Let’s start with a familiar picture: you’re new in town, maybe it’s freshman year of college, a new job, or a new stage of life. You’re sitting in your car, wondering why you feel so isolated. No close friends nearby, no local church to lean on, and you’re scrolling through Instagram or TikTok where everyone else seems to have it all figured out. Maybe you’re going through the motions, trying to keep up, but the connection just isn’t there. We’ve all been there—or somewhere close.

Here’s another scenario. Think about group projects. Most of us have had that one project we ended up doing mostly (if not entirely) by ourselves—we stayed up super late, put in all the work, and found ourselves frustrated and exhausted. And here’s what’s interesting—Faith can feel that way, too, especially when it seems like no one else is there to share the load, check in, follow up, or care about how you’re actually doing.

But the truth can change everything: God designed our faith to be shared, to be lived out with others.

I know what it’s like to be surrounded by people (even Christian friends) and feel totally alone. It can seem like everyone else is living a picture-perfect life, filled with friends and moments of strong faith, but when we’re alone, it’s a different story. Trying to follow Jesus while feeling isolated can make faith itself feel disorienting or even discouraging.

But if you’re feeling this way, here’s the good news: God never meant for us to do faith alone. Following Jesus was always meant to be a group project.

There’s no better place to see this “group project” approach than in Acts 2:42-47, where we get a glimpse into the very first church community. It’s where we find the beauty of what a life together, in Jesus, can look like. We get a snapshot of the first church in Jerusalem—a close-knit community that grew rapidly after the Holy Spirit came, and people began turning to Christ. But here’s something unique about the church: it wasn’t simply a building; it was a family. And it should still be the same today.

People believed in Jesus individually, yes, but they lived it out collectively, forming the very first local church (and no, this family didn’t all live in one house. They lived all over the city, came together, and met in homes). And it wasn’t exactly a popular move—the religious culture in Jerusalem was skeptical, even hostile. Yet these early believers kept showing up for each other, creating a community that looked totally different from anything else around. The church was never just a building (like we often say, “Are you going to church this Sunday?”). The church is a group of people who do life together. Here are three distinct markers of this first church community in Jerusalem:

1. They Centered on the Word & Worship

“All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders.”- Acts 2:42-43

The early church prioritized gathering around the teachings of Jesus, prayer, and the Lord’s Supper. The church community was devoted. This wasn’t just an occasional gathering; it was the pattern of their lives. They listened to the apostles (their leaders) who shared what Jesus had taught, and they experienced God’s presence in community, which led to a collective sense of awe and worship.

Through this togetherness, God moved powerfully among them. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could say that you were tangibly seeing God move in power? Being plugged into a local church doesn’t mean you will 100% for sure see God move, but it does mean you can be confident you’re doing something that’s in line with His design and will for believers. God’s model for Christianity, from the very beginning of its existence, involved Christians gathering together in the context of local Churches (local groups of believers) opening His Word and being amazed as He moved. So, it’s worth asking ourselves: Who are we listening to, and are those voices drawing us closer to God? Who do we surround ourselves with, and are they building up our faith?

As the early church gathered, they’d share communion. Jesus first taught about communion during the Last Supper, which He shared with His disciples just before He was arrested. Communion (also called the Lord’s Supper) is a way for His followers to remember His love and sacrifice. During the Last Supper, Jesus took some bread, broke it, and told His disciples, “This is my body, which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19). Then He took a cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you” (Luke 22:20). These simple things—bread and wine—became symbols to help us remember the huge sacrifice Jesus was about to make on the cross. He wanted His followers to use this meal to remember what He did for us and to reflect on His incredible love.

Jesus might’ve used bread and wine because they are easy to find and share, but they also have special meaning. The bread stands for Jesus’ body that was broken for us, and the wine stands for His blood, which was shed for the forgiveness of our sins. When we take communion, we remember His love and sacrifice and the new relationship (or covenant) that we have with God because of Jesus. Really, communion is a reminder of the gospel, that God loved us so much He sent His one and only son to die on the cross, taking the punishment we deserve for our sins. He rose again, defeating death, so that those who believe in Him can have life and life to the full (Romans 10:9-10).

Christianity isn’t about earning our way to God or doing religious practices so God will like us more. We could never and will never measure up (Ephesians 2:8-9). Even on our “best” days we fall short. We’re saved by our faith, not our works or performance. But, if you’re a Christian, God isn’t holding your sinful choices against you. The picture communion calls to mind, of Jesus on the cross, is the ultimate example of forgiveness. Jesus forgave us for our sins. We don’t have to measure up.  No one can.

Today, it can be easy to live with an “it’s just me and Jesus” mentality. And I get it, maybe you’ve been hurt. Or hurt by someone in the Church—the other people in the church can’t measure up to God’s perfect standard either. So first, I just want to say, if that’s you, I’m so sorry that you’ve been hurt, seemingly by the church. It’s painful when a place that’s supposed to feel safe, accepting, and loving ends up causing hurt instead. You’re not alone in feeling this way. So many people have gone through similar experiences, and it’s completely understandable to feel confused, sad, or even distant from church because of it.

