READ Proverbs 17
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.
-- Proverbs 17:17 (NIV)
I walked out of my third college final exam in two days like a zombie, barely able to focus on my surroundings. A friend, Tim Vara, came alongside me on the sidewalk as we approached a city street. As I was about to step into the road, he flipped his arm across my chest to stop me. In that instant, a car zoomed by a foot or two in front of us at high speed. I would have been killed or severely injured had he not stopped me.
There are many examples of friendship in the Bible:
Friendship with other people is, of course, highly valued and a great blessing, but we can have an even deeper friendship with God:
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
We can be friends with God.
Prayer: Father in heaven, please help us to nurture our friendship with you.
Prayer Focus: FRIENDS
Rick Stockwell retired from a career in information technology, teaches Sunday school for first graders, served as an elder at his church, has been married for thirty-five years, and has two children and six grandchildren.
Rick is the author of two novels in his Heavenly Realms series called The Wall and The Battle. Audio, eBook and paperback versions are accessible via this link: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B07HQ8G3MJ
Clean
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6/19/2026
Like a Breath
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6/12/2026
Sermon on the Mount
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6/5/2026
Lies
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5/29/2026
Back in the Box
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Looking Ahead
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Who's Driving?
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Interruptions
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What's the Most Important Question in Life?
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Feathers
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Checkers or Chess?
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4/10/2026
Victory
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4/3/2026
Restless
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3/27/2026
Assurance of Salvation
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3/20/2026
Anniversaries and Holidays
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3/13/2026
Knowing
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Hate at Hebron
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2/27/2026
Naos
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2/20/2026
Why Believe in God?
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The Last Starfighter
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Be Alert
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1/30/2026
Time's Up
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1/23/2026
Can't Take It With You
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1/16/2026
Safe with God
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1/9/2026
Happy New Year
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1/2/2026
Choose Wisely
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12/26/2025
Merry Christmas
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12/19/2025
Two by Two
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12/12/2025
No Root
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12/5/2025
I Did It My Way
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11/28/2025
Sandals
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11/21/2025
Amazing Forgiveness
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Temptation
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Cards You're Dealt
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Shelf Life
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Watchman
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Seeds
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Allegiance
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Water Bottle
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9/26/2025
Charlie Kirk
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9/19/2025
Book Binding
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9/12/2025
Meeting Together
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9/5/2025
Weak and Strong
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Repentance
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8/22/2025
Why Didn't You Tell Me?
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Nose to Nose
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8/8/2025
Discipleship
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8/1/2025
Already Chosen
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7/25/2025
Drainage Tunnel
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Withered Hand
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7/11/2025
Traveling Mercies
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7/4/2025
Doomscrolling
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6/27/2025
Working Toward Heaven
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6/20/2025
Foxes
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6/13/2025
Self-Reliance
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6/6/2025
Flawless
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5/30/2025
The Scripture Cannot Be Broken
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5/23/2025
Friends
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Steal No Longer
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5/9/2025
Why is the World So Messed Up?
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5/2/2025
Judging Others
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4/25/2025
Stay off the Grass
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4/18/2025
Who is my Neighbor?
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4/11/2025
Same Reward
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4/4/2025
Love and Respect
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3/28/2025
Can God Use You?
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3/21/2025
Do All Paths Lead to God?
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3/14/2025
Final Exam
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3/7/2025
Clear Conscience
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2/28/2025
Guardian Angels
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Invictus
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Faith
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Post-Retirement Planning
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1/31/2025
Twin Parallel Truths
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1/24/2025
I Will Be With You
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Deny by Default
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Living Water
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Marriage Proposal
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12/27/2024
What is Truth?
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Success
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12/13/2024
Crumbs
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12/6/2024
TV Turnoff
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11/29/2024
Thanksgiving
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11/22/2024
Burning Brightly
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11/15/2024
One-Way Mirror
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11/8/2024
Time
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My List
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10/25/2024
Bronzed
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10/18/2024
Anti-malware Software Needed
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10/11/2024
A Real Miracle
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10/4/2024
Forgotten God
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9/27/2024
Version 2.0
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Chasing Shadows
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9/13/2024
Red Scribbles
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9/6/2024
The One I Esteem
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8/30/2024
Swimming Lessons
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8/23/2024
Hard Heart
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8/16/2024
Racial Healing
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8/9/2024
Are you Listening?
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8/2/2024
The Narrow Path
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7/26/2024
Go Save Someone
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7/19/2024
He Knows What You Need
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7/12/2024
Bleach
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7/5/2024
Firm Foundation
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6/30/2024
Impressions
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6/21/2024
Running Uphill
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6/14/2024
Are We Listening?
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3/31/2021
Go Save Someone
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3/31/2021
He Knows What You Need
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3/31/2021
Firm Foundation
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3/31/2021
Bleach
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3/31/2021
Impressions
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2/15/2018
Running Uphill
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11/29/2017
Racial Healing
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2/9/2017
Start Each Day With Prayer
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5/10/2016