Life-long Friends

Do you have a friend that you have known for a long time?

A few weeks ago I was privileged to attend a 90th birthday party for a dear friend of mine, Bea. We have been friends for over 30 years.

Titus 2:3-4
Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.

Throughout my life Bea was been the older woman teaching me, the younger woman, about life. When Bea spoke, I listened. Her words dripped with wisdom and I wanted to learn as much as I could from her.

I believe everyone needs to have someone like Bea in their lives. Do you? If you do not have a person like Bea in your life, pray that God will bring someone to you.

National Prayer Day

Slowly I opened the door not knowing what or who I would see behind it. I had never been to this place before. When I took one step into the room, my heart was truly blessed at the next thing I noticed.

There were people all around the room talking to each other. In the back of the room I saw several people putting food on a serving table. There were many tables set up forming a U in the middle of the room with chairs all around it. As I looked down at it, there was a stack of papers at each place setting. I could see a picture of praying hands on the top of the stack. I knew I was in the right place.

It was National Prayer Day and I had decided to go to Brodhead, Wisconsin to join in the celebration. Brodhead is a rural small town in the heart of southern Wisconsin. I had never been to this town before, but the small town atmosphere warmed my heart. As I walked down the street to the local bank building where we would be meeting for National Prayer Day, the people were so friendly and helpful.

I was so impressed that the local bank had allowed this gathering to take place in their building. I met the local newspaper editor which was truly an honor for me. Before the program began we enjoyed a nice meal together. I sat next to several women who began telling me about some other NPD events that they had attended earlier this day in a small town close to Brodhead. We agreed that this is what our country needs. PRAYER. We needed to be on our knees praying for our country and our leaders.

After a nice luncheon, the program began. As we prayed together, I suddenly realized what was happening. There were clergy from the local non-denominational, Lutheran, Methodist, Catholic and I believe Congregational Churches leading this event. They had planned the program and as one would finish praying, the next one would get up and speak about something else and then we would pray about it. My heart was so touched that people from all denominations were praying TOGETHER for our country.

I believe God was smiling as he looked down on what was happening in Brodhead, Wisconsin. The people in this town were putting aside their denominations and were joining hands together in prayer for our country. My heart was so blessed having joined together on this day with this group of people.

Do you need a fun Makeover?

Life is so busy. There are so many things to do. Do we forget to take the time to have fun?

I have written a 6-day Journey with God called "Fun Makeover". I was inspired to write this because I came across so many people that did not even know HOW to have fun. The word fun does not even bring anything to their minds.

Honestly, we can become so busy, even doing good things, that we don't take the time to stop and refresh our souls by doing something fun.

Does having fun have to be expensive? No! I recently enjoyed a wonderful day of fun and it did not cost me a penny. I would like to share my day with you. (If you have a fun time to share, either post it with a comment, or e-mail me at robin@hesspeakingarewelistening.com)

Last week my friend and co-worker in the ministry, Deb, decided to have a day of fun to celebrate her birthday. We both like riding bikes. I live on the Capital City Bike Trail, so she came over to enjoy a day of biking.

Along the way we went over a brand new bike bridge crossing over Fish Hatchery Road in Fitchburg. We stopped to take a picture. Deb, who knows all about cameras, set her camera on the ledge of the large metal frame of the bridge, and then quickly ran to join me in a picture.

Further on down the trail we spotted a long train just sitting on the tracks. It looked like all the cars were empty. We stopped to look at it and Deb said, "Do you want to climb up on the train and take some pictures?" I am always ready to do something adventurous, so of course I replied, "Let's do it!"

Within minutes we had climbed up onto the train and we were posing for fun pictures. It was a beautiful day enjoying the beauty of nature with a friend. Our biking trip took us seven miles on this day, but we have plans to go on a long trip somewhere.

Having fun is a choice. We need to stop and just do it. It does not have to cost a penny and we might need to get creative with what we do, but I believe that we will always be glad that we stopped to put some fun into our lives.

What about you? Have you had some fun lately? If not, stop and do it today.