Friendship Time....

"She opens her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.  She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.  Her children rise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.  Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.  Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman that fears the Lord, she shall be praised.  Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates."  Proverbs 31:26~31  She was indeed a true friend!

I have been busy, thinking on friendship and the joys and blessings of true friends.  In our times, if you have the good fortune of a few, then indeed you are blessed!  As a woman, there are only a couple of other joys that fulfill us so deeply.  Our need is to give and receive good conversation, encouragement, and lots of laughter!  Our words can fall out carelessly and still we feel accepted and loved unconditionally by a true friend.  Friends share our hearts, our fears, regrets, our joys, and close us in a safe place...... in their hearts. 

Memories often bind good friendships.  You know, the time you had such a deep need that words did not even have to be spoken to be understood, the friend just did what true friends do....understand!  Friends like this are treasures.  No advice....just love and shared kindness (maybe a kleenex or two).  Often times, the friends we choose or the ones who choose us tell which way our lives are heading.  Are we looking for a friendship that just offers us a good time or are we looking for a friend who can sharpen us as a person and pour a joyful spirit into our spirit?  I hope you have a friend like that.  One who makes you a better person and your life richer and stronger.  

This morning, my table is set for a friendship breakfast.  Simple, yet filled with love and hope that God will supply all our needs for the day in friendship and in our lives.  Enjoy the blessings around you dear friend and invite some "girlfriends" over for breakfast and coffee!  May your spirit be filled until it overflows with goodness and kindness and LOVE!

SUCRE`...........Sweetness in New Orleans

 ~The entrance says it all.....Bonjour~

 ~Cupcakes, just enough to invite you to indulge~

Sweetness and near perfection is all about the delicious little sugar shop in New Orleans, known as SUCRE`! New Orleans is America's attempt, at its best, of the French ways of life and this little sweet shop does an excellent job of creating ambience and sweet treats!  They are located on Magazine Street and the location above in Metarie, Louisiana!  If you visit New Orleans you should go because it is like walking into a little shop in France!  I was pleasantly suprised!  The packaging is beautiful too!  Display case after display case invites you to ooh and aah and you decide on your selection.  We had a hard time deciding!  What impressed me the most was the decor` and the quality of the items for purchase.  It is apparent that much thought and work went into this successful business.  I was happy to spend a few dollars there indulging in their treats!  So fun too!

Sweet treats and sweet people leave us with a blissful feeling!  They open their hearts and lips and good words flow out....sweet words.  They are the ones who love and encourage others naturally, sort of like Angels among us!  "Bless the Lord, you His angels, Who excel in strength, who do HIS WORD, heeding the voice of His words."  Psalm 103:20  These people (like Angels among us) have a purpose in the Kingdom of God for sharing and sprinkling sweetness and goodness.  We can glean from the Words of God in the Bible about Angels and seek to emulate and learn from their purposes and spread His words and His strength when we are called upon to share them.   In our lives when we seek to spread His words in our generation there is a sweet aroma that we are told goes up before the Throne of God.  Our lives have to be balanced with the duties that we have each day and also the filling of our spirits.  Most of us do not just wake up one day and become sweet.  Our hearts have to be repentent of the sin in our lives and we have to seek to confess this sin to our loving and forgiving God.  He isn't seeking perfection, He is seeking a heart that seeks Him and a heart that walks with Him. This is important if we truly desire to become "sweet". 

May I encourage you as a new week is beginning to carve out a little time to think about where your life is heading. I plan to do this too!  We all know people who are hurting, who are wounded, who need to be treated sweet and who need to be "bandaged up".  When you've spent time with the Lord, you are able to spot these people and reach out and touch them with a little "sugar and sweetness".  Sort of like SUCRE`    May God lead you to those people and may you respond.....a sweet smelling aroma will rise before HIS THRONE!

Luke 10:34  "So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him."  Dear Lord, may You use us in this way.