Vicky Bentley’s Blog

Best Friends

| Vicky Bentley’s Blog

God has designed us to crave company. We desire friends, just like Anne of Green Gables did.
Shannon is my best friend. We are very different in our expression but virtually indistinguishable in our passion.
Here is what I mean by that:
§  Shannon is an extrovert. She radiates and thrives in a crowd. Others are drawn to her because of the confidence, boldness, and beauty she exudes.
§  I am an introvert; I get lost in a crowd.
§  Shannon is a natural leader; she speaks with authority, is brimming with vision, and is decisive.
§  I am a worker; I have the privilege of coming behind and building the vision into a reality. I find all the critical paths, collect all the supplies, prepare the budgets, and give shape to her dreams.
§  We are an awesome team…
§  BUT both of us have spent long seasons in the fires of affliction. We have learned the same lessons at the feet of Jesus.
§  We both love Song of Solomon and share some life verses.
§  We can spend hours fellowshipping over a passage or praying together
§  Our consuming passion is Jesus. He is our all in all and makes two radically different people on the outside united in the heart – like two peas in a pod.
God delights to give your friendships like the one Shannon and I share. But first and foremost He wants to be your best friend!
John 15:10-21: If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.  These things I command you, that you love one another.  If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.  Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.