But please know, the heart of Jesus is gentle, kind, and never condemning. People aren’t perfect, even in church, but that doesn’t change how much God loves you and wants you to experience real community. Healing takes time, but God’s desire for you is forgiveness and healing. So as you process and heal, try to lean on other believers who bring you peace and encouragement. You might be tempted to “throw the baby out with the bathwater,” as the saying goes—to throw out all churches after being burned by one or two, maybe even three. If that’s you, spend some time journaling your thoughts, hurts, and worries in a prayer to the Lord. Ask Him to give you the courage to forgive and then to either seek reconciliation with those who hurt you or pursue a new local church. I’m praying He’ll guide you in this decision.

Let’s get back to the early church in Acts.

2. They Practiced Radical Sharing & Caring

“And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need.” – Acts 2:44-45

In a world where resources can feel scarce and the focus can often be self-centered, these believers practiced radical generosity. They didn’t isolate themselves (solely sitting with Jesus in a coffee shop) or protect their possessions (storing up journals and Bible studies that collected dust on their shelves); instead, they shared what they had so no one went without. This wasn’t a token gesture but a commitment to real, practical care. It showed they understood community isn’t just a concept; it’s a practice that comes to life in how we show up for each other.

Imagine what it would look like if all the girls in your dorm who knew Jesus freely shared their clothes or notes from class. What would the non-Christians think? Or maybe you’re like me, and you’re not in undergrad anymore. You’re a working professional? What might radical generosity look like with your neighbors or community group? Ask yourself: Are you trying to do life alone, or are you finding ways to connect with those in your church, offering and receiving support?

 Now these are good examples to get those wheels turning, to get some ideas going. But don’t miss this—the early Christians were practicing this radical generosity in the context of a local church. You see, while a group of believers (who aren’t from the same church) can come together and do some amazing things (like fund Bible translation, raise school supplies for a needy community, or donate clothes to a women’s shelter), the kind of generosity we’re reading about in Acts 2 was different. Their generosity was centered around the local believers (who were part of the same congregation) caring for each other.

Local churches provide us with levels of care. Through the local church we experience the teaching of the Word (catered to believers in the same shared cultural context – not a podcast streamed from across the country to a different audience). In the local church we get to be shepherded by church leaders who help us grow in Christlikeness and we get to be encouraged by our local brothers and sisters in Christ! And that’s just a few examples in addition to those described in Acts 2.

3. They Created a Habit of Hanging Out

“They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.” – Acts 2:46-47

The first church wasn’t just meeting once a week; they had a habit of being together. Every day, they worshiped in the Temple, gathered in homes, and shared meals. This wasn’t a compartmentalized faith—it was an all-day, everyday kind of thing. Today, many Christians are tempted to turn their faith on or off depending on the day of the week—it’s easy to turn up the volume of our faith on Sundays when we’re going to Church. But for the early church? The joy, generosity, and authenticity of their lives together was something others couldn’t ignore. People around them noticed and were drawn in by the way these Christians lived, curious to know what made them different. And every day, more people joined them, finding faith in Jesus. Reflect on this: When others look at your life and your community, do they see something that points them to Jesus? Are they drawn in by the way you live out your faith?

 The early church gives us a model: We’re meant to follow Jesus together. Being a believer (among other traits) means being marked by three things: centering on the Word and worship (gathering with a local church body), sharing and caring for each other, and practicing the joyful habit of spending time together. This way of life wasn’t just a one-time experiment for the early church—it was foundational. And it still is for us today.

God designed us to need each other. He created the church as a family where we can grow, lean on each other, and live out our faith together. Following Jesus is a group project, and when we live that way, we show the world a glimpse of His love and grace.

If you’re a Dallas, local, we’d love to invite you to Join us for the LO Local event on Sunday, November 17^th at 7PM at Watermark Coffee. You can come alone, and ready to make some new friends, or bring your besties. Either way, we want to help you experience biblical community (and have some fun). See you there!

The post “It’s Just Me And Jesus” Mentality Might Not Be Working first appeared on Live Original.

Back to my coffee: First, I press the button, and I show up and start to pray “Lord, I offer myself to You” just like it says to do in Romans 12:1, that we would offer ourselves as living sacrifices to God so that every act is an act of worship. Second, I imagine an onion. I imagine peeling away layers of all my roles and responsibilities and identities and struggles and say, “Who I am is not primarily my roles: a widow, a mother, a teacher. I’m not primarily my worry. I’m not primarily outgoing. At the core of me, Lord, I am in You and You are in me.” I do this to peel back everything so that I can find my core identity in Christ. I rest in that secure identity for a moment. I’m more than my titles and responsibilities and worries. In Christ is who I am at the core. Third, I let my mind wander because I know my mind will wander to something that has captured my heart, and that is what Jesus wants to talk about. Our conversation is spontaneous and free and even a little bit random, just like a conversation with a good friend. Finally, I listen to Him. There’s a prompting every time: some work He’s set before me, some sin that needs to be confessed, some person who needs a word of encouragement. He always directs me to love.

To summarize, these four steps are:

1. Show up. “Lord, I offer myself to You.” Present yourself as an act of worship.
2. Peel away. Remember you’re more than your titles and fears. You’re in Him and He is in you.
3. Let your mind wander. Share it all. This is Jesus’ cue to chat just like you would talk with a good friend.
4. Listen and obey. Listen and let Him guide you toward love.[i]

Once you realize your primary needs for security and love are met in Christ, and you start befriending Him yourself, you’re going to see Him as both your model for friendship and your strength to live it out. Only Jesus does everything that Scripture asks of a friend.

