Category: Community and Friendship

The Sisterhood of Believers – Matthew 12 – 2025 Day 97

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Read through the Bible in 2 years: Psalm 65, Matthew 12

But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?”

And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said,
“Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is
my brother and sister and mother.”

Matthew 12:48-50 ESV

Yesterday’s post about Jesus carrying your burdens versus carrying your own burdens got me really thinking about the earthly importance of living in close community with other Christian sisters. I am so blessed to be a part of a vibrant, living body of believers! We have retreats together twice a year — with another one coming up next weekend. I can’t wait!

If you haven’t found some ladies to “do life with,” to plow the field with, let me encourage you – YOU NEED TO! All good things take work, including having rich relationships with women.

Here are some tips that might help you in this:

1. Don’t wait for someone else to reach out to you. They may be doing the very same thing. Remember that Christ made the first move. He reached out to you. Make the effort today to reach out to someone else. Get a date on the calendar and keep it.

2. Don’t only reach out to people who look like you, think like you, and act like you. Some of the ladies who’ve had the greatest impact on my life have been the most different from me. I need their viewpoint in my life!

3. Don’t be surprised when the scheduled time to get together, comes and you don’t want to go. Resist the temptation to make an excuse to stay home. You’ll miss out on a blessing … and so will your friend!

4. Don’t think your relational needs can be adequately met through online friendships or scrolling through social media. No matter how great that blogger 😉 or influencer or Facebook group friend seems … You’re only seeing a tiny slice of their life. Real friends will be IRL friends. If you meet that perfect sister online (which does happen!), that relationship needs to go deeper than posting photos and exchanging text messages.

5. Don’t run when the going gets tough! Authentic relationships are messy … But sisters stand by each other through the storms of life. When a sister says something that hurts your feelings, you have only two choices: (1) overlook the offense or (2) sit down with them and talk about it. Abandoning your sister isn’t an option. Yes, there are seasons for every relationship, but “breaking up” over a pretty argument or silently creeping out the back door isn’t an option when you’re sisters.

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for giving me so many sisters in faith. Thank You for how they have spurned me on to love and good deeds. Thank You for the ways that they have shouldered my burdens and walked before me to help make my path easier. Thank You for the times that they have reproved me, corrected me, and taught me. Thank You for the examples that they have been for me in faith, love, and good deeds.

I pray that You would send someone to me today who needs a friend, someone that can bless me and who I can also bless. I pray, Father, that You would help me to be a good friend, to love others like You loved me. Help me to recognize how greatly I need community and to be willing to put in the work it demands! Help me to be humble and recognize the log in my own eye, rather than being so quick to see the speck in my sister’s eye.

It is in the matchless name of Jesus Christ, the Friend who sticks closer than any brother, we pray. Amen.

Make Us One – Twila Paris

Come to Jesus and He will Give you Rest – Matthew 11 – 2025 Day 96

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Read through the Bible in 2 years: Psalm 64, Matthew 11

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Matthew 11:28-29 ESV

I often find myself laboring in my own strength. I often feel heavy laden. I often feel tired and worn out and exhausted and in need of rest. How about you?

Yet, if I were sitting across the table from you and said, “I’m so tired. I really need some rest.” And your answer to me was, “Oh, sister, I hear you! I’ve got an idea. How about you take my yoke upon your shoulders? That will make your life easier.”

After laughing aloud 😂 (and thinking you must have taken lessons from Job’s friends in giving bad advice), I hope I’d remember Galatians 6:2, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ,” and then I might give you a very sincere “thank you” and proceed to ask you for some help with a variety of household tasks, like say cooking dinner or vacuuming. It certainly is a blessing to have friends to plow alongside, to labor in the field with. Jesus sent out his disciples two by two for a reason. We need friends to help us along this road of life. But, unfortunately, none of you can truly relieve my burden, for you have your own burdens to bear.

  • Only Jesus can carry my yoke for me.
  • Only Jesus can give rest to my soul.
  • Only Jesus can make my burden truly light.

Here I am, Lord. I’ve come. Thank You for the invitation. I need you. I lay all of my burdens down at Your feet. I cast all my cares upon You. I know that all my striving is for nothing. I trust You. You are the only place my soul can find rest. Your yoke is easy, and Your burden is light because You are the Almighty God, the Ruler of the universe, who sees me and knows me by name. My soul finds rest in You and You alone. Amen.

