TANGIBLE FRIENDSHIPS

Even my own familiar friend, in whom I trusted

(relied on and was confident), who ate of my bread,

has lifted up his heel against me.

Psalm 41:9

Tangible is defined as: capable of being touched or felt; having real substance

If we are honest, most of us would have experienced the reality of the opening verse. When we found ourselves in trouble, we look around and we see no one, but air. Your friends friends or thought you could at least rely on, seemed to have emigrated from the planet, just when you needed them the most.

I have learnt that adversity often brings us face-to face with the need to question our circle of influence, those around us.  It will cause us to associate with a different people, from all works of life, people that we might never have met or given the time of the day.  This is always a good thing.  It will also move us to severe ties with those who we have unwise associations with - it could be a friend, an employer, an employee or partner. Inevitably there will be times when adversity will force us to really look at the peope we relate to within our world and to look within to see if we make frienship easy.  Are we a friendly people?

However, in the Bible, through the relationship between David and Jonathan, we see a good model of true friendship. 

When we read 1 Samuel 20, we see that Jonathan was moved to do tremendous things for his friend David. This was because of the love and loyalty towards him. Jonathan did the following:

• He warned David of possible danger from his father Saul. Read 1 Samuel 19:1-3 for completion
• He spoke well of David, even to those who thought David was an enemy. Read 1 Samuel 19:4 for completion
• He went the extra mile to do what David needed him to do.  He saw the situation David was in and asked what he could do to help him.  He did not have to wait for David to beg or plead. Willingly he requested and did what David asked Him. Read 1 Samuel 20:4-20 for completion
• He risked his very life by defending David to his father. I mean Saul nearly nailed him to the wall with a spear! Now that is bravery for a friend. Read 1 Samuel 20:32 - 33
• He helped David to escape Death by his father Saul.  Read 1 Samuel 20: 35 - 41

Now after reading the above, I thought to myself, I really must brush up on some of my friendship skills! Yikes!!  It makes me ask questions such as - how many of us will put our lives in danger to help a friend?

Taking into consideration the current economic climate of this world, some of our friends might be going through a rough patch, finding it a difficult to keep their heads above water, day after day, so I ask:

• How many of us will forgo that holiday to pay a friend's mortgage, bills or save them from going completely under?
• How many of us will take a friend and their family to the shops and buy thier montly grocery?
• How many of us will take our eyes off ourselves for a minute, see out and take the time to ask a friend how they are doing; without having to wait for that friend to come and ask or beg for help; knowing fully well that they need it. 
• How many of us like Jonathan, is willing to lay down his/her life for a friend, if we have to? Selah...

"An offended friend is harder to win back than a fortified city.

Arguments separate friends like a gate locked with bars".

Proverbs 18:19

 
In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul describes what should be the ingridients of true friendship; to Christians and non- Christians alike. Some of what Paul advices for us to have is: politeness, selflessness, positive, free from petty resentfulness or vindictiveness, roted in truth.  It is also hopeful, supported, sees the best in people and endures till the end.  Please read 1 Corinthians 13 for completeness.

Friendship starts within us, we must first learn to be a friendly person as we are taught in Proverbs 18:24, which reads "A man who has friends must himself be friendly...".

Yes, it might be a bit difficult with all the things we have to juggle on a daily basis, but we must make time to make friends and nurture friendship. It does not have to cost much either. Thank God for technology, we can send emails, chat and call for free on Skye and much more.  I encourage us all to do what we can to establish and keep the friendship connection flowing. Remeber, God created us to be Relational beings.

My hope is that especially in the times we are living in, that the essence and example from Jonathan and David's friendship will be eminent in our lives.  I encourage us to submit to the Holy Spirit and He will help bring to attention areas within  us that may require a little work to help us build stringer and effective relationships.   I sure know I need some help, how about you?

If you don't have a lot of close friends, don't be too hard on yourself.  Remember, true friendships are a rare treasures. Besides, they take time to establish, build up and it requires a lot of wisdom, patience and commitment.   So start with developing or nuturing one meaningful frienship, taking it one day at a time and go from there.

Establishing healthy relationships and friends is a process, which when we rely on God to help us, makes us become more like Jesus Christ.

Have a wonderful weekend filled with love, laughter and the richness only true friendship can bring.

