Core Scripture: “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” (Matthew 18:20)

Message: I knew it was a match made in heaven.  My two friends from different areas of my life just had to meet.  Michael, the Vietnam veteran whom I commemorated in Wisdom From a Warrior.  Mark, the history buff from my small group at church.  Both have gone through their own health scares.  Both are Christian men.  Both are retired.  Both needed each other.

I just had to get them together.

Sweet Tees is a local coffee shop where you get to pick your coffee cup from the wall.  Sometimes I choose based on the personality of the cup, like a Chiefs cup after their big win over the Colts.  Other times I will pick the biggest cup they have to garner all the medium roast coffee they have—even if the cup is pink with unicorns on the side, saying something cheesy like, “You Go, Girl!”  It was the perfect place for us to meet up.

I don’t remember the exact details of our first meeting.  It happened over a year ago, and all our rendezvous seem to blend together.  My friends hit it off immediately.  I brought in a copy of Michael’s book to share with Mark.  Michael, a gifted storyteller, allowed the stories to flow from his memory.  They came out smoothly.  Slowly.  One by one.  Cascading like a breathtaking, never-ending waterfall.

Just like that, a friendship was born. 

Me?  I played my part, too.  I loved Michael’s stories, and I would pick his brain about the details, gaining wisdom from his life.  Mark, a seasoned Christian mentor for me, always provided a godly perspective.  As for me, I enjoyed sharing my life with these men and encouraging them through their own life struggles. 

There was the week I brought in my Papaw’s love letters to my Memaw from World War II.  Opening them and reading them was like discovering a time capsule.  I had never seen this side of my grandpa!  Like courting my grandma and calling her Sugar.  He was on a minesweeper in Okinawa while she was back home in the United States living the life of a high school girl.

One letter I opened contained a surprise.  A small, folded piece of paper fell to the floor.  I was about to dismiss it, but something told me to pick it up.  I delicately unfolded the yellow-stained paper from over a half century ago, revealing a small clump of blondish-colored hair.  Papaw had sent a bit of his hair back to Memaw after receiving a lock of her hair the week before.  History had come alive!

But our meetings became more than just history lessons.  We shared our lives.  Everything from in depth looks into our marriages to how to tackle health concerns to my job search to why the heck can’t the Chiefs fully get it together.  Michael and Mark, both retired, were also my segway into current events.  They never failed to update me on the latest in politics and world news. 

There were some weeks we could not meet.  On those weeks, I always felt like something was missing.  But we’d always get back together the following week to catch up.  Those conversations would always last a bit longer.  And sometimes they blended into Michael and I staying longer, moving over to Abelardo’s for Taco Tuesday.  Is there anything that beats five delicious tacos for a mere seven bucks and change? 

And then came last week’s memorable moment.  We were shooting the breeze, when Michael abruptly changed the conversation to ask for prayer for his newly discovered brain tumor.  It was growing, and when my good friend wiped his face with his hands, taking time to rub his worn temples, Mark and I both knew it was clouding his positive outlook on life.

“Well, do you know what I say?” Mark boldly declared.

All eyes at the table turned to Mark, adorned in his patented USA hat.  Always patriotic. 

“I learned a long time ago that the best way to handle a moment like this is to pray on the spot.  Right here.  Right now.”

Mark extended his hands out, and we clasped together as a single unit.  As one.  United in prayer.  Mark’s voice, booming a bit louder than normal, overtook our table.  Tears began to leak from the corners of my eyes.  The Holy Spirit burned brighter than any darkness trying to overcome us.  Through the Lord’s omnipotent power, we overcame that small moment of trepidation. 

I wondered … Did anyone else nearby see that prayer?  It was impossible not to!  Maybe someone was encouraged.  Maybe someone realized our God is bigger than our problems.  And no matter what curve balls come our way, the battle has already been won at the cross through Jesus Christ, our Lord.  Our God can move mountains! 

It was after that prayer that I felt a nudge to do something.  I wanted someone to take our picture.  Michael found a nearby gal working on her laptop who readily obliged.  She snapped a few takes.  Only getting our good sides, of course.  That picture above is more than just three men having coffee.  It represents a friendship that I will never take for granted. 

Right now as I write this blog, I would normally be getting ready to leave to pick up Michael to meet Mark at Sweet Tees, but that is not in the cards today.  Some health problems concerning lack of white blood cells to fight off infection sidelined Michael in the hospital the past few days.  He is home now, resting and recovering, hoping to rejuvenate in time for family coming in over Thanksgiving. 

Inspired by a prayer devotion I read on YouVersion, I created a prayer message for Michael and sent it to him.  We talked twice on the phone yesterday.  It was wonderful to hear my friend’s voice, and I relayed the message to Mark that we would have to postpone coffee for another day.  I did, however, get permission from both men to share our story here.    

What can be gained from this?  First and foremost, make time for your friends.  Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”  Which friend of yours could use encouragement this week?  Snag them for a cup of coffee. 

Secondly, the power of prayer is unstoppable.  Mark 11:24 says, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”  When was the last time you prayed a bold prayer over someone?  Mark’s words, flowing straight from the Holy Spirit, are still echoing in my soul.  Use that example as a springboard to move someone you know in prayer.

Finally—especially on this week of Thanksgiving—count your blessings.  Every day is a gift from God.  Every second you breathe is an opportunity to show someone the love of Jesus.  In Colossians 4:5, Paul writes, “Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.”  We only get 24 hours every single day.  How are you using that precious time?

Friends, we have so much to be thankful for!  God lavishes us with blessings beyond our wildest imaginations!  David says, “Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you” (Psalm 116:7).  This Thanksgiving, rest in that assurance of the promise that God is always good.

Challenge: Most people have a little extra time off over Thanksgiving for friends and family.  Who is that special person that needs your encouragement?  Use prayer to comfort them.

Bible study: Journal about or discuss how any of these verses apply to today’s theme …

1. “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
2. “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” (James 5:16)
3. “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” (John 15:7)

Song application: “Counting My Blessings” by Seph Schlueter

It’s like it was yesterday
I was a praying for a miracle
Scared to have a little hope
And now looking back today
Seeing all the things You’ve done
I can’t even add them up

One, two, three up to infinity
I’d run out of numbers
Before I could thank You for everything

God, I’m still counting my blessings
For all that You’ve done in my life
The more that I look in the details
The more of Your goodness I find
Father on this side of heaven
I know that I’ll run out of time
But I will keep counting my blessings
Knowing I can’t count that high

Just for fun: The Progressive commercial below resonates with me well.  One day at Sweet Tees, Michael and I arrived to hear the barista bellow out, “VALERIE!!!”  The sonic boom of her voice echoed off the walls, and we both started yelling Valerie’s name until she appeared, blushing red like an apple.  It has become a running inside joke for us ever since. 

Prayer: Father, we have nothing but gratitude to give You!  Thank You for Your countless blessings, especially the gift of Your Son, Jesus.  Amen.