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 PakOne 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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Thank you for your reminder that we do need our "face to face" time with our friends!!! Will get on that today…sweet blessings
I receive so much encouragement from the P31 daily devotions. What an awesome ministry! I too miss the one on one time with friends. I am forwarding this to my friends with a challenge to get together. I have turned down invitations to get together with a life-long friend, because my life is so busy, but this message has really touched my heart. Thank you
I am still digesting your devotion for today. It really stuck a nerve with me! I am finding myself checking email/facebook too many times throughout the day. I have struggled with finding fellowship for several years now (after a move) I have friends around but missing the God connection! Thank you for sharing. I am truly encouraged today knowing that others find themselves in the same place and knowing that God really does care about "contact" with others! God bless you and thank you for being open and willing to share what God shares on your heart!
I always find myself emailing your devotions to my closest friends & family members. A friend and I were discussing (just last night) how busy we are. She's a nursing student and a wife, and I'm a mom, Grad. student and wife. We both run home based businesses as well. Time has gotten away from us and the only times we tend to see each other is either at church or if we are doing a home party together. I knew I missed her, but what an eye-opener this was! It's amazing how God speaks to us at just the right times! Last night at Revival at my church, the guest speaker, David Crane said this,"Isn't it amazing that God is never late? He's always on time. Never early, and never late. He is there RIGHT when we need him!" This devotion was perfect timing! Her and I both will have time this weekend to just hang out and catch up and I can't wait!!! 🙂 Thank you so much Renee!!!
Thank you so much for this devotion…I am sharing it on Facebook 🙂
Good Morning! I wanted to share with you that after reading your devotion this morning, I will be contacting a friend of mine whose child has just had surgery. Typically I would simply email, but as soon as I started reading your words, I could feel a nudge in my heart to phone her.
I know it's God telling me to call…and I plan to listen! 🙂
I've shared this on my Facebook page with friends and I've forwarded your devotions to my mother in law and two girlfriends. I hope they get as much out of reading it as I did!
God bless you and keep you well as you minister to others.
My cousin Michelle is like my little sister to me. Though many miles used to separate us, we stayed close. Now though we live near, our busy lives keep us separated. We have plans to get together tomorrow night that we made two weeks ago.We need this time to catch-up on our lives.
I read the write-up @ P31 for your new book. Renee, I need this book! I have spent my life as a pleaser. I need to learn a better way to see myself and to deal with emotional set-backs.
I will be seeing my best friend from high school next month. She lives in S.C. and I live in Indiana. It is such a treat to see her. She is one of my only friends in Christ and we have known each other for years. Would be a wonderful treat to share this withe her 🙂 Thank you for all of your work and encouragement.
WOW! It is amazing how easy it is to be personally disconnected in a super connected world. I am a total email stalker and I never had a second thought about it until today….Thanks! I'm sharing this post with my friends via email and hoping to use it as an invitation to connect in person!
Renee,
What an eye opener this was. I especially check email in the evening when, though I am not physically alone, many times I feel lonely. I sent this to my closest friend who all too often we communicate only by phone or text and I intend to invite her to lunch.
Thank you.
Leanne
Renee, I was feeling like I was losing connection with my friends, so I started "Girlfriend Time" and we meet once a month at a restuarant to fellowship and eat lunch. It has been wonderful to see all the ladies. It is a blessing when two show up that haven't seen each other in years. We have had some great reunions. I send out about 50 invitations each month and there are anywhere from 4 to 16 ladies that show up. I love "Girlfriend Time" because I too need face-to-face conversation.
Wow I really needed to hear this today. I have been craven connection a lot lately. I have my kids, my husband and my work but oh how long to connect face to face with friends. My BFF and I email daily, share blogs, devotionals and encouragement that is basically our life line to each other. It is sad to admit but we live in the same city but just never find time to meet face to face. Today we are going to schedule a “girlfriend date” and get connected. I am forwarding this too several of my friends today …Thanks so much for sharing your heart.
I tend to be a homebody but long for that face to face connection. Thanks for your devotion today, reminding me the importance of encouraging one another. I hope to connect with a friend TODAY, not put it off any longer.
Blessing from LA
I am sharing via facebook. I have a girlfriend that is going through a similar struggle. We are both fighting for our marriage. We have been friends for a year now. God has strategically placed us in each others lives to help encourage one another with reminding each other that God is faithful, and to keep fighting the good fight during our hard days. She is such a blessing to me and I cherish my girlfriend that I have been blessed with!
Thank you so much for your devotion this morning! It was just what I needed. I have so much to do today and had planned to back out of plans to get together with a friend. Your devotion helped me realize I need face-to-face time with my friends too. I'm posting the link on facebook. Praying for you as you prepare for your book release this summer.
Mary
Thanks Renee, for your timely reminder. I haven't seen a long time prayer partner in several months – I sent her an email to set up lunch within the week. Thank you for your faithfulness!
Loved today's devotional and I have shared it on my Facebook page. I plan on carving out some one on one girl time with my friend Shannon.
Thanks for this great devotional today. I shared it on my facebook and used a verse to encourage a long distance friend I will get to see later this month!
Thanks for this great devotional today. I shared it on my facebook and used a verse to encourage a long distance friend I will get to see later this month!
I'm sharing your post via e-mail today and struggle with spending time with my best friend. She is married, has three children and works as the Director of Children's Ministries at church. If I didn't work with her we would never see each other. I long for some one on one time with her but it happens so rarely.