Friends will come

friends will go

A true friend, your hand 

they will always hold

Friends will come

friends will go 

A true friend heart delights 

in watching you prosper and grow

Much Love, Remi
***pictures by google***

BSL TRANSLATION OF POST

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Purification... Painful Yet Necessary

A diamond is described as one of the world's most precious gems.

Diamonds are the most hardest, the most imperishable, and the brilliant of all precious stones.

The word "diamond" comes from the Greek word "adamas" which means "unconquerable"! Imagine that!

The science bit...

Diamonds are formed when condensation of solid matter into a sphere causes the centre of the planet to become subjected to incredible extreme temperature and pressure.

These conditions cause deposits of carbon to begin to crystallise deep in the earth, and as the earth's surfaced cooled, Volcanic activity forces streams of magna (liquid rock) to the surface carrying with it the diamond crystals. Later, the diamond - bearing rock hardens encasing the diamonds in vertical volcanic pipes. When a volcanic eruption occurs, the diamonds are spit out and scattered far and wide.

The atomic structure of a diamond gives it the property of being the hardest substance known to man, natural or synthetic. The diamond is thousands of times harder than corundum, the next hardest substance from which rubies and sapphires are formed. Even after many years of constant wear, diamonds will preserve their sharp edges and corners when most other stones will have become worn and chipped.

Did you know that a diamond's crystal structure is "hard" yet "soft"? This means that it can indeed be broken, but guess what? When a diamond is broken, it opens to reveal a much refined and purer from of itself.

**********************************************************************************

Each and every one of us is a diamond waiting to be revealed. A diamond waiting to be purified, refined, and it's beauty revealed to the world as God intends it to be.

Refine can be described as:

to bring to a fine or a pure state; free from impurities or to
to bring to a finer state or form by purifying.

Purification can be explained as:

the act of getting rid of impurities; or

the act of purging of sin or guild; or

moral or spiritual cleansing; "purification through repentance"

From the above it is safe to say that for God to reveal to the world the diamond we are, he must take us through the purification process to refine us. He must sift through the dirt and vile that covers us; and to do this he must apply immense heat and pressure and then break us, constantly; to purify and eventually turn us into the purest form of diamond we are meant to be.

He will refine us as he did the Levites in Malachi 3:3, which reads "He will sit like a refiner of silver, burning away the dross. He will purify the Levites, refining them like gold and silver, so that they may once again offer acceptable sacrifices to the Lord"

and as explained in Zechariah 13:9 "I will bring that group through the fire and make them pure. I will refine them like silver and purify them like gold. They will call on my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘These are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’"

I believe that as we go through God's purification process he is teaching us (amongst other things) to:

• Increase our dependence Him. This we learn from 2 Cor 1:8 -10, which reads "8 We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. 9 In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. 10 And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us. "
  
• To adjust us more to His Will. This God teaches us through the life of Peter in 1 Peter 4:1-2, which reads "1 So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin. 2 You won’t spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God"


• To enable us to comfort others as he shows and teaches us how. This we are thought in 2 Corinthians 1:3-5, which reads "3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. 4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 5 For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ.


• To teach us humility. This we are taught through his feeding of the Israelites in Deuteronomy 8:16, which reads "He fed you with manna in the wilderness, a food unknown to your ancestors. He did this to humble you and test you for your own good."

Looking through the bible we can learn of a few people who went through some tremendous refining process. Starting with Joseph, which we read in Genesis 37:5-9, 28, 39:20, 42:6,9. He was sold into slavery by his brothers, and sent into prison, and eventually became the greatest figures in Egypt. And Job? Where do I begin with his purification process? Please read The Book of Job for completion.

I have learnt that in the middle of the heat and pressure, we must strive to:

• Trust God, as we are taught in 1 Peter 4:19, which reads "So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you." Isn't that awesome? Our God is ever so faithful.


• Keep seeking God's face, keep having conversations with him, in the midst of it all, as we are taught in James 5:13, which reads "Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises."


