Jesus: You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last … (John 15:14-16)

While not detracting from the titles often ascribed to Jesus at Christmastime – Emmanuel, Newborn King, Prince of Peace – I am focusing this Advent on titles for Jesus you probably won’t see on a Christmas card. Last week, I noted that Jesus is the Stumbling Stone for many. This week, I am meditating on the fact that Jesus is my Friend.  He is, in fact, my closest friend. His spirit lives within me. He knows everything about me and is with me every moment. He is my most reliable and faithful friend. He has promised he will never leave nor forsake me. How many friends have come and gone from your life? Jesus is not just a life-long friend; he is my eternal friend. Although Jesus describes our relationship as friend-to-friend, no longer servant-to-master, it is not a friendship of equals. I obey and follow him, not vice versa. He is my most challenging friend. He calls me to be perfect, as he is perfect, and to bear fruit of eternal value. I talk weekly to an old friend who now lives in North Carolina. During almost every phone call, we express appreciation for our friendship. Spend some time in prayer this week appreciating the matchless friendship of Jesus.

Here are some other suggested prayer ingredients for this week:

1. Greg Hodgson is in the intensive care unit at UCLA due to internal bleeding that caused extensive, painful bruising to his legs and other problems. His medical team believes the issue is now under control, but he will not be able to undergo the procedure to remove antibodies from his blood until the first of the year. Please pray that Greg’s condition will stabilize and improve as he continues on the path toward a second heart transplant.

2. Ken Sivcovich has been suffering from painful sciatica. Ask the Lord to show him mercy and give him relief from the pain and a path to healing. Nick DonVito is praising God for continuing improvement in the same condition and a diagnosis that rules out the need for surgery.

3. Lord, help me to do everything you have for me today without complaining. (Philippians 2:14)

4. Here’s an encouraging story about being a doer of the word, not just a hearer: You may recall that, in October, Pastor Dave preached on truth in families as part of the “Under the Hood” series, and he used telling kids the truth about Santa Claus as an example. A couple I met recently heard that message and felt convicted by the Lord. They acted on it and told their three young children that Santa Claus is not real. “It’s not enough to just listen to the word,” the dad told me. “You have to implement it.” Has the Lord convicted you about something that you have yet to act on?

5. Praise God for the generous hearts of our congregation! Just a few days ago, it looked very unlikely that we would achieve the goal of providing at least one gift for every child at the Hacienda Victoria orphanage in Rosarito, Mexico. Many, many ornaments remained on the Mexico Giving Tree. But people responded to the challenge yesterday, and nearly all of the ornaments were taken. Please pray that everyone will be faithful to follow through on their commitments to provide gifts and that they will remember to pray for the children they are blessing.

6. Lift up the Calvary Christmas parties to be held next Saturday and Sunday evenings. Pray that the good fellowship will strengthen the bonds of our church family. Pray that guests who attend will feel warmly welcomed.

7. Dwell on Thanksgiving. The holiday is over until next year and the leftovers are gone, but let’s remember to thank God every day for the blessings, large and small, that He continues to pour out on us.

In Christ,
Carol Gilbert, Prayer Chair
Calvary Community Church of Brea