

This month, celebrate the friends God has brought your way. Let them know that you appreciate them and cherish their friendship.We kindly ask you to remember Pastor Davies and his family in your prayers. Pray that God will comfort them and continue to make His face shine upon them and grant them peace. Amen.

We cherish you as our dear friend; we love you and ask that the Lord continually glorify Himself in your life in Jesus precious name. Amen.

God bless you and keep you this month in Jesus name, Amen,

Remain blessed,

Bro. Chester