Friends are the people who smile with you. They laugh with you. They cry with you. Friends are the people you can count on being there for you when the world turns you away. In the last few months I have been noticing how important friends are on our journey.

I have had a few friends who have had some difficult issues over the last few months. The issues varied as did their intensity. Yet, I found myself drawn to allowing my friends to lean on me. In between these trials, I have tried to offer laughter and smiles to lighten the load. Then there are the days when my shoulder has been dampened with many tears. You know, there are those days when smiles seem a lifetime away.

Most recently some friends have had some touchy adversity. Why does it seem that it is easier to be a friend when the adversity will be over in the blink of an eye. You don’t mind carrying the load when the load is light and you know it will be over quickly. But what about when the load is heavy and there is no resting place in site? Why is that so difficult to be a strong friend?

What I have realized is that God has something to say about this. Firstly, He never gives us more than we can bare. When those times come that you feel as if you can’t handle it on your own, He carries. Sometimes the carrying is by placing a friend in your life who is willing to carry you for as long as you need, regardless of the weight of the trial. These are the times that truly build not only our relationship with our friend, but our relationship with God.

When we listen to God and follow His principles, He carries those of us that He places to carry others. It is amazing to me that when I place everything at His feet, including helping me to have the right words, the wisdom, and the appropriate heart to serve the needs of a friend in need, He answers. Oh how heavy my heart can grieve for the sadness of a friend, and then *POOF* He removes the heaviness from my heart and replaces it with what my friend needs.

On your journey it is important to be a good friend. Being a good friend includes being there in whatever way your friend needs for service. But it also means that you should expect nothing in return. Let God work through your friends. You will know your friends by the fruits of their life. God promises us that the fruit of others will be clearly visible for us to discern those we can count on as friends. Show your fruit everyday in the way that God commands.

These are my thoughts.

Normally I wouldn’t start a blog post this late at night, but after seeing this article on One News Now I just had to pass it on, it is that important.

Too many times in this secular world we Christians are seen as intolerant, old fashioned, and out dated. The secular world doesn’t seem to want our view point, because they don’t think we can still add value to this life, or to this world. Of course they couldn’t be more wrong, as we “add” the proclaiming of the Good News of Jesus Christ to this world, recounting the ultimate sacrifice He made for us while we were yet sinners. We should bear witness to the fact that we cannot do anything to earn this gift, yet it is freely given.

Well, today the US Government, which over the last few years has not stood behind it’s Christian roots, lent credence to how, in at least one area, Jesus Christ and His church do make this world a better place. Under a grant from the Department of Justice The Center for Marriage and Families published a report by University of Virginia Sociologist Bradford Wilcox which shows how men who regularly attend church get divorced less, have happier marriages, and spend more and better time with their children. For details you can check out the article, which includes a link to the actual report.

I am so blessed to have a loving church family in my life to help me grow not only in the Love and Teachings of Jesus Christ, but also as a Father, Husband, and Man. I hope you will point to this study when one of your pre-Christian friends begins criticizing the church about it’s lack of contribution to society. Better yet, maybe you should just witness to them about how it has helped you. Think about it.