Category: Friendship

Why Your Friendships Change When You Reach Midlife (And What You Can Do About It.)

Friendship is a channel of Jesus’ love extended to and through us. Each phase of life comes with a new battering ram and a different perspective. As we get older, we have the potential to view life through a wiser lens. Experience on earth’s soil brings us closer to God when we continue to seek Him through it, daily.

Friendships change with the phases of life that we go through. Some friendships shift and change characteristics, and others grow alongside each other. By midlife, friendships may have seen a few phases of change.

Proverbs 17:17 says “A friend loves at all times.” Sometimes this is more difficult than it was before, but friendship within the love of Christ is worth the effort. These friendships help us traverse through each season of our lives.

Here are 10 reasons why friendships change around midlife and what you can do about it. Click here to continue reading …


Advertisements

MegLeave a comment

The Ice Circles (#jammed daily devo, day 350)

December #jammed: Grace, gifted.

Day 350: Let it Go.

“I will never again remember…” Hebrews 10:17

“I can’t believe we’re having this conversation again …” I droned, and my daughter’s DECJAM16eyeball conquered. We spend a lot of time discussing the same issues.

“What should I do, mom?” she asked.

“Be kind, and include,” I repeated, after deleting all of the other thoughts and sentiments I swirling around in my head.

“Remember, it’s not about what we want to do,” I told her, “but what we’re here on this earth to do.”

Later that morning, I had noticed some ice circles on my walk. Strange, how the ice just froze in circles like that. “That’s what all these never-ending lessons remind me of …” I thought to myself, “frozen circles.”

 

When our patience comes under rapid-fire, as Christians we are called to keep our cool.

Today’s verse quotes a prophecy about a day when the Lord would no longer require sacrifice for sin.

“The day is coming,” says the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant” (Jeremiah 31:31) …And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.”(Jeremiah 31:34)

It’s repeated in the New Testament, as are a lot of OT prophesies. There’s a lot to be said, and a lot that’s been studied, about repetitive behavior. These conversations that we repeat with our children are opportunities disguised as annoyance. As Christians, we live our lives in repetitive format. Each day, spending time in prayer and the Word, and then applying it to our lives the best we humanly can.

The very fact that Scripture is repetitive should tip us off to the fact that God has us wired to be creatures of habit and routine.

The next time we can’t believe we’re having “that” conversation again, let’s try to remember that it’s simply a parental process of repetition. The seeds we’re planting need time to grow and mistakes to be applied to.

Our children are listening. Our God is speaking. He remembers us, but forgets our sin.

He’s cleared off the mess of sacrifice so that we can fill that space with what He’s repeating to us, now. “I will never again remember….” so that we can accept forgiveness, and focus on the good fight of faith.

Jesus’ birth changed everything. It’s a story to be repeated for all time. He took the weight of sacrifice off of us, and bore that burden until He squashed it on the cross. Christmas is a time to repeat the magnitude of His birth. Freeze that circle. Repeat that story. Let it keep moving and growing and revealing more and more with each rotation.

click to tweet graph, dec jammed

Father, Praise You for ice circles, and what the simple elements of nature lay waiting to teach us each day. Thank You for placing us in such a beautiful atmosphere, and forgive us for mistreating or walking by Your wonders. Bless us to notice and repeat Your glory. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Get the conversation started by commenting below, and let’s encourage one another as we face life in 2017 armed with grace! 

#greatgrace17

Happy Circling,

Megs

Get the #jammed Daily Devo sent straight to your inbox each morning, by subscribing to Sunny&80. 

 

 

MegLeave a comment

The Friendly Chatter (#jammed daily devotion, day 336)

December #jammed: Grace …Gifted.

Day 336: Be Quiet.

“If only I knew where to find him;
    if only I could go to his dwelling!” Job 23:3 (NIV)

With every bullying prevention week that goes by, we’re all reminded of how cruel kids DECJAM2can be. It seems to be getting worse and worse. Tender hearts are broken everyday on the playground. Personalities are wounded in the hallways. Characteristics that God layered into the fabric of who we are have been stripped down and shoved into lockers.

What’s more leveling than how bad bullying has gotten?

They get it from us.

Kids mimic what they see and speak what they hear. They are listening, and the tone we amplify is reflected in their classroom and out on the practice fields.