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Come Unto Jesus – Laura Story
I Cast All my Cares – Psalty

Secondary Effects of Loss – Job 29-30 – 2025 Day 77

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Read through the Bible in 2 years: Job 29-30, Psalm 45

“Oh, that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me, when his lamp shone upon my head, and by his light I walked through darkness, as I was in my prime, when the friendship of God was upon my tent, when the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were all around me, when my steps were washed with butter, and the rock poured out for me streams of oil!”

– Job 29:2-6 ESV

“But now they laugh at me, men who are younger than I, whose fathers I would have disdained to set with the dogs of my flock.”

– Job 30:1 ESV

Job once enjoyed the praise of men. He was once the helper of the afflicted. But now he must endure the disdain even of the “rabble,” the common people, of his community. I’m afraid that is a very common secondary effect of loss, the loss of praise (and companionship) from those around you.

The grief-stricken often feel abandoned by whoever has passed, whether their husband or child or parent or sibling, but they also must wrestle through feelings of abandonment by God. To then experience the loss of their place in their community or “friend circle,” is to heap grief upon grief.

In reading through Job, I want to apply what I’m reading to how I treat my friends who are going through loss. I want to be better at reaching out and walking with them. How about you?

Let’s pray.

Heavenly Father, thank You for all of Your grace. You are impartial. You do not love us better when we are enjoying the praise of man. You do not love us better when our houses are full of children and laughter. You are with us in the dark and trying times. I pray that I would go and do likewise. Help me to draw near to the brokenhearted, to be close to those who are in times of deep distress. Help me to hear these words of Job and apply them to my own life. In the name of Christ I pray, Amen.

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“Nearer my God to Thee” – Acapella

Words Unfitly Spoken – Thoughts from Job and his friends – 2025 Day 62 (Job 8)

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Read through the Bible in 2 years: Job 8; Psalm 30

Pondering Job 8 and the very true words of Job’s friend Bildad – that God is just, that He will restore Job’s fortunes and bless his life, and that the godless will surely not prosper – reminded of Proverbs 25:11, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.”

Were Bildad’s words fitly spoken? I think not. Why not? Because, like my dear friend Beth has often reminded me, “The right thing at the wrong time is the wrong thing.” Eloquent speeches about God’s justice and judgment are inappropriate to give to a friend who has just lost all of their children and possessions.

It reminds me of times when I’ve gone shoe shopping and have found the perfect shoes at the perfect price, only to discover that they don’t fit. No matter how beautiful those shoes are, no matter what a good deal they are, if they’re too big or too small, you shouldn’t waste your money on them.

If our words are to be fitly spoken, we must be careful not only what we say, but how and when. If our words are to be fitly spoken, they must be fit to the person, place, and time.

If our words are to be fitly spoken,
we must be careful not only what we say, but how and when.

Please join me in prayer.

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the joy of Your presence. You have indeed made me glad as I have trusted in You. You are always good. Make me more like You. Create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me. Let me look upon Your glory and see Your face.

Give me wisdom and discernment in what to say as well as what not to. Help me see what words fit and what words don’t. Give me insight into what the circumstances demand. May my words be as heartfelt as they are true. Help me to speak the truth from a heart filled with humility and love.

In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen

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“I Need Thee Every Hour”
Hymns of Grace

The Miracle of Faithful, Forgiving Love – 2025 Day 49 (Genesis 33)

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Read Through the Bible in 2 years: Psalm 17; Genesis 33

But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.

Genesis 33:4 ESV

Twenty years earlier Jacob had fled for his life after lying to his father and cheating his brother Esau out of his father’s final blessing. Jacob was terrified to go back and see Esau again. He expected Esau to kill him, his wives, and his children. At a minimum, we would expect Esau to at least give Jacob a severe tongue lashing, right?

Esau running to embrace Jacob is certainly not what anyone would expect. Forgiveness and reconciliation are rare commodities in human relationships, even between brothers.

Esau’s actions reminded me of the father in the parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15.

“How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ And he arose and came to his father.

But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.”

– Luke 15:17-24 ESV

I’m reading about Esau, but all I can think about is God’s overwhelming, never-ending, faithful love. He loved me while I was yet His enemy. Truly He loved me first. I am able to love Him ONLY because He first loved me!

