Joy with Friends (Philemon 1:7)

Today’s scripture: Philemon 1:7

I love having girlfriends, those sisters in Christ who walk alongside me, who encourage me, who pray for me.

There is indeed “great joy and consolation in [their] love …” I honestly cannot imagine how I would have gotten through some very difficult times without their love and support.

In this season of my life, I have a small group of women who are my support system. We pray together; we play together; we’re genuinely there for each other. I’m fully confident that, if I needed someone, I could pick up the phone, and any one of them would be come to my aid.

I’m even more blessed to have a “sister” who “refreshes” my heart. She is my (in the current vernacular) my BFF, and I find joy in just hanging out with her.

Friends are a gift from God, and I encourage you to cherish those friends with which He’s blessed you.

Eat with Joy (Ecclesiastes 9:7-8)

Today’s scripture: Ecclesiastes 9:7-8

We do a lot of our socializing over meals, don’t we?

One of my favorite things to do with friends is eat. Whether we’re having a few people over for dinner, going out with the BFF, grilling at friends’, I love eating “with joy.”

I think that’s a gift from God. I mean, He gave us taste buds for a reason!

Even the Bible talks about how we’re going one day to sit at the marriage supper of the Lamb (Rev. 19:9). One day, every person who has committed his life to Christ will feast with Him.

So, it should come as no surprise that eating is so important—beyond what we need to survive.

The next time you sit down for a meal, eat with “joy,” thanking God for His provision—and if you’re eating with friends, find even more joy with them!

A Faithful Friend (Proverbs 11:13)

Today’s scripture: Proverbs 11:13

Most of what we’ve seen about faith so far is our being faithful to God or His being faithful to us.

But faithfulness also speaks to our relationships with others. Those with our family or our friends.

Most of us have friends the Bible describes as being closer than brothers. And if we have one or two of those faithful friends, we are blessed … truly blessed.

... because many of us have experienced the pain that comes from friends who are not faithful.

Have you had such a so-called friend? One whom you trusted and who let you down?

Few things can devastate a heart than being betrayed by a friend.

What can you do when a friend lets you down?

First, forgive … if only to take the burden off your own shoulders.

Second, reconcile … If there is a chance to salvage the relationship, do so.

Finally, move on … If reconciliation isn’t possible, and it often isn’t, then recognize that friendship is over. And find a friend who will be faithful.

Do you have a faithful friend? Take a moment and give her a call. Send him a text. And thank God you have such a friend!

Friends and Family ... Blessings! (1 Thessalonians 2:17-20)

Today’s scripture: 1 Thessalonians 2:17-20

I’ve been blessed with so many amazing, wonderful, talented, unique people in my life. Friends for a season; friends for a lifetime. Family. Even acquaintances who have briefly touched my life.

The older I get, the more I appreciate how God created us for relationship. I can’t imagine what my life would be like if I didn’t have people who encourage, affirm, and love me—yes, and even convict me when I’m off track.

My husband who has loved me and supported me—and put up with me—for almost 28 years. My mom who prays for me and who has loved me unconditionally my entire life. My siblings whom I greatly admire. My nieces and nephews who give me hope for the next generation.

And my friends … hugs. Words of encouragement. A listening ear. A ready shoulder.

What would I do without them? And you ... who faithfully reads this devotional each day. Thank you!

These truly are my glory and joy.

You Have Blessed Me (1 Corinthians 16:19-24)

Today's scripture: 1 Corinthians 16:19-24

I just love how God made us for relationship. With Him. With others.

Paul certainly understood the importance of relationships. In all his letters, he began by greeting his brothers and sisters in Christ with joy and love. He so desired they grow in faith, and it’s clear he dearly loved them. He mentioned friends by name, like Aquila and Prisca, and he continually prayed for them.

I too dearly love the people with whom God has blessed me. I have a wonderful family, and I know they’re just a phone call away (and now, some of them are within a reasonable distance for a visit!). I have faithful friends who pray for me and support me. I’ve mentioned before that, although God chose not to give my husband and me children, He’s blessed me abundantly with “children of my heart.” I have “daughters” who actually call me “mama.”

Then there’s my wonderful husband. We are in a new chapter of our lives, and for the first time, we actually have abundant time together. I am continually blessed by his presence.

If you’re reading this devotional, it’s because you are part of my life in some way. And so, I pray along with Paul: “Maranatha [Come, O Lord!]. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.”

Seasons With Friends (1 Corinthians 16:5-9)

Today's scripture: 1 Corinthians 16:5-9

Sometimes we forget that Paul’s letters are exactly that: letters. And I love how he includes personal notes that remind us of his human need for relationship.

Here, he writes how he hopes to stay with the Corinthian Christians not “just in passing.” Rather he wants to spend the winter with them. An entire season. “For some time.”

We too are made for relationship. We need people around us to support us, to encourage us, and to love us. Even the most introverted among us need a friend or two. We need interaction with others, conversations, touch, hugs.