In today’s verse, Job is responding to some friends that have come to “advise” him. His life had fallen a part, and they remained convinced that he’d gotten what he’d deserved, a just punishment for sin.

“Job replied:

“I’m not letting up—I’m standing my ground.
    My complaint is legitimate.
God has no right to treat me like this—
    it isn’t fair!
If I knew where on earth to find him,
    I’d go straight to him.
I’d lay my case before him face-to-face,
    give him all my arguments firsthand.
I’d find out exactly what he’s thinking,
    discover what’s going on in his head.
Do you think he’d dismiss me or bully me?
    No, he’d take me seriously.
He’d see a straight-living man standing before him;
    my Judge would acquit me for good of all charges.” Job 23:1-7 (MSG)

Job longs to for an audience with God to ask Him “why.” He’s at a loss as to why God has abandoned and failed to defend Him in the way Job wants Him to. His friends are maddening him with their reasoning for his suffering.

How terrible is it stand helpless while our character is compromised?

For a time Job felt hopeless. He wrestled with God about the unfairness of it all. We, too can wrestle like Job.

Bullying: abuse and mistreatment of someone vulnerable by someone stronger (Merriam-Webster)

Jesus is at the forefront of our minds at Chrsitmastime, but He’s always sitting at the right hand of the Father. He intercedes for us, loves us, and defends us when we cannot. His tender heart understands the ridicule of this world because He endured it, Himself.

Whether we understand our pain this side of heaven or not, we can trust Jesus. What Job longed for …a way to reach out to God …we have. Every heart that has accepted Christ has His very Spirit living in it.

That’s how we survive the locker door slamming in our face …the push into the wall …the trip into the mulch …and the snicker of laughter behind us.

Sometimes, even when we’re surrounded, we feel all by ourselves in this world. But we’re not.  A baby was born, on Christmas Day …and He’s not left us since …

click to tweet graph, dec jammed

Father, Praise You for JESUS! Thank you, that we don’t have to suffer in wonder of where you are as Job did. This side of the cross, we know that Jesus lives, and has redeemed our lives from the deadly penalty of sin. Forgive us for taking daily life with Your Spirit residing in our very hearts for granted, and help us to spread Your love and truth to encourage others in their salvation. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Happy Recess,

Megs

Get the conversation started by commenting below, and let’s encourage one another as we face life in 2017 armed with grace! 

#greatgrace17

Happy Unpicking,

Megs

Get the #jammed Daily Devo sent straight to your inbox each morning, by subscribing to Sunny&80. 

 

 

MegLeave a comment

The Ice Circles (#jammed daily devo, day 350)

December #jammed: Grace, gifted.

Day 350: Let it Go.

“I will never again remember…” Hebrews 10:17

“I can’t believe we’re having this conversation again …” I droned, and my daughter’s DECJAM16eyeball conquered. We spend a lot of time discussing the same issues.

“What should I do, mom?” she asked.

“Be kind, and include,” I repeated, after deleting all of the other thoughts and sentiments I swirling around in my head.

“Remember, it’s not about what we want to do,” I told her, “but what we’re here on this earth to do.”

Later that morning, I had noticed some ice circles on my walk. Strange, how the ice just froze in circles like that. “That’s what all these never-ending lessons remind me of …” I thought to myself, “frozen circles.”

 

When our patience comes under rapid-fire, as Christians we are called to keep our cool.

Today’s verse quotes a prophecy about a day when the Lord would no longer require sacrifice for sin.

“The day is coming,” says the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant” (Jeremiah 31:31) …And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.”(Jeremiah 31:34)

It’s repeated in the New Testament, as are a lot of OT prophesies. There’s a lot to be said, and a lot that’s been studied, about repetitive behavior. These conversations that we repeat with our children are opportunities disguised as annoyance. As Christians, we live our lives in repetitive format. Each day, spending time in prayer and the Word, and then applying it to our lives the best we humanly can.

The very fact that Scripture is repetitive should tip us off to the fact that God has us wired to be creatures of habit and routine.

The next time we can’t believe we’re having “that” conversation again, let’s try to remember that it’s simply a parental process of repetition. The seeds we’re planting need time to grow and mistakes to be applied to.

Our children are listening. Our God is speaking. He remembers us, but forgets our sin.