Pause for a second. If that makes you think anything along the lines of Well, then Jesus is the only friend I need, let’s sort that out right now. That state—Jesus being your only friend—is never what Jesus wanted. His perfect love compels us to reach out in love to others. This whole friendship-with-other-humans thing is not optional. His prayer in John 17 shows that His love moves from us and Him to us and Him and everyone else. This is why we have a church and why it’s important to be a part of it. It’s not just you and Jesus, and it was never supposed to be.

That said, our other friends won’t be like Him (and you won’t be like Him for anybody else!). So how do we live out His perfect love in our imperfect friendships? The oft-quoted J. C. Ryle tells us that “friendship halves our sorrows and doubles our joys.”[ii] The Word of God concurs; friendship is meant for both joy and sorrow, laughter and trouble. Proverbs offers this wisdom on friendship: “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity” (17:17). A friend loves at all times, which includes the good times, the bad times, the embarrassing times, the shameful times, the funny times, the when-they’re-mean times, and the depressed times. If we spend our energy trying to cover up the negative, offering and showing others our best in the hope of being loved at our best, friendships become yet another place to hide from God and from ourselves. If hiding and covering is what we bring to the table in our friendships, others will feel like they have to hide and cover too.

During the time this proverb was written, there would’ve been cultural obligations for family members to take care of one another. That is why “a brother is born for adversity.” In other words, family members have a duty to take care of you in times of need. But what makes friendships great is that a friend’s love for you is expressed at all times, not only in times of adversity, because a friend is someone who has chosen to love you, whereas a relative is obligated to love you.

“At all times” means you’re available not only when it’s convenient. Most people know you and want to know you because you’re useful to them. Before you get all bent out of shape about that, I want you to realize that the people you have become friends with are useful to you in some way. Some of them are useful for having a good time. Some are useful for meaningful conversations. Some of them are useful for getting things done. When your life is falling apart, you’ll notice different categories start to emerge. Some friends will say, “Call me if you need anything.” Others will just show up. A brother “born for adversity” says, “I will do whatever it takes to keep you from falling into ruin. I’ll be there even when it costs me something.” I’d be willing to bet that those who just show up are drawing their strength to love you from their friendships with Christ.

Of course, not all friendships have the same purpose. I was told a long time ago that my friendships should fall into one of these categories: Paul, Barnabas, and Timothy. A friend who is a Paul is a mentor and guide, someone whose wisdom I can trust—typically, someone who has more life experience than I do. Did you know that you can be friends with people who are decades older than you? I dare you to try it. A Barnabas friend is a true partner. Remember when Barnabas testified before the apostles that Paul had changed? Talk about a friend in adversity. A Barnabas is someone with whom you can live the spiritual life, someone who is maybe even struggling with some of the things that you are. And anyone who is a Timothy is a person you’re pouring into; the love of Christ is meant to be shared, and we need to seek out Timothys who need encouragement and experience. The real secret of those relationships is that you’ll be even more blessed than the Timothy in question. “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).

Incidentally, friendship with Jesus and friendship with other Christians are not two different things. Remember, the church is referred to throughout the New Testament as the “body of Christ.” This means that loving sisters and brothers in the church is loving Jesus.

The post Relaxed Coffee first appeared on Live Original.

I’ve had the opportunity to talk to a lot of women and a few men about the end of their marriage. The first thing I usually start with is, “Tell me about your support system.” It seems like a broad area to initially ask about. Most people expect me to ask more about what ended the marriage or where they are in the divorce process or how the kids are doing.

But the reality is, outside of their relationship with God, a support system is vital in hope and healing. Isolation can be detrimental. And trust me, I’ve done both. I’ve cut off communication and detached because the pain was too great. I secluded myself due to the embarrassment of failure. Coming out of feeling verbally and mentally abused in a relationship takes a lot of relearning. Relearning how to share the reality, relearning how to trust your intuition, relearning how to be vulnerable, relearning what it feels like to feel safe with another person.

For me, leaning in to my community took work. It took vulnerability, and in some cases, it took repair. It’s difficult to lean on community during heartbreak, to trust anyone when your heart literally feels like it is crushed from broken trust. A life of connection and community is risky; however, a life lived in isolation is an even greater risk.

There will be people in your life who will hold your story and people who will hear your story. The people who hold your story are the ones who walk with you through the darkest days. They possibly feel your story is a part of their story.

I remember when my best friend’s husband, Jud, described what Lori experienced when she’d hang up the phone with me. Keep in mind we live two thousand miles apart, and she would call every day. She would say she knew how I was doing based on hearing my voice. Jud said she’d hang up the phone with me and walk straight to his office, lay her head in his lap, and just sob. Her heart broke for me because she was holding my story. My story became part of her story.

Maybe you are that support system for the person walking through divorce. Here are a few thoughts. We often ask the hurting person, “What do you need?” or “What can I do for you?” or a few other versions of that inquiry, offering authentic help. Here’s the catch. A person in trauma doesn’t know what they need. So when asked, “What do you need?” they don’t know. They don’t have an answer. They can’t articulate what they need. And honestly, what they do need, you probably can’t give them.

Give them options. For instance, you can give specific offers like, “What do you need today? I can come to your house and cook dinner. We can go out for dinner. Or you can come to our house and I’ll cook.”

