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Renee Swope

Encouraging and equipping moms to parent with God's grace and confidence.

Confident Heart Friendship Gift Pak

“Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another…”
Hebrews 10:25a

I sometimes wonder if I am one of the “some” that are mentioned in this verse. Oh I go to church. I worship, take notes and hang out in the lobby chit-chatting. But somewhere along the way I got “in the habit of not meeting together” with friends as much as I think God wants me to.

I didn’t mean for it to happen. Each day just seemed to fade into another. I couldn’t keep up with everything as a wife, mom, friend, daughter, neighbor, and working/ministering woman.

Time with friends was the one thing I could afford to miss. Or so I thought.

But then I found myself with an craving for connection that I was trying to fulfill with a white screen and black alphabet keys. Yet no matter how many times I checked email or Facebook, it was never enough to satisfy my craving.

Maybe you can relate. If so, be sure to read my “Craving Connection” devotion over at Encouragement for Today.

As I think about my craving for connection, and God’s emphasis on the importance of us “meeting together,” I can’t help but believe it’s because He created us to need it. We were created in His image after all, and God is always in community – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Always has been.

But it won’t just happen because we need it. So, today I wanted to share a few ways we can get creative and intentional about spending time with friends:

  • Plan a monthly girl’s night out
  • Invite a friend over for lunch or coffee
  • Find a hobby you both enjoy
  • Get away together for a day or weekend
  • Carpool together
  • Run errands together
  • Clean your houses or do laundry together
  • Prepare dinner together
  • Serve someone in need together
  • Reach out to a neighbor together
  • Start a Bible study or book club together

One of the things that encourages me is to have spiritual purpose to my friendships. I love doing a book study with a friend and meeting to talk about the questions at the end of each chapter.

I wrote A Confident Heart with that in mind, hoping friends will read it and encourage each other with the truths God put in it. We need that spiritual encouragement and transparency in our friendships, don’t we? So, this week I’m giving A Confident Heart Friendship gift pak away to one of you. Here is what it includes:

Confident Heart Friendship Gift Pak

One advanced copy of my new book A Confident Heart
to read and share with a friend.

$10 Starbuck’s Gift Card to share with a friend while you connect face-to-face and heart-to-heart over coffee, tea or dessert.

To enter to win — share this post with your friends via Facebook, Twitter, your blog and email. Let me know you did and then tell me one friend you will encourage with a call today or an email letting them know you’d love to get together. I’ll announce the winner next Monday.

Lord, You created us with a need for friends. Yet, we find ourselves rushing through our days with little time for face-to-face and heart-to-heart connections. Help us to seek You first as our ultimate Friend, and then reach out to others so we can have and be a close friend. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.


This post is part of my Encouraging Words Wednesday.

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Comments

  2. Posted it on facebook to share…
    I have been in contact via email with firnds trying to keep in touch…hard when kids are at different schools, schedules etc…

  3. We were talking about this yesterday in our mom's Bible Study group. Something we all said we struggled with. Sharing this by email and with the Bible Study group.

  4. Thank you so much for this nudge in the right direction. I not only check e-mail frequently, I also check Facebook and realize it is for that connection you talk about. Today, I am meeting one of my FB friends for lunch to have some face-to-face time, and then tomorrow another dear friend to spend some time walking together. Virtual time really does not compare to real time. Thanks Renee.

  5. As my little special needs friend says, "Renee Swope you are on Facebook." I have several friends that I will encourage today but one in particular that is having a hard time not blaming God for current struggles will be on top of the list. Thanks!

  6. Renee, Thank you for the very kind encouraging words this morning. My heart has been longing to learn to stop doubting myself.
    I check face book looking for friends that I have missed and praying that we will meet again soon. It has been really hard for me this last year because we moved out of town where some of my closet friends were and now they don't have anything to do with me, a few said I just left them behind. A face to face relationship would really be good for me right now.
    Thank you again

  7. I share your posts on Facebook which starts a conversation with many of my girlfriends (sometimes with the boys too).

    Gayle

  9. You know me, Renee! In my case, i am not checking my email over and over, for me it's FACEBOOK! But the lesson is the same. I spend the most time waiting to hear from some of my closest friends.
    Some have moved away, but many are still close enough to have that face to face contact.

