Faith, Family and Friends

We have all visited local craft stores where a sign that reads, ”Faith Family & Friends” was available to buy. I’m sure they are hanging in many homes, cottages and gardens. I’d bet it’s even available as a tattoo, bumper sticker, or a page saver for a computer. It’s a cute catchy saying for sure, yet I wonder how many people take the time to let the importance of these three little words sink in. Do we allow a mental picture to appear in our head of someone’s face that this reminds them of? I’m sure that many of us do just that.

I have come to realize that these are very powerful gifts that God has given each of us. Faith, is the gift of accepting and believing in something or someone we cannot see, or fully understand, yet know in our hearts. Family, is a group of people in our lives, hearts, mind and soul, either by birth, or by choice and association. And finally Friends, people we come in contact during our lifetime, who are not blood, yet may as well be because of our relationship with them.

Whether we acknowledge Him or not, God has gifted us with these so we may see the proof of His existence, and realize that His presence is all around us. We have never met Him in the physical sense, yet through accepting all of these, we can and will come into a most personal intimate relationship with Him. When trials and triumphs of our lives come upon us, and we speak to Jesus, giving thanks in all of these times, we are telling God that we are relying on Him for everything. As we follow His Word and example, we are demonstrating our faith in Him as our savior and redeemer. When we face challenges to our health, finances, or spiritual wellbeing, our blood and faith family are there to care and support in any way they can. And when situations in life call for them, our friends outside of our faith circle are there doing what they do best, and that’s being loyal friends

Perhaps now when we see or hang one of these signs, we can all have a greater appreciation of what the words actually say, and for who actually gave us the gifts.

Mike Shindruk

www.mastershandministry.blogspot.ca