My love, my friend

Today: Song of Solomon 1-8

Attention all readers of today's passage: You did not accidentally pick up a Danielle Steele novel with a Fabio look-a-like on the cover. This is not a poem by William Shakespeare. I promise--Song of Solomon is actually part of the Bible.

Or perhaps today's passage didn't sound romantic to you? I'm a pretty sentimental chick myself, but I wouldn't exactly swoon over a guy who compared me to a well-groomed mare, who likened my chest to mountains (um...it's definitely not at sea level, but I'm no Dolly Parton either!) or compared my hair to a flock of goats. Times were different for the writer of Song of Solomon, I guess. :)

I'm joking a little, but this book of the Bible is different. It may seem odd to you after all, there's little mention of God. This is a passionate story of romantic love and it may seem a little steamy for Scripture, right?

However, it's important to remember that God is love. He created men and women to love Him as God, but He also created men and women to love each other...and to love each other as husbands and wives. Although Song of Solomon may appear strange to some, it's a poetic illustration of people who love each other and enjoy life to its fullest (similar to what I wrote about yesterday).

There's a lot in these chapters about physical love and desire, but it was also interesting for me to read about the pride these two lovers had in each other. Here's one quote from the woman:

"Everything about him delights me,

thrills me through and through!

That's my lover, that's my man..."

And one from her guy:

"There's no one like her on earth,

never has been, never will be.

She's a woman beyond compare..."

These two people are unabashedly crazy about each other. While their love is passionate, I think it's interesting that Song of Solomon also portrays their friendship. I thought these Scriptures were absolutely beautiful:

"...You've captured my heart, dear friend.

You looked at me, and I fell in love.

One look my way and I was hopelessly in love!

How beautiful your love, dear, dear friend..."

Most human beings have a desire to be loved this way--we want someone to think we are "beautiful from head to toe" or the handsome guy who "stands above the young men in town." All of us want to experience the deep love of a friend. But finding a true friend who will love you for life as your spouse? That is a miracle. Thankfully, I believe in a God who makes miracles happen every single day. :)

Tomorrow: Isaiah 1-4

Friends and family

Today: Proverbs 16-18

Perhaps one of the most tragic things I've seen in life is the break-ups of great friends and great families. And on the flip side, one the BEST things I've ever experienced is friends who are like family and family members who are actually friends.

I think the writer of today's passage may have had a similar experience. Take another look at a few verses from today's chapters:

Overlook an offense and bond a friendship;

fasten on to a slight and—good-bye, friend!

The start of a quarrel is like a leak in a dam,

so stop it before it bursts.

Friends love through all kinds of weather,

and families stick together in all kinds of trouble.

Words kill, words give life;

they're either poison or fruit—you choose.

Friends come and friends go,

but a true friend sticks by you like family.

What causes friendships to break? What pulls families apart? In many cases, it starts with words--words that are hurtful or positive words that are left unsaid. Sometimes those words lead to offenses...and in the most tragic cases, unforgiveness, bitterness and brokenness.

On the flip side, encouraging words, a Facebook post or a handwritten card from a great friend or family member can strengthen bonds. Love, loyalty and forgiveness are the bonds that hold friends and families together. Good relationships take effort--they will cost you time, energy and sometimes, doing and saying what you want.

One thing I've learned so far? You can't keep score. If you do, love never wins (and neither will you). Fight for who and what you love most--forgive.

Tomorrow: Proverbs 19-21

Friends, strength and hard times

Today: Job 5-7

One year ago today was one of the weirdest, most awful days I can remember. April 15, 2009 has branded its mark on my life and the lives of about 900 other people. It changed us.

I think Job went through a time far worse than what I faced. As we saw in yesterday's passage, all of his children died, he lost his income and he broke out in very painful sores from head to toe. And to top it off, most of Job's friends were completely unhelpful. Take a look at what Job said here:

...you, my so-called friends, are no better—

there's nothing to you!

One look at a hard scene and you shrink in fear.

It's not as though I asked you for anything—

I didn't ask you for one red cent—

Nor did I beg you to go out on a limb for me.

So why all this dodging and shuffling?...

Are people mere things to you?

Are friends just items of profit and loss?

Ouch.

It would be easy for me to rant about the evil of these kinds of friends--the fair weather friends who are absent or even critical during hard times. But how many times have I not made a phone call, set up time for coffee or visited someone else in trouble...simply because it wasn't convenient for me?

