Growing up, church was my home away from home. Many of my early memories are of me at church. When I was a little kid (2-7), I loved going to church. When I was an older child (8-11), I tried to get out of going to church (like a lot of kids), and when I was a teenager (12 and on) you couldn't drag me away from church. Believe me – many a night did my poor father sit out in the church parking lot waiting for me to get finished gabbing to my friends. My church was like a small town. Everybody knew everybody else – and everybody else's business. Though I didn't appreciate it enough at the time, … [Read more...]
Why You Should Stay in Touch
When I visited my hometown last week, the realization of all the people I've lost touch with hit me hard. The town I grew up in is not super small, but the church I grew up in always reminded me of a small town where everybody knows everybody (and of course, everybody's business ~smile~). God blessed me with some wonderful friends, mentors, and family at that church. Even though I took it for granted at the time, I was never too far from someone who could give me a hug, an encouraging word, or prayer. When I first went away to college, I could not wait to get back to my home town and visit … [Read more...]
Encouraging Friends, Part 2
We mentioned in our last post how important it is to have encouraging friends. Without them, it is so much easier to fall into various temptations. Having someone on your side that knows you deeply, knows your struggles, and who is committed to helping you do what is best for your life is a priceless addition to your life. Just as important as having encouraging friends, it is important to be an encouraging friend. This sounds like a no brainer, but it isn't always so easy. When most of us think of encouragement, we think of someone who comes along side us with a bright smile, big hugs, or … [Read more...]
Encouraging Friends, Part 1
It is important to have positive, encouraging friends of the same sex. I am so thankful for the ladies at my church because they are uplifting and they speak respectfully of their husbands – and this in a world where women often degrade their husbands to their girlfriends. Regardless of how loving a relationship you have with your future spouse, the day will come when he or she will hurt you. It will likely be unintentional, but when you marry, know that you are marrying an imperfect person who will slip up – just like you will. It will be very tempting in those times of hurt to find friends … [Read more...]