Options allow the person in trauma the ability to make a decision and not feel overwhelmed. It helps them to articulate what they need at that time. It helps ground them to feel like they have some control over what is going on around them. When offering help, it’s a minor tweak that makes a huge difference.

This played out in my life at sporting events. Showing up alone to events for your kids can be really difficult. You’re self-conscious, you’re alone, trying to figure out where to sit, who to sit with, and all the while wanting to keep a smile on your face for your kids when your heart is broken.

I went from sitting with multiple family members to being alone. It’s hard.

Then this group of five ladies drifted into my life. Our kids had played football together since sixth grade. We’d all been acquaintances since 2014, but something about the football season seven years ago glued us together. They saw I was hurting, and they stepped in. I’m not even sure how we all connected, but they became a lifeline for me in so many ways.

Each gameday I’d get a text from one of them or sometimes several of them. The text gave me options. For instance, “Want to meet at the tailgate or want to meet in the stands?” If it was an away game, it would sound more like, “Want us to pick you up, or do you want to meet us at the tailgate?” I didn’t even realize at the time how beneficial the options were in allowing me to choose what I was most comfortable with.

I never would have asked for help navigating Friday nights; it just wouldn’t have been my nature. They just stepped in and created community every Friday night. Trust me when I say, Friday night games are just one of the many ways these five lovely ladies have shown up for me over the last seven years.

We’re now “The Six Pack” because there are six of us, not because of our killer abdominal game—there are way too many kids between us for that.

Then there are the friendships that feel like they have always existed. The weekend before mediation for my divorce, I flew to meet two of my best friends, Lori Wilhite and Lisa Hughes, and their husbands. These are the two friends who dropped everything and surprised me by flying to Nashville and spending a few nights and days with me on what would have been my twentieth wedding anniversary.

These are the two friends who, over a ten-hour uninterrupted period and lots of Diet Coke, listened to me recount my twenty years of marriage and all the times I felt trust had been shattered, beginning in year one and working chronologically through the relationship. These are the type of friends who, when I gave permission for them to “talk behind my back” (because I grew tired of repeating the details of daily life), responded with, “We already do.” And there was never a concern that they were gossiping about me. I knew any conversation they were having “behind my back” was out of genuine concern and love.

I knew that my heart and my head needed the encouragement, positive feedback, and validation from healthy men who stood on stages and shared the hope of God. Trust me, it isn’t lost on me that God placed two friends in my life who are married to pastors, men who held very similar positions to my ex-husband. Their willingness to be with me before the one big day that signified the end of the last twenty years—that’s friendship.

These types of friendships bring to mind this story from Exodus 17. Joshua had led the Israelites into battle against the Amalekites, just as Moses had ordered. While Joshua was on the ground fighting, Moses, along with Aaron and Hur, climbed on top of a nearby mountain. While Joshua led the charge on the ground, Moses lifted his hands in prayer to God. While Moses’s hands were raised, the Israelites were winning. If his arms lowered out of fatigue, the Amalekites prevailed. The combat lasted for hours, and this is where the story gets good.

So Joshua did what Moses had commanded and fought the army of Amalek. Meanwhile, Moses, Aaron, and Hur climbed to the top of a nearby hill. As long as Moses held up the staff in his hand, the Israelites had the advantage. But whenever he dropped his hand, the Amalekites gained the advantage. Moses’ arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset. As a result, Joshua overwhelmed the army of Amalek in battle.

Exodus 17:10–13

Moses could only continue his intercession because of his support system. Aaron and Hur literally held up his arms so he could continue fighting the battle in prayer. We are left with no other option than to believe that if Aaron and Hur hadn’t stepped in so Moses could continue to fight the battle with prayer, the Israelites would have been defeated by the Amalekites.

And don’t overlook what jumps out in this story. God is the provider of victory when we are attacked. Our attackers might not be armor-wearing, sword-wielding soldiers. The battles may be with familiar faces and well-aimed verbal blows. God is the provider of victory. God is also the provider of friends to literally hold up our arms when we can’t anymore. As women, we are often in the arm-holding business. We support and hold up arms all around us, from our children to coworkers to church friends to neighbors.

This passage in Exodus invites these questions: Who is holding up your arms? Who is joining you in your pain, struggle, hurt, and weariness? Who is grabbing hold of your exhausted hands and helping to lift them to the Lord? You might be asking how to find these people in your life. Let me share a few characteristics that point to a safe friendship. And if you don’t have a friend like this, ask God to bring you the friendship you need.

1. They help you become a better version of yourself.

2. They nurture your talents and abilities.

3. They help connect you with other safe people.

4. They help you develop your spiritual growth.

5. They celebrate your accomplishments and cheer for you.

6. You can put your guard down with them.

7. Vulnerability is welcomed between you.

Article adapted from Better Than Okay: Finding Hope and Healing After Your Marriage Ends by Brandi Wilson (copyright 2023, published by Bethany House / Baker Publishing Group)

Brandi Wilson is a coach and speaker who has been in leadership for more than a decade at Leading and Loving It, a non-profit created to empower women to love life and ministry. Brandi has helped plant two churches and is passionate about walking alongside single moms and divorced women as they navigate parenting and life. Her latest book is Better Than Okay: Finding Hope and Healing After Your Marriage Ends. Brandi lives with her three sons in Nashville, TN. www.LoveBrandiWilson.com

The post The Power of Friendship first appeared on Live Original.

