Marco Micola

Lives in South Bend. Born on September 22, 1958 Married

October 8, 2019 11:06 pm

9 To All My Hangnail Friends Jerry - B. A. Friend Article 9 by Jerry - B. A. Friend 10-2-19 Be a Friend Series, Jesus Social Network. God bless you, my new friends, in your personal life and m...View more

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Jerry B. A. Friend

October 1, 2019 12:41 am

Be a Friend Series – All 8 Full Articles Jerry - B.A.Friend September, 2019, Jesus Social Network. I hope they will be a blessing to all that will read them. How to Live a Life as a Friend. Artic...View moreBe a Friend Series – All 8 Full Articles Jerry - B.A.Friend September, 2019, Jesus Social Network. I hope they will be a blessing to all that will read them. How to Live a Life as a Friend. Article 8 Do We Have A Friend? Article 7 Friends and Families Need Stick Together Love. Article 6 Let's Make a Deal. Article 5 Wolves in Sheep Clothing are Not Our Good Friends. Article 4. Why Should We Be A Friend To God? Article 3 Biblical Friendship. Article 2 Be A Friend. Article 1 8888888888888888888 How to Live a Life as a Friend. Jerry - B. A. Friend Article 8 by Jerry - B. A. Friend on 9-30-19 J.S.N. How to Live a Life as a Friend. Romans chapter 12 Text - see end of article. God was the first Friend. He loved us first, before we ever knew Him. We can learn to be friends by knowing God our Father, knowing what He wants for us and knowing what He wants us to do. The author of Romans writes to his friends to appeal to them to offer themselves as real friends of God and of people. He wants us to provide true worship of God, by offering ourselves "as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him." If we really want to know the will of God, then “ let God transform [us] inwardly by a complete change of [our] mind.” This is the direct opposite of us allowing the “standards of this world” which are of Satan, to conform us into Satan’s ungodly image of himself. Satan was and is full of himself, with pride. He wants to conform us to his rebellious standard. To be a Godly friend we must not think of ourselves more highly than we should, but be modest in our thinking, and judging of ourselves. As the Body of Christ, God has given us one body, joined to each other, as many different parts, with different gifts and functions. We might do one or more of the following, in various amounts and at various times like: speaking God's message, serving, teaching, encouraging, sharing generously, working hard in positions of authority, showing cheerful kindness, loving sincerely and showing respect for one another. As the Body of Christ, we are to work hard in serving the Lord with devotion, having joyful hope, being patient in troubles, praying always, sharing with needy Christians, opening our homes to strangers, blessing those who persecute us, sharing in happiness, sharing in weeping, having the same concern for everyone, not being proud, accepting humble duties, accepting humble friends, not thinking of ourselves as wise or better than others, try to do what everyone considers to be good, live in peace with everybody, never take revenge, give your enemies food and drink, and conquer evil with good. Wow. We would like real true friends like that. We can. Remember, God was the first Friend. He loved us first, before we ever knew Him. We can learn to be friends, like that, by knowing God our Father, knowing what He wants for us and knowing what He wants us to do. Let us show others how to be friends, by being real true friends to them first, similar to what God did. If we provide true worship of God, by offering ourselves "as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him." Then God promises to “transform [us] inwardly by a complete change of [our] mind.” What a friend we have in Jesus. Be a friend. Jerry B.A.Friend Bible Gateway Bible - Good News Translation (GNT) Romans 12 Life in God's Service Romans 12 1 So then, my FRIENDS, because of God's great mercy to us I appeal to you: Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him. This is the true worship that you should offer. 2 Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God—what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect. 3 And because of God's gracious gift to me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you should. Instead, be modest in your thinking, and judge yourself according to the amount of faith that God has given you. 4 We have many parts in the one body, and all these parts have different functions. 