True Friendships Breeds Mutual Edification

[bobinfaith]

Proverbs 17:17, 17 A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity. - NASB

Good morning, brothers and sisters;

I was reflecting. Something I find myself doing as I've gotten older. My wife and I are blessed to have friends that we get together with each year during the New Year down in San Diego. These are friends that I've known since I was 10 years old in elementary school. Our 20 year high school reunion reunited some of us. Later in our years we have formed other new friendships but we've stayed in touch with our longtime friends during holiday occasions.

When we were in our 20s and 30s our friends talked about different things, education, careers, making money, travels and companion relationships that were like the high and low seas and others who were/are steady. My wife and I are in our late 60s (68 and 69 respectively) and today our circle of long time friends talk about different things, retirement, savings, travel, health issues and remembering old friends.

During early adulthood I never thought I would regenerate my faith in Christ. My late mother helped me do the prayer of acceptance (receiving Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior) when I was 9 years old in 1966. I heard about God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit but I was just a child. Though I grew up in the Church, attended children's Sunday school and later played guitar with the praise team at 9am service, I didn't have a relationship with Christ. It was in my early 30s that something led me to seriously seek my spiritual connection with God. What led me, and why? I would later learn as I took a step of faith and for the next 4 decades I would grow and serve in Christian ministry. Though I'm retired from secular work I'm still active in the Church.

One of the areas of active ministry are many men and women who have shared with me that they barely have a single friend that they stay in touch with. They don't look forward to special holidays because they have noone to share them with. It's painful when you are constantly alone. If you know of acquaintances that are experiencing this, I encourage everyone to be an uplifter to these men and women, it's not too late for them, for all of us, to look up former friends or make new ones. Starting with myself, I'll invite them to coffee or lunch.

In 2026 a good friend came down very ill and was admitted to the hospital. We met her through one of our long time friends back in December 2025 and again in January 2026. Most of us have called her while in ICU. She's not able to talk so our friend who has been driving an hour almost daily while tending to her, would hold his cell phone so she could hear us give our best wishes, prayers, quote Scriptures and love her.

John 15:13, 13 Greater love has no one than this, that a person will lay down his life for his friends. - NASB

I would love to hear your testimony, experiences or thoughts regarding longtime or new friendships.

God bless you all.

Bob

 

[Yesua888]

Proverbs 17:17, 17 A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity. - NASB

Good morning, brothers and sisters;

I was reflecting. Something I find myself doing as I've gotten older. My wife and I are blessed to have friends that we get together with each year during the New Year down in San Diego. These are friends that I've known since I was 10 years old in elementary school. Our 20 year high school reunion reunited some of us. Later in our years we have formed other new friendships but we've stayed in touch with our longtime friends during holiday occasions.

When we were in our 20s and 30s our friends talked about different things, education, careers, making money, travels and companion relationships that were like the high and low seas and others who were/are steady. My wife and I are in our late 60s (68 and 69 respectively) and today our circle of long time friends talk about different things, retirement, savings, travel, health issues and remembering old friends.

During early adulthood I never thought I would regenerate my faith in Christ. My late mother helped me do the prayer of acceptance (receiving Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior) when I was 9 years old in 1966. I heard about God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit but I was just a child. Though I grew up in the Church, attended children's Sunday school and later played guitar with the praise team at 9am service, I didn't have a relationship with Christ. It was in my early 30s that something led me to seriously seek my spiritual connection with God. What led me, and why? I would later learn as I took a step of faith and for the next 4 decades I would grow and serve in Christian ministry. Though I'm retired from secular work I'm still active in the Church.

One of the areas of active ministry are many men and women who have shared with me that they barely have a single friend that they stay in touch with. They don't look forward to special holidays because they have noone to share them with. It's painful when you are constantly alone. If you know of acquaintances that are experiencing this, I encourage everyone to be an uplifter to these men and women, it's not too late for them, for all of us, to look up former friends or make new ones. Starting with myself, I'll invite them to coffee or lunch.

In 2026 a good friend came down very ill and was admitted to the hospital. We met her through one of our long time friends back in December 2025 and again in January 2026. Most of us have called her while in ICU. She's not able to talk so our friend who has been driving an hour almost daily while tending to her, would hold his cell phone so she could hear us give our best wishes, prayers, quote Scriptures and love her.