According to Newsweek, the United States is home to around 12,000 different summer camps which over 20 million campers attend each summer. What you are doing matters. Getting dressed up, playing games, and dancing to music is something that happens at camps across the country on any given summer night. Each event and party with a purpose helps friends, and soon-to-be friends, connect and break down barriers. The energy, laughter, and fun reverberates over all the noise from the outside world. Everything you are doing matters. Here are my two takeaways from working at different summer camps over the past 7 years.

1. Ask them their name and invite them in. This is practical for every day, but especially at camp. Campers are coming from all over the place, more often than not by themselves. They are in an unfamiliar place and surrounded by new people. Ask them their name, before they even have to introduce themselves. Jesus throughout scripture calls people by their name, often before they even know He notices them. In Luke 19:3-6 Jesus calls a man by the name of Zacchaeus out of the crowd and by his name.

3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

I would have loved to be in the crowd to see Zacchaeus’ expression when Jesus called him by his name. Names are so important. When we get to know people, we learn more about Jesus’ character. Take time to learn names and take time to hear stories from the campers and staff you are with during the summer. Show campers that they are known and invite them in. This seems plain and simple at first, but this is so important. This characteristic of Jesus is so evident throughout the Bible and with how he encounters and sees the unseen people, the people on the outskirts. Invite people into conversations, moments, and friendships.

2. Hold everything with an open hand. Ask anyone who has ever shared a cabin with me, I am an overpacker. But I like to call myself an “over-packer, with a purpose.” There are so many events and moments at camp that call for different apparel. Whether it be a skit night, an Olympic theme day, or Tie-Dye Tuesday, there’s always an occasion and something to get dressed up for. For me, there’s a special feeling when I get to share with my friends. This not only goes with belongings but also with time. Time is one thing that there never seems to be enough of during the day. My first summer volunteering at a Young Life camp that is nestled in the mountains of North Carolina we memorized Philippians 2:1-11. Since then I have continuously returned to these verses.

2 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature[a] God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature[b] of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

When working in a community, especially a community where everyone sleeps, eats, and plays together for a couple of months, it is so important to know your “why.” Philippians 2: 1-11 clearly outlines our purpose. Our purpose is to move our lives to having the same mindset as Christ. Through this mindset, we can humbly serve our community with open hands and an open heart. Be prepared to share. Thoughts, scripture, clothes, but maybe not your toothbrush, they are on their own if they don’t have that. I like to say, hold everything with an open hand… if someone needs to borrow something or you have something that would help make their life easier, share it or offer it to them.

I love summer camps and how they bring people together so they can make memories, have fun, and give a mission to those who choose to take it on. But truth be told, that nostalgic feeling of excitement will wear off. The games and dances might start to feel redundant. You might not want to be running around all day in the lingering summer sun. But what you are doing matters. The campers and staff that show up to camp can get a glimpse of what a Kingdom-built community looks like. Campers might just get a glimpse of who Jesus is because of how you and your co-staff love them.

I pray that as we enter this next month of summer camping across the United States, that each camper, staff, and family doesn’t leave the grounds without knowing more about Jesus. I pray that each of you feels known and “purpose-filled.” I pray that you set your eyes on Jesus, even when the sun is hot and the time in the day never seems to be enough. I pray that your hearts, minds, and eyes are fixed on Jesus.

Love you, friends,

Hannah Black

Keep up with Hannah on Instagram @hannaheblack!

For more encouragement read: Hebrews 12:1-2. 12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

The post The Beauty of Summer Camp first appeared on Live Original.

Jesus loves me, this I know,

for the Bible tells me so.

Little ones to him belong;

They are weak, but He is strong.

I can still hear my Sunday school class sing this song all together. I sang with such confidence that it was true. I just loved it, and I loved the lyrics. I mean, who doesn’t love being loved? I sure do. I’m guessing you do, too. We all have this desire to be seen, known, and loved.

As we get older and experience more life, opening ourselves up to love can feel absolutely terrifying over time. As Tim Keller explains, “To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial. To be known and not loved is our greatest fear. But to be fully known and truly loved is, well, a lot like being loved by God. It is what we need more than anything.”

Although I didn’t fully grasp how true these lyrics were at five years old in my Sunday school class, I understand now that the Bible actually does tell us so. The Word of God is full of Jesus’ love for us. And we discover the depth of love Jesus has for us, only then can we begin to open ourselves up to being known and loved by another human being. Jesus first, relationships second. Always.

In John 4, we meet a sweet friend who was looking for water, but needing so much more. We don’t know her name, but we learn a lot about her and Jesus from this conversation surrounding a water source:

A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For the Jews had no dealings with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, “If you know the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” (John 4:7–10)

That’s only the beginning of her interaction with Jesus. I encourage you to read the rest of her beautiful story in John 4:11–30. But here’s what we learn about her from her time with Jesus.

She was culturally seen as “lesser than” because she was a Samaritan. Being one meant that she was generally hated by Jews for religious and racial reasons. On top of that, Samaritans were known for having unstable theological beliefs, not fully rooted in Scripture. All of this is the perfect storm for prejudice and cultural tension between these two people groups.

Also, she struggled with shame and isolation. We see in verse six that she came at the “sixth hour,” meaning around noon. Culturally, women would travel in groups in the early morning hours (the coolest time of the day) to draw water from the well. But our friend not only showed up at the hottest hour of the day, but she also came alone.

