Daily Thought for Tuesday, September 20th

September 20, 2011

The Funnies – A Series

A Look At The Sunday Comics

And How They Might Be Applied To Our Spiritual Lives

“But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;”

1 Corinthians 1:27

“People only see what they are prepared to see.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Comic Two  “Peanuts” by Charles M. Schulz

Today’s Application:    The Importance of Friendship

Today’s Thought:

“In the book of life, the answers aren't in the back.”  – Charlie Brown (from ‘Peanuts’ by Charles Schulz)

Today’s Quote:

“Ugh! I've been kissed by a dog! I have dog germs! Get hot water! Get some disinfectant! Get some Iodine!”  – Lucy (from ‘Peanuts’ by Charles Schulz)

Today’s Question

“My life has no purpose, no direction, no aim, no meaning, and yet I'm Happy. I can't figure it out. What am I doing right?” – Snoopy (from ‘Peanuts’ by Charles Schulz)

Today’s Bible Verses:            Proverbs 18:24,  Luke 12:4-7 & John 15:13-15

A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

  And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.  Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?  But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

Today’s Spiritual Thought:

“If I were given the opportunity to present a gift to the next generation, it would be the ability for each individual to learn to laugh at himself.” – Charles Schulz

“Happiness is anyone and anything that’s loved by you.”  – Charlie Brown (from ‘Peanuts’ by Charles Schulz)

“A true friend walks in when the rest of the world walks out.” – Anonymous

The ‘Peanuts’ comic strip is one of best examples of what it means to be a true friend that can be found, in my opinion.

Regardless of how many times Lucy pulls the football away when Charlie Brown goes to kick it:  he still trusts her and goes for the kick every time.

It doesn’t matter whether it’s the ‘Great Pumpkin’ debacle, the perpetually lost baseball games; the sad little Christmas Tree or whatever else may come their way: The ‘Peanuts’ gang stick it out, come to each others aid and help each other along, even when they get on each others nerves.

The same should be true for we Christians today.  Regardless of whether or not we like the way the preacher dresses, or whether we agree with everything he says: and without regards to elder brother so and so and little sister what’s her names thinking we are out of our minds because we don’t do things they way they did back in the day: and even those of our own peer group or younger who may not measure up or be what we think they should be, we need to love each other, comfort one another, support each other and be there to help when help is needed and just love without restraint when that is what is needed as well.

We need to remember this too: “Friendship is like a bank account.  You can’t continue to draw on it without making deposits.” – Anonymous

None of the characters in Charles Schulz cartoon are perfect: but neither are we: and we need to live together, work together, grow together and get along together, even when it’s hard.  After all, if we are in Christ and we plan to spend eternity in Heaven with Him: we are going to have to spend eternity with each other too.  Isn’t it time we started practicing how to get along together now?

Jesus calls us His friends, and He has unfathomable patience, graciousness and love for us: should we not do the same for each other?

“Life is to be fortified by many friendships.  To love, and to be loved, is the greatest happiness of existence.” – Sydney Smith

 Are you ready to be happy?  Would you be my, won’t you be, please be my friend?

Today’s Prayer:

Father, may I be as good a friend to others as you are to me.