His Instrument

Read Ephesians 2:1-10

I use rubber gloves to tackle my dishes. But the rubber gloves don’t do much on their own. In fact, lying on the counter, they are useless. I’ve tested them, believe me. I leave dishes in the sink, the gloves right nest to them.



Nothing.



I’ve given them time, left them in there overnight.



Nothing.



They just sit there. Limp, yellow, worthless.



Until I put them on. Then, they work. Together, we power through mountains of dishes. We scrub, we rinse, we dry, we accomplish good things.



Sometimes we get pretty full of ourselves, don’t we? We fancy that we can handle life’s challenges on our own. We convince ourselves that we can take on the mountains solo.



But just like my floppy rubber gloves, we are not up to the task without Someone else’s hand directing us, literally animating our digits to His bidding.



I pray that I might be as flexible as my dish-doing buddies when God is trying to do good work through me.

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, 

which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ephesians 2:10

Pray Without Ceasing

Read 1 Timothy 2:1-8 


Written by Ashley K.



 “Dear Heavenly Father, Lord, please be with Ashley. Help her to start making good decisions and to look to you as her source of life. I pray that she come to know you better and that she stops living as a woman of this world. I pray that she allow the Holy Spirit to take over. Remind her that she is special and worthy of all you have to offer. Father, give me the strength and the wisdom to know how to help her. In your precious name, Amen.” 



I imagine that is what my Mom’s prayers were like during the dark times in my life. It took several years for me to come around, but I can guarantee my Mom was on her knees every day praying for me.



Growing up, I knew that my Mom was awake before the rest of us. She would sit at the kitchen table with her coffee, her bible, her journal, and she’d be wearing one of those ridiculous floor length Grandma robes. She spent a lot of that time in prayer.




To this day, I know that if I need a prayer answered, I go to her. She is a faithful prayer warrior. Knowing that my Mom is praying for me, has been praying for me, and even encouraged others to pray for me, is very powerful. The fact that she has dedicated so much time and effort to lifting me up in prayer gives me a tremendous sense of security.



Not only that, but the other women in her circle of friends that have spoken to God on my behalf, have also played a significant role in the woman I am today. Wouldn’t you be honored to be a part of someone’s spiritual transformation? You can be if you devote the precious moments during your day to pray for them. “I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.” (Ephesians 1:16)



Never underestimate the power of prayer. That line, “there’s nothing we can do but pray,” is bogus. Prayer is our most powerful tool and often times we take it for granted. Our prayers are not falling on deaf ears. God hears each one of them. “Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!” (Psalm 66:20)



When someone asks you to pray for them or a loved one, be sure to dedicate the time and follow through. Where would I be if my team of prayer warriors had forgotten to pray for me? “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” (Romans 12:12)



Create a prayer journal or keep a list of the people that God lays on your heart to pray for. It’s so important for us to lift up our brothers and sisters in prayer. I borrowed this prayer from the Girlfriends in God devotional I receive daily. It was specifically written as a prayer for husbands, but I feel that it can be used for anyone. Sometimes, God lays someone on our heart to pray for but we don’t actually know the specific need. You can use this to get you started.



Lord, I pray for my husband (or insert name here), from head to toe:



 • His Head - That he will look to You as Lord of his life. (1 Corinthians 11:13)

 • His Mind - That he will have the mind of Christ and think as the Holy Spirit would lead him and not the flesh. (1 Corinthians 2:16)

 • His Eyes - That You will keep his eyes from temptation and that he will turn his eyes from sin. (Matthew 6:13, Mark 9:47)

 • His Ears - That he will hear Your still small voice instructing him. (1 Kings 19:12, Psalm 32:8) • His Mouth - That his words will be pleasing to You. (Proverbs 19:14)

 • His Neck - That he will humble himself before You and be strong, courageous, and careful to do everything written in Your Word so that he will be prosperous and successful. (James 4:10, Joshua 1:8-9)

 • His Heart - That he will love and trust You with his whole heart. (Deuteronomy 6:5, Proverbs 3:5) • His Arms - That You will be his strength. (Psalm 73:26)