When we feel shame, we pull away from God and from others. Isolation is one of the biggest tools the enemy uses to keep us in our thought patterns of shame, guilt, and regret. That’s where we find her. That’s right where Jesus found her. And He had something to say about it.

Lastly, she had a questionable past when it came to relationships. “The woman answered him, ‘I have no husband.’ Jesus said to her, ‘You are right in saying, “I have no husband” for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true’” (John 4:17–18).

When we’re not rooted in Jesus, we have no idea what to look for. Our friend here had men give her attention, maybe even fulfill certain desires that she had (to be loved, to be taken care of, to be seen), but she was never truly satisfied because no man could ever give her what she truly longed for. She was looking for a love that stayed. A love that wasn’t based on emotions and feelings but on commitment and Christ. She was looking for living water. And although she hadn’t yet found it, the Living Water found her.

Here’s what we learn about Jesus.

Jesus will take the unlikely path to pursue you. Because of the cultural hostility that the Jews had toward Samaritans, Jewish people typically didn’t travel through Samaria when going from Judea to Galilee. Culturally, the hate was so real that they took the long route just to avoid the entire town. The tension was also real. But see here that Jesus didn’t take the path most others took. Instead, verse 4 says, “And he had to pass through Samaria.” This was a “had to” not out of a place of obligation or expectation but out of necessity to reach her.

Jesus will take any route He needs to take to get to your heart and your hurts. Not only did He take the unlikely route here, but He also waited for her. We see here that Jesus is willing, able, and eager to wait for us. Just like He was with this woman, He’s abundantly patient and never late for an encounter with His children.

Next, Jesus will break any barrier to pursue you. In that day, it’s important that we understand the role that women played in society. They were seen as the lowest class. On top of being not just a Samaritan, but a Samaritan woman, sister-friend didn’t have a whole lot going for her. But we see here that Jesus wasn’t too concerned with cultural barriers when it came to pursuing those He was after.

“Jesus said to her, ‘Give me a drink’” (John 4:7). Not only did Jesus speak to her, but He humbled Himself to ask her for something. He knew they were going to have a hard conversation, and He wanted her to know that she had a Savior that wasn’t afraid to get on her level and meet her where she was.

Lastly, Jesus will enter into your mess to pursue you. Are there parts of your life that just feel messy? Unhinged? Falling apart? Me, too. Same for our friend here. She had parts of her life that she would probably do anything to hide. But Jesus wasn’t afraid of those areas. On the contrary, those were the exact areas He was excited to dig into with her.

I’m not proud of this, but I’m a pretty messy person by nature. I remember when Ryan and I were engaged, so many people would warn me that living with a boy is messy and that I better prepare myself. I rarely commented back, but I always remember thinking, Actually, I feel bad for Ryan that he has to live with me. Yes, I am the messy one in our marriage.

One of the main messes that I make is what I like to call “my piles.” If you are a pile maker, you know what these are. They are piles of clothes. After trying on multiple outfits a day, I will form a pile in a corner of our room instead of hanging those clothes up. It’s become a running joke because if Ryan sees a pile, he can’t understand how it could be anything but dirty clothes. But with lots of patience, I explain to him that there is a difference between a clean pile and a dirty pile. In fact, most of my piles are clean! Men, right?! Just kidding! It’s a real problem, and I’m working on it 😉

I think sometimes we also compartmentalize the messy part of our lives. We have the “not so bad piles,” the “dirty piles,” and even the “looks clean on the outside piles.” But at the end of the day, a pile is a pile. And Jesus came to enter into our piles, no matter how dirty or put together they may seem. If something isn’t where He calls it to be, He will enter in and address it—even the piles we’re afraid for anyone to see.

That’s what He did here with our friend at the well. He wasn’t afraid to have the hard conversations about her relationships. He addressed the reality of her past without judgment or heaping shame onto her. Just like her pile of past broken relationships, we each have hard areas that Jesus is sitting, waiting, and ready to be welcomed in.

Friend, Jesus will never enter a situation that He doesn’t fully plan to redeem. His pursuit always has purpose. Let Him into the hard piles, the messy piles, and even the piles you’ve come to accept, and watch what He’ll do. This is the best kind of loved. Fully seen, fully known, fully loved.

Morgan Krueger is a Jesus follower, wife, mother, and author who found her voice connecting with women seeking freedom from the brokenness of past shame. Passionate about the redemption found in following Jesus, Morgan aims to keep that at the center of all she does. Morgan works at Faithfully Restored, a ministry that offers the hope of Jesus in the midst of suffering. Her first book, Goodbye Hiding, Hello Freedom: Trading Your Shame for Redemption in Jesus, releases in September 2024.

In her downtime, you can find Morgan enjoying the significance of the mundane, including spending time with her two sons, encouraging women through words, and watching British baking shows with her husband, Ryan, in Franklin, TN. You can connect with her on Instagram @morganwkrueger and at morgankrueger.com.

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The truth is, with the demands of household and children and husbands, we’re unlikely to have the margin to maintain more than one or two of these truly close-knit relationships at a time, so carrying an expectation of deep connection for every friendship just isn’t realistic. My other “bosom friend” is the illustrator of this book, Lindsay Long, whom I’ve mentioned already (and whom I wrote about in more detail in the last chapter of M Is for Mama). Beyond that, I have my mom, my lovely sister-in-law, Hannah, and about a dozen other women I consider myself privileged to call close friends—Christlike, hardworking, joyful, inspiring, truth-loving mamas who are so faithful to “stir up one another to love and good works” (Hebrews 10:24).

