October 5, 2024

Dear Ones,

I am sending this out early for Saturday since we are leaving early in the morning for Indianola, Iowa to see a dear friend and stay overnight. Then on Sunday we will be going to Ames, IO to watch our granddaughter, Lily, play soccer along with her parents. We have wanted to get to see her play this fall and this was the closest game for us since she goes to Kansas State. We have enjoyed time with Mark here and celebrated his birthday at Poncho Lefties! Appreciate prayers for travels.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

  Friendship is a beautiful gift from God and one we treasure. When two people have a special bond of trust, love, honesty, and loyalty, it also inspires greater friendship between us and God. True friendship in fact, comes from God and the flowing of His life through us. He is love and friendship is participating in that flow of His love.

Today it seems like there is a lack of friendship, especially in our youth, for so many are lonely and only relate through their phones. But true friendship is a commitment and takes time to sustain. We are all different from one another and yet we can share who we really are with one another. It takes commitment for it is not always easy to be there for our friend, and let’s face it, we all have to fight our own selfishness. In friendship we learn more how to give, to share, to let the other person be true to who God made them to be.                                True friends enjoy each other and have a deep trust level. If others say negative things about them, we know in our hearts, that it is not who they really are. Even if they have a lapse in judgment, they will ask forgiveness and want to make things right. They are comfortable to be around as they are full of grace.

 Since I have lived in many places in my lifetime, friendships are especially important. The Lord has always been faithful to give me special friends in each church we have been in, as I prayed for those who could be a soul friend. It wasn’t always who I thought they would be when we first arrived at a church, but in time He would reveal to me, and sometimes to the other person first.  It was especially important that we could pray together, share concerns, and speak what we thought the Lord was saying.

 God shares His life with us and He wants us to also share our lives with others. St Augustine said that “Friendship is the beauty of each soul,” I encourage you to take time out for friendship and pay the cost for it to blossom into all that God would have for you.