Faithful Friends

Oil and perfume make the heart glad; so a man's counsel is sweet to his friend. Proverbs 27:9

My Birthday was a couple of weeks ago and for my gift, my wonderful friend Kirsten took me to her favorite spa. She couldn't have chosen a better present for me than spending a morning in complete relaxation, total peace and tranquility. Something I will have to admit I took advantage of back before my "mommy" days.

After our relaxing massage, we took some time to release some of our toxins in the sauna. This sauna even had a stereo inside! while Kirsten stood up to change the music, I noticed a small remote lying next to me. (Someone needs a charming Gardner to bring joy to their life right?) so I decided to turn up the volume. As she continued to wrestle with the volume, I finally decided she was getting a little irritated. I told her I was the culprit and showed her the remote. We both got a good laugh.

The book of Sirach says, A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter; he who finds one finds a treasure. A faithful friend is beyond price, no sum can balance his worth. Sirach 6:14-15 After becoming a mother, my friendships have been my greatest source of pleasure. friendships are wonderful gifts to our lives straight from God and is one of the best ways He takes care of us.

You may have heard that saying, "In the cookies of life, friends are the chocolate chips". Friends are that sweet extra in life. I found this recipe and wanted to share.

Friendship Recipe



• Shortening - Provides texture. Our fellowship and friendship with our sisters in the Lord can add much depth and texture to our lives. We blend together in unity as part of the body of Christ.
• Sugar - Adds sweetness. Our fellowship with our sisters adds such a sweet taste to our lives. If we didn't have sugar in our cookies, we'd sure miss it. The same is with our fellowship with our sisters. We can't leave it out of our lives.
• Eggs - Holds ingredients together. Sisters in the Lord are someone to lean on. We are held together by fellowship with them. We are stronger because of them, their prayers, and their love in the Lord. We have a special bond in Christ.
• Vanilla - Adds flavor. Sisters add that flavor we need. They give us that extra sensation. Without friends and fellowship we become kind of bland.
• Flour - Adds substance. We need the substance a sister in the Lord can add. They give us many things by way of mentoring us when we don't even know it. Their shared testimonies and way they live their lives has an impact on us.
• Baking Soda - Leavens. Leavening agents in baking helps to lighten the dough. Friendship with our sisters in Christ lightens our burdens through their prayer and encouragement.
• Salt - Enhances flavor. We know that friendships add flavor and just when we need it, they help improve the tastefulness and quality of our lives. Friends are the type of people that know just what we are going through and are there when we need them.
• Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips - - The kind of chocolate chips we normally add to our cookies is semi sweet. Our sister friends tell us what they feel and think and that's okay. They can be honest and truthful to us. "Iron sharpeneth iron" (Proverbs 27:17).
• Nuts...Optional - Just a little craziness in a sister friend is great! Sometimes a little zaniness in our friends can be just the ingredient we need.

I saw a piece of wall art that said "We all let people into our lives, but..you will find that really good friends let you into your own." Thank You, Lord, for friends who walk together, cry together, do life together, grow together and laugh together.

"A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there
is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother." Proverbs 18:24.