For years, I didn’t have those kinds of relationships, and now having such a deep pool of mama friends (of all ages) who love Jesus and others well is such a joy. But in most cases, I have to be content to enjoy their company periodically because none of us has the time to pursue anything further. Even for Jesus, with His twelve apostles, the Bible only describes one as the disciple “whom Jesus loved” (John 13:23). In fact, in that same passage, Peter leans over and nudges this disciple (most believe this is John who wrote Revelation) into asking Jesus a question, presumably because Peter believed Jesus would prioritize the beloved disciple’s request. We don’t know much else about their relationship from Scripture, but the implication is that this disciple invested in Jesus and held His confidence in a way the others did not.

I can’t imagine what it would be like to be “besties” with God incarnate, but I am comforted that even Jesus had earthly limits to those who entered the inmost ring of His inner circle.

We Must Plant the Seed

Of course, this doesn’t mean that we don’t make efforts to include as many friends as possible in our sphere when the Lord drops opportunities for group gatherings in our laps. A few years ago, another mom from my homeschool co-op invited Della, Evy, and Nola to her house for a summer Bible study. It was only a few weeks long, but my girls enjoyed it so much that a tiny seed of an idea began to sprout in my mind. What if I were to invite certain capable moms to host a rotating schedule of get-togethers for our network of sweet daughter-friends? We could each choose the activity for our hosting day, provide a few snacks, and then sit and “visit” (as we Texans call it) while the girls chattered and played. The first two mamas I asked to cohost said yes, and, just like that, Grace Girls was born.

Little did I know that this simple idea would effortlessly blossom (truly, the easiest thing I have ever organized) into a full-fledged bimonthly meetup, complete with activities ranging from cake decorating and archery to shuffle dancing and scherenschnitte (a German cut-paper craft), and so much more. We now have up to fifteen moms who participate and as many as thirty girls—ages three through twenty—who attend. Most of the moms are at least a decade older than I am, but there are several who are younger as well, and the mix of ages, personalities, numbers of children, years of experience, and talents is my favorite!

Obviously, not every mom-friendship idea will work out as seamlessly as this one, but I do think this example illustrates something crucial to godly friendships: When God calls us to make the effort, we must obey. He alone can bring the harvest, but we must plant the seed.

Regardless of whether we achieve lifelong-friend status or simply enjoy friendship for a season, what should the guiding principles of godly mom friendships be? I asked Jennifer—whom so many call friend—for her best tips on the topic, and I’ve included them with mine (many of ours overlap), in no particular order, below:

1. Pray: Lift your friends up to the Lord (even before you have them).
2. Make the first move: Be willing to initiate (even after being rejected in the past).
3. Be hospitable: Open your home to others, whether you live in a mud hut or a mansion.
4. Skip comparison: With every mom you meet, there will always be something to make
   you feel “less than” or “more than,” so don’t even go there. It’s not a competition.
5. Open your heart to service: Be willing to give and receive help.
6. Be honest: If you see a friend in error, or she approaches you for good advice, offer gentle correction in kindness and truth. (And be willing to accept the same from others!)
7. Be generous: Share your friends and introduce them to one another; don’t be
   smothering or possessive.
8. Pursue genuine connection: We won’t be bosom buddies with everyone, and that’s
   fine. Some connections are stronger than others.
9. Practice humility: Steer clear of envy and cheer your friends on when they succeed.
10. Never gossip: Nothing kills a friendship more quickly than passing around “juicy
    morsels” behind someone’s back.
11. Do it distracted: If we wait for the perfect time to get together, we may wait forever.
    Pursue the friendship, even if kids are underfoot and it’s hard to finish a sentence.
12. Ditch toxicity: There’s a place for acknowledging the hard and seeking help and
    encouragement. But there is no place for “husband bashing” or griping about our kids.

Flipping the Narrative for Good

Although I could add any number of things (Be considerate of different parenting styles! Don’t forget about single moms! Be quick to overlook offense!), I want to address that last point specifically. We live in a culture that views mockery as an acceptable—celebrated, even!—form of social interaction. We scoff at the food other people eat, the clothes they wear, the number of children they have, the music they listen to. The list is endless, and sadly, this sneering attitude has slithered its way into even Christian homes and curled up right next to those we love most. If we, as followers of Jesus, desire to flip the narrative around husbands who are described as “another child” or kids who are “so annoying” (at best), we must be willing to draw a line in the sand with our girlfriends.

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I knew my friend’s heart. She was not asking to make a name for herself or build a monument. She wanted to help the ones Jesus called “the least of these” in Matthew 25:40 (“Whatever you did for the one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me,” NIV).

I had just returned from Kenya, where I had seen clean water transform the health of a village and provide sanitation for a school. I had seen a small clinic offering lifesaving interventions to babies. Agricultural training was helping farmers produce more crops. I had observed faith leaders’ training sessions that were helping change long-held beliefs about gender roles. It had been an amazing trip, and I had seen many interventions that were helping Kenyans overcome challenges and take advantage of opportunities. There were many right answers to her question. But I surprised myself by saying what I had begun to understand during this and other times in the developing world.