John 15:13, 13 Greater love has no one than this, that a person will lay down his life for his friends. - NASB

I would love to hear your testimony, experiences or thoughts regarding longtime or new friendships.

God bless you all.

Bob

Dear Bob, Hazel and those reading,
Such a lovely testimony Bob, thank you
My family and I moved from South Africa to Australia in 2001, leaving behind family and friends.
My marriage broke up in 2003, where I found myself having to travel far distances each day, to earn a higher wage, to pay off debts. I eventually moved to Brisbane (from the Gold Coast), and let out my humble house.
By 2008 when the financial crisis hit the world, I lost my job, and after taking a course in child care, and not finding any kind of work in Brisbane, I returned to Gold Coast, to fix up the house that had been trashed by tenants.
It was a few years of struggle, I met my now husband, we renovated and sold a few homes, ran an accommodation business in The Blue Mountains. Finally we sold that property, because we felt comfortable enough to "retire".
I know that I have missed many of God's blessings over the years ... and I often look back, and I see them now : )
It was the next move to Port Macquarie, that I asked a well known Christian man and "activist" to baptise me (March 2023). "Activist" in the sense that he has podcasts, and a very large facebook channel (with co-ordinators in most big cities). He teaches Christian values, and Stands Up to the Truth about what is going on in Australia (following in Jesus's footsteps : ). He calls them out (in his podcasts) and focuses on how we should remain True to ourselves and to God.
Having done almost a full loop (living closer to Gold Coast), we now live comfortably, even though family think that we are too frugal, and do not have all the bells and whistles that city folk do (we live in the country and love it). When it is just the two of us at home, we manage so well, I enjoy the abundance that God provides, and see the beauty around me, and all God's gifts.
My faith grows daily, and I am obsessed with God ... focussing on how to create a more intimate relationship with Father, Jesus and Holy Spirit. For a few years, I have given Holy Spirit very little attention, until very recently (you may have seen a few of my posts on this forum, and this is because I post what I am researching and learning about : )
My niece in Brisbane (and with a little help from me) paid for my Sister to come over to Australia last June 2025 ... this was the ultimate Gift from God.
I used to keep up with quite a few good and long time friends, but over the past six years, things have changed ...
I no longer drink (my hubby has never taken alcohol or drugs), and I think "old" friends find me "boring" now (no more drinking parties, and staying up talking though midnight). I don't think I have changed, and I don't believe that I am judgemental. Friends should not feel intimidated or judged, because that is just not who I am.
I have asked God to guide me to find like-minded people, with good values and good hearts, because time is short, and I really enjoy quieter and quality times with friends now.
The country town where we live has many good people, and we are making a few friends of our own age, in our neighbourhood. I would gladly expand our new circle of friends too : )
I do not go to church because I choose to make my home my Holy Sanctuary, and am working on my inner sactury too!
The biggest Gift from God, for me is this forum; this is my "church". Besides, when you see how much Scripture there is on these pages. Imho this volume and quality of teaching is not found in an ordinary church (building), or in an ordinary Christian forum.
I love that we can interact in such a meaningful way; I feel the presence of God, Jesus and Holy Spirit all the time. I also have so many of my prayers and questions answered right here.
My home, garden and animals are also blessed with God's presence ... Hallelujah

​

 

[David]

I would love to hear your testimony, experiences or thoughts regarding longtime or new friendships.

This is a good reminder, Bob. As we get older, friendship seems to become both more precious and more difficult. Most of my longtime friends have passed away, and I have never been especially good at making new ones.

I still have several friends back in my hometown, but after I had to move to another state and could not get back very often, we gradually drifted apart. There was no falling out. Life, distance, and time simply changed things.

When I begin to get to know someone, I want to share the gospel with them. For some strange reason, they often do not seem quite as eager to talk with me afterward. It must be my wonderful personality. Yes, that is a joke.

Still, I would rather risk losing someone’s approval than remain silent about the One who can save their soul. “Faithful are the wounds of a friend” ~Proverbs 27:6. A true friend does not merely make us comfortable. A true friend cares where we will spend eternity.

