Greater Love Has No One Than This:

This first post has a lot to do with the entire title of my blog. The verse John 15:13 says "Greater love has no one than this: to lay one's life down for one's friends."

This verse has become one of my favorite verses in the entire bible. I have really realized the importance of friendship in the past few weeks. I was once again reconnected with one of the most important people in my life just over a month ago. I read back on a promise I once made to this person which was this: "My promise to you is that no matter how rough times get, I will always step in as your best friend and be there to support you. I promise to celebrate the good times with you and I promise to continue to be the greatest friend possible to you forever. I love and care about you as you are one of the most important people in my life." I broke that promise once again and failed as a friend. I was more selfish in my problems and needs than realizing that this person is what I needed to help get through those problems. I have spent many hours in tears over the challenges of frienships in general. But lately I have realized that all I can do is love. I can love anyone around me and encourage them in the best way I can. We are all human and we all make mistakes, Jesus will always forgive us :). But these friends that I have faced so many challenges in the past with are my support systems. They have gotten me to where I am in supporting me in my continuous search in who I am today. I grow every day in my faith and want nothing more than to experience the love of our Lord and to serve each day for him. I can now make a new promise to my best friend that I will never let our friendship fall out like it has in the past.

I told myself I wanted to look up the "Webster" definition of a friend and this is what it showed: a : one attached to another by affection or esteem.

That was a little disappointing to me because it is so much more than that. God created us to love one another unconditionally, no matter what as we love ourselves. We are attached to another through the Lord and his intentions for us to learn from the people closest to us through His teachings.

I would truly lay my life down for my friends. They are my rocks. They encourage me daily in my faith, teaching me things every moment that I did not know that God has taught to them. God is really challenging me right now to continue growing in His glory and to show that to others around me. I feel so overwhelmed at times with life and relationships, but then I feel His hand in my hand telling me that it is all part of a greater plan. These challenges in life and these friendships I made are for a reason. I want to surround myself with people that want to talk about Jesus or want to grow in their faith. I would love to be a part of supporting and witnessing someone elses walk with the Lord, just as my friends have supported me. No one will ever fully understand the depths of his love, but I will certainly continue seeking. God is good :).