5 In the same way, though we are many, we are one body in union with Christ, and we are all joined to each other as different parts of one body. 6 So we are to use our different gifts in accordance with the grace that God has given us. If our gift is to speak God's message, we should do it according to the faith that we have; 7 if it is to serve, we should serve; if it is to teach, we should teach; 8 if it is to encourage others, we should do so. Whoever shares with others should do it generously; whoever has authority should work hard; whoever shows kindness to others should do it cheerfully. 9 Love must be completely sincere. Hate what is evil, hold on to what is good. 10 Love one another warmly as Christians, and be eager to show respect for one another. 11 Work hard and do not be lazy. Serve the Lord with a heart full of devotion. 12 Let your hope keep you joyful, be patient in your troubles, and pray at all times. 13 Share your belongings with your needy fellow Christians, and open your homes to strangers. 14 Ask God to bless those who persecute you—yes, ask him to bless, not to curse. 15 Be happy with those who are happy, weep with those who weep. 16 Have the same concern for everyone. Do not be proud, but accept humble duties.[a] Do not think of yourselves as wise. 17 If someone has done you wrong, do not repay him with a wrong. Try to do what everyone considers to be good. 18 Do everything possible on your part to live in peace with everybody. 19 Never take revenge, my friends, but instead let God's anger do it. For the scripture says, “I will take revenge, I will pay back, says the Lord.” 20 Instead, as the scripture says: “If your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them a drink; for by doing this you will make them burn with shame.” 21 Do not let evil defeat you; instead, conquer evil with good. Footnotes: Romans 12:16 accept humble duties; or make friends with humble people. Good News Translation (GNT) Copyright © 1992 by American Bible Society 88888888888888888888 Do We Have A Friend? Jerry - B. A. Friend Article 7 by Jerry - B. A. Friend on 9-29-19 J.S.N. Do We Have A Friend? Are we bearing our sins on our own? Are we suffering grief all alone? Are we forfeiting our peace often? Are we bearing our pain needlessly? Are we over our heads in trials? Are we tempted beyond our endurance? Are we in trouble everywhere we go? Are we discouraged in our situation? Are we alone in our sorrows? Are we overwhelmed in our weakness? Take it to the Lord in prayer. Oh, What a Friend We Have in Jesus Take it to the Lord in prayer. Oh, What a Friend We Have in Jesus Take it to the Lord in prayer. What a Friend We Have in Jesus What a friend we have in Jesus All our sins and griefs to bear And what a privilege to carry Everything to God in prayer Oh, what peace we often forfeit Oh, what needless pain we bear All because we do not carry Everything to God in prayer Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged Take it to the Lord in prayer Can we find a friend so faithful Who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness Take it to the Lord in prayer What a Friend We Have in Jesus Source: LyricFind Songwriters: Charles Crozat Converse / Joseph Scriven What a Friend We Have in Jesus lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., BMG Rights Management 88888888888888888 Friends and Families Need Stick Together Love Jerry - B. A. Friend Article 6 by Jerry - B. A. Friend on 9-28-19 J.S.N. Friends and Families Need Stick Together Love We’ve got all kinds. We’ve got troubles. We will stick together. We’ve got weather. We will get through it. Friends love. Families stick together. Bible Gateway Holy Bible Good News Translation Proverbs 17:17 “Friends love through all kinds of weather, and families stick together in all kinds of trouble.” 