    I will call my bestest friend Lisa today and freak her out! she will assume either I pocket-dialed her, or that there's an emergency! She will be so happy to get together – we always are – we are both pastor's wives, so it's just hard to figure out when. When we do, though, it's as though no time has passed and we talk 100-mph trying to catch up!

    So thank you for the challenge!
    Gayle

  10. I shared this with all my girlfriends by email. I have some of the best friends…..the lift me up when I fall, they walk beside me no matter what is going on on my life, and they make me laugh!!! I have been catholic all my life but just the past couple of years have I decided to have a relationship with Christ. My friends live that everyday and show me they have a real relationship with HIM daily in the way the act, think, speak and live – they are awesome role models!!!

    I just love when we can get together and enjoy each others company!!

  11. I am sharing your post via facebook and on a Christian Mommy group I am on. I will be checking in with a young lady I have been meeting with weekly to do a book/Bible study with. Our first study dealt with fear and the one we are on now is dealing with being confident. This would be so great for her!
    Thank you!!

  12. I'll share this through e-mail, on Twitter, and on my blog, as I'm on a 40 day Facebook Fast! I've been praying for a while that God would help me build stronger friendships that are rooted in Him. I've been working on organizing a small group Bible study for women and praying that God would lead me to the women who crave a deeper relationship with Him and with others who are like-minded. I have four names that God has put on my heart. I'll reach out to them this week and plan a get together so we can begin our study together.

  13. I admit I am email checker. But God has drawn me into some wonderful relationships recently that are truly times of encouragement, laughter, and loving Christ. Thanks so much for your obedience to the call God has placed on your heart for His daughters.

  14. WOW! This morning, after my daily bible reading and prayer time, I was about to go onto my usual morning mommy routine (shower, breakfast, pack lunch, etc…). But something literally tugged at my heart and I decided to see what the P31 devotional was before I did anything. WOW! (again). I've been so busy and I know I haven't been face to face w/ any of my friends lately. I'm posting this on FB and emailing two of my closest sisters in Christ to see if we can get together soon. Hopefully they haven't given up on me yet!
    Thank you and God bless you, Rene and Proverbs 31 Ministries!!!
    Marie

  16. I could really relate to your experience of continually checking email, Renee. It was like a light bulb went off when I read what God revealed to you; I really miss one on one time with my sisters in Christ; everyone is so busy with their families, work, school etc. that I don't want to burden them. Because of this I end up relying heavily on my blog friends for attention and friendship. They have been a blessing to me in several seasons but I know we were made to fellowship so I am going to imprint your message on my heart and be more intentional about seeking one on one, face to face time with my sisters.

    Thank you again for speaking to my heart today precious sister in Jesus. Love and blessings.

  17. Good morning. I am sharing your devotional and post. My sister moved 2 hours away almost 2 years ago. I still miss her daily like it was yesterday. We value every moment together and fight to get more!

  18. I put the post on facebook. I have several friends that email back and forth with me and we encourage each other. Thank you and everyone involved with Proverbs 31 – the devotions are the best and I look forward to waking up to read them. the last few days they have been amazing. I thank you for your faithfulness to our Lord – your writing is truly a blessing. God Bless You.

  19. Thank you. I too know that I need that face to face contact with my friends. I have a friend in MD that I talk to about 3 or 4 days of the week and love it. Its so hard to carve out the time but it is so worth it when I do. One of my best friends here when I go I say I just go and wallow in being with them I love it.

  20. Renee, Thank you so much for the devotional this morning. I too check me emails frequently and I am craving that face to face friendship in this busy world. I accept your challenge to get together with an old friend this week. Thank you for the encouragement.
    Kim