 • His Hands - That he will enjoy the work of his hands and see it as a gift from You. (Ecclesiastes 3:13, 5:19)

 * His feet - That You will order his steps and that he will walk in Your truth. (Proverbs 4:25, Psalm 26:3)

I Must Tell Jesus

Read Ecclesiastes 4:9-12


There is something in our DNA that requires sharing important news. It manifests itself in an almost physical need to expel words. For me, my go-to person is different depending on the information I can't live without sharing. And if I am not able to share, I feel as though I might literally explode. Good news or bad, we MUST tell. This is why the clerk at Safeway was the first to know of my first pregnancy. We just can't keep certain thing to ourselves.


I was humbled by hymn I Must Tell Jesus this week as I thought about how different my outlook would be if Jesus alone was my go-to person. Would the good news seem better? Would the bad news seem less horrible? I think so.


I must tell Jesus all of my trials;
I cannot bear these burdens alone;
In my distress He kindly will help me;
He ever loves and cares for His own.




I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!
I cannot bear my burdens alone;
I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!
Jesus can help me, Jesus alone.
I must tell Jesus all of my troubles;




He is a kind, compassionate Friend;
If I but ask Him, He will deliver,
And in my griefs with me He will blend.
Tempted and tried I need a great Savior,
One who can help my burdens to bear;




I must tell Jesus, I must tell Jesus;
He all my cares and sorrows will share,




O how the world to evil allures me!
O how my heart is tempted to sin!




I must tell Jesus; He will enable
Over the world the vic'try to win!

Practice Makes Perfect

Read Romans 12


The other day, my husband asked an innocent question. Should we invite friends over for dinner. I was 3pm. I glanced around my house. counted to ten, then counted again.


My house doesn’t always look like a tornado blew through, but at 3:00 on a Friday, it definitely sports that lived-in look. And the idea of inviting company over to see the mayhem makes me shudder.


“No. Way.”


I can come up with several reasons the proposition seemed ridiculous, but they all boil down to one: what will people think of me?!


Recently, we were guests in the home of some new friends. We popped into town on a Monday and inserted ourselves into their lives with little time for preparation. They were gracious enough to welcome us with enthusiasm, even as she made up the dinner menu in the car on our way there. When we entered their home, it was to dishes in the sink and toys on the floor.


Had I been in her shoes, I would have suggested eating out. But we were instead welcomed into real life.


I don’t know about you, but I somewhat enjoy doing someone else’s dishes. And it doesn’t seem like so much work when there are four people laughing, talking, prepping and cleaning in one small kitchen. It felt like a way more fun version of home. Comfortable. Easy. No pretence, or facades, just easy cooperation.


And AMAZING food!


And do you know what I thought of her?I want to be more like that. What a gracious hostess to open her home without warning and treat us like family.


In Romans, Paul suggests putting love into action through sincerity: “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”


Practice hospitality. Interesting way to put that, isn’t it? Practicing something like hospitality. Sometimes we need to lower our standards. The spirit of hospitality is more important than the immaculateness of the host home. Sometimes we need to raise our standards a bit. Just because we all have dirty laundry doesn’t mean it needs to be out for the world to see.


Above all, “Honor one another above yourself.”


Perfect housekeeping is not the goal here. If we allow ourselves to wonder “what will they think?” we are putting ourselves, our vanity and pride above others, and that is NOT being hospitable.


There’s nothing wrong with being Martha Stewart (unless it comes to the stock market), as long as our hearts are to serve, not to receive praise.


I’m trying my best to freak out less at letting people see my real life, but it’s going to take some practice. Good thing practice makes perfect.

A Thank You That Lasts

Read Psalm 118



"Thank you" isn't an unfamiliar phrase in my vocabulary. My parents taught it to me when I was young, along with "please," "excuse me," and "I'm sorry." "Thank you" is easy to say. I have said it often, felt it often, thought it often. I take "thank you" for granted.



I recently read a book called "One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are," by Ann Voskamp. This isn't an easy fiction read like I am usually drawn to, but I highly recommend it. Instead of being taken away by a novel's story, I'm seeing my own story in a different light.

