An Encouraging Memory Verse

For God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever believes in him will not perish, but have everlasting life - John 3:16.

We learned it as children, some of us learned it as adults, but is it more than a memory verse to you? What does it mean to you when you hear this verse. Are you encouraged? Are you encouraged enough to share this wonderful news with those around you? Let's look at the verse in a little more detail:

For God so loved...God loves me, he loves me so much, he's engaged in all that I do, he cares about my every footstep!

the world...all of it and everyone in it, not just you and me, but others all around the globe.

that he gave...God loves to give good gifts, especially to His children. What good gifts have you received from the Father recently?

his only son...some translations use the word begotten. Do you love your children enough to give them up to a sinful world? God did!

that whoever believes in Him (God's son)...that's all I need to do? But, it seems so simple - where's the catch?

will not perish (die)...think about it, you will never die, but live forever with the Father who gave his most precious gift.

but have everlasting life...I want to live forever, don't you? Can you imagine having all the time you want to sit with your brothers and sisters in Christ and never have to leave their presence until you've literally run out of conversation? Can you imagine praising Jesus at his feet for a thousand years and then another thousand years?!

And, what about the people in your house? The children in your classroom? Your co-workers - Don't you want the same for them?

- author, Cindy Daniels

What has this verse meant to you? Tell us your story.

The Encouragement of a Friend

Some days are just plain hard. Your day starts with a missed wake-up alarm, because your electric went out during the midnight storm; a traffic jam slows traffic on the highway to work; you miss an important deadline. Or, maybe a child gets sick at the worst possible moment and keeps you home from something you'd been looking forward to. Then, there are the days when we hear the worst possible news: cancer, death, unemployment, foreclosure.

No matter what kind of day you are having today, there is hope. Proverbs 18:24 tells us "a man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. " Do you have such a friend? Someone you can call even in the middle of the night? There are many I can call in my church or community that will respond quickly to my need. If you don't have such a friend, you'll want to reach outside of your comfort zone to develop new relationships. Be the kind of friend you want others to be and you'll soon discover you're never without a friend. And, don't be afraid to make friends of all ages, races and career levels - it will give you a much broader outlook.

For the ultimate friendship, turn to John 15:13. This passage tells us "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Jesus is that kind of friend! He knows when we are having a bad day or a good day. He knows when your family is going through hard times. And, most of all He layed down his life for us. Nothing we do deserves the gift of His precious life. We cannot repay Him for the free gift of salvation any more than you can pay back a friend for a gift they have given to you.

Joseph Scriven, an Irishman wrote the hymn "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" The words are as follows:

What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!

So, next time you're having a bad day, call on Jesus. His cell phone is never busy, He's available 24/7, His services cost nothing, and well, the gifts He gives us are priceless!

- author, Cindy Daniels

What traits or qualities do you look for in a friend?