I’ve been thinking a lot lately on friendship with God. In this friendship with Him, God has opened my eyes to things around me that I had not noticed in the past. He is truly a great and committed friend.
As I consider friendship, I also think of other relationships in my life that I am thankful for – my best friend is my wife; my children are truly a blessing to spend time with; the FOTBWNY crew is a great group of die-hards who love to pray, worship, and love Jesus; and there are also the friends we have at church (Niagara Falls Vineyard). I really enjoy these relationships that God has placed in my life. I am more and more thankful for the ups and downs that I’ve encountered with all the friends who are in my life right now. If forgiveness were a muscle, I’d say we’ve all had quite a workout during the time we’ve grown to know each other as friends.
In January 1998, my life was given brand new meaning. That year is when I had a significant encounter with Jesus. I felt ready to begin life anew and ready to learn more about this mysterious Trinity – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I think we were near a place called Thunder Rock in Alleghany State Park (if I remember correctly). This was day two of our weekend retreat . There was several of us from a UB campus ministry group that wanted to know God more, so we did the extreme – we went on a weekend retreat to spend time away from everything else, and to dedicate time with God. We had time for bible study, prayer for each other, and fun time by the campfire. We also did something I didn’t expect – we went for a walk out in the woods to focus our attention on God. That’s when it happened for me. The Holy Spirit met me out there in the woods. On my knees crying my eyes out, I felt the Holy Spirit’s presence in an amazingly tangible way.
Dreams. Visions. Prophecy. Prayer. Fasting. I couldn’t get enough information about these topics after this retreat; after that encounter with the Holy Spirit. I had to know more about this Holy Spirit who came and turned me inside out. I had to know more about this Jesus who loved me so much. I had to know who this kind and gentle Father is in heaven. I dove into ANY and EVERY book I could find on these topics and I continually found myself returning to the Bible and to the simplicity of prayer. Much of that time period is a blur for me because there was so much good and bad that happened during the learning process (that’s where forgiveness has taken place).
One thing remains vivid on my heart during that time period – my intimate friendship with Jesus. When I looked for Him, He was there. I could find Him in the highs and in the lows. He was always with me, guiding me and cheering me on as I stumbled and fumbled my way forward.
Today, more than ten years later, here I sit with my children getting ready for bed… all of them have some likeness of me. I enjoy being with these four little ones that God has given my wife and I. I enjoy seeing how they have such a simple devotion to mom and dad, and the simple yet rich depth to the relationships we are building with each other individually and as a family. God has used these little ones so many times to reveal something of who HE IS to me, and something of who I am to Him. Many times these revelations are about how I’m made in His likeness, and how He has such an enjoyment with MY baby steps in my life with Him and with my family. He is the smiling happy God who loves to watch me grow.
Malachi 4:5-6 says, “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers.”
How humbling it is that such a Mysterious, Holy, Majestic, and Beautiful God desires such simple, yet rich, depth to my friendship with Him. He is truly committed to each one of us beyond what we could imagine. He is drawing my heart to Him and to my children as I continue to wonder at his Beauty and Mystery. My prayer is that fathers in FOTBWNY and fathers in the churches in this area would set their hearts and minds on the Triune God, and position themselves to pursue the knowledge of Him (Prov 2:1-9). The time is at hand for us to “go deep” in the things of God.
- Kevin
A good reminder of His friendship. I think that’s 1 of the things I tend to forget about. God is so multi-faceted & for some reason I forget the friend aspect of His character. Something for me to pray about I guess. Thank you Kev!
Amen, Kevin.
It is in these simple relationships that God’s unsearchable nature is unveiled to me so often…especially lately. Family, blood…and then eternal family or, most friends. The pangs of love and of hurt, of offense and of forgiveness run deep when it involves those to whom we are bound forever!
Like a sledgehammer hitting a nail…the revelations of a loyal, devoted friend in God/Jesus/the Holy Spirit hit me to the core. He’s a God that does not run away, does not accuse…rather He wraps accepting, gentle arms around us…welcoming us in our weakness, even bidding us to come closer the weaker we feel.
WOW! That’s single-minded focus and devotion. That’s staying friendship.
Please…come Spirit of Elijah! We beseech you! We NEED this in our lives! We need the hearts of fathers and of children to be so deeply in love with You… to be You in each others’ lives…to be willing to be transformed into your likeness, like a pliable metal melting into the shape of a beautiful mould.
Let us go deeper, FOTBWNY! Let us be that preciously, intricately shaped metal…each one in each of our own circles. And God, empower us, we pray. Help me…I pray.
Wow, Shulamite. Well written! Amen!