• Glorify and honour God, even when the heat and pressure seems unbearable, for he Will be there in the fire with you. This we are taught in Daniel 3: 19 - 25 "19 Nebuchadnezzar was so furious with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that his face became distorted with rage. He commanded that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual. 20 Then he ordered some of the strongest men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21 So they tied them up and threw them into the furnace, fully dressed in their pants, turbans, robes, and other garments. 22 And because the king, in his anger, had demanded such a hot fire in the furnace, the flames killed the soldiers as they threw the three men in. 23 So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, securely tied, fell into the roaring flames.
  24 But suddenly, Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his advisers, “Didn’t we tie up three men and throw them into the furnace?”
  “Yes, Your Majesty, we certainly did,” they replied.
  25 “Look!” Nebuchadnezzar shouted. “I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed! And the fourth looks like a god"

Along with the above, today, I learnt, a greater lesson; and it is that sometimes, the best thing I can and should to do under the intense, heat, pressure, pain, turmoil and all that comes along with God's purification and refining process, is to STAND STILL. When I can no longer bear the heat, the pressure and the pain, to simply stand still in Him and let my maker, the master crafter get on with the job of doing what he is wonderfully good at; working everything together for my good (even the pain) to reveal the beautiful diamond he has created me to be, which in due time, will be revealed for the world to see.

Ps... D... thanks for this afternoon, you helped me more than I can ever explain or thank you for... :-)))

Have a wonderful time whilst God is purifying to reveal the diamond in you; not forgetting to keep making him famous through every single "ouch" along the way.

Much Love

Remi Banjo

***Pictures by photobucket***

Curtain Rod of Love

Luke 10:25- 28 reads "25 And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?” 27 So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’[a] and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’”[b]28 And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.”

Mathew 22:34 - 39 reads "34 But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” 37 Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

Reading those two passages, it is evident that the whole commandments of God HANGS on the "LAW OF LOVE" - Loving God and loving our fellow man. The law of prosperity, of faith, of deliverance, of answered prayers, of increase and much more, hangs of that Love commandment.

WITHOUT LOVE, NOTHING CAN WORK!!!

Imagine you are trying to hang up a curtain;

There is the rod, the hooks and the curtain itself.

If the rod is not solid and stable, in the right shape with the right hook outlets, then, it is safe to say that it will be a difficult task putting the hooks on the rod right? Now, imagine the hooks are not the proper shape and size.

It is also safe to say that it will be almost impossible to hang the curtain off these hooks right?
So, if the curtain rod is unstable, will be almost impossible to attach the hooks or the curtain. And even if you do try, it will turn out all wrong, shaky, crooked and wonky, and most likely, eventually the curtain will fall off at some point.

Now, imagine the curtain Rod to be Love, The hooks, to be faith and the curtain itself to be the manifestation of God's blessings; answered prayers and the like.

If we are not walking in love, the faith we have in God will not work, and because our faith is not working, there will be no manifestation of what we desire from that faith - answered prayers and the like.

For us to see God's glory in our lives, we must have faith, and the faith we have must be hang off the law of love as mentioned in the passage above, for the all other laws hang off that same law. For us to see the beauty of the curtain, it must hang off the hooks firmly placed and embedded in the curtain rod.

Imagine that?! One can be diligent in all the other laws in the bible, but if that person has no love, then all is of no use, because all the other laws hang off the law of love!

Hence, when we are not seeing the manifestation of our prayers, even though we have the faith that He will do what his word says, we really must ask ourselves, " is my faith hanging on God's love?"

How do we walk in Love? How do we make sure our faith is hanging on God's love? To walk in love is a process, a development process and we do this by reading and practising the words of God. By reading the bible and bringing the meaning and instructions therein into our daily reality. Making it the way that we live, living it out in a practical way.

And how do we do that I hear you ask? By loving our fellow man as commanded. I mean if we cannot show love to our fellow man, that we see, how can we say that we love God, that we cannot see? By giving a helping hand when it is need, a kind word here or there, goes a long way to show and leave the imprints of God's love. Putting in a word at work for that your friend that is seeking employment, helping that neighbour with their grocery shopping because they don't have a car.

Another way to walk in love is to practice forgiveness, is to releasing people who have hurt us into forgiveness. Now this can be a major one, because sometimes we might not know we are harbouring unforgivness and that is why we have to ask the holy spirit to help us daily.

I remember a while back, when I was looking for a new location to live, I asked a few friends about their neighbourhood; you know to get a feel of what the areas was like and all that. And I remember a friend saying "please don't come to our area, we don't want your kind living in our area", and I also remembered that, at point in time, I laughed it off, as I thought it was nothing.

Months later, when I was struggling with a few issues, the Holy spirit brought it to me that I was habouring unforgiveness for what that very statement that friend had said. ! Imagine that!? Thank God for that revelation and the ability to forgive.