 "Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world."

Sarah Ban Breathnach

This morning I was reading the book, a chapter delving into thankfulness, when my 6 year old daughter  came down the stairs. It was 7:02am. Her hair was in a dither and her eyes were scrunched as they decided between sleep and the lightness of  day. Her groggy voice said, "I slept right 'till seven." She has always been our clock-work kid with her self-imposed schedules.



She came close to my chair to look at the book in my hand.



"I'm reading about thankfulness. What are you thankful for?" I asked her, curious about her answer.




Without hesitation she said, "I'm thankful for my mom and dad."



"And I'm thankful for you." I said it with a smile while looking right into her eyes. Instead of looking down shyly like I was sure she would, she stared hard at me. Her eyes asked, "Really? Do you mean it?" It had been too long since our conversations revolved around more than instructions and reprimands.



And I responded back, "With all my heart, down to my toes. My socks are knocked off with how thankful I am for you." Her smile of confidence told me more than words could ever say. She felt safe. She felt love.



"What else?" I probed.



"My brother and sister."



"I'm thankful for our warm house," I said from my snug position near the toasty wood stove. We were off and running on this game of thankfulness.



"I am thankful for the night." She said looking out the window beside us into the darkness. I pointed to the other window across the room where light was pushing through on the horizon.



"I'm thankful for the new day," I said.



It was her turn now and she excitedly said, "I'm thankful for Christmas. But not because of the presents, but because of Jesus' birthday and we get to have a party. Jesus came to save us."



Where did that come from? It's October. But I loved hearing about what was on her heart. What she thinks about. She has never been a communicator. She started speaking sentences at about 4 years old and even now she doesn't share a lot with me. She thinks a lot, I often see her quick mind working. This sneak peek was beautiful.

There in the glow of a new day's sunrise I felt thankful. Really thankful. Most of my life I've felt thankfulness like an aura around me. Like the temperature of a room, sure to cool at the slightest upset. The "thankful feeling" would fade with the draft of everyday craziness.




Ann Voskamp says in the book, "We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if not with thanksgiving? Thanksgiving is the evidence of our acceptance of whatever He gives. Thanksgiving is the manifestation of our Yes! to his grace."




Thethankfulness I felt this morning was different. Through my reading, reflecting on the Scripture woven through "One Thousand Gifts," and the short conversation with my sweet daughter, I began to realize I had a lot to learn about being thankful. True gratitude for every single thing is lasting, unlike the passing feeling. This thankfulness that settled over me was like putting on a cozy sweater. No matter if things got crazy and the aura faded in the cool draft, the warmth would be with me all day.

"What if all you had today were the things 

you thanked God for yesterday?"

~ unknown

The Perfect In Their Lives

Read Luke 15:11-32


Borrowed from Mary Ostyn at OwlHaven


I’ve always known– intellectually, anyway — that it is not my job to be a perfect parent. I’m human and I make mistakes. And as a Christian, I know that Jesus loves me and died for my sins. I don’t have to labor under the burden of needing to be perfect.


But here’s what I’ve come to realize recently. Even though Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross released me from that need to be perfect, for years as a mom I’ve been clinging to that burden anyway. You see, I know my actions affect my kids and the last thing I want is to be that proverbial millstone– dragging my kids down because I’m not patient enough or focused enough or wise enough to respond appropriately at various moments in their lives.


Certainly any mom who cares about her kids wants to do the best job possible, and looks for ways to handle difficulty with more wisdom and grace next time. But recently God has been opening my eyes, and showing me how much my endless quest for ‘success’ (whatever that is) has left me living under the law instead of in freedom.

Thinking that my kids’ success or failure is dependent on my ability as a mother is putting myself higher on the totem pole than I belong. Higher than the God who’s got the whole world in His hands. The God who loved my kids to the cross, through the grave, and back. Yes, I play an important role in my kids’ lives. But God is the real worker in their lives, in me and through me and around me and sometimes in spite of me.


I cannot mess up God’s plan for my children’s lives.


Even in my worst, weakest moments, I do not possess that power.


