This past week’s teaching from Ted Cunningham at Woodland Hills Family Church was about faith, friends, and family out of 2 Timothy 1:1-7. He encouraged us to make stronger connections with the friends we have rather than going out and always looking for new ones. This was a great sermon for me because I found myself looking back at the changes in my life over the last few years.
Point #1 – Invest in a younger believer.
I remember writing in my journal about three years ago, asking God to send me a mentor. I need someone to walk along side me as a Christian. He certainly answered my prayers. Two years ago God put that more mature believer in my life. She invested time in our relationship. She invested love. She invested  A LOT of patience. Many times in our walk over the last couple of years I have tried to push her away due to fear. But she never left. She kept pushing, even when I was ready to throw in the towel. She is the very one that first introduced me to 2 Timothy 1:7, which is a verse deeply embedded into my heart. I am so grateful for her investment.
Point #2 – Find Joy in a Friend, Not Circumstances
Ted asked a great question, “How do you measure a good friend?” His answer: “They want you to go higher in life than they do.” That struck a chord in me. I have struggled in the past, and more so recently with this very issue. I’m learning that it’s truly difficult to find “real” friends that want to watch you succeed, even if their success looks very different. I could have focused on how others have done that to me, but I chose to take a deeper look in me and figure out what I could change; how I could support my friends better. I want them all to know I am totally and completely for them.
Point #3 – Model Sincere Faith for Your Family
I have had the opportunity to watch this in the very woman who has invested in me as a younger believer. Her husband is her number one priority, next to her relationship with Christ. I must admit, I don’t always understand when she starts speaking marriage mumbo jumbo, but I tend to make mental notes in the back of my mind, reminding myself I’ll probably need this advice later when it’s my time for marriage. She fights for her family and it’s very inspiring.
Catch the sermon if you haven’t gotten a chance yet: Dear Son II:Part 1 – Faith, Friends & Family