Friendly

Proverbs 18:24 KJV A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

Most people would define friendly as being kind or helpful. For the most part, I think we are able to be friendly towards our friends because it's a beneficial relationship, but what about when it's not. What about when it's inconvenient? What about when we are offended or when we disagree? What about when we're tired or had a bad day? Are we still friendly? Are we still kind? Are we still helpful? Let's try to be like the friend that sticks closer than a brother. Let's try to be more like God. Let's try to be friendly.

Favored

There are a couple of names that come to mind when I think about being favored. Abram. Mary. Elizabeth. Joseph. We tend to think that somehow favor means that we won’t endure hardships. Not so. In fact, Mary saw her son crucified, and Joseph was sold into slavery. I am starting to think that favor has more to do with God’s ability to trust you with hardships. When you are favored, God knows you will lean into him during hardships instead of choosing to run away. God knows that the result of testing your faith, will make you a better witness and ultimately a better disciple. Have your found yourself in a season of testing? Have you felt like it was too much for you to bear? Ask yourself are you favored?

Full

Life is better when you’re full. Full of joy. Full of peace. Full of happiness. Your car rides better on a full tank. Your refrigerator looks better when its full.Babies sleep better on a full stomach. There is something about functioning at capacity. So, why do we try to operate out of an empty glass? Why do we ride on fumes? Why do we give more than we can afford? Mostly, because we’ve been conditioned by lack. We get used to not enough. We get used to disappointment. Change your mindset. You lack nothing. Ask. Seek. Receive. You are complete. You have more than enough. You operate out of your overflow. You are full.

Unconditional

We put so many conditions on our life. I like you, but... I would try this, but... I don’t have time to, but... But should be removed from our vocabulary. It is an excuse. We use it all the time to justify stunting our own growth. We should learn to exist without conditions. We should learn to live unconditionally. We should learn to love unconditionally. We should learn to be unconditional.

Uncomfortable

Greatness lies on the outside of your comfort zone. You have to be uncomfortable to do great things. You have to step into the unfamiliar. You have to do a new thing. You have to be open- minded. You have to be uncomfortable. I know it doesn’t feel good. You are all by yourself. It’s lonely. It’s different, but it’s good.

“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.”

- Neale Donald Walsch

Unpredictable

We are twenty-seven days into the new year, and there has been a lot of death. Some have been prepared for the losses that occurred, while others have been completely taken aback. Life is unpredictable. It is fragile. It is full of unknowns. Just like we don’t know the day or the hour for Christ’s return, we don’t know when we will be called home or how. We need to live every day to the fullest. Apologize. Forgive. Let go. Kiss and Hug your loved ones. You don’t know what day will be your last. Prepare. Plan. Make sure your affairs are in order. Have the difficult conversations while you still have time.

Matthew 24:36 NIV “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 

Discover

“Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.” Andre Gide

Fear of the unknown immobilizes us. In order to discover the mysteries of ourselves and the world around us, we must venture into the unknown. We have to try new things. We have to travel to new places. We have to experience something new. Discovery exists beyond our comfort zone. Sometimes, we need our hearts to race. We need to push past the fear. We need to discover.