We must walk in love to live the successful and elevated life God wants for us and Love will never fail to bring us to that very place. Why? Because God is love, agape love; Love that was given to us, even when we were yet sinners. Love never fails because God NEVER fails.

Also, because God loves us, he will make everything right with and for us, but we in turn must walk in that very commandment of love.

Simply put, if we don't walk in and live by Love, our faith will not work. This we are thought clearly in Galations 5: 6, which reads Galatians 5:6 "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love."

When our faith does not hang off love, we will not see the fullness of God's in our lives. Yes, He will bless us anyway, because that is God's nature, He cannot help himself but bless us, but without love, we will not see or experience the best that God has for us.

So, here is me encouraging us all to open ourselves to Love, develop God's love by constantly reading his words, the bible, and then making it's expression your daily reality, and watch God's awesomeness manifest in your lives; making him famous along the way.

Much Love

Remi Banjo

***Pictures by photobucket***

Painting A Picture

If I was told to create
a representation of love
I will show you a dream
and make it your reality

If I was given a canvas to
paint the emotions within,
I will show you landscapes
of my visions of love,
the delight and turmoil
that constantly rotates within

Given an opportunity to declare this whilst
standing in the middle of a stormy sea?
Your name will come free falling
from my lips with much ease

Granted an eternity to describe
the meaning, and essence of love?
I would simply run out of time
for I could never envisage or say enough,
but rely solely on the promises gifted to me
by God, the creator of the realities of love
© Remi Banjo, revised May 2008

I John 4:16 reads

"We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.
God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them"

If your desire is to visualise the representations of love, then why not reach out to God, after all He is Love.

He is patiently waiting on the wings of your heart, to wrap you in the realities and experience of absolute, personified love.

Have an awesome day basking in God's love and grace, whilst making Him famous along the way.

Much Love
Remi Banjo
***pictures by photobucket***

Release...

Standing in the middle of the crowded room,
mingling with the people therein
She's outside, looking in

She tries to dress like she should,
talk like most people do, Walk
like her mother taught and told her to

Beneath the calm poised posture
she struggles with anxieties that
threaten to burst through the doors of her sub-consciousness
Anxieties hiding behind the shadows of her every move



Each move she makes masks:
Muddled feelings
Unspoken words
Unrealised dreams
Unrepresented meanings
Locked up doors

Each motion gives a glimpse of:
Un-quenched thirst
Hidden beauty
Silent cries
Unexplored abilities
Unexplored dimensions

Yet, she embraces what she loves
what brings her immense joy
That, which explains to her soul
the meanings and reasons for it all

She wraps herself in the reality of simply
Being all she can be, Striving to realise
the dreams and desires that cries for release,
from depths within
© Remi Banjo, May 2008
***Pictures by Photobucket***

Behind the smile

Head held up high, she walks down the street

she’s wearing a smile, she confident and at peace it seems.

The smile, a mask, she uses to cover her face.

Coverage from the impact of words,

hiding the damage it's caused

beneath the surface of her radiant skin.

Every word ever delivered to the doors of her heart,

lurks around the pathway to her soul,

threatening to take residence and make it a home

Yet, she goes on with life,

attempting to maintain a facade of normality,

but the words, they are part of her daily reality

Words, statements, sentences such as...

“When are you getting married, time is passing by, you are getting old”

“When will you buy a place, you need to start learning how to build a home”

“You are getting too thin; your future husband will have nothing on you to hold”

“You are never available; you should be more open with your time”

“You will never amount to anything, this job is not for your kind”

The representation of these words,

constantly finding ways to invade the foundations her very soul,

each invasion attempt leaves rugged lines in its wake,

announcing it's presence, leaving fragmented remnants within her very essence

Yet, she carries on, attempting to maintain a facade of normality,

but words, unfortunately, they are part of her daily reality

Still, in defiance she walks on by, head held up ever so high

but, she bleeds, she bleeds freely,

from the bruises that resides within,

perfectly hidden behind the smile,

which is all we ever get to see

©Remi Banjo, April 2008

It’s a sad truth that most of us don’t realise the impact of:

· the words we speak,
· the words that tumbles out of our hearts
· free falling from our lips

The words we speak can bring forth life or death. Have you ever said a word or made a statement and almost instantly wish you could take it back? Wish you could rewind, like you a tape? Wish you could erase it like you would do with an eraser? Or wish you could delete it, like you would with the delete button on your PC?

