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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It's such a strange feeling…to sometimes crave friendship and push people away (or cloister away from people) at the same time. Perhaps email and technology makes us feel "safer" in relationship in some ways…but you are right…being with someone who loves you and understands you…someone you can love back…there's nothing like that…face-to-face…
I posted your article on f.b. and have talked to a friend about meeting soon…as well as meeting my sister next week!
I put the info on facebook and encouraged a friend who will be having surgery soon. [email protected]
Renee
You have touched a very sensitive area for me….
I have friends and then close friends but long for more face to face connections….
This area is a struggle for me and would covet your prayers that God would meet this area in a way that only He can…..
I would love to read your book and share it wtih a friend of mine ….
Thank you for sharing what God has put on your heart…
Yes, thank you so much for this devotional, I so needed to hear this! I'm going to contact a friend or two around here (moved out of state 1.5 year ago). Thank you for the challenge!
I'm posting this on twitter.
Awesome devotion! I just passed it on to each woman in our life group that meets weekly. It definitely IS worth it to be intentional about good, solid, faith-filled girl time!
Thank you – I agree, too often I don't spend the time with my friends that I really need. This was a great challenge. 🙂
Hi Renee! I am so relating to what you are talking about this week. I have a very special best friend sent straight from God to me! We can finish one another's sentences and a lot of the time we say the same thing at the same time. I will be sharing this with her. As a matter of fact, I sent yesterday's message to her, as well!! Thank you for allowing God to use you to minister to us. I wish we could meet face to face ;0)
Becki~~
I tweeted that "I'm obsessed with the concept of community, so naturally I want to read Renee's book, "A Confident Heart" — http://reneeswope.blogspot.com/" because I love experiencing the "complete joy by being like-minded, having the same love.." like Paul talks about in Philippians. Even though I know I was designed to be in community with people, I'm constantly surprised with how much I shy away from it! Later today I plan on going on a walk with a friend, and bringing up this concept, so that we can both be more consistent with meeting, not just with each other but with the circle of friends that are represented by both parties. I can't wait to see how our pursuit of community will impact ourselves as individuals and our friends 🙂
I have heard so many Wonderful things about this book! I can not wait to read it. Over the last 2 years my journey to finding God, and living for God has been amazing! I still struggle day to day with myself, and worry. I find it hard to accept rejection, and just living more like Jesus. August can't come fast enough and I hope this book will help with my journey in Christ!!
Renee,
I'll share when I get home from work!! I loved the devotion today! I love you even more!!
Have a wonderful, wonderful day, and if we lived closer, I know we would get together for lunch often!!!!!!!!!!
Hugs!
Tammy 🙂
Wow, this really really spoke to me!!
I shared on FaceBook!
Thank you for this wonderful post! I never looked at that verse in that light.
I have been praying a lot about this subject lately. When I joined the church, three years ago, I came into it with no friends, and freshly abandoned by my family (they decided I wasn't welcome. Long story.)
Fast forward to today. I ache for some deep connections, the kind I see when I look around, but I still have no close Christian friends, and I ache for one. I sit alone at church, I speak to a few people (hi-how-are-you), but away from church, I'm just as lonely as before. I read my Bible, I pour my heart out to God. I know He's my best friend, but it sure would be nice if I had one here on earth, to have coffee with, go shopping, share a lunch, etc.
I would appreciate any prayers on my behalf. I'm very conflicted. I will say this, though.
The members of my church are very loving and wonderful people who love God.. Sometimes I think maybe I just don't fit in. ?
Oh yeah. I posted on facebook. 🙂
Looking forward to reading your new book!! I will share with all my FB friends!!! Thanks & God Bless!
Renee, thank's to my friend Amber who shared your post, I finally think I found the answer I'm looking for. I have a great job, beautiful home, loving husband, amazing wonderful kids, and so on. I have friends, but my dearest and most special friends… the ones who know me better than I know myself… they are the ones I don't have the face-to-face contact with. They are the ones I'm constantly checking my email, facebook, phone messages for to see if they've sent me anything. I thank the Lord everyday for this technology so I can feel like I have a connection to them, but I miss their beautiful faces and warm embraces. You've inspired me to stop saying "next year we'll plan a girls weekend"… Thank you for your post! You're words and encouragement really were embraced today!
Wow, your devotion really struck a cord within me. I too, find myself checking emails looking for that note from a friend. Your notes have inspired me to ask my bible study women to get together over the summer. I miss these women and the powerful stories of Gods work in their lives when I do not see them over school breaks. Thank you.
Oh, my, You are speaking straight to my heart. I've been thinking on this now for weeks. I've been trying to get together with friends more often as I know I have been craving a connection so badly. Unfortunately, my friends have to be craving this as well. I planned a girlfriends night recently and every single person I invited (7) said they had too much going on to participate. Hmmm…. What to do? I'll just keep trying.
I will share your blog post on both twitter and facebook. Thank you so much! I woke up this morning thinking about friends I wanted to email and thank for their friendship so I will be doing that too. Thank you for this!
I forwarded your post to my best friend, Liz, who moved out of town in the past year and we don't see each other nearly as much as we used to. But I'm so lucky to be seeing her this weekend! Can't wait!
We spoke about this in our mom's Bible study the other day. Technology has over taken real relationships and we all need to get back to having real relationships with ourselves, friends, family and God. I will be sharing this with my Bible study and friends as I know many of us struggle with this, as do I. Thanks for this devotion, it will be put to use!
Blessings, Jennie
Wow…you hit the nail on the head with that one! So true with checking the emails and FB updates! But catching my self so many times hesitant to step outside of that box, commit to face-to-face time and a spirit led fellowship. Love your honesty and encouragements.