Friends in Need

I have some friends who are in need of some special love and attention.  They're going through some bad times and can't see beyond them to how beautiful their lives can be if they will just trust.

I rely heavily on you, my blogger friends.  We all probably know more about each other than friends who meet face to face on a regular basis.  We really spill our feelings and emotions into our posts, knowing that others will only read it if they're truly interested.  Unlike a face to face encounter, where the person on the other side of the table could possibly feel that they're a captived audience.

I love y'all and I need every one of you. Truly.  I would be deeply hurt if I found that something had happened to you that kept you from me here.  Each of you adds something new and different to my days.

We all want to be understood and know that there's really and truly someone cares.  I try to understand and I really care.

If I tell you that I'm praying for you, feel 100% positive that your name is lifted up to Jesus daily.

If I say that I've wondered how you are and if things are going all right because you haven't checked in, then I truly have wondered.

Jesus knows all the nitty gritty about us.  Every little detail, good or bad, right or wrong, happy or sad.  He knows and He still loves us. We don't have to spill forth all the details to him.  In order for us to be understood by our eartly acquaintances, it's different.  We have to actually tell them what's going on.  We risk rejection or being misunderstood, but that's what we need to do.  How else will things come into clarity if everything isn't brought out into the open.  It can be quite therapeutic to talk it out.  Not to hold it in, but to actually put thoughts and ideas out onto the air.

I'm inspired by the writings of Nancie Carmichael.  I'm right now going through her abook "The Comforting Presence of God".  Many of my thoughts here were inspired by things I've read from her book.

She says, "I can be part of others' healing by having the courage to respond to the honest feelings they express.  Once I have done that, I can pray for them more fervently."  I pray for many in general terms but to know more details, prayers can be more specific.

A prayer from the book:

Give us the courage to be open with others---to receive Your love and grace from them as we see and speak the truth about ourselves.  And then, Lord, to offer healing and garace to others by offering them our presence and our prayers.

Amen

James 5:16

"Confess your faults to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed."

Bless you.

This post was inspired by the writings of Nancie Carmichael.