I confess that I don’t really understand how all this works, but I do know that it all begins and ends with our loving Father. He pursues us. He lavishes His mercy on us, and His mercy draws us to repentance.

Esau’s ability to forgive his selfish, lying, deceiving brother, takes an act of God.

Has someone hurt you? Are you struggling to forgive them? You need God to act. And He CAN! He can do it. Dear sisters, God is able to do it through us! What is impossible for man is possible for God! God can give us the strength and humility to forgive others who have hurt us.

And, let’s not forget, He commands it of us. We must forgive others because we have been forgiven of SO MUCH!

Which reminds me of another parable that Jesus told. This time in Matthew 18.

“Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?”

Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.”

“Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made.

So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’

So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place.

Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’

And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

-Matthew 18:21-35 ESV

Let’s pray together.

Heavenly Father,

Please give us the strength and humility we need to forgive others. Help us to say what our Lord Jesus Christ taught us to say, “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” Remind us of Christ’s own words as He was being crucified, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

Help us to lovingly pursue others while they are sinners, like Jesus pursued us. Help us to overcome evil with good rather than repaying wrong with wrong. Please, Father, make us more like Jesus who was willing to suffer, in order that we could be forgiven and redeemed.

Help us to love others like you have loved us.

By the power of the Holy Spirit and the lavish, overwhelming grace of Christ, we pray this, Amen.

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Speaking Face to Face – 2025 Day 28 (2 and 3 John)

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Read Through the Bible in 2 years: Proverbs 28, 2 John and 3 John

“Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink. Instead I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete.”

– 2 John 1:12 ESV

“I had much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink. I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.”

– 3 John 1:13-14 ESV

At the end of both of these letters, John says that he has so much to say, but he doesn’t want to use a pen; he wants to see them and speak face to face.

It struck me as funny, reading these verses and thinking about all the people who have read things that I’ve written but have never met me and will never meet me face to face. How different it is to communicate when you can’t see your audience face to face, yet how thankful I am that John went ahead and picked up his pan and wrote down his thoughts, that we can still read them almost 2,000 years later.

I know that my words are in no way like John’s words. My words are not inspired by the Holy Spirit like John’s were. Yet, I hope my words will make an impact on this generation as well as generations to come. I pray that children not yet born might be impacted directly by my words but also indirectly through their mothers and grandmothers being encouraged and equipped through the thoughts that flow from my pen (or stylus or keyboard or phone as the case may be).

How can your words
whether written or spoken
make an impact today
and for generations to come?

Do you keep a journal?

Do you blog?

Do you make videos?

Who do you need to write a letter, or call, or meet for coffee today?

I’d love to pray for you. Please leave a comment below.

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the blessing it is to be able to write words down. Thank you for preserving Your written Word for hundreds of years that people today can read the very words of Moses and Jesus and John. Thank you for the blessing of being able to preserve our own thoughts for generations to come and to send letters to people who live far away. And thank You, too, for the gift of phone, internet, and video technology that allows us to communicate in real time with people that we can’t see face-to-face.

Thank You for each man and woman who has impacted my life through writing books and blogs and recording videos. I pray Your blessings on them and their families.  Give them wisdom in what to say and encourage them when they grow weary.

You are always good and Your love endures forever.

In the eternal name of Jesus Christ who is our perfect Savior and Lord. Amen

Click here for more information on reading through the Bible in Two Years.

Mark 12: An Unbroken Thread of Loving God and Loving Others.

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Mark 12.

I’m trying to look at this chapter as a sum, a whole, a complete thought with an unbroken red thread running through it, rather than a bunch of little unrelated vignettes.

First, Jesus tells a parable about the owner of the vineyard who will come and destroy the tenants and give the vineyard to others, for the stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone, and this was the Lord’s doing and it is marvelous in His eyes.

And Jesus said, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

And then Jesus said to some others, “Have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God told Moses, ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ He is not God of the dead, but of the living.”

And then a scribe asked Jesus, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” And after Jesus answered him, the scribe said, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that He is one, and there is no other besides Him. And to love Him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 

Jesus saw that the scribe had answered wisely, yet later Jesus said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”

And the chapter ends with Jesus praising a poor widow who gave everything she had to live on more than the rich who give large sums out of their abundance.

I see condemnation of pride and self-sufficiency, and praise of humility and trust in God. I see praise of love for God and others and condemnation of love of self. I see God wooing His people who come by faith and condemning those who come by pretense.