He’s cleared off the mess of sacrifice so that we can fill that space with what He’s repeating to us, now. “I will never again remember….” so that we can accept forgiveness, and focus on the good fight of faith.

Jesus’ birth changed everything. It’s a story to be repeated for all time. He took the weight of sacrifice off of us, and bore that burden until He squashed it on the cross. Christmas is a time to repeat the magnitude of His birth. Freeze that circle. Repeat that story. Let it keep moving and growing and revealing more and more with each rotation.

click to tweet graph, dec jammed

Father, Praise You for ice circles, and what the simple elements of nature lay waiting to teach us each day. Thank You for placing us in such a beautiful atmosphere, and forgive us for mistreating or walking by Your wonders. Bless us to notice and repeat Your glory. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Get the conversation started by commenting below, and let’s encourage one another as we face life in 2017 armed with grace! 

#greatgrace17

Happy Circling,

Megs

Get the #jammed Daily Devo sent straight to your inbox each morning, by subscribing to Sunny&80. 

 

 

MegLeave a comment

The Friendly Chatter (#jammed daily devotion, day 336)

December #jammed: Grace …Gifted.

Day 336: Be Quiet.

“If only I knew where to find him;
    if only I could go to his dwelling!” Job 23:3 (NIV)

With every bullying prevention week that goes by, we’re all reminded of how cruel kids DECJAM2can be. It seems to be getting worse and worse. Tender hearts are broken everyday on the playground. Personalities are wounded in the hallways. Characteristics that God layered into the fabric of who we are have been stripped down and shoved into lockers.

What’s more leveling than how bad bullying has gotten?

They get it from us.

Kids mimic what they see and speak what they hear. They are listening, and the tone we amplify is reflected in their classroom and out on the practice fields.

In today’s verse, Job is responding to some friends that have come to “advise” him. His life had fallen a part, and they remained convinced that he’d gotten what he’d deserved, a just punishment for sin.

“Job replied:

“I’m not letting up—I’m standing my ground.
    My complaint is legitimate.
God has no right to treat me like this—
    it isn’t fair!
If I knew where on earth to find him,
    I’d go straight to him.
I’d lay my case before him face-to-face,
    give him all my arguments firsthand.
I’d find out exactly what he’s thinking,
    discover what’s going on in his head.
Do you think he’d dismiss me or bully me?
    No, he’d take me seriously.
He’d see a straight-living man standing before him;
    my Judge would acquit me for good of all charges.” Job 23:1-7 (MSG)

Job longs to for an audience with God to ask Him “why.” He’s at a loss as to why God has abandoned and failed to defend Him in the way Job wants Him to. His friends are maddening him with their reasoning for his suffering.

How terrible is it stand helpless while our character is compromised?

For a time Job felt hopeless. He wrestled with God about the unfairness of it all. We, too can wrestle like Job.

Bullying: abuse and mistreatment of someone vulnerable by someone stronger (Merriam-Webster)

Jesus is at the forefront of our minds at Chrsitmastime, but He’s always sitting at the right hand of the Father. He intercedes for us, loves us, and defends us when we cannot. His tender heart understands the ridicule of this world because He endured it, Himself.

Whether we understand our pain this side of heaven or not, we can trust Jesus. What Job longed for …a way to reach out to God …we have. Every heart that has accepted Christ has His very Spirit living in it.

That’s how we survive the locker door slamming in our face …the push into the wall …the trip into the mulch …and the snicker of laughter behind us.

Sometimes, even when we’re surrounded, we feel all by ourselves in this world. But we’re not.  A baby was born, on Christmas Day …and He’s not left us since …

click to tweet graph, dec jammed

Father, Praise You for JESUS! Thank you, that we don’t have to suffer in wonder of where you are as Job did. This side of the cross, we know that Jesus lives, and has redeemed our lives from the deadly penalty of sin. Forgive us for taking daily life with Your Spirit residing in our very hearts for granted, and help us to spread Your love and truth to encourage others in their salvation. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Happy Recess,

Megs

Get the conversation started by commenting below, and let’s encourage one another as we face life in 2017 armed with grace! 

#greatgrace17

Happy Unpicking,

Megs

Get the #jammed Daily Devo sent straight to your inbox each morning, by subscribing to Sunny&80. 

 

 

MegLeave a comment
Blog at WordPress.com.