The Five Minute Friday prompt this week is … Friend. You can click at the bottom of this post to get to Kate Motaung’s site and read all that has been shared on this word.
It’s been a week of old hymns. The words and/or melody to the old songs often weaved their way through my thoughts and were being hummed without my even being aware. Amazing to me how they have stuck to me like glue even though I have not sung some in years.
I read the word prompt and went to bed, only to find myself lying in bed with these words going through my head:
“What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!”(from the old hymn, What A Friend We Have In Jesus)
Jesus calls us His friends. My commentary says this is the highest relationship which is possible between God and man. Jesus chose us to be in friendship with Him, desiring to talk and walk with us throughout every single one of our days.
“I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go out and produce lasting fruit …” (John 15:15-16a, NLT)
‘Friend’, as defined by dictionary.com is “a person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard.” Jesus is attached to us through His deep and lasting love for us, a commitment which binds us to Him.
“Now you are My friends.”
Today I am joining … Five Minute Friday and Faith Filled Friday and Faith ”˜N Friends and #DanceWithJesus and Fresh Market Friday .
that thought sometimes blows my socks off… to know that jesus sees us as friends… mind-boggling eh?
#14 at FMF
What a gift to have a friend like Jesus! Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Blessings to you, Joanne!
I just read the last of Lisa Jo’s book last night and went to bed thinking about Jesus being our friend too. Happy to hear that again here this morning. Happy Friday, friend.
What an encouraging reminder about this wonderful facet of our relationship with Jesus.
One of my favorite hymns. So rich with meaning…
Thank you for the sweet reminder of a favorite hymn of mine also. I can remember singing it when I was so young. He is still such a Friend! And, thank you for sharing the beautiful medley by Amy Grant! –Blessings to you!
My Three Best Friends: Father God, Son Jesus, Holy Spirit. Don’t leave home without Them!
I love that hymn. Now I’ll be singing it all day! I’m over in the 35 spot this week.
Glad to connect with you through the #DanceWithJesus Linkup. It’s humbling and very comforting that the Son of God would call us His friends and He did prove it by dying for us. What an example! Only by His grace can we be that kind of friend to Him and others. Thanks for sharing.
“What a friend we have in Jesus…” that hymn has brought much comfort to my heart. I love it when we sing it during Sunday worship. Dropping in from FMF #42.
Joanne, that’s a beautiful song; definitely an old favourite that’s lasted the test of time. Thank you for reminding me that Jesus is not just my friend but He also wants to carry my burdens. I think God knew I needed to hear that today.
Blessings to you!
This is a wonderful hymn, and it came to mind when I was considering angles for this week’s #fmf too. Great reminder of Jesus’ kindness.
Your post made me smile just thinking about what a wonderful friend I have in Jesus. One that we can all have. Thank you!
Oh, Joanne! That painting is beautiful! A new talent of yours that I have not seen before. Love it.
It must be the time for Old Songs. One was running through my head today as well and it gave rise to my first post in a long time.
But back to your song, “What a Friend we Have in Jesus.” We sing that often at BSF this year as we are studying the book of John. Wow! What depths we have plumbed in our relationship with Jesus. How much He loves us and reveals the Father to us. It’s mind-boggling at times.
So glad I stopped by.
Love,
Janis
What a perfect post to read this Monday morning! I have such a deep love of the hymns and miss them terribly as their not often used in worship anymore. My spirit is so lifted…and from one of my favorite female vocalists also.