Friendship – Page 3 – Women's Ministry

Friendship, Fruitfulness, Life Groups, Prayer

Community Within a Life Group

August 16, 2014December 28, 2016by hcfwomenLeave a Comment

When I think of a thriving life group, I equate it with the word community. Life groups are really special to me because the leaders and people who attend those groups are fun to be with. In the life group that I attend, I’ve noticed that we are all a conglomeration of mixed personalities and occupations. But within our life group, we find the common ground of praying for each other and encouraging each others’ walk with the Lord.

The leaders of my group have a good grasp on what it means to live a life fully serving the Lord. While we are discussing the questions of the week based on Sunday’s sermon, they are always eager to listen to our stories and share their own experiences, too. Even they will admit that they do not have all the answers, and that they certainly don’t live a perfect life. But what makes my life group so personal to me is that they are trying to follow the Lord and are willing to share joys and hardships that they have experienced. This type of vulnerability makes it easier for everyone in the group to open up and share any questions or related situations we’ve faced.

I have two favorite parts of my life group! One is the food that is served! I’ve been to some life groups who ask each person to bring a dish and share a potluck dinner before the previous week’s sermon is discussed. In our group we have elected to pay five dollars each week to have a homemade meal. It is delicious! Another favorite of mine is the time that we take to pray for each other. Currently our life group leaders have decided to choose a person or couple to pray for throughout the week. Then the following week, the entire group is invited to share what they have heard from the Lord about that person. Our leaders also open up the floor to anyone who needs prayer, and our group prays for individual requests of the week. This prayer time helps everyone in our group to have a part in the fellowship and spiritual aspect of our life group, and I think it is vital in building a community.

What is your favorite part of life groups?

If you are not currently involved in a life group, now is a great time to join one! Life Groups kick off for the fall semester on August 20th! Click here to learn more about life groups, find a group that fits you and your family, and get plugged in to community! You can also pick up a copy of the Life Group Directory in the church foyer on Sunday mornings.

This post was written by Hannah Dillard.

Friendship, Fruitfulness

Choosing Life

August 1, 2014by hcfwomenLeave a Comment

“A heart at peace gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.” (Proverbs 14:30)

I’ve noticed something recently. It’s almost “under the radar,” but I feel myself going there again. It’s that place where I am comparing myself to others, and am hunting for their approval or confirmation of my value. The evidence comes in some of the most subtle ways: My constant checking of Facebook for the umpteenth time, as well as thoughts of jealousy or “sizing up.”

Sometimes it sounds like this: “She is so much better at [fill in the blank] than I am.”
“Why does she get [fill in the blank] and I don’t?”
It doesn’t matter how we fill in the own blanks in our hearts, it’s still there—A feeling of lack: that we don’t have enough, or that we are missing something (often something that we feel entitled to). This especially feels prevalent when it comes to other women. Instead of being inspired, or rejoicing with another woman’s strengths, we find ourselves falling into the deep pit of comparison.

How I react when I get in this place may differ. I may try to work harder or make myself busier. Or I may try to drown out my thoughts and feelings in hours of Netflix shows. But the root issue is the same, and I have to deal with it.

It is here that I have a choice to make. Only I have control over my heart, and what I choose can change where I end up.

Recently at church, Brad shared that what we do is not tied to who we are. Yes, God may convict us to change our thinking and actions in a certain area to agree with Him (repent), but He does not do this to shame us. This is to bless us. It’s getting us to walk a better path.

Right in the middle of the church service, I literally had to take a deep breath and hand some things over to God that I had been struggling with that very morning. God reminded me of the truth of who I am, and I was able to receive it right there in that moment. And you know what else I received? Peace. Almost immediately, because I chose to trust God’s heart and immediately say “yes” to what He says about me.

It’s not always easy, and sometimes I have to do this multiple times a day. But I am learning that as my heart stays open to God’s stirring, and I respond in the midst of the “everyday,” it makes life so much better. So instead of comparing myself to other women and being jealous, I want to choose life. I want to be a life-giving person. I can choose to come alongside other women and celebrate their successes. I can cheer them on and encourage them, and not give way to bitterness. In return, I am able to walk in peace and joy and thankfulness.

This post was written by Heather Dillard. To read more about her, click here.