888888888888888 Let's Make a Deal Jerry - B. A. Friend Article 5 by Jerry – B.A. Friend, on 9-28-19 J.S.N. Let's Make a Deal Are we on God’s side? Let's make a deal. A covenant. Let's maintain. Friendly. Relations. Don't be a bother. Treat others kindly. Come and go in peace. God’s blessing be with us! It is very important for us to be on God’s side, all the time, in every deal, covenant and relationship. Are we in a relationship? Been there done that? Has it been or is it friendly? If we want friends, be friendly. It is hard work to maintain a friendship, or a relationship. It helps not to be a bother. It helps to be kind. It helps to come and go in peace. It is important that God’s blessing is with us, our friends and our relationships! If our past and present relationships and friendships are in the gross garbage pits, do something redemptive about it. Redeem our-self, others, our friendships and our relationships. Redeem, redeem, redeem! Do we destroy our-self and others? Do we destroy our friendships and our relationships. Stop it! Stop it now! Quit doing it! How do we get redeemed? How do we get our lives redeemed? How do we get redeemed friendships? How do we get redeemed relationships? First of all we need to fall on our face and cry out to God, our loving Father, and best Friend ever, that we have totally failed as a person, family member, spouse, friend and/or relationship provider. We need to be motivated to scream out and pray to God, while still under the slimy stinking rotten garbage, in the pit, just like Jonah was motivated, while soaking in the digestive vomit, inside the guts of the huge fish. Before we make any more deals of disaster and failure with people, we need to make a deal with God. This deal must be on His terms and His terms only. If we are a failure with people, it is because we are a failure with God. Learn to be a friend. Let's make a deal with God. Bible Gateway Holy Bible Good News Translation Genesis 26:28-29 “They said, ‘We’ve realized that God is on your side. We’d like to make a deal between us—a covenant that we maintain friendly relations. We haven’t bothered you in the past; we treated you kindly and let you leave us in peace. So—God’s blessing be with you!’” 888888888888888888 Wolves in Sheep Clothing are Not Our Good Friends. Jerry - B. A. Friend Article 4 by Jerry – B. A. Friend, on 9-28-19 J.S.N. Wolves in Sheep Clothing are Not Our Good Friends. Wolves in Sheep Clothing are Not Our Good Friends. UN-Godly Wolves are Not God's Friends. God is a very jealous friend. He wants us to be true loyal friends to him and worship Him only. He does not want us to be influenced, deceived and defiled by people who are wolves in sheep clothing, who are wicked enemies of God. Beware of people who try to beguile us, lead us astray by trickery, flattery, charm, slyness, hoodwinking, and by enchantment. God instructed the Jewish "... community to take action at once and swiftly with everybody in the community getting in on it ..." Today, God expects the Christian community, Jewish community, public community and governments to function in an appropriate Biblical way of justice for evildoers. Bible Gateway Holy Bible Good News Translation Deuteronomy 13:6-10 “And when your brother or son or daughter, or even your dear wife or lifelong friend, comes to you in secret and whispers, ‘Let’s go and worship some other gods’ (gods that you know nothing about, neither you nor your ancestors, the gods of the peoples around you near and far, from one end of the Earth to the other), don’t go along with him; shut your ears. Don’t feel sorry for him and don’t make excuses for him. ... Take action at once and swiftly with everybody in the community getting in on it ... .... He tried to turn you traitor against God, your God, the one who got you out of Egypt and the world of slavery.” 8888888888888888888 Why Should We Be A Friend To God? Jerry - B. A. Friend Article 3 by Jerry – B. A. Friend on 9-28-19 J.S.N. Why Should We Be A Friend To God? God is looking for friends to redeem.. God takes pleasure in burying our death to self, raising us up, from the grave of death, bringing us to life, through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God lowers us into our Spiritual poverty, so we can look up to Him, to lift us up, bringing us into the wealth of His Spirit. God takes us, as Spiritually poor disasters. He redeems and establishes us, onto our feet. God takes our burned-out lives and rekindles us with fresh hope. God takes our undignified, non-respectable lives of darkness, despair and failure. He restores dignity and respect for us, as He places us, into the light of the daylight sun, of His righteousness. God lays out His operation plan, on His own firm foundation, of His earthly structures. God, step by step, protects and cares for his faithful friends. God