Prov. 18:24 A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Jami Rogers said, “Never dismiss someone’s experience or feelings by trying to make your situation or someone else’s situation seem so much worse. That is called emotional dismissiveness.”
I feel I am going to bat for my friend Jami. She and many others struggle with false and empty friendships, beliefs, and relationships that lead nowhere but to loneliness and emotional hurts. Hag.1:9a You expected much, but then it amounted to little.
The myriads of “philosophical how to get along books” often do not have the essential ingredients for honest friendships. These books have a lot of tactical advice for becoming popular and standing out in the crowd, but not the clear and sincere directions needed for being who you are when your guard is down, or risking who you are when you put your heart out there in the open view of the masses.
Some of our human needs are to be loved, heard, valued, and accepted. However, finding fulfillment for these needs in a broken world may not be realistic without first knowing with certainty the Lord’s love for us personally. Jer. 1:5a I chose you before I formed you in the womb; I set you apart before you were born.
I feel I am going to bat for my friend Jami. She and many others struggle with false and empty friendships, beliefs, and relationships that lead nowhere but to loneliness and emotional hurts. Hag.1:9a You expected much, but then it amounted to little.
The myriads of “philosophical how to get along books” often do not have the essential ingredients for honest friendships. These books have a lot of tactical advice for becoming popular and standing out in the crowd, but not the clear and sincere directions needed for being who you are when your guard is down, or risking who you are when you put your heart out there in the open view of the masses.
Some of our human needs are to be loved, heard, valued, and accepted. However, finding fulfillment for these needs in a broken world may not be realistic without first knowing with certainty the Lord’s love for us personally. Jer. 1:5a I chose you before I formed you in the womb; I set you apart before you were born.
Knowing God’s love for us is our pivotal heart’s position to launch from in any other relationship. If we do not trust the love of God for ourselves personally, then trusting those who are in this fallen world will be a difficult and a continuous workload of striving.
Philosophy alone cannot meet the deepest heartfelt need of existence. This is why we sometimes one-up the other person with an emotional dismissive attitude, because our own emotions in life are lacking assurance. Only God Himself can fill that empty space in our hearts because He created us to need His presence within our souls so we could be fully who we are. Phil. 2:13 For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good pleasure.
We were created to know in our hearts that when we call on God’s name we are clearly heard by Him. Jer. 33:3 Call to me, and I will answer you; I will tell you wonderful and marvelous things that you know nothing about. Because I know the Lord has already accepted me through Jesus Christ, I am willing by faith to risk being friendly as the proverb says. Prov. 18:24a A man who has friends must himself be friendly.
Our acceptance has already been established within our Creator’s love. Therefore, being accepted by our friends and those we come across in our daily lives will become easier because the sour smell of personal uncertainty is not emanating from our being.
By the power of the Holy Spirit, we have a humble confidence within Christ that philosophy cannot generate. When we know we are the beloved in Christ and are at peace within ourselves, we will be able to be friendly in this hard world.
Christ has given us His ability to be that person who sticks closer than a brother. Froo froo and pseudo philosophy can only show us an insipid idea, path, or repetitive rote activity to help curtail certain unwanted habits. Col. 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Philosophy alone cannot meet the deepest heartfelt need of existence. This is why we sometimes one-up the other person with an emotional dismissive attitude, because our own emotions in life are lacking assurance. Only God Himself can fill that empty space in our hearts because He created us to need His presence within our souls so we could be fully who we are. Phil. 2:13 For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good pleasure.
We were created to know in our hearts that when we call on God’s name we are clearly heard by Him. Jer. 33:3 Call to me, and I will answer you; I will tell you wonderful and marvelous things that you know nothing about. Because I know the Lord has already accepted me through Jesus Christ, I am willing by faith to risk being friendly as the proverb says. Prov. 18:24a A man who has friends must himself be friendly.
Our acceptance has already been established within our Creator’s love. Therefore, being accepted by our friends and those we come across in our daily lives will become easier because the sour smell of personal uncertainty is not emanating from our being.
By the power of the Holy Spirit, we have a humble confidence within Christ that philosophy cannot generate. When we know we are the beloved in Christ and are at peace within ourselves, we will be able to be friendly in this hard world.
Christ has given us His ability to be that person who sticks closer than a brother. Froo froo and pseudo philosophy can only show us an insipid idea, path, or repetitive rote activity to help curtail certain unwanted habits. Col. 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
This froo froo or vain philosophy is a temporary patch on the tattered fabric of lost and hurt souls. A real life change is needed. Jesus, who is the way, the truth, and the life can change our hearts and lives to become His accepted righteousness for ever and ever. I’ll take what the Lord has done for me any day. Thank you Lord God.
Thank you miss Jami. You helped me out on this blog. Blessings to you.
I love this post, and not just for the "shout out", but for the truth and validation from the Word of God. Thank you. This made my day.
Excellent post!
I borrowed the title from my friend Jami who wrote a funny blog on Froo Froo Barbecue. The saying stuck with me. So now when I come across something fake, I just call it froo froo and that says it all:)
Love the blog and the title…. We are so blessed to know the real one, Jesus.