Friends ...

Are friends forever, if the Lord's the Lord of them.

 FRIENDS ny Michael W Smith

"Friends"

Packing up the dreams God planted
In the fertile soil of you
I can't believe the hopes He's granted
Means a chapter of your life is through

But we'll keep you close as always
It won't even seem you've gone
'Cause our hearts in big and small ways
Will keep the love that keeps us strong

And friends are friends forever
If the Lord's the Lord of them
And a friend will not say never
'Cause the welcome will not end
Though it's hard to let you go
In the Father's hands we know
That a lifetime's not too long
To live as friends

And with the faith and love God's given
Springing from the hope we know
We will pray the joy you live in
Is the strength that now you show

We'll keep you close as always
It won't even seem you've gone
'Cause our hearts in big and small ways
Will keep the love that keeps us strong

And friends are friends forever
If the Lord's the Lord of them
And a friend will not say never
'Cause the welcome will not end
Though it's hard to let you go
In the Father's hands we know
That a lifetime's not too long
To live as friends

And friends are friends forever
If the Lord's the Lord of them
And a friend will not say never
'Cause the welcome will not end
Though it's hard to let you go
In the Father's hands we know
That a lifetime's not too long
To live as friends

To live as friends

Though it's hard to let you go
In the Father's hands we know
That a lifetime's not too long
To live as friends

No a lifetime's not too long
To live as friends

💖🙏🏻💖🙏🏻💖🙏🏻💖🙏🏻💖🙏🏻💖🙏🏻💖🙏🏻💖🙏🏻💖🙏🏻

Sometimes, a lifetime ends sooner than we expected. God holds us close as He carries us in our weakness. 

Jesus, you alone are my forever, unfailing friend!

Maranatha,

Anna

Noblesville West Middle School ...

are you asking WHERE was GOD?  

I have personal experience to share with you about what God was doing with myself and another of His children on the morning of Noblesville West Middle School shooting. The scene below started a few minutes previous to the shooting, 911 got the call at 9:06 AM and the situation, as we know, was resolved quickly.
God's 6 Minute Timing: 40 second shooter ID, shooter contained, victims transported

My day started out as it usually does. Get up. Take my meds & insulins. Put on the Whole Armor of God while in the shower. Calling out and lifting up in prayer those He puts on my heart. Praying a Hedge of Protection and asking for Travel Mercies for the day. Finish getting ready and then leave for work.

All of this starts through Messenger:

--AMW At 8:30 AM I sent out a beautiful picture of an owl taken the previous day at my place of employment by a coworker

++SYW 8:46 AM 'How beautiful'

--AMW 8:46 AM 'God makes BEAUTIFUL animals! Luv ur post this morning too'  

Click to read--> Change The Way You Think

++SYW 8:54 AM 'Thank you... working and praying on some stuff with CBW and some of her friends this summer... praying a lot this morning Mrs Anita... crying out to God for our kids nowadays... my heart is so heavy for what they know and accept now... 6th grade and drinking and drugs and sex... I’m starting a get together in July for girls in middle school to be in prayer, study together, and talk to them about these things. And how to handle them when brought to them. How to be strong in their faith... and so much more... it’s tearing me apart'

++SYW 8:54 AM Bout to go start our morning devotion.. I’ll talk to you later. Just be praying for us please. I love you so much! 😘

--AMW 8:55 AM You r in God's perfect timing luv u too. TTYL

Please notice how preparation for God to use us started before He called upon us. We both have a relationship with Jesus and both want to draw closer to Him. After reading SYW teaching post on Facebook, and then sharing the owl with her and others, when SYW shared the burden God had on her heart ... Holy Spirit made it my heart's burden at that moment as well and called me to start PRAYING IN THE SPIRIT IMMEDIATELY!!!

It was only later, when the unction to pray so intensely was lifted, that I heard about the school shooting. It was then I realized that God had me and other prayer warriors actively taking up prayer and shouting the spiritual battle cry to protect the children from evil. That lifted up the teacher who was willing and gave him strength and power to act quickly, in the face of the threat, to protect the children. 

Matthew 19:14 (KJV)

But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

When I am called to prayer this way, I do not ask God any details. It isn't my place to ask ... it does not matter Who? What? Why? When? Where? All that matters is God wants to use me for His Purposes Right NOW ... I trust him and I obey in that moment. It is important you understand that this does not make me in any way better than any other of His children. It is my walk with Him that I willing allow Him to direct. This relationship with Him is available to you, if you want it. Count the cost ... Jesus paid a price for us we couldn't pay ... I lay down my life for the one who died for me, willingly.

Everyone needs to hear what God can do when we seek His Will and the desires of His heart until we make them our will and our desires. When we walk with Him, we are instant in season and out of season. When Holy Spirit calls for heartfelt prayer, we do not hesitate but immediately obey.

Even though we have kicked Him out of our schools, our nation, and our lives ... God was right where He has always been ... Yahushua is waiting for us with His arms open wide in LOVE so please turn to Him so He can welcome us home. Be aware, time is running out ... soon it will be forever too late to choose Jesus,  and you will have chosen eternity and the eternal allegiance that was never meant for you. 

Maranatha,

Anna

Do Not Disrespect Others ...

To disrespect someone is to disrespect God. It does not please God when we disrespect his creation. We are created in God's image. We are in the wrong when we call people names or labels and use words that ultimately hurt them. 

2 Kings 2:23-24
He went up from there to Bethel, and while he was going up on the way, some small boys came out of the city and jeered at him, saying, “Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!” And he turned around, and when he saw them, he cursed them in the name of the Lord. And two she-bears came out of the woods and tore forty-two of the boys.
Ephesians 4:29
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
Ephesians 5:4
Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.

Sadly, many times 'humor' is a tool to malign someone. How can you know if you are disrespecting someone? Do your words build someone up or tear them down? 

Some Examples of tearing down:

Do your words encourage / highlight / support the 'You ain't from around here, are ya?" mentality?

Rather than calling attention to differences, God is pleased when we build up / edify others. Not tear them down by saying things that promote isolation / non-acceptance.

Have you heard someone joke about people who are 'bipolar' ...  that they should just let go of one pole? How disrespectful to make light of this condition!!!

Have you ever taken a serious medical condition, proceeded to trivialize it and (in a joking tone - so that makes it okay - right?), then proceeded to say you could call the person experiencing these medical symptoms a 'dizzy blonde'?

Humor has no place when dealing with medical issues. 

Instead of feeling valued, the person, who is the butt of the joke, instead feels isolated and disparaged.

Ministry in song to show us the importance of words and to lift our thoughts and inspire us to pure words lifting up others:

Click to listen-->    Speak Life - TobyMac        Words by Hawk Nelson

If your first reaction to this post is 'the person that was hurt has a problem, not me': Please meditate on your words and actions. Are they Positive? Prone to being Negative? What can you do to make a change for the good?

Maranatha,
Anna

The Season of Grief

When the pain in our hearts is more than we can bear,

Jesus keeps His promise that He'll always be there.

With loving arms around us, He holds us while we cry.

He feels our sorrow and shares it; one day, all tears He'll dry.

For though this day holds sorrow; our hearts feel heavy as lead.

There is a reunion tomorrow, when, in Heaven, we meet instead.

This life is just a vapor, complete when God says so.

Real life with Him is eternal, no more sadness will we know.

So, though we miss our loved ones, we know where they have gone.

With Jesus' arms around us, we'll make it to the dawn.

They say that grief is a personal thing; God says that isn't so.

When all our hurt to Him we bring, He heals and makes us whole.

1996 ©Anita Weld

Maranatha,

Anna