leaves the wicked, to stumble in the dark. They will not make it past this life, on their own efforts. God will blast His enemies, out of the sky, they will crash into a heap and burn. God will set things right all over the earth. God will give strength to his anointed king, and set him on top of the world to rule. Good News Translation 1 Samuel 2:6-10 “God brings death and God brings life, brings down to the grave and raises up. God brings poverty and God brings wealth; he lowers, he also lifts up. He puts poor people on their feet again; he rekindles burned-out lives with fresh hope, Restoring dignity and respect to their lives— a place in the sun! For the very structures of earth are God’s; he has laid out his operations on a firm foundation. He protectively cares for his faithful friends, step by step, but leaves the wicked to stumble in the dark. No one makes it in this life by sheer muscle! God’s enemies will be blasted out of the sky, crashed in a heap and burned. God will set things right all over the earth, he’ll give strength to his king, he’ll set his anointed on top of the world!” 88888888888888888 Why Should We Be A Friend To God? Jerry - B. A. Friend Article 3 by Jerry – B. A. Friend on 9-28-19 J.S.N. Why Should We Be A Friend To God? God is looking for friends to redeem.. God takes pleasure in burying our death to self, raising us up, from the grave of death, bringing us to life, through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God lowers us into our Spiritual poverty, so we can look up to Him, to lift us up, bringing us into the wealth of His Spirit. God takes us, as Spiritually poor disasters. He redeems and establishes us, onto our feet. God takes our burned-out lives and rekindles us with fresh hope. God takes our undigified, unrespectable lives of darkness, dispair and failure. He restores dignity and respect for us, as He places us, into the light of the daylight sun, of His righteousness. God lays out His operation plan, on His own firm foundation, of His earthly structures. God, step by step, protects and cares for his faithful friends. God leaves the wicked, to stumble in the dark. They will not make it past this life, on their own efforts. God will blast His enemies, out of the sky, they will crash into a heap and burn. God will set things right all over the earth. God will give strength to his anointed king, and set him on top of the world to rule. Good News Translation 1 Samuel 2:6-10 “God brings death and God brings life, brings down to the grave and raises up. God brings poverty and God brings wealth; he lowers, he also lifts up. He puts poor people on their feet again; he rekindles burned-out lives with fresh hope, Restoring dignity and respect to their lives— a place in the sun! For the very structures of earth are God’s; he has laid out his operations on a firm foundation. He protectively cares for his faithful friends, step by step, but leaves the wicked to stumble in the dark. No one makes it in this life by sheer muscle! God’s enemies will be blasted out of the sky, crashed in a heap and burned. God will set things right all over the earth, he’ll give strength to his king, he’ll set his anointed on top of the world!” 88888888888888888888 Biblical Friendship Article 2 by Jerry - B. A. Friend 9-27-19 J.S.N. Biblical Friendship Amanda Frittz asks, “What does a true friend look like and how can you become one?” Amanda Frittz says, “A True Friend Puts God First”. Luke 14:26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters–yes, even their own life–such a person cannot be my disciple” First of all, if we want true Biblical friends, and we want to be a true Biblical friend, then Jesus must be first place in our life and in our friends life, to understand friendship principles. Jesus was a friend to us, while we were very lost, confused, disgusting, obnoxious, unfriendly sinners. He died on the cross and was raised from the dead, redeeming us unto himself, so we could have an eternal friendship with him. To come to Jesus, to be his disciple, to learn his secret of being a friend, we must be totally sold out in love with him. Examining our allegiance and love for our self, and in our relationships with our father, our mother, our wife, our husband, our children, our brothers, our sisters, yes even our mother-in-law, all these must be considered as being hate relationships, yes, inferior, defective, low quality, even hate relationships, compared to our allegiance, love and friend relationship with our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. Only in this perspective can we then begin to understand how to love people, like Jesus loved us. Amanda Frittz says, “A True Friend is Quick to Forgive & Slow to Anger”. Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way…” Matthew 6:15 “but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” To be a true Biblical friend, we must realize that on our own terms, we are sinners, like soggy wet sponges, oozingly full and dripping with sin. We do not bring any glory of our own, to Jesus. We are disgusting before him, in our own naked shame. It is only after we have been redeemed by Jesus, and while the Holy Spirit provides us with the Fruit of the Spirit, that we are able to function in Christ’s love and forgive others, because Christ forgave and redeemed us. Amanda Frittz says, “A True Friend Leads You Back to God When You Are Going Astray”. Proverbs 14:!2 “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” We looked at the map, we were sure, we made the correct turn onto this road, and all of a sudden it happened. It was you and me heading down a steep, narrow, winding mountain road, with a drop off on one side and the mountain on the other side, in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, in a motor-home, rapidly increasing in speed, with faulty brakes. We were screaming at the top of our lungs, at each other and at God, crying and praying in a state of shock, panic and terror that God would save us from a certain and sudden blood curling death. Low is the drop off in the Valley of Death, shall we fear no evil? Is our faithful friend with us? Where is our faithful friend, that will direct us back to a safe and peaceful path beside still waters, where our soul is restored? We need Biblical friends. We need to be Biblical friends. What a friend we have in Jesus! Amanda Frittz says, “True Friends Sacrifice Their Comfort for One Another”. Galatians 5:13 “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” Jesus had it made in Heaven. Then he gave up his comfort. He came to earth. He sacrificed himself to redeem us. He gave us freedom. We should not use our freedom for our own selfish gluttony. Jesus served us. We should serve one another. Friends do without, so friends can be filled. Amanda Frittz says that God created us with a deep desire for connection, for fellowship and for intimate emotional relationships and these are required for us to experience a healthy life. She says that God has given us Biblical instruction on how to experience true Biblical friendship and true Biblical love with other people. There are a lot of Christians that have not done much better than non-Christians in the realms of 1] experiencing Biblical friendship, in their relationships 2] experiencing Biblical love, in their relationships, 3] knowing the characteristics of a true Biblical friend, in their relationships, and 4] knowing how to become a Biblical friend, in their relationships. I suggest we read and compare the article below with my comments. More importantly, I recommend we study God’s Word, the Bible, about these concepts. Pray about these, talk to mature wholesome Christians, discuss this on J.S.N. and try practicing these concepts in our relationships. Your friend, Jerry - B. A. Friend 9-27-19 J.S.N. The above article by Jerry B. A. Friend - 9-27-19 - Biblical Friendship was based upon the following article by Amanda Frittz. “ 4 Characteristics of a True Friend for Life, is by Amanda Frittz”. Faith in Home - Inspire your Faith - March 4, 2019 Blog Bible /https://encryptedtbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ7KuxCaYI7RlpMGbK-4v1Yrslk2YO1xF3VsGogfF_L5L2TvUiV Email to someone Share on Facebook - Pin on Pinterest - Tweet about this on Twitter 8888888888888888 Be A Friend Jerry - B. A. Friend Article 1 written by Jerry - B. A. Friend 9-25-19 Be A Friend Mary welcomed me as a friend. She had previously wrote a Bible study lesson on the Book of Ruth. Why is Ruth important to us? Mary says that ... "Ruth means friend or companion." Ruth was a loyal friend and companion to Naomi during some very difficult situations. How do we deal with difficult situations? Mary says ... "how we deal with difficult situations depends on how we see God in those situations." How do we see Jesus