My friends are users!!!

When I think about some of the rough seasons I have been through in my life I look at how I was able to make it through these storms. It is the friends and family that God has strategically placed around me.
There are people in my life, people who use their love to be my covering.
They use what they know about me to encourage me.
They use their time to cheer for me.
They use the power of prayer to battle for me. 
They use the word family when they count me as a loved one. 
They use wisdom and know me from the inside. 
They use their heart to see my struggles and do not allow me to give up. 
They use their strength to lift me up when I am down. 
They know when I am winning, losing, hurting or need without my saying a word.
They have the capability to see me as beautiful even when I can not.
Small or large amounts of time may pass but there is no love loss
I try to be as much of a friend to everyone as these are so precious to me. 
Even the word friend just doesn't seem to be the word that describes them. Loved one is more like it!
Every bad mistake or choice in my life is blurry when I look at who God chose to surround me with during it.
And if these storms never end, thats just ok, because I have all of you!
You know who you are and I love you
I thank my God upon every remembrance of you ~Phil 1:3
Kel

1 Corinthians 13:1-3
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

If you say "I will pray for you" do you actually do it?

Have you ever told someone that you would pray for them but never did?
When someone is hurting, needing healing or is in a storm and you offer to pray for them then you are becoming part of an agreement, part of the way out for that person. 


The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 4:12:
 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

When someone is being overpowered that is when they need help. What if you were one of that cord of three.


I heard a song today while I was working by Josh Wilson called "I refuse" and although I have heard it a hundred times today I actually heard it for the first time . 
It talks about just this and waiting for others to do what you can do.
For me it seems right now that many of my friends are battling big battles. 
Children with terminal illnesses, upcoming surgeries and bad doctor reports, job needs, financial needs and more.
I am choosing to pray for all of them. 
When my kids go to bed and I have finished all my mother duties I will be in my quiet place going to battle for all who have asked me 
and some who I know need it but wont ask because they dont know they need it and that's just ok too. 
I might come out limping but If I have said that I will pray for you then count on me.


 Below are the lyrics from Josh Wilson's song "I Refuse"
I Refuse
Sometimes I, I just want to close my eyes
And act like everyone's alright
When I know they're not
This world needs God, but it's easier to stand and watch
I could pray a prayer and just move on
Like nothing's wrong

But I Refuse


I don't want to live like I don't care
I don't want to say another empty prayer
Oh, I refuse to sit around and wait for someone else
To do what God has called me to do myself
I could choose not to move
But I refuse

I can hear the least of these, crying out so desperately
And I know we are the hands and feet of You, oh God
So if You say move, it's time for me to follow through
And do what I was made to do
And show them who You are

I don't want to live like I don't care
I don't want to say another empty prayer
Oh, I refuse to sit around and wait for someone else
To do what God has called me to do myself
I could choose not to move
But I refuse

I refuse to stand and watch the weary and lost cry out for help
I refuse to turn my back and try and act like all is well
I refuse to stay unchanged, to wait another day to die to myself
I refuse to make one more excuse

I don't want to live like I don't care
I don't want to say another empty prayer
Oh, I refuse to sit around and wait for someone else
To do what God has called me to do myself
I could choose not to move
But I refuse