And let us take thought of how to spur one another on to love and good works, not abandoning our own meetings, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other. Hebrews 10:24-25
How important is fellowship with friends and family to you? I recently moved from Nashville to the Louisville, KY area to be near my younger son’s family. Papa & Nana have to spoil Gracie and her soon to be little sister! This was a decision made through much discussion and prayer. Leaving my older son, daughter in law and grand-dog was not an easy decision, yet my son is the one that encouraged me to move to be near his brother and nieces. Leaving our church family was also a difficult. So, as we prayed for His direction, we began our search for our next home.
A major consideration was a new church home. Having a place to connect with a new church family was a priority. God directed us to our new church family and small apartment community where we can serve.
As I was talking with our youth pastor, Ben asked me what God has been speaking into my heart about.
That’s easy! Friendship…. New friends, old friends, and family. As I look back at my life, I find great joy in friendships that span over sixty years. Thanks to modern technology, we stay close to family & friends of our youth on to more recent friends/family. Even those we don’t talk with frequently, when we do have the opportunity, it’s as if we were together yesterday.
Now that I’ve got a new church home, new neighbors and friends, I am amazed at how quickly we feel at home. I’m thankful for my friends that encouraged and prayed for us as we made this move. The love and support they provided was and is tremendous and beyond anything I could imagine. Arriving at our new home, what a pleasant surprise to have dinner in the refrigerator, left by our pastors. God is good all the time!
It is a great joy to come together at any time of the year. But, as our season of Thanksgiving approaches, I look forward to sitting at the table with some of our friends and family to give thanks for His guidance in our lives.
May we all be thankful for those that have poured into our lives in so many ways. Be thankful for those that have been present in your life. Spiritually, emotionally, financially, and other ways, there are many we need to be thankful for. When you have the opportunity, be sure to let those in your life know you are thankful God placed them in your path.
As I reflect on the year, this verse below resonates. We belong to one another. What a joy to know that we have friends around the world that pray for us and lift us up daily. Let’s do the same for them.
So we who are many are one body in Christ, and individually we are members who belong to one another. Romans 12:5
Durward (Santa) Blanks