The power and ramifications of the words we speak travel much further and burrow a lot deeper than ever expect them to. Proverbs 18:21 explains that “the tongue can bring forth death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences”. The words you speak, what does it bring – life or death?

For our words to bring forth life or death, it is dependent on the contents of our hearts, as explained in Proverbs 4:23, it reads “keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life” So it’s safe to say that whatever we speak reflects the contents and state of our hearts, life or death.

How do we make sure that the words we speak bring forth life; that they bless and not curse, they heal and harm, they encourage and not undermine? Well, proverbs 13:3 explains that “he who guards his mouth preserves his life, but he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction” This means that we should basically be very watchful of the words that come out of our mouths. We should think before we speak.

We can also learn from King David, he hid God's words within the walls of our hearts so that we will not sin against God. Psalm 119:11 reads “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you."

That said, here is me encouraging us to handle like fragile glass, the words that reside within our subconsciousness, transport them with care as they journey through our tongue, and deliver them with caution as they tumble from your lips.

Have a great day speaking life to everyone you come across and into situations that you might be facing; not forgetting to make God famous along the way.

Much Love

Remi Banjo

***pictures by photobucket

Unspoken...

In the midst of calmness
chaos reigns within the realms her soul
she hungers for His presence to heal
and simply make her whole...



A forlorn look resides on the edge of her face
as she stares into the defined emptiness of space;
teardrops rolling down the soft hills of her cheeks,
she presents a picture in dire need of a warm embrace

There she sits, on a cold winter afternoon
so many things envisaged broken, yet
ringing in her ears are words patiently
waiting to disperse healing to her very soul.
Words perched on soft lips,
quietly abandoned and left unspoken

©Remi Banjo March 2008
***Picture by Photobucket***


Philippians 4:6-7 "6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

Go on, speak to God, tell Him about that heaviness that keeps pressing down on your soul, the very one that threatens to swallow you whole...

He is always near,
He always listens,
His presence will chase
away the fears, whilst
catching every single tear

Much Love
Remi Banjo

Whispers

Whispers

Riding on the wings of a dove are
conversations whispered in earnest
words presented to the father
in form of a prayer

Single notes etched on pieces of paper
ferried on the bus of expectation
delivering a treasured note
all wrapped up in the essence of prayer

Soul anticipating
reciting a vision of hope
all laid out bare

on a bed of prayer

Riding on the winds of a dove
whispers sent forth to the heavens above
words, carefully wrapped up in love
presented to God in form of a prayer
Remi Banjo ©January 2008

Today, on sensing the breakthrough of a new dawn, my eyes fluttered opened to the beauty of a new morn. From my lips came the words "Good morning Lord, Good morning Holy spirit, I thank you for the gift of a brand new day".

Still drowsy with sleep, it was barely a whisper, I could hardly hear myself, but to God, it was so loud and clear, I instantly felt at peace. As I lay there, I thought, there is power in the simple, soft, yet childlike act of whispering, that itself is the reality, nature and the beauty of prayer.

When most people whisper, it's usually ferried on by the voice of intimacy. Imagine a couple in a romantic setting, having a meal for example, whispering sweet things into each other's ear. They share thoughts, dreams, ideas and much more, that are not meant for anyone else's ears!
Likewise, when we whisper into God's ear, we are sharing with Him thoughts that are meant for His ears only. We are exercising confidence in Him, trusting Him with our secrets.

Prayer is a major element in a believer's life. Every single aspect of our day should be wrapped up in the essence of whispered prayers. Why? Because prayer brings the power of God into our work, which means we will not toil effortlessly as described in James 5:16 "Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much".

Part b of this verse reads "the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much" The dictionary describes avail as thus "to be of use or value to; profit; advantage: "

From that description, it's safe to say that, if we want God to be of value in our daily lives, or if we want to profit from His divine intervention or to take advantage of being a child of God, we should embrace and incorporate the reality of prayer every step of the way.

Poet Alfred Lord Tennyson wrote "More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of". Imagine that!

Behind the power of prayer, lies the intimate whispers we deliver, constantly, in the Father's ears.

Whisper in every season, with every reason, He always listens.

Have a wonderful time whispering the contents of your heart to the ears of the our God, one who truly matters, the one that can make a difference; whilst making Him famous as you live out the realities of your today.

Much Love
Remi Banjo ©January 2008

***picture by anheartachehead***