I want to come to the Lord on my knees, in humble gratitude for His mercy to me.

Heavenly Father, You are worth my all. Everything I have is from You. I want to give it all back to You. None of it belongs to me. None of it is mine. It’s all Yours. You are the eternal God, the God of the past, the present, and the future. I want to love You with my all and love others the way You have loved me. By Your power and strength and grace at work in me, I give myself back to You. In the Name of Jesus Christ my Savior and my God, I pray. Amen

Lord, I Give You my Heart. Shane and Shane.

This is a Light Thing in the Sight of the Lord. Thoughts from 2 Kings.

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: 2 Kings 3:1-5:14

In 2 Kings chapters 3-5, we read about one miracle after another. God sends water into the desert. God fills vessel upon vessel with oil. God conceives a child in a barren woman’s womb. God brings a boy back from the dead. God makes pure a poisonous stew, and God heals a man of leprosy.

This is a light thing
in the sight of the LORD.

2 Kings 3:18a ESV

Yet, to the Lord, all of these things are light. None of these incredible events are hard for him. God isn’t exhausted after doing them. He didn’t struggle or labor night after night to achieve these mighty feats. What is a few jars of oil or one little baby to a God who can speak the entire universe into existence by the sheer power of His voice?

In light of the truth (pun intended) that all things are easy for God, we need to remember that there is nothing too big for Him, but also there is nothing is too small for Him.

  • Out of work and need a job? No problem.
  • In a hurry and need a parking spot? Got it.
  • Struggling with discipling and disciplining your children? He can help.

Nothing, absolutely nothing, is impossible for Him. And nothing, absolutely nothing, is too little for His care.

I love it when my adult children ask for my advice and my help, no matter how big or how little it is. Likewise, our perfect Heavenly Father loves His children to seek His help in all areas of our lives.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Philippians 4:6 ESV

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

1 Peter 5:7 NLT

Heavenly Father, thank You for always being there for us. We know that nothing is impossible for you, that you are able to do all things. Help us to trust You and turn to You. Whether the thing to us looks too big or too small, may we entrust it into Your watchful, loving care. In the Name of Jesus Christ our Savior we pray. Amen.

I Cast All My Cares Upon You / Jesus Loves Me

Peer Pressure and Perseverance. Thoughts from 2 Kings

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: 2 Kings 1-2

In 2 Kings 2, Elisha remained rock solid in his commitment to Elijah, doggedly insisting, “No, I won’t stay behind. I’m going with you!” But shortly thereafter, Elisha failed to persevere when he was urged persistently, “till he was ashamed” by the “sons of the prophets who were at Jericho.” And that resulted in three days of fruitless searching for Elijah.

For as strong-willed as I am, I, too, can be swayed by peer pressure and make excuses that it’s “no big deal” to just go along with what others want. Reading today’s passage encouraged me to stand firm in my convictions, to ‘let my yes be yes and my no be no’.

Heavenly Father, please give me wisdom and patience in making decisions and give me strength to be like a solid rock that cannot be moved by the urging of men. Help me to cling to what is right and not be swayed by the opinions of others. I pray that I will be trustworthy and true, that my yes will be yes and my no will be no, for Your glory and honor. In the Name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.

God Preserves a Remnant. Thoughts from 1 Kings 19

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: 1 Kings 19.

Do you ever feel like you’re the only one who is still pursuing God with your whole heart? Well, you’re not alone in those feelings. Elijah felt that way, too.

[Elijah] said, “I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.”

1 Kings 19:14 ESV

The truth is that God preserved a remnant in Israel three thousand years ago and He has preserved a remnant today, too. Press on, friend, God is with you. Don’t lose heart. The Lord Almighty is on your side. And so are thousands of others around the globe.

Heavenly Father, I’m praying for my brothers and sisters around the world today who are despairing, feeling like they are the only ones  holding fast to the hem of Your garment. Encourage them, Father. Strengthen them with Your Word and the comfort of Your Holy Spirit. Uphold them with Your righteous right hand and shelter them under Your wings. Please, Father, give them someone to fellowship with, a Christ-lover to walk with through the valleys and mountains of life. In the Name of Christ who sticks closer than a brother we pray. Amen.

Turn Your Eyes – Sovereign Grace Music