Hard times are uncomfortable. And rather than face that discomfort with a friend, many people just avoid tough situations (and the people in them) altogether. Sometimes your friends don't even need you to say or buy anything--they just need you to be there.

Though I am far from a perfect friend, I am continually amazed and thankful for the incredible friends in my life. Tonight some of these incredible friends met to celebrate the end of a life-altering year--and the fact that we're still friends who not only survived, but grew stronger. Through our hard times, we laughed, called, prayed and encouraged one another. That's what friends do.

Tomorrow: Job 8-10

Friend love

Today: 1 Samuel 18-20

This weekend many people will celebrate a holiday. Some refer to it as Singles' Awareness Day...which is just SAD. :) For others, it's simply Valentine's Day, a time to be celebrate love. They may buy cheesy gifts like the Hug-E-Gram or a giant stuffed gorilla that's the size of a three-year old. Or they may simply treasure a perfect moment with someone else and think, "How did I ever get so lucky? So blessed? To experience this kind of love?"

But do you remember when Valentine's Day was a little more simple--and yet, still amazing--for virtually everyone?

I remember elementary school Valentine's Day parties where my classmates and I decorated special envelopes with our names. I brought cards (and usually candy) for every kid in my class. I thought carefully and wrote something completely deep and poetic on every card...like "You're cool." or just "Your friend, Jonita." But didn't it feel amazing to get cards from 24 other kids?!? To celebrate the simple love of friends?

The love we have with and for our friends can be very simple...or deep...in its beauty. Friendship is a special kind of love. It's something that we can choose, but yet some friendships have the fingerprints of being God-ordained.

I loved reading about the friendship of David and Jonathan in today's passage. Though his father tried to murder David, Jonathan's friendship with David was so strong that it outweighed family ties. Take a look at his words here:

"...May God do his worst to me if I let you down!

If my father still intends to kill you,

I'll tell you and get you out of here in one piece.

And God be with you as he's been with my father!

If I make it through this alive, continue to be my covenant friend.

And if I die, keep the covenant friendship with my family—forever.

And when God finally rids the earth of David's enemies, stay loyal to Jonathan!"

Jonathan repeated his pledge of love and friendship for David.

He loved David more than his own soul!

Wow. The friend love of David and Jonathan was defined by commitment and sacrifice. Those are gifts that definitely beat Hug-E-Grams. :) Be that kind of friend. And if you have experienced friend love like that, consider yourself amazingly blessed. Take a moment to say "thank you" or send an actual card (not an e-mail). I promise--even if it says, "You're cool", a true friend will appreciate it.

P.S. BONUS! Last year, I wrote a little bit more about the friendship of David & Jonathan--check out this post called "Super Sidekicks."

Tomorrow: 1 Samuel 21-24

Chosen family

Today: John 13-15

"One of the amazing things about marriage is that you have the opportunity to choose a member of your family." I don't remember who said this...but I heard it at a wedding last weekend.

I thought about this quote today when I read Jesus' words in chapter 15:

This is my command:

Love one another the way I loved you.

This is the very best way to love.

Put your life on the line for your friends.

You are my friends when you do the things I command you.

I'm no longer calling you servants

because servants don't understand

hat their master is thinking and planning.

No, I've named you friends

because I've let you in on everything

I've heard from the Father.
"You didn't choose me,

remember;

I chose you,

and put you in the world to bear fruit,

fruit that won't spoil.

As fruit bearers,

whatever you ask the Father

in relation to me,

he gives you.
"But remember the root command:

Love one another.

There are so many things I could talk about in this passage. First of all, I love the fact that God chose us (see more of my thoughts on that topic here). That's mind-blowing in itself when you think about it.

Second, the fact that He calls us friends? That He wants to let us in on what He hears from the Father? Whoa. Most people think it would be amazing to be a close friend of a celebrity (take your pick--Oprah, the President, Bono, Michael Jordan--let alone God Himself).

Finally, I think the command for us to "Love one another" must be pretty stinkin' important, no? In this section of Scripture alone, it's repeated twice (and even more often in the full version of today's passage).

But it's tragically sad that I personally know Christians who are at odds or estranged from other Christians...let alone other people who are also in need of their love. Let's get over ourselves, our hurts and our issues--no matter how deep or painful they may seem. Following God's instruction is much more important than those things could ever be. More importantly, God chose us all to be His friends, His family. And love can cover a multitude of sins. I believe that with all my heart.

Tomorrow: John 16-18