3 Friends to Be Thankful For

Focused on my computer, admiring one of my myriad Japanese study tools... my phone went off.

*bleep**beep**beeep*

Then my computer joined in a timed beeping chorus as well.

*bleep**beep**beeep**bleep**beep**beeep*

Now, it's real. 😅

Finally, seeing the caller's name appear on screen calmed my nerves a great deal.

Just a good friend calling for a quick chat.

We are wired for friendship. A friend's call is always preferable to Amazon or the city office. Why?

Spurgeon said it best:

“Friendship is one of the sweetest joys of life. Many might have failed beneath the bitterness of their trial had they not found a friend.”

The Passionate One

Pick up the call, and it's Passion Sensei. A nickname well earned by his middle school students. Brimming with spirited electricity, you hear it translated in our Sunday services.

A reason he calls: To make sure his students are learning proper English grammar. The level of commitment he has even to the small details of his English tests inspires me.

So motivated, often he calls about two, three different questions in the same night. Mind you, his English communication skills are already among the highest percentile!

Hard work paired with enthusiasm. That's zeal! A trait God honors, commitment to excellence. With the right heart, that's working for the Lord and not man.

We are all emboldened by these friends. I can imagine Barnabas was an encouraging friend like this.

The Faithful One

It's my turn to pick up the ol' android device and call another friend. And he is there, man. Every time. If he can make it, despite a demanding job in the financial sector, he will come.

"Can you come to Sunday morning service early to help lead the media team?" Check. "Let's go pray for people in our neighborhood on Sunday afternoon." He's there with a smile. "Let's fly to Mexico and serve" The first one to sign up. We traveled halfway around the globe together.

What a reflection of the nature of God this friend is! Thank you for him.

Always there for us. Proof of Immanuel. As Immanuel proves, God is always faithful to be with us. Jesus cannot be inconsistent in his nature.

Praise God for friends like this, I pray you have them as well.

The Faith-filled One

What a treasured friend is the one who takes the Bible at its word. Praying big prayers, to a massive God with expectations of all the best.

That friend who looks like Abraham and the powerful prophets. A compelling, but not a prideful friend. For they realize the greatness of God is in His movements of grace.

"Why do you look at us, as though by our piety we have done this."

The Faith-Filled One lives a life that points to the great I Am. You can't help but see His holy shining radiance through their humble confidence in Him.

'Tis the season of thankfulness.

My prayer is that this would spark an ongoing season of gratefulness in each of us. Thanking Jesus for all our treasured friends and family members daily. He's the friend that sticks closer than a brother, after all.

These are the friends that help you fulfill God's plan in your life. Friends working in unity to see all of Japan understand that Jesus is alive because His Body has served them. So that they would know, He is good and loves them fiercely.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! 🦃

Which kinds of friends are major anchors in your life?