MONDAY MOTTO

Monday motto is here again...To me Motto Monday is about putting a name to what God is talking to you about so that it is easily remembered for the week and a good way to get that bible reading in or getting connected to God.

Still trying to decide how exactly we are going to do this ...whether we post Monday Motto here or on the

F of L Facebook Page. This week I think I will post it on the FB Page. Tell us what you think. :0)

Click here: Monday Motto - Starla's Motto

Comment here or "LIKE" the Facebook page and post your Monday Motto

Thanks for joining us...

Starla Smith

Built on Love

FRIENDSHIPS that are built on and in LOVE.

While that is what we want with other people. What about a friendship of love with yourself. . . with God....

Here at Friendships of Love we promote 3 main things : KNOW, SHARE, SERVE

KNOW - in Hebrew it is Yada meaning to know in a relational sense. This word speaks of a deep sense of knowing. Intimate relationships require us to want to know others beyond a surface level, into a deeper, more intimate level. This is listening to others. Being interesting in them. Displaying a want to know who they are and what their life is about. This Yada is how God knows us - being able to look beyond the surface of our bodies into the innermost thoughts, attitudes and intents of the heart. If we want to know then being a good listener is a key to intimacy here. Asking questions and letting others know you are interested in them. That you want to know them by name - deeper than just an acquaintance, deeper than just the surface.


Psalms 139

We want to encourage you to KNOW GOD that way....dig into His Word and begin to ask questions.

We want to encourage you to KNOW YOURSELF this way...ask yourself the questions that you would ask another. Do you know what you like and dislike? Do you know how you think and what you think? Do you understand yourself?

We want to encourage you to KNOW OTHERS this way...by being a good listener and being genuinely interested in what another has to say.

SHARE - in the Hebrew it is Sod. This word means intimate as in self-discloser or making yourself known. It means to reveal or to disclose. This is being transparent. It is also vulnerable disclosure and creating the environment that allows people to take each other into confidences and share themselves openly. This is the kind of connection where you can share your weaknesses and the ways you protect and deal with yourself. It is revealing your innermost workings. This is being open with another about all our warts and scars and messed up thinking. The benefit is that we begin to see that the way we see is not always the greatest view and we begin to learn anew.

If you want to Yada (to know deeply) that would require another to do Sod (share themselves openly)

2 Cor 11:30, 12:9, and Heb 5:2

We encourage you to share yourself with God and others. Find someone with whom you can be YOU.
and lastly...

SERVE - in the Hebrew this is Sakan. It means to be of use or service, benefit or caring involvement.  This is providing of service to one another and the meeting of others needs and desires. This is being willing to enter into commitment with another person. This is being a friend.

Isa 58:10, Acts 20:34

If you want to do Yada (to know deeply) that requires another to so Sod (Share themselves opnly) and the point to doing this with each other is to be Sakan ( to be of use or service, to benefit, caring involvement) with one another through sharing, caring, praying for each other and walking together as companions.
We encourage you to BE A FRIEND.



 "A man that has friends must show himself friendly: and there
is a friend that sticks closer than a brother." Proverbs 18:24.

Tina & Starla Smith ( Sisters-in-Law and BFF's)

What's your type??

Personality type testing is a way to find out more about yourself and to have fun with a friend. We have been doing tests for years. If there is a test we have probably taken it...LOL

Check out our new tab  and HAVE FUN!!!

Take a little journey and discover YOU.

Tina & Starla Smith ( Sisters-in-Law and BFF's)

Random Questions

We have posted answers to random questions on our Bio pages.

Come check it out....

Find out what keeps us awake at night or maybe what no one knows about us. :0)

Curious yet?? LOL Click the tabs above.

Tina & Starla Smith ( Sisters-in-Law and BFF's)

Monday Motto

Hey here it is Monday Motto time. Tina and I write up a motto from our daily reading, writing, or thinking and post it on our FB group.
 Join us we would love to hear what God is talking to ya about....or just what is on your mind. or comment here too...anywhere is good with us :0) Please share.

So here they are ...our MOTTO's for this Monday

Tina's -- Rise above the mess and be blessed!
I am sitting here thinking about life in general and relationships I have with people & family. Ever feel disappointed because of the integrity that may be missing in some of your relationships? That was an issue I had to deal with recently. Feeling let down and not sure what to do. Even wondering if there is anything I can do about it. Came to one conclusion: I am going to let go and let God. Sometimes there are no immediate answers and time is your best friend. Wait for God to open a door of opportunity to restore the relationships that are broken. The perfect time to speak is the time that a person is willing to hear you. Love does not force its way into peoples lives it is simply a choice & a life style. Give them reasons to believe that we all are in search of love and that you care about them! Pick up the phone, send a card, or take them out to their favorite place to eat.


Spread love around! = )

Starla's --Don't Flatter


Prov 28:23 He who rebukes a man will find more favor afterward than he who flatters with the tongue.

I had an interesting conversation this morning that brought this verse to life for me. I was in the middle of reading my proverbs--and I hadn't had anything stand out to me for Monday Motto yet, but after that conversation I continued reading and came upon this verse.

I have often thought of flattering as just saying nice things that you don't really mean by insincere praise or attention ....but what if flattering is also not speaking the truth in the moment. Like when you know someone is not listening to what you have to say. So instead of saying " I don't think you are listening to what I am saying to you?" you stop talking and let the moment pass. You walk away from the conversation feeling like you weren't heard and you have a little chip on your shoulder about that person.

To flatter is also to represent favorably; gratify by falsification. When we just smile and move on, or go silent and move on when inside we are hurt by being ignored or unheard are we actually flattering by representing the situation as a favorable (*smile) situation, or gratifying by falsification (people - pleasing) - instead of saying the truth of the matter --ARE WE FLATTERING?

I never saw it that way until today.

The world tells us to be polite. It tells us as women that we should be nice and we will earn the favor and recognition we seek from others. BUT the bible tells us that if we want true favor we will speak the truth!!!

With love,

Tina & Starla Smith ( Sisters-in-Law and BFF's)