Mr. Young Sung, Community Leader, Mr. Bobby Kim, Founder/CEO of Breakers Korean BBQ in Carrollton, TX and Sister Tarpley, displaying Breakers Certificate of Occupation (CO) to open and serve the public delicious BBQ
By Sister Tarpley
Discussing a friend, I was asked, “What is a Friend?” it started me to thinking. In college and in my adult life, I have met a few life-time friends; the following is something that I received years ago.A Friend Does Most or All of These From A to Z:
- Accepts you as you are.
- Believes in “you.”
- Calls you just to say “Hi.”
- Doesn’t give up on you!
- Envisions the whole of you (even the unfinished parts.)
- Forgives your mistakes.
- Gives unconditionally.
- Helps you.
- Invites you over.
- Just “be” with you.
- Keeps you close at heart.
- Loves you for who you are.
- Makes a difference in your life.
- Never judges you.
- Offer support.
- Picks you up.
- Quiets your fears.
- Raises your spirits.
- Says nice things about you.
- Tells you the truth when you need to hear it.
- Understands you.
- Values you for who you are.
- Walks beside you.
- X-plains things you don’t understand.
- Yells when you won’t listen; and
- Zaps you back to reality, when you need to be.
Something to Ponder — Don’t Tell It Like It Is: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue; . . .” (Proverbs 18:21)
Words are serious business; I have often told my children, be careful what you say; once words are spoken, you can never take them back. As believers, we need to get serious about learning how to use words.
We need to put them to work for us like God does. The Bible tells us that He uses words to, “Call those things which be not as though they were.” (Romans 4:17)
Most of us don’t have the faintest idea how to do that. We have spent our lives “telling it like it is.” We constantly use our mouths to report on the sorry state of affairs around us, and there is plenty to talk about!
Thus, the very thought of calling “things which be not as though they were,” seems crazy.
“You mean that I’m supposed to say, “I am healed,” when I’m feeling sick? Or that, “I am prosperous,” when I’m penniless?” We would say, “That sounds like lying to me.”
There’s a difference between lying and speaking by faith. A lie is meant to deceive. It’s designed to make someone believe something that’s not true.
But to speak by faith is simply to speak words that agree with the Word of God instead of the circumstances around you.
It’s speaking from your spirit instead of from your mind. Apostle Paul said, “We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;” (2 Corinthians 4:13.)
This is simply saying, “I have believed, and therefore have I spoken.”
There are people, who speak the words, but they do not have the faith to back them up, and as a result, they fall flat on their spiritual faces.
They didn’t actually “call things” that be not as though they were.” They called things that be not, the way they wished they were.
Those are two very different things. The words may be the same; but just wishing and hoping won’t get the job done. You’ve got to “believe.”
Bring both your tongue and your heart in line with the Word of God. Stop “telling it like it is” and start speaking and believing the promises of God. Put the power of words to work for you.
