Finding The Secret

More Than Conquerors
January 2004 Part 1

Friendship

“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” —Proverbs 17:17

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” —Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” —Proverbs 27:17

“We are all travelers in the wilderness of this world, and the best that we can find in our travels is an honest friend.” –Robert Louis Stevenson

“A true friend is one who hears and understands you when you share your deepest feelings. He supports you when you are struggling; he corrects you, gently and with love, when you err; and he forgives you when you fail. A true friend prods you to personal growth, stretches you to your full potential. And most amazing of all, he celebrates your successes as if they were his own.” –Richard Exley

“A ‘common friendship’—who talks of a common friendship? There is no such thing in the world. On earth no word is more sublime.” —Henry Drummond

“Friendship improves happiness, and abates misery, by doubling our joy and dividing our grief.” –Joseph Addison

“The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is in the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when he discovers that someone else believes in him and is willing to trust him.” –Ralph Waldo Emerson

“No love, no friendship, can cross the path of our destiny without leaving some mark on it forever.” –Francois Mocuriac

Friendship

Like a flower, growing in its beauty
As it opens up itself to you,
Every secret that it gives away
Shows itself a dream that has come true—

Like a rope to hold you firm and steady
When about to fall off of the heights,
It will catch you in your weaknesses,
Holding you when love seems out of sight—

Like the rising sun, spreading golden brilliance,
Piercing past the heart’s obscurest bends;
Giving everything to help another—
This is what it means to be a friend!

—Benjamin Graber

So Much to Say

In the dark of night, alone I lay—
There’s no one here, and so much to say—
What friend have I? I want to sigh—
But my best Friend is always nigh—

Whispering secrets to the dark—
Only for Your ears to hark—
Don’t let me forget that You are here—
For my best Friend is always near—

—Joanna Spencer
© Joanna J. Spencer. Used with permission

Friendship is being there
For me when I’m down.
Friendship is changing my
Face to a smile from a frown!

A friend is someone who
Brightens my day with a smile.
Someone who is kind and
Sweet, not mean or hostile!

A warm hello, a gentle
Word from the heart-
A friend is someone
Who will act this part.

Friendship is a precious
Gift to nurture and treasure.
A true friend is a great
Gift completely beyond measure!

Friends share,
They don’t compare-
Friends care-
We need friends like this everywhere!

—Terra Mandrell
© Terra Mandrell. Used with permission

To Express This in Words?

Deeper than my emotion.
A whole-hearted devotion.
Firmer, stronger than man’s will.
Formed by Christ there’s no evil.

Less would not be a friendship.
For I must put all in it.
My deposits are safe here.
All my thoughts can be said clear.

Such a trusting and close bond.
A strength I can depend on.
Others might smile and shake hands,
But acquaintances don’t stand.

Time will set forth the faithful,
Uncover the unstable,
Show who’s close when you’re let down:
You’ll see those faces all ’round.

I’ve said all I can put forth,
But friendship has much more worth.
I thank God for those I love:
He sent them from up above.

—Samuel Popiel

Celebrating Friendship

Today, I’m celebrating.
Friendship came my way.
Some friendships come quite subtlety,
Others clothed in great array.

The rose, in all its beauty,
Kissed by God’s sweet dew,
Flourishes and blushes.
Sunlight rays reflect her hues.

Just like the blushing rosebud,
Inner beauty is revealed.
In your golden heart of giving,
A harvest it shall yield.

A friend is a calm in the storm—
A cup of tea hot and warm.
A friend is a delicate rose—
A shoulder to listen to my woes.

—Terra Mandrell
© Terra Mandrell. Used with permission

Friends

You are my special friends
The Father has sent to me.
Your eyes take me from the dark valley,
So the mountains tops I see.

You help me reach the Father’s throne
By the witness of His grace.
I see my Father’s loving hands
By the peace upon your face.

You can take the darkest days
And make the sun to shine,
Reminding me of His promises ~
That He has said were mine.

When I stand in the need of prayer,
You can take me to His throne.
You pull me with the cords of love,
When I can’t make it on my own.

You are my special friends,
Who make my daily walk so sweet,
And I know that, in your prayers,
You have rested at His feet.

You speak to me of the love of God,
That you have tested it for sure.
As you stood in times of trial,
In Him, you have been secure.

I can feel the touch of God
Whenever you’re around,
Knowing, as you grow in Him,
A new joy I have found.

Sometimes, maybe once in a lifetime,
God send friends so sweet and true
And I want to be that kind of friend
That God has given you.

So, I lift you, often, in prayer ~
As I know, for me, you do, too.

I know, someday,
You will supply another’s need
And you will be about His business
As, in prayer, you intercede.

I thank God you came along and
Brought, to me, the Savior’s touch.
So, remember, dear friends,
That I love you all so much.

God bless you and keep you
In His most tender care,
As you continue, on this road,
To more people, everywhere.

When the last pages
Of time are finally cast
And, in heaven, we shall meet
And remember things that passed ...

How sweet the fellowship
Of the friends we shall, then, meet;
But, greater, still, and sweeter
To be at Jesus’ feet.

You are more special
Than you will ever know.
Precious, in His sight, are you;
Bathed in the Savior’s glow.

A friend, straight from heaven;
May His blessings fill you all your days.
May your walk, with the Lord, bless you ~
As you have blessed me in my ways.

Photographs
For Jenny

It feels like summer skies and sun—
It feels like daffodils and lace—
It feels like breeze, and the scent of night,
For my mind to conjure up your face—

The dusty photographs I keep
Are floating to the floor again—
I touch the memories once more,
Sweetly familiar—still the same—

Joy is you, my dearest friend—
Happiness is to have you near—
The pictures beneath my hands are curled,
But nothing dims this friendship here—

And it still feels like summer and daffodils—
It always has and it always will—

Round and Square

I am round and you are square;
Round pegs can’t fit in square-shaped holes!—
Camels fit through needle eyes
When we let God be in control;
Though I’m round and you are square
Let’s strive to touch each other’s souls!

We are different, you and I
And though I’m round and you are square
We were meant to knit in love,
And through our differences to share—
Unique parts of one body,
The two of us make quite a pair!

—Benjamin Graber

Dear Friend

Near the end of a rainbow,
I found my pot of gold.
I found a special friend
Who’s beauty I behold.

Your kind and gentle spirit
Brightens up each day.
Your laughter is like music,
Beckoning to be played.

You’re a gift of great value,
God gave to me with love.
He filled this earth with joy.
Surely, angels sang above.

How comforting to know
You’re always there for me.
I’ll treasure every moment
And hope that you can see ...

I call it such an honor
To walk this path with you,
Hand in hand in friendship,
Beneath the skies of blue.

I offer you this promise,
If you ever need someone,
I’ll always be here for you.
To your side I’ll quickly run.

Gray Skies

Too long I traveled valleys deep,
And missed the lovely mountains high,
I got too used to hiding there,
Too used to gray November skies;

One day I found myself upon
A high, beautiful mountain peak
And I found you up there as well,
A closely minded soul to seek—

I got too used to tears and pain,
It’s hard for me to understand,
How you can open up your heart
And offer friendship’s reaching hand—

But here I am, my newfound friend,
I offer all to you I can,
And I am learning finally,
To give is how to be a man.

And as we walk together, friend,
I know what love is meant to be,
And see that even clouds and rain
Are sunshine when you are with me.

—Benjamin Graber

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or
nakedness or danger or sword?… No, in all these things
we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”
—Romans 8:35, 37

If you have any comments or questions, or if you have a poem to share, please send an e-mail to bgraber@neo.rr.com

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