I can’t tell you how freeing that realization is to me.


Because unfailingly my MOST frustrating moments as a mom are when I feel ineffective– when I’m repeating a lesson or dealing with an issue and things.aren’t.working. At least not on a here-and-now visible-to-me level. And when I feel ineffective, I start flailing around in frustration, wondering what I should be doing differently. And pretty soon I’m yelling at my kids, which leaves me feeling even more aggravated and ineffective and hopeless.


What am I focusing on in those trying moments? Results. Or lack thereof.


Somehow I’m thinking if I just come up with the right combination of rewards and consequences, of words and wisdom, of grace and grit, that life will somehow miraculously get all unsnarled.


But here’s the thing. I can’t grow my kids’ souls any more than I can help them sprout new teeth. Sure, I can feed and water and encourage and influence and hug and love.


But the growing? That’s between my kids and their God.


So instead of fluffing up like a ruffled chicken when I’m not having my desired effect on my lil world, I need to put myself back in my place. Chill. Be faithful. Do my little bit. Obey to the best of my frail ability. And leave the results up to the real Worker in my children’s lives.


God.


He is able to do immeasurably more than I can ever ask or imagine.

Progress, Not Perfection

Read Psalm 25:4-21


Written by Ashley K. for Drops 





The roof of the church will not cave in when sinners enter. I understand that it is easy to feel like a fraud when you sit at church and you have sinful issues. Additionally, it’s hard not to notice Betty Sue sitting in the front row in her perfect dress with her perfect husband, her well behaved children, her well timed head nods and “I haven’t seen you in church in a while...” comments. Feelings of inadequacy will surely rise. 




The ladies that began this devotional seem to have an endless supply of spiritual wisdom. Me on the other hand, I’m a baby Christian. Perhaps, I’ve graduated to a tween Christian. Either way, I was intimidated when they first asked me to contribute to this devotional. Who am I to offer advice on how to be a Godly woman? For starters, a pregnancy outside of marriage, check. Divorced, check. Colorful expletives, check. An often absent prayer life, check. Sucker for TV shows I know I shouldn’t be watching, check. An attitude that gets me into trouble, check. Shall I go on?



I attended my first Women of Faith conference this year. I wasn’t expecting for two of the speakers to get up and talk about their failed marriages, the low self esteem and depression they experienced as a result of it, and the spiritual revival that eventually changed their lives. They had my attention. These women weren’t perfect either. They were up there delivering their testimonies and preaching God’s love. He took their darkest days and made a divine purpose for it all. They were there as perfect examples of His mercy and grace.

 "Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 

 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!” 

(Romans 7:24-25) 

[Insert sigh of relief] 

I’m not a fraud. God uses my mistakes to minister to others. I’m bringing glory to Him by exposing my imperfections. “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (1 Corinthians 12:10)





I hear a lot, “I can’t go to church, the building will probably catch fire the second I walk in.” Why is it that we feel like our sins are too big and too scary for God? He has seen it all! Envy, check. Adultery, check. Lust, check. Addiction, check. Murder, check. And guess what, He loves us anyway! If we stop and listen to Him for a second, we’d probably hear Him say, “I don’t care what you have done, you belong with me.”



If you are feeling broken and sinful, church is the exact place you need to be. Don’t wait until you have it all together to get back in that pew. Seriously, how irritating are those people that try to project flawlessness? Don’t be like that! Just remember, you are never too shameful or dirty to approach God.



Jesus was not too good to associate with thieves, liars, and prostitutes. He roamed this earth to deliver good news to all. He was not impressed with verbose prayers or large offerings. He saw the heart and the sacrifice. And that is what God is looking for from you. Take the first step in renewing your relationship with Christ.



Get up and get to church, make an appointment with your pastor, open up your Bible, or whisper a sincere prayer. God doesn’t expect you to be perfect here on earth, He is saving that kind of splendor for when we eternally unite with Him in heaven.

 “Guard my life and rescue me; do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. 

 May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope, Lord, is in you.” 

