Thinking OUT LOUD

"A friend is a person with whom I may be sincere. Before him I may think aloud."



- Ralph Waldo Emerson
 
For me in order to set my thoughts straight I tend to speak them out loud. Over the years I had learned to keep my thinking to myself (being the more introverted type as it is) I often had anxiety over what others may think if I said what I thought out loud.
 
Something wonderful happens when you have a friend. When trust builds between you. When the walls come down. When the fear subsides. When you begin to feel safe in the mind and heart of another. When you can THINK OUT LOUD in front of someone else.
 
I think at those times is when we may be a little more vulnerable than at any other times...when we haven't fully formulated what we really think about something. It is a time when you may find you have a faulty thought pattern. You may look silly or unlearned. You may be raw and unkind in your judgements.
 
BUT to your FRIEND - you are just THINKING :0)
 
Be thankful today for someone who you call friend. Send out a prayer of thanks and give them a call today and just say thank you for being MY FRIEND!!
 
F & L'er 
 - Starla

Read Between The Lines

Ever feel like you may be missing something?  The same thing happening over and over again?  I have been dealing with just that over and over again and keep wondering why does it have to be like this?  Coming back to the same conclusion time and time again.  Ding Dong!  Mountain experience, again!  You know just like the Israelites round and round the mountain they went...   I have to make myself stop and focus on purpose.  One thought at a time and allow it to process.  Ask myself questions and refuse to react but make sure I act.  One thing I have told myself over and over again when dealing with people is that you teach people how to treat you.  I am a firm believer in that.  I am responsible for me and I can not control nobody but myself.

Being mistreated is hard to take especially when it come in pairs or seems to be everywhere you turn that day or week.  Even more painful when it is coming from those people you love and want to be close with.  Like the old saying goes when it rains it pours.  I had just that over the holiday weekend to an unbelievable degree that just had me feeling like I was in a funk and totally drained.  Pulling myself back up again and doing my self check in order to do what needs to be done physically, emotionally, spiritually, socially and respectfully.  Do what is right despite what I feel...it is a challenging choice that has to be made.

A refreshing mental oasis with (The Truth) Christ!  What I mean is not as religious as it sounds.  I find that when I read God's Word it brings me back where I belong by balancing out my thinking.  Clears away the junk.  NO longer entangled by the disorder and confusion but relieved by the clarity of mind and truth that sets us free. Two words have stuck in my mind for some time now, so I thought I would just look it up and see what I find.  Then decided I  wanted to share it because it was so informing to me and hope it is to you too. 

oasis-  

1.  fertile land in desert: fertile ground in a desert where the level of underground water rises to or near ground level, and where plants grow and travelers can replenish water supplies 
2.  place or time of relief: a place or period that gives relief from a troubling or chaotic situation 

Fruit for thought: When we are level or balanced we are able to grow and be replenish. 

desert-

1. Lifeless place

2. A deprived place.

a place or situation that is devoid of some desirable thing or overwhelmed by an undesirable thing

Fruit for thought: When we ignore and choose not deal with issues/feelings we become out of balance, overwhelmed and end up with undesirable results.

Either one we choose, they are both contagious.  Reminds me of another saying I used to hear often, "What comes around goes around."   Or like God would say, "You reap what you sow."  Everything we do or say is spreading something to others.  We instill and spread what we think, say, feel and act towards all  those around us.   Introduce people to life not death by using the right kind of Wisdom...

Next I want to share my favorite scriptures that help me so much when I feel tormented by peoples words and my thoughts that entertain those words spoken.   A reality check that sets me free instead of being dominated by emotion.

James 3:10-20 (New International Version)

¹⁰Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. ¹¹Can both fresh water and salt^[a] water flow from the same spring? ¹²My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

Two Kinds of Wisdom

 ¹³Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. ¹⁴But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. ¹⁵Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. ¹⁶For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
 ¹⁷But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. ¹⁸Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

I find it interesting how God asks us a question in verse 13.  Who?  And adds be aware of what is around you.   Then He is telling us to THINK and to pay attention to peoples deeds.  The next thing he gives us is keys to discernment along with a goal to be peacemakers and sow in peace in order to raise a harvest of righteousness.  All that we do is like the tide in the ocean, we see where it begins but do not know where it ends.  It blows me away when I think about how long the Bible has been here and who knows but God how many people it has affected.  Amazing thought that will last on into eternity.
Here are 5 P's that help me.  I actually have them posted in my kitchen to remind myself of the truth whenever I need it right now. = )
1. Permission- Jesus has sent us.
2. Power- The name of Jesus is our covering.  Expect opposition.
3. Provision- He is our provider.  Keep a positive attitude.
4. Protection- "Pray it home". Fight the battle with prayer.  God will supply.
5. Perspective- Stay close to others.  "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: if one falls down, his friend can help him up"  (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)

Tina Smith

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)