We’re made that way. Think of it this way: We’re created in the image of God, right? And our God is a God of relationships. In His trinity, He is in relationship—Father, Son, and Spirit. He created man to be in relationship with Himself.

And so we’re to be in relationship with others.

Find friends with whom you want to spend time … not just in passing, but for seasons upon seasons.

Meeting Face-to-face (3 John 1:13-14)

Today's scripture: 3 John 1:13-14

We are created for relationship. God put something deep in our hearts that needs to connect with others. And as I wrote in another posting, it’s not enough to merely connect via all the technology available to us.

I have the great privilege to be a part of a small group of wonderful women through my church. We meet once a week for a time of Bible study, prayer, and fellowship. Monday evenings are truly one of the highlights of my week. We have built solid relationships. We laugh. We cry. We worship. We hug. We genuinely love each other. In fact, we met last night, and I was so blessed!

There’s something that satisfies the heart when we meet face-to-face with those we care about. In our mobile society, sometimes that’s hard, I know. All of my family lives far from my Southern California home, so phone calls and texting are the only way I can regularly connect with them. But there’s nothing—nothing—like those times when I can look into my mom’s eyes or bear-hug my sister and brother or love on my nieces and nephews.

Make time for your friends and family. Schedule a coffee date with a dear friend. Plan a family reunion. Do something to connect—face-to-face.

Made for Relationship (1 Cor. 16:19-24)

The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Prisca greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house. All the brethren greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. The greeting is in my own hand—Paul. If anyone does not love the Lord, he is to be accursed. Maranatha. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.
(1 Corinthians 16:19-24, NASB)

I just love how God made us for relationship. With Him. With others.

Paul certainly understood the importance of relationships. In all his letters, he began by greeting his brothers and sisters in Christ with joy and love. He so desired they grow in faith, and it’s clear he dearly loved them. He mentioned friends by name, like Aquila and Prisca, and he continually prayed for them.

I too dearly love the people with whom God has blessed me. Right now, this is especially true as I’m in rehearsals for a play with several of my “girls.” I’ve mentioned before that God chose not to give my husband and me children. But He’s blessed me abundantly with “children of my heart.” I have “daughters” who actually call me “mama,” and I love them so very much. Last night, one of them sat on my lap and just loved on me (even though she’s about ready to graduate high school!).

Then there’s my wonderful husband. Since I’ve been in rehearsals every night for the last week (and will do so for the next two nights before opening weekend), I haven’t really spent a lot of time with him. And I miss him. Because God has made me for relationship, and one of those relationships is with Russ …

If you’re reading this devotional, it’s probably because you’re my friend or part of my family. And so, I pray along with Paul: “Maranatha [Come, O Lord!]. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.”

Made for Relationships (1 Cor. 16:5-9)

But I will come to you after I go through Macedonia, for I am going through Macedonia; and perhaps I will stay with you, or even spend the winter, so that you may send me on my way wherever I may go. For I do not wish to see you now just in passing; for I hope to remain with you for some time, if the Lord permits. But I will remain in Ephesus until Pentecost; for a wide door for effective service has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.
(1 Corinthians 16:5-9, NASB)

Sometimes we forget that Paul’s letters are exactly that: letters. And I love how he includes personal notes that remind us of his human need for relationship.

Here, he writes how he hopes to stay with the Corinthian Christians not “just in passing.” Rather he wants to spend the winter with them. An entire season. “For some time.”

We too are made for relationship. We need people around us to support us, to encourage us, and to love us.

Even the most introverted among us need a friend or two. We need interaction with others, conversations, touch, hugs.

We’re made that way. Think of it this way: We’re created in the image of God, right? And our God is a God of relationships. In His trinity, He is in relationship—Father, Son, and Spirit. He created man to be in relationship with Himself.

And so we’re to be in relationship with others.

Find friends with whom you want to spend time … not just in passing, but for seasons upon seasons.

Be Cautious ... (2 Thess. 3:6)

Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition which you received from us.
(2 Thessalonians 3:6, NASB)

We Christ-followers know we should avoid intimate interactions with non-believers. We shouldn’t be “unequally yoked” (2 Cor. 6:14), and though that often refers to marriage, we need to be very cautious about even close friendships with those who don’t share our faith. Oftentimes, instead of our leading them to Christ, they lead us away.

But this verse is talking about our “brothers,” and this seems to be referring to fellow believers. We are to “keep away” from Christians who aren’t living according to the Bible’s teachings.

Our world abounds with preachers who are skewing the truth, taking verses out of context or picking and choosing which parts of the Bible they want to believe—and rejecting those that don’t fit with their objectives.

And many people who sincerely love Jesus and want to serve God are being deceived. Because of what they’ve been taught—or not taught, as the case may be—they’re living contrary to biblical commandments.

We need to be cautious with those friendships as well. It’s easy to begin to compromise our own faith when we see others who call themselves by the name of Christ compromise theirs. Our plumb line must always be what God’s word tells us to be true.

So, watch your friendships closely. And nurture those relationships that build your faith, rather than tear it down.