November 12, 2024

Dear Ones,

Hope you have a wonderful day with some time for friendships. I want to get busy in the kitchen today and put away some things in the freezer for upcoming company. Al will love that I plan to make Finnish Pasty! 

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Since Al writes blogs for men, my eye often catches articles written for men. Recently I read one by Rhonda Stoppe who is a Pastor’s wife, author, and speaker and she wrote, 5 Reasons Men Need Strong Support Systems. Men today are thought to be self-reliant, independent and able to handle things, but both men and women need supportive friends and at needed times may go   see a counselor. So what are men’s needs in a nutshell?

Rhonda names 1. Emotional Resilience. Men need good solid relationships and a network of men who will be supportive and give them validation which could be family members, friends and mentors. Supportive Christian friends can help them by giving advice that will be inline with scripture and help them grow in faith and trust and to gain wisdom.

   2. Men need Relationship Building for they are strengthened and grow when they are with a network of godly friends. Many men struggle with feeling inadequate and lonely and when they engage with others they are connected and experience a bond where “iron sharpens iron”, (Prov 27:17} Al meets with about a dozen men every other Thursday and then with two male friends on the other Thursday mornings.

   3. Men also tend to have better Physical Health when they connect physically and emotionally as they engage in activities like basketball, golfing, fishing, hunting etc. They develop a support system and are also left with a sense of belonging that encourages well-being.

 4.  Another need for men is important is Mental Well-Being and men are not as likely as women to get help to deal with depression and go for counseling or join a support group. But they need others to listen and to get help with their bottled-up feelings and give support.

   5.  The last need for men mentioned is Spiritual Growth.  It is God’s plan that that spiritual growth takes place in community where there is support and building of relationships. The disciples grew spiritually while Jesus was training them for 3 years. They started out as fishing partners and later were changed into fishers of men and turned the world upside down. The disciples grew in love for Jesus and for one another…

   All men need a strong support system, and genuine relationships with other men if you want to be faithful men of God that are resilient, engaging, healthy, supported and spiritually growing.