A friend made

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Romans 12:9-15

9 Let love be genuine; 

do not say hateful things behind a person's back.

hate what is evil, 

how do we decide what is evil, what is our measuring rod?

hold fast to what is good;

Keep to God's priorities 

¹⁰love one another with mutual affection;

make friends in your fellowship

 outdo one another in showing honour. 

be a friend in more than thoughts, be active in your friendship

¹¹Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord.^*

Read your Bible, be fired up by Christ's example

¹²Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, 

God knows what is coming

persevere in prayer.

Remember that God is with us all day and talk to him

¹³Contribute to the needs of the saints; 

Give to church

extend hospitality to strangers.

See below for today's little story

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.

Pray for those who upset and perturb you

¹⁵Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 

To be with somebody is enough to show that you share and care. 

Julia came for an interview at the school where I was teaching. She got the job and was going to stay in a local hostelry. I had a spare room. I said "Come stay with me". She did. Thirty years later we have a friend because Julia came to stay. During that stay with us Julia helped me to clean my house for my mother-in- law's impending visit. And that was a great help.