Friendship

Friendship is the Tree of Life

July 14, 2014July 6, 2015by hcfwomenLeave a Comment

“You’re blessed when you meet Lady Wisdom, when you make friends with Madame Insight. She’s worth far more than money in the bank; her friendship is better than a big salary.” Proverbs 3:13-15 (The Message)

I love people! I feel like I have always been a good friend. I am not one that is “pushy,” but if I know someone is in need, I am there. I love to make people feel welcome, especially at church. Everyone I meet is my friend, in my heart, because I love people so much.

Am I really a good friend?

I will help anyone that needs me, but I have a very hard time asking for help from others. I will listen to my friends talk about all things, pray with or for them, run errands, clean house or just about anything they need. When I am in need, I will try and handle it alone every time. So, am I really a good friend? I can be there for others; do I not think that others can be here for me? God has been dealing with me in this matter, especially while I have been studying Scripture about being a friend. Proverbs 27:9 says: “Just as lotions and fragrance give sensual delight, a sweet friendship refreshes the soul.” If a friendship is one sided (as in my case sometimes), how can I be refreshed just as I want my friends to be? And am I really refreshing to them?

God seems to be speaking to me at this very moment that I need to be a better friend and trust others with my heart. Just this week my life has been crazy. I have gone to funerals of two of my classmates from school. One of them I met in the first grade and we were good friends that drifted apart as life occurred. The other I met in high school, and we were sort of friends then, but in our adult lives we had become very dear friends.

As seasons change, friends change. I hold so many in my heart, but life happens and we may grow apart in body, always with promises to stay in touch.

I believe we have circles of friends. The large circle is far reaching, past, present and future. Then a closer circle is for people that you have some contact with. The small, intimate circle is for those that you do life with now. My circles have changed many times over my lifetime. I still think of them as my friends, and will always carry them in my heart, even if life changes our situations.

I believe that the foundation of friendship is love. In 1 John 4:7 it says “Dear friend, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God.” I would love to be known as a person of extraordinary love, therefore, extraordinary friendship. I want people to say that I am a friend, no matter who you are or what you look like or where you have been or what you have done. The only way that I can achieve this is to learn it from the best teacher, God. He is love!

“The amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, the extravagant love of God, the intimate friendship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.” 2 Corinthians 13:14

This post was written by Debbie Crosby. To read more about her, click here.

Friendship

The Friendship Connection

April 17, 2013June 29, 2014by hcfwomen11 Comments

One of my biggest struggles this year has been in the area of friendships—specifically with other women. Not that I don’t have friends—I do. I have lots of wonderful, loving, godly friends. But this has been a season in my life where many of my friendships have been changing, shifting. And honestly, it’s been hard for me to deal with. Some of it has just been part of growing up and maturing. And some of it is because other people’s seasons have changed too. But, facing that was still painful.

I found myself in this place this year, and I will honestly say I did not handle it well. Bitterness and resentment started taking root in my heart. I was lonely, angry, and disappointed. Life had not turned out the way that I had planned.

But somewhere—even in the midst of all this mess inside of my heart—God found me. My moments of crying out to God (sometimes without words; just crying) became moments where God began to speak to me. He began asking me to “come away” with Him. He began speaking to me the truth of who I really was. And I began to believe it—truly believe it in my deepest heart. I think this is the first time in my whole life that I’ve really, truly said “yes” to who God says I am.

And as these truths began to take root—that I am a daughter, dearly loved, delighted in, precious—God began to soften my heart to the gift of repentance. Not repentance as a punishment, but just agreeing with how God sees the situation. Agreeing that this anger and bitterness in my heart really had nothing to do with the people that I had inwardly leveled it toward. Agreeing that my heart is too precious to carry the weight of such things—things that bring death. God gently spoke that He wants to bring me life. Joy. Peace. Laughter. That He is a good Father, and He delights in giving good gifts to his children (Mt. 7:11).

And so God began opening my eyes to the gift of friendships, all around me, that He is blessing me with. Older women, younger women, women at my work, women living in another country…Over and over, I heard God say, “This is a gift…this is a gift.”

And finally, my heart said yes.

I think this quote sums it up beautifully (from Christine Hoover at http://www.GraceCoversMe.com): “We are not guaranteed or entitled to heart friends. They are gifts of grace, and when we catch glimpses of sisterly love, we must receive it as such with deep gratitude.”

Gratitude, yes… A heart of thanksgiving puts it all into perspective.

I believe that, deep down inside, all of us have been made to connect deeply with other women. So let’s ask God to give us the courage to see and pursue godly friendships. It’s sometimes hard, but it’s such a blessing.

This post was written by Heather Dillard. To read more about her, click here.