 (Psalm 25 20-21)

God In the Game Of Life

Read Matthew 10:26-41






The game of Life is full of disappointments. There are some good times too, but everything is going along great and then your feet (or car) are knocked out from under you.



Lose a job. Wreck the car. Break a leg.



I’ve never liked that game. Real life is too full of bitter blows (real ones) to make it fun. Plus, it enforces the false sense that our lives are left to chance, that bad things come by an unfortunate roll of the dice or spin of the wheel.



When disappointments come we must cling to a greater truth. Is God who he says he is? The God of the Bible doesn't play games with those he loves. "I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (Jeremiah 29:11).



I have a big disappointment sitting in my lap right now. This doesn’t make me an expert on the subject, it just makes me human. And I'm talking about more than "someone ate the last piece of strawberry pie" kind of disappointment. Things that make us sad, grieve, feel let-down, abandoned, frustrated, and lost are what make our souls ache in true disappointment.



What do we do with these normal life’s let-downs? I know hauling around this disappointment of mine isn’t going too well. It is heavy and I’m tired. When I sit down, my mind tediously fumbles to find an answer. The emotions of it all are so huge they crush my chest. I doubt God's plan and my hope is buried in confusion.



If you look up, “dealing with disappointment found in Scripture,” you’ll find many of the same verses I did. These verses comfort:



"The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the hornof my salvation, my stronghold."
Psalm 18:2 




"Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning."
Psalm 30:5




"The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him."
Nahum 1:7



"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God[; trust also in me."
John 14:1-4



(Try this source for a whole list of Scriptures)



God’s word has accounts of many people who dealt with tremendous disappointment. This isn’t a 21st century emotion. While I appreciate the comfort, I am still the child asking “why?” Why God, did you allow this to happen in my life? My why’s cause such doubts that I’m much happier reading Ecclesiates' “meaningless” passages than Psalm’s words of encouragement. Maybe this life really is a game. Does God even care?, I am tempted to think.



But God’s plan is bigger. Isn’t it easier to trust Him when everything is going smooth-sailing? When we are winning at the game of life. Dealing with the hard stuff, the saddening set-backs that make us want to quit must be faced differently as a Christian. It comes down to one thing: we must believe God is who he says he is.



Is God trustworthy? God... cannot lie. (Titus 1:2)


Is God faithful? Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass. (1Thessalonians 5:24)


Is God loving? God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)


Is God just? He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. Exodus 34:6


Is God merciful? Gracious is the LORD and merciful. Ps 116:5


Is God good? His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering. Romans 2:4



Studying the attributes of God inforces what we know to be true. A trustworthy, faithful, loving, just, merciful, and good God does not play games in our lives. Disappointments do not come from a roll of the dice, chance, or bad luck. Each sadness in our lives is known to God, felt by God. Even when "why" seems to come back without an answer, we can trust that God will fulfill a purpose in our lives.

"Ignorance is worst when it amounts to ignorance of God, and knowledge is best when it exercises itself upon the Name of God. This most excellent knowledge leads to the most excellent grace of faith. 

O, to learn more of the attributes and character of God. 

Unbelief, that hooting night bird, cannot live in the light of divine knowledge, it flies before the sun of God's great and gracious name. 

...By knowing his name is also meant an experimental acquaintance with the attributes of God, which are everyone of them anchors to hold the soul from drifting in seasons of peril." 

~ Charles Spurgeon

Mighty to...

Contributed by Melissa Howell, pastor's wife and Mommy of two boys. 


The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17

Last week I smashed the window of my car with my own fist. Well, with my own
fist…and a rock. My baby was trapped inside the car, you see – it was kind of a freak thing that happened. The two of us were driving home from church and the poor little guy was screaming his head off. I turned on music, drove fast, reached back and patted him, but nothing would soothe him so I finally just pulled the car over.


As I stepped out of the car, closed my door and reached for his, the automatic locks of my very smart car suddenly flashed and locked on me –with all doors closed, and my keys and cell phone inside. There’s a feature on my car that’s
NOT supposed to allow this, but there I was – in a church dress and heels, stranded on the side of the road, with my desperate, screaming baby trapped inside the car.


