Dana’s Blog

When your down and troubled
And you need a helping hand
And nothing, whoa nothing is going right.
Close your eyes and think of me
And soon I will be there
To brighten up even your darkest nights.
You just call out my name,
And you know whereever I am
I’ll come running, oh yeah baby
To see you again.
Winter, spring , summer, or fall,
All you have to do is call
And I’ll be there, yeah, yeah, yeah.
You’ve got a freind.
If the sky above you
Should turn dark and full of clouds
And that old north wind should begin to blow
Keep your head together and call my name out loud
And soon I will be knocking upon your door.
You just call out my name and you know where ever I am
I’ll come running to see you again.
Winter, Spring, summer or fall
All you got to do is call
And I’ll be there, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Hey, ain’t it good to know that you’ve got a friend?
People can be so cold.
They’ll hurt you and desert you.
Well they’ll take your soul if you let them.
Oh yeah, but don’t you let them.
You just call out my name and you know wherever I am
I’ll come running to see you again.
Oh babe, don’t you know that,
Winter Spring summer or fall,
Hey now, all you’ve got to do is call.
Lord, I’ll be there, yes I will.
You’ve got a friend.
You’ve got a friend.
Ain’t it good to know you’ve got a friend.
Ain’t it good to know you’ve got a friend.
You’ve got a friend.

Boy does this bring back the memories. I remember singing this around the camp fire at Camp Leesburg and in my youth group at Brandon First UMC many years ago. I remember the good feeling it gave me as I looked into the faces of Greg Coker, Scott Stevens, Karen McGovern, Gaye Bua, Denise Williams and so many more. Through the years those faces have changed and it has been Todd Hilton, Greg Meadows, Susan Lee, and others during the college and seminary years. I see many faces now as the circle grows to include the faces of Max, Bill, Scott, Mark, John, Allison, Jamie, Gary, Angela, Malinda, and so many more.

How often I forget these faces in the midst of life and struggle and heartache. I get so busy being the preacher, being the husband and father that I find I can’t see any faces and wondering if I have any friends at all. I think it could be a genetic thing with me but I don’t know.

The good news for me … I always have a friend with me, and His name is Jesus Christ. I know, I know many of you are thinking how corny … just what you would expect from a preacher right? Right. But nevertheless it has been in those darkest moments when I have sheltered myself from all earthly friends that Jesus can’t be kept out. He loves me so much He is always there. The writer of Romans puts it this way, “Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ Jesus; NOTHING!

I can’t imagine how much gruff Christ takes from me in my failing and my sinful living but still He loves me. There is nothing I can do to stop His love from raining down on me and in me. This God is a pretty awesome God. God’s main concern is my salvation and my completeness in Him. So God will never leave me or forsake me.

When I feel low and throw my pity party, God will not leave me be in my mood. God comes and sits with me till He can bring me up and out.

I wonder have you experienced a God, a Savior like that? He is so ready to meet you in your lowness and brokenness and not to judge you but love you to be the man or woman He knows you can be. You have a friend – - – always in Jesus Christ; oh and in me too!!

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