in difficult situations? Mary says ... "Jesus Christ wants to redeem us for Himself." Are we seeing Jesus lately and often so he can redeem us for Himself? Do we need to be redeemed from difficult situations? Mary says ... "Ruth didn’t have the right ancestry, position and purity that most people would have expected Boaz to desire. Ruth was not Jewish. She was a stranger or foreigner. Ruth wasn’t a virgin, but a widow. Ruth was not wealthy and was less than a servant girl." Oh my, do we have difficult situations? Do we need redemption big time? Is Jesus our Redeemer, each day, in our difficult situations? Do we need to be desired and loved? Mary says ... "Despite all of this, Boaz loved her ." Despite our difficult situations, God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit loved and loves us. What does Jesus want from us: Mary says that ... "The purpose ... of Ruth is to show the love and faithfulness that God wants from us." First God wants us, for his very own, so he loved us first, to get us, as his very own, while we were UN-redeemed miserable sinners. Then we were to begin a life time of living in our redeemed relationship with Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, with a new spiritual ... "noble character and ... heart”. These are Mary’s words, describing Ruth. How can we show our love and faithfulness to Jesus that he wants from us? Since he became our friend first, we can become his loyal friend, based upon his terms, listed in his Word, the Bible. Part of being a friend to Jesus, is being a friend to people, who need Jesus, as their Friend, Savior and Lord. Mary knew very little about me, but she stepped into the unknown realm by faith, to accept me as a friend. Accepting a friend could be like opening a box of chocolates and experiencing the mysterious contents, hidden beneath the coating. Sometimes the coating looks gross, sometimes marvelous. The contents are most always a devastating disappointment, and rarely an exorbitant delight. People at times, can be less than desirable, both with their coatings and their contents. People are broken, lost, in debt to sin, and down right obnoxious at times. When I was in Jr. High School and younger, I often tormented and pestered my older brothers and sisters. At least once, they called me obnoxious and maybe other names, at other times, that I likely well deserved. They still loved me, and I loved them, and we all turned out to at least be tolerable. We as people do not know what to expect in the realm of the unknown. The unknown can be a difficult situation in which to deal. Being a friend, to someone, whose coatings and contents are not always known, agreeable, and taste worthy can be an ongoing difficult situation. Mary says ... "how we deal with difficult situations depends on how we see God in those situations." If we see Jesus, as our Redeemer, and we know that our Redeemer lives in us, then we can set aside our own gift of obnoxiousness, and in love and faithfulness to our Lord Jesus Christ, be a loyal friend to Jesus, a loyal friend to our obnoxious friends and bring redemption through our friendships and lay them down at the feet of Jesus, as a holy sacrifice. What a friend we have in Jesus! The above article written by Jerry - B. A. Friend, was based upon the following article by Mary Osborn. Mary's Lesson Quotes from: The Book of Ruth Chapter 1 - Part 1 Posted on C.L.M. by Mary Osborn on April 27, 2019 at 3:31pm 8888888888888888 Jerry - B.A.Friend I am trying to discover what God says, in the Bible, about being a friend, for all aspects of our lives. Below are my first 8 articles posted on my timeline, September 25 - 30, 2019, on Jesus Social Network. I hope they will be a blessing to all that will read them. How to Live a Life as a FRIEND. Romans chapter 12 Article 8 by Jerry - B. A. Friend on 9-30-19 J.S.N. Do We Have A Friend? Article 7 by Jerry - B. A. Friend on 9-29-19 J.S.N. Friends - Families Need Sticky Love Article 6 by Jerry - B. A. Friend on 9-28-19 J.S.N. Let's Make a Deal Article 5 by Jerry - B. A. Friend on 9-28-19 J.S.N. Wolves in Sheep Clothing are Not Our Good Friends. Article 4 by Jerry - B. A. Friend on 9-28-19 J.S.N. Why Should We Be A Friend To God? Article 3 by Jerry - B. A. Friend on 9-28-19 J.S.N. Biblical Friendship Article 2 by Jerry - B. A. Friend on 9-27-19 J.S.N. Be A Friend Article 1 by Jerry - B. A. Friend on 9-25-19 J.S.N.

