Today Austin Coons shares a blessing of Christ. A blessing that at times we may tend to overlook and take for granted.

Godly People.

That’s something that a lot of Christians really take for granted. Godly influences are such a blessing. Some may not think it is a big deal, but it really is! Godly people in your life sharpen you and they build you up in the faith.

Proverbs 27:17 says:

“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”

I really can’t explain to you how much it means to have Christian friends, family, and mentors. I’ll just have to tell you from my experiences.

Friends

As far as friends go, I’ve been blessed with outstanding Christian friends. First of all, my youth group is so united, it’s like we’re all brothers and sisters. That’s how it should be for all those in Christ. God doesn’t want us quarreling amongst each other. Paul often addressed other Christians as brothers. I believe he meant it. We should show brotherly (and sisterly) love to our Christian friends. Spiritually speaking, we actually are brothers and sisters since we are adopted children of God. God has also put people at my high school and even people I have met through a mission trip into my life that I am so thankful for.

Family

God has also given me a family that pursues Christ. Both my brother and I will be going into the ministry. I know that I can talk to my brother if I need to and I can learn from him. My mom and dad are doing a great job of raising all of the kids and doing their best to lead us on the path to Christ. I am extremely thankful for my family.

Mentors

God has blessed me with godly mentors.
My pastor is great. He truly knows God’s Word. He preaches the uncompromised truth weekly when he takes the pulpit.
I can always go to him with my questions and/or concerns. He truly does a great job of ministering to the church.
I’m so thankful that God has given Northside Assembly of God such a great pastor in Pastor Bowden.

My youth pastor, Casey, is Pastor Bowden’s daughter. She has done an extremely great job of helping to teach and train the youth. I love that we continually study and discuss God’s Word as a group.
We don’t come to church to just play games. Yes, we get together sometimes just to hang and have fun, but only in appropriate times.
I think it’s safe to say that we’d actually prefer to study the Bible. We have fun doing that as well!

The Sunday school leader for the youth group is Susan Hoeing (aka Grandma Susan). She actually isn’t a grandmother to any of the youth members, but we call her that anyway. ☺
She is so much fun to be around! She is an inspiration to be around and is very good at teaching the Word of God.

Finally, few years ago I met an evangelist. His name was Joshua Sullivan.
He is very fun to make fun of, but that’s beside the point. ☺
What a great man of God! I don’t get to see him all the time, but when I do it’s always a great time. He preaches like no other! Often times he preaches for nearly two hours, but he holds your attention.
You can tell that he spends much time with God! He invited my brother and I to a mission trip (where we met those friends I mentioned). That was one of the best weeks of my life. What a blessing it was to be a blessing. We were constantly being fed spiritually while we served the community of Macomb/Warsaw, Illinois.
He also puts on events in a few different states for the youth called, Youth Xplosion, which always a great time learning about and worshipping God.  

I’ve listed quite a few ways God has blessed me with godly people in my life. You really shouldn’t take that for granted.

In Christ, we are one.

Build each other up instead of tearing others down. That’s how the Church should be. That’s where God wants us to be.

Are there people in your life that you may be taking for granted? Maybe just to the point where you have become ‘used’ to them and have stopped appreciating them? Be thankful for them daily, and remind them daily of it. God had blessed our lives with the exact people we need; cherish that.

Austin Coons
I’m a Christian who wants to become more like Christ daily.
I want to reach out to this lost world.
Yes I make mistakes, I’m not perfect.
But by the the blood of Jesus Christ I am washed clean daily!
If you want to hit me up with some prayer requests or just need to talk you can contact me –
austincoons@yahoo.com, @austincoons, austincoons.wordpress.com