To Be Comforted

He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 2 Corinthians 1:4

This is one of my favorite bible verses.

As I reflect back on a time in my life when I experienced deep hurt and pain (a miscarriage), I remember having not only my best friend (Dirk) beside me, but also having a group of very close friends there to comfort me.

I also remember a call (as if it was yesterday) from one of my friends. She'd called to ask if she could pray with me over the phone. For several weeks, I received many comforting phone calls, emails and cards.

This may not sound like much to most, but it brought me great comfort knowing that so many people were just a phone call away or the fact that they even cared.

Not all of us have this gift.

When I think of the "comforters" in my life, I also think of the qualities that each of them have; dependability, friendliness, patience, geniune, prayful, sympathetic, and just being a good listener.

I am so thankful that I can pick up the phone (since I don't know how to text) and call on a group of close friends to literally be there day or night to comfort me in a time when I may need them.

Everything I Needed

I really enjoyed reading this poem that a friend sent my way.
Thought I'd share it with you.
If only we would look at things this way more often, we'd be a lot happier.

I asked for strength
and God gave me difficulties to make me strong.

I asked for wisdom
and God gave me problems to solve.

I asked for prosperity
and God gave me brawn and brains to work.

I asked for courage
and God gave me dangers to overcome.

I asked for patience
and God placed me in situations where I was forced to wait.

I asked for love
and God gave me troubled people to help.

I asked for favors
and God gave me opportunities.

I received nothing I wanted
I received everything I needed.

My prayers have all been answered.

Author Unknown

Being Held Accountable

Here lately I have been hearing how important it is to have an accountability partner in our Christian life. Last week, one of our ministers preached on the benefits of having an accountability partner and one of the Christian radio stations that I listen to talked about the importance of having one, too. This has really gotten my attention to where I am constantly thinking about it.

I must admit, at the present time, I do not have an accountability partner (other than my husband and apparently I am not supposed to count him as my accountability partner for many different reasons). I do recognize the importance of having one, though. I've never really prayed to God about this either. I do think that it's time and so I have started praying specifically that God would put this person in my path and I would know without a doubt who she is.

As I read more materials to help me understand even more about obtaining an accountability partner, below is a list of qualities that an accountability partner should have;

Confidentiality, helping others overcome struggles, encouraging, lovingly confrontational, makes effort to help and pray, focused, looking out for the best for the other person, avoids lecturing, non-judgmental, grace-giver and tough love.

As many would agree, a good accountability partner is hard to find.

I must say that God must be moving me to a different (yet higher) level. I say this because I have been that person who would quickly say that I didn’t need an accountability partner. That is up until now that I understand the importance and also the benefits of having one.

Ecclesiastes 4: 9-10
“ Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work:
If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up.”

From the Mouths of Babes

We might think that this video is funny, but it's amazing that this two (?) year old has obviously been in church often enough to have this down.

Many of us could learn from his parents about raising a child in the church.

I really enjoyed looking at this video several times. I hope that it gives you a laugh as well.

One thing though, since I have music set up on my blog, before you start the video clip, go to the bottom of my screen and press the stop button to stop the music from playing so you will be able to hear the video. The stop button looks like this (II), just click on it and the music will stop.