What you described about calling your sick friend, praying, sharing Scripture, and letting her know she is loved is friendship in action. Sometimes a phone call, a cup of coffee, or simply sitting beside someone can mean more than we realize.

I am also very blessed because my best friend is my wife. God gave me a faithful companion, and I do not take that for granted. “Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD” ~Proverbs 18:22.

“Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do” ~1 Thessalonians 5:11.

May the Lord help us notice the lonely, encourage the weary, and be the kind of faithful friends who continually point one another toward Christ.

 

[David]

Dear Bob, Hazel and those reading,
Such a lovely testimony Bob, thank you
My family and I moved from South Africa to Australia in 2001, leaving behind family and friends.
My marriage broke up in 2003, where I found myself having to travel far distances each day, to earn a higher wage, to pay off debts. I eventually moved to Brisbane (from the Gold Coast), and let out my humble house.
By 2008 when the financial crisis hit the world, I lost my job, and after taking a course in child care, and not finding any kind of work in Brisbane, I returned to Gold Coast, to fix up the house that had been trashed by tenants.
It was a few years of struggle, I met my now husband, we renovated and sold a few homes, ran an accommodation business in The Blue Mountains. Finally we sold that property, because we felt comfortable to enough to "retire".
I know that I have missed many of God's blessings over the years ...
It was the next move to Port Macquarie, that I asked a well known Christian man and "activist" to baptise me (March 2023). "Activist" in the sense that he has podcasts, and a very large facebook channel (with co-ordinators in most big cities). He teaches Christian values, and Stands Up to the Truth about what is going on in Australia; he focuses on how we should remain True to ourselves and to God.
Having done almost a full loop (living closer to Gold Coast), we now live comfortably, even though family think that we are too frugal, and do not have all the bells and whistles that city folk do (we live in the country and love it). When it is just the two of us at home, we manage so well, I enjoy the abundance that God provides, and see the beauty around me, and all God's gifts.
My faith grows daily, and I am obsessed with God ... focussing on how to create a more intimate relationship with Father, Jesus and Holy Spirit. For a few years, I have given Holy Spirit very little attention, until very recently (you may have seen a few of my posts on this forum, and this is because I post what I am researching and learning about : )
My niece in Brisbane (and with a little help from me) paid for my Sister to come over to Australia last June 2025 ... this was the ultimate Gift from God.
I used to keep up with quite a few good and long time friends, but over the past six years, things have changed ...
I no longer drink (my hubby has never taken alcohol or drugs), and I think "old" friends find me "boring" now (no more drinking parties, and staying up talking though midnight). I don't think I have changed, and I don't believe that I a judgemental. Friends should not feel intimidated or judged, because that is just not who I am.
I have asked God to guide me to find like-minded people, with good values and good hearts, because time is short, and really enjoy quieter and quality times with friends.
This country town has many good people, and we are making a few friends of our own age, in our neighbourhood. I would gladly expand our new circle of friends too : )
I do not go to church because I choose to make my home my Holy Sanctuary, and am working on my inner sactury too!
The biggest Gift from God, for me is this forum; this is my "church". Besides, when you see how much Scripture there is on these ages. Imho this volume and quality of teaching is not found in an ordinary church (building).
I love that we can interact in such a meaningful way; I feel the presence of God, Jesus and Holy Spirit all the time. I also have so many of my prayers and questions answered right here.
My home, garden and animals are also blessed with God's presence ... Hallelujah

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Linda, you have been through many changes, losses, moves, and difficult seasons, yet it is encouraging to see how the Lord has carried you through them all.

It is also understandable that some friendships changed when your life changed. When drinking, parties, and the old way of living are no longer important, some people simply drift away. That also happened to me. That does not always mean anyone is judging anyone. Sometimes people are just no longer walking in the same direction.

I am glad you are finding peace in the quieter life God has given you, and that you are learning to recognize His provision in your home, family, garden, and daily life. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above” ~James 1:17. My wife and I love our garden, pets and country living.

It is also a blessing to hear how much this forum has encouraged you and helped you search the Scriptures. Your openness, questions, and desire to learn have been an encouragement to me and others here as well.

May the Lord continue to guide you, strengthen your faith, answer your prayers according to His will, and bring faithful friends into your life who will encourage you in Christ.

Love the pictures by the way.