The Art of Friendship What Friendship Means in

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The Art of Friendship What Friendship Means in Our Relationships with Others and with

The Art of Friendship What Friendship Means in Our Relationships with Others and with God By Lou Kinzer Blanchfield For General Conference Women’s Ministries

◦ What kinds of blessings do people miss because they don't have close friends?

◦ What kinds of blessings do people miss because they don't have close friends? ◦ What blessings come when you and I do have close friends?

LIFE IS TO BE FORTIFIED BY MANY FRIENDSHIPS. TO LOVE, AND TO BE LOVED,

LIFE IS TO BE FORTIFIED BY MANY FRIENDSHIPS. TO LOVE, AND TO BE LOVED, IS THE GREATEST HAPPINESS OF EXISTENCE. —Sydney Smith

The Desire of the Ages, p. 148 says: “But the gifts of Jesus are

The Desire of the Ages, p. 148 says: “But the gifts of Jesus are ever fresh and new. The feast that He provides for the soul never fails to give satisfaction and joy. Eachnew gift increases the capacity of the receiver to appreciate and enjoy the blessings of the Lord. He gives grace for grace. There can be no failure of supply. If you abide in Him, the fact that you receive a rich gift today insures the reception of a richer gift tomorrow. The words of Jesus to Nathanael express the law of God's dealing with the children of faith. With every fresh revelation of His love, He declares to the receptive heart, 'Believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these. '

◦ Jobs take us away from our friendship circles. ◦ Our lives become busy

◦ Jobs take us away from our friendship circles. ◦ Our lives become busy with making a living, building our own families, and we find less and less time to cultivate friendships. ◦ We also find fewer people who share like beliefs, and like interests. ◦ If we are married, our best friend then must have a spouse who is compatible with our spouse.

2 Corinthians 5: 17 -19, TEV 17 Anyone who is joined to Christ is

2 Corinthians 5: 17 -19, TEV 17 Anyone who is joined to Christ is a new being; the old is gone, the new has come. 18 All this is done by God, who through Christ changed us from enemies into His friends and gave us the task of making others His friends also. 19 Our message is that God was making all human beings His friends through Christ. God did not keep an account of their sins, and He has given us the message which tells how He makes them His friends.

God's model for building friendship is found in John 15: 12 -17.

God's model for building friendship is found in John 15: 12 -17.

principles for building friendship

principles for building friendship

1. Communicate Warmth in Your Friendship “I have loved thee with an everlasting love,

1. Communicate Warmth in Your Friendship “I have loved thee with an everlasting love, therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee. ” —Jeremiah 31: 3, KJV

2. Assign a Top Priority to Your Friendship “And you are my friends if

2. Assign a Top Priority to Your Friendship “And you are my friends if you do what I command you. ” —John 15: 14, TEV

“Come to Me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and

“Come to Me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. ” —Matthew 11: 2830, TEV.

3. Create Openness in Your Friendship In God's model for friendship, John tells us

3. Create Openness in Your Friendship In God's model for friendship, John tells us how He has created an open relationship with us: “No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you” (John 15: 15, NKJV).

“This then is what I prescribe for you: love one another. ” —John 15:

“This then is what I prescribe for you: love one another. ” —John 15: 17, TEV