I tried all the doors. I tried the windows. I tried to flag someone down to use a phone but then became afraid of what type of person might stop for me in a dress and heels.

Then something came over me – I can’t explain it really – call it Mom-instinct? Fear? I decided I had to do whatever it took to get my panicking baby out of that car. Without hardly even thinking (maybe that was the problem), as if I was temporarily without reason, I picked up a rock and began frantically pounding on my own car windows. It took 6 or 7 hard hits before the glass made a terrible popping sound and then shattered, and I found my hand inside the car, glass imbedded, and bleeding profusely.


Instantly I picked up my sobbing child, wrapped his shaking little body in my arms, and sang to him until he was quiet.


Someday, when he asks me about the strange scars on my left hand, I will tell him this story.

I haven’t always understood what the Bible meant when it calls God “mighty to save,” but I did that day. I felt pretty mighty breaking a car window and rescuing my baby, but think of God’s might – He is able to save us from ANYTHING: He breaks through our struggles, our habits, our depression, our pride, even the separation of sin itself.


What’s more, He is mighty enough to save our children, which I sometimes find myself wanting even more than my own salvation. He is mighty enough to break through their walls and their stubbornness and even the parts of them that are so very much just like…us.

It’s not hard to be saved – God makes it happen! He is mighty! Even as we cry and scream in anger, He is already on the way to help. And when He gets to us, there won’t be scolding or head-shaking – look above. He will not only quiet you with His love, but He will actually rejoice over you with singing. He cheers for you! He celebrates and delights in you!


And He will do whatever it takes to save you – just think of His own scarred hands.

What Are Friends For

Written by Ashley


Read Ruth 1:8-18



I’m a wife.  I’m a mom.  I’m a friend?



With all of the roles I’ve taken on, I’ve become a pretty vacant friend.  I read in the bible all the time about how important it is to have friends and how important it is to be a good friend.



 “A friend loves at all times...” -Proverbs 17:17



 “Do not forsake your friend...” Proverbs 27:10



I was challenged by a devotional that I read to send a card or a letter to a friend every couple of weeks.  Can you believe that?  A challenge to send a card?  After I got over how ludicrous it sounded, I realized that it had been months, maybe even a year, since I had mailed out a card or letter to a friend.  Talk about humbling.



The story of Ruth and Naomi is encouraging.  Naomi’s husband died leaving her with their two sons.  They each married and Naomi was very close with both of their wives.  About ten years after the death of her husband, Naomi lost both of her sons.  She instructed her son’s widows to return to their families because she was just an old lady that couldn’t take care of them.  But her daughter-in-law, Ruth, refused to leave Naomi’s side.  Together, they went to Bethlehem.  Ruth could have complained about her circumstances but instead she worked hard and remained a loyal friend.



Ruth would never neglect to send her friend a card.  She would never settle for a simple text message or worse, a facebook post, wishing her friend happy birthday.  She would never forget to add her friend to her prayers each morning.  Ruth had it going on.  I want to be a friend like that.




I’ve been satisfied with shallow friendships and haven’t fully committed to being a great friend.  The excuse of being a wife and a mother seemed to make that okay for a while, but I can only handle so many “subliminal” messages from God telling me I’m going the wrong direction!



It is so easy to get caught up in our children and our husbands and leave no room for anyone else.  I understand that they take top tier, but God would not have designed friends for us if he didn’t think we needed them.  Sure, as Mom’s we now have to make more of an effort to maintain friendships, but if it’s what God wants then we know that it has to be worth it.



Don’t feel guilty for going and grabbing a coffee with a friend instead of emptying your dishwasher.  Our friends are a fantastic outlet for us.  Your husband will probably appreciate it too.  Let’s be honest ladies, he probably doesn’t want to hear all about your new frown lines or your latest couponing quest, but your girlfriend does.



Make time.  Call just to chat, send a card, bring her over a dessert.  Do something that lets her know you are thinking about her.  Think about how much you would appreciate a gesture like that.  You have permission to go out and be a good friend!

 "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 

For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. 

But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!"

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10