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Jerry B. A. Friend Marco Micola

September 30, 2019 7:57 pm

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Jerry B. A. Friend Marco Micola

September 30, 2019 7:45 pm

Jerry - B. A. Friend Article 8 by Jerry - B. A. Friend on 9-30-19 J.S.N. How to Live a Life as a FRIEND. Romans chapter 12 - see at end of article. God was the first Friend. He loved us first, ...View moreJerry - B. A. Friend Article 8 by Jerry - B. A. Friend on 9-30-19 J.S.N. How to Live a Life as a FRIEND. Romans chapter 12 - see at end of article. God was the first Friend. He loved us first, before we ever knew Him. We can learn to be friends by knowing God our Father, knowing what He wants for us and knowing what He wants us to do. The author of Romans writes to his friends to appeal to them to offer themselves as real friends of God and of people. He wants us to provide true worship of God, by offering ourselves "as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him." If we really want to know the will of God, then “ let God transform [us] inwardly by a complete change of [our] mind.” This is the direct opposite of us allowing the “standards of this world” which are of Satan, to conform us into Satan’s ungodly image of himself. Satan was and is full of himself, with pride. He wants to conform us to his rebellious standard. To be a Godly friend we must not think of ourselves more highly than we should, but be modest in our thinking, and judging of ourselves. As the Body of Christ, God has given us one body, joined to each other, as many different parts, with different gifts and functions. We might do one or more of the following, in various amounts and at various times like: speaking God's message, serving, teaching, encouraging, sharing generously, working hard in positions of authority, showing cheerful kindness, loving sincerely and showing respect for one another. As the Body of Christ, we are to work hard in serving the Lord with devotion, having joyful hope, being patient in troubles, praying always, sharing with needy Christians, opening our homes to strangers, blessing those who persecute us, sharing in happiness, sharing in weeping, having the same concern for everyone, not being proud, accepting humble duties, accepting humble friends, not thinking of ourselves as wise or better than others, try to do what everyone considers to be good, live in peace with everybody, never take revenge, give your enemies food and drink, and conquer evil with good. Wow. We would like real true friends like that. We can. Remember, God was the first Friend. He loved us first, before we ever knew Him. We can learn to be friends, like that, by knowing God our Father, knowing what He wants for us and knowing what He wants us to do. Let us show others how to be friends, by being real true friends to them first, similar to what God did. If we provide true worship of God, by offering ourselves "as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him." Then God promises to “transform [us] inwardly by a complete change of [our] mind.” What a friend we have in Jesus. Be a friend. Jerry B.A.Friend Bible Gateway Bible - Good News Translation (GNT) Romans 12 Life in God's Service Romans 12 1 So then, my FRIENDS, because of God's great mercy to us I appeal to you: Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him. This is the true worship that you should offer. 2 Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God—what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect. 3 And because of God's gracious gift to me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you should. Instead, be modest in your thinking, and judge yourself according to the amount of faith that God has given you. 4 We have many parts in the one body, and all these parts have different functions. 5 In the same way, though we are many, we are one body in union with Christ, and we are all joined to each other as different parts of one body. 6 So we are to use our different gifts in accordance with the grace that God has given us. If our gift is to speak God's message, we should do it according to the faith that we have; 7 if it is to serve, we should serve; if it is to teach, we should teach; 8 if it is to encourage others, we should do so. Whoever shares with others should do it generously; whoever has authority should work hard; whoever shows kindness to others should do it cheerfully. 9 Love must be completely sincere. Hate what is evil, hold on to what is good. 10 Love one another warmly as Christians, and be eager to show respect for one another. 11 Work hard and do not be lazy. Serve the Lord with a heart full of devotion. 12 Let your hope keep you joyful, be patient in your troubles, and pray at all times. 13 Share your belongings with your needy fellow Christians, and open your homes to strangers. 14 Ask God to bless those who persecute you—yes, ask him to bless, not to curse. 15 Be happy with those who are happy, weep with those who weep. 16 Have the same concern for everyone. Do not be proud, but accept humble duties.[a] Do not think of yourselves as wise. 17 If someone has done you wrong, do not repay him with a wrong. Try to do what everyone considers to be good. 18 Do everything possible on your part to live in peace with everybody. 19 Never take revenge, my friends, but instead let God's anger do it. For the scripture says, “I will take revenge, I will pay back, says the Lord.” 20 Instead, as the scripture says: “If your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them a drink; for by doing this you will make them burn with shame.” 21 Do not let evil defeat you; instead, conquer evil with good. Footnotes: Romans 12:16 accept humble duties; or make friends with humble people. Good News Translation (GNT) Copyright © 1992 by American Bible Society

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Jerry B. A. Friend Marco Micola

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Jerry - B.A.Friend I am trying to discover what God says, in the Bible, about being a friend, for all aspects of our lives. Below are my first 8 articles posted on my timeline, September 25 - 30, 20...View more