Pick Your Friends Wisely

By Dr. James MacDonald

The righteous should choose his friends carefully. Proverbs 12:26

The old saying is right, “you’re known by the company you keep.” The corollary to this truth is-so pick your friends wisely.

Proverbs 12:26 clearly warns, “The righteous should choose his friends carefully.” Not everyone is good friendship material so we’ve got to be mindful of this counsel. Like another old saying Paul quotes in 1 Corinthians 15:33, “Bad company corrupts good morals.” No matter your age, your friends will affect your life for good or for bad.

I remember my first day of high school. I walked into that big building feeling lost in the crowd. I knew I needed to make friends fast but was overwhelmed by the many options.

I saw students from the music department; they were talented, but kind of isolated unto themselves. There were the brainiacs. I knew right away I would never fit into that group. I saw the jocks walking down the hallway, acting like they had it all together. Maybe they’d be good friends; maybe they wouldn’t. There were the geeks who seemed pretty uncool to my young eyes. (This was long before Bill Gates made his billions and changed the perception.) Then there were the druggies, who hung out behind the cafeteria, pretending they were having fun but actually striking out against some internal pain.

Here’s the point: after all the years since then, when I think meet people from high school, the similarities are amazing. They have almost all tracked in the direction of the group they chose to associate with in high school. They became like the people they hung around with.

So do we all.

It follows then that you need to choose your friends wisely. Whether you’re a high school freshman or an empty-nester in your fifties-choose who you would like to become. Don’t just let work associations or next-door neighbor proximity dictate who you spend the bulk of your time with. Don’t let a chance meeting, or family ties, or even the church you go to determine that for you. Make deliberate choices about who you want to invest in and who rubs off on you. Decide the kind of people you need to associate with, the ones who will be your real, heartfelt, lots-of-time-together friends. Then choose them and love them.

Leadership Summit [interview with Bono]

I finished reading several posts from Tony Morgan and I would highly recommend spending some time on his site. It's quite informative, inspiring and thought provoking. If you a few minutes check out the recap on the Bill Hybels and Bono interview.

I need thee every hour

This morning I listened to this hymm (I need thee every hour), which was re-recorded by Jars of Clay and available on thier CD "Redemptive Songs"

I need thee every hour, most gracious Lord
No tender voice like thine can peace afford
I need thee, oh, I need thee
Every hour I need thee
Oh bless me now, my Savior
I come to thee

I need thee every hour, stay thou nearby
Temptations lose their power when thou art nigh
I need thee, oh, I need thee
Every hour I need thee
Oh bless me now, my Savior
I come to thee

I need thee every hour, in joy or pain
Come quickly and abide or life is vain

I need thee every hour, most Holy One
Oh make me thine indeed, thou blessed Son
I need thee, oh, I need thee
Every hour I need thee
Oh bless me now, my Savior
I come to thee

Yes, I CAN!

This devotional was written by Kelly McFadden

You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.—Hebrews 10:36

On a cliff overlooking the sea in Cornwall, England, sits a theater built into the rocks. If you were to see a picture of this theater, you might immediately assume that many workers and machines built this picturesque place. However, you would be wrong, for it was the work of one woman by the name of Rowena Cade, who spent the better part of her life planning, building and funding her vision. She spent from 1931 until 1983 building, rebuilding and creating a magic environment on the cliffs of Cornwall to give theater lovers an unparalleled experience. To this day, visitors from all over the world sit in the hand-carved seats and enjoy various productions.

People must have thought Ms. Cade was crazy to spend her days carving seats out of stone to create this theater. It reminds me a bit of Noah. Remember that God gave him the task (and not a small one for that matter!) to build an ark. He built an ark that would hold at least two of every animal and would survive 40 days and 40 nights in the biggest storm in history. Can you imagine what his neighbors thought? What would you do if you came out of your home to see a man building a giant ship? If you are anything like me, you would lock your doors up tight at night and warn the police about your crazy neighbor.

Unwavering vision and perseverance are what I believe people like Rowena Cade and Noah have. Vision that does not waver. Vision that is steadfast. No one can tell them they are inept, no one can tell them they can’t – they won’t hear it. They know what they intend to do and they head forward with determination and a steadfastness to complete their task.

So what does the Lord have for you? What vision has He given you? To what purpose have you been called? I believe each of us has a unique purpose that is waiting to be discovered. When you pray, ask the Lord to show you what He has for your life. And when He tells you what that vision is: Motherhood, speaking, evangelism, teaching, serving…hold onto it. Cling and press on with unwavering determination. For if you do, in the end, His will and purpose will be accomplished and He will have been able to use you for greatness in His kingdom.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Many people have visions and dreams, but not all of them come to fruition. What do you think is the difference between the people who think and the people who do?

2. How can you be someone who accomplishes his or her dreams and not just someone who dreams them?

FURTHER READING:
Genesis 7:11-12; Hebrews 10:35-39; 1 Timothy 4:11-16