“Girls,” I said. “I would invest in girls.” She looked at me, perplexed, and I realized it was a confusing answer. But as I witnessed all the good things that had been done, I had also recognized how many times girls had stood out to me. They were the ones articulating what sanitation had meant to them and why it now gave them the opportunity to go to school. They were the ones who had come back to their village to serve as health workers. They were the ones who—given a chance—seemed to not only succeed, but also to give back to their communities.

So I started again. “There are many great organizations in the world investing in important work: clean water, access to health care, improving education, offering microloans. But in every case, it seems to me that girls are the ones who not only benefit the most from this work, but time and time again, I see them giving back. They are the ones who so often come back to their homes after receiving an education and training.”

My friend and I talked for a few more minutes and then went back to our lives. But I realized that I had just stated something that was becoming a conviction to me. Girls held the key to changing the world. This belief had grown in part from seeing how often girls were disadvantaged in the world.

I had seen little girls around the world lose their childhoods because of poverty, disease, war, displacement, and lack of protections that most of us consider fundamental. Children the world over suffer, but girls suffer even more. We often talk about gender inequality in terms of how it affects women, but little girls face double discrimination in many parts of the world as female children. Surely, these were the ones Jesus meant when he spoke of “the least of these.”

As the mother of two boys, I used to wonder why international development experts emphasized specifically helping girls. But then I began to see that from the time of their birth, in almost every way, girls suffer more than boys. They are more vulnerable, more subject to violence, less likely to receive an education, more likely to be married off at an early age, more often give birth long before their bodies are mature.

“It’s important that we empower girls,” said Rotary International’s president, Shekhar Mehta, “as we all find that more often than not, the girl is disadvantaged. We will serve all children, but our laser focus will be specially on the girl.”1 Mehta’s speech, in June 2021, signaled a shift of emphasis for the international service organization.

Here’s something I had seen clearly: Strong girls make the world stronger. When we give them opportunities, they soar—and they take those around them along. Changing the circumstances for girls is one of the best ways to change the world.

“Investing in girls is one of the smartest things we can do to promote a healthier, more prosperous world. More importantly, it’s the right thing to do. Every girl has the right to be in charge of her future and her fate, and we have the collective obligation to protect her rights and promote her wellbeing,” according to the UN Foundation.2

The World Bank sees educating girls as one of the best ways to lift countries out of poverty. It seems amazing that this sophisticated institution analyzing economic trends has concluded that simply educating girls can be one of the most powerful and world-changing investments. A recent World Bank study estimates that the “limited educational opportunities for girls, and barriers to completing 12 years of education, cost countries between US $15 trillion and $30 trillion in lost lifetime productivity and earnings.” All these factors combined can help lift households, communities, and countries out of poverty.3

When the Nike Foundation began to look for the best ways to solve the global poverty issue, they discovered that girls were the key. Talking about girls who reach adolescence, the foundation president, Maria Eitel, said, “We realized to solve poverty, we’d have to get to her before she arrived at that intersection; we had to figure out how to get her on the first path. And if we could do that, it wouldn’t just be an investment in her, but an investment in everyone around her.”4 Because of those findings, the foundation launched The Girl Effect campaign.5 “The one thing that never changes is girls’ potential,” said Eitel. “Wherever you are, whatever the context, girls prove that they have the potential to rebuild their families, communities, and countries.”6

Girls are the leverage point for the world’s future. Simply put, interventions and opportunities offered to girls help create long-term solutions and avoid long-term problems. Because my granddaughter has been vaccinated, she won’t be debilitated by polio, diphtheria, measles, or other diseases that could derail her life and drain her family financially. Already in preschool, she will happily continue her schooling as long as she wants and use her education to contribute to society. Because laws protect her and her family loves her, she will enjoy her childhood and have a better chance of becoming a well-adjusted adult. If she chooses, she will marry and have children of her own. The investments made in Evie’s childhood offer proven rewards in the future for her, her family, and the society in which she will contribute. And such is the case for other girls in the world. Contributing to health, education, clean water, safety, legal protections, and other measures for girls isn’t just right, it’s smart. What we invest in girls today will reap rewards for the entire world in the future.

1. Shekhar Mehta, “Leave No Girl Behind,” speech, Rotary International virtual convention, June 2021, https://www.rotary.org/en/leave-no-girl-behind.

2. Jenni Lee, “5 Reasons Why Empowering Girls Matters,” Girls and Women (blog), United Nations Foundation, October 7, 2015, https://unfoundation.org/blog/post/5-reasons-why-empowering-girls-matters/.

3. “Girls’ Education,” World Bank, last updated February 10, 2022, https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/girlseducation.

4. Maria Eitel, “The Nike Foundation on Unleashing the ‘Girl Effect,’” interview by Rahim Kanani, HuffPost, April 20, 2011, https://www.huffpost.com/entry/nike-foundation-girl-effect_b_850551.

5. The Girl Effect is now an independent nonprofit organization. To learn more, see https://www.girleffect.org/.

6. Eitel, “Nike Foundation.”

Adapted from Strong Girls, Strong World: A Practical Guide to Helping Them Soar—and Creating a Better Future for Us All by Dale Hanson Bourke. Copyright © 2023. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a division of Tyndale House Ministries. All rights reserved.

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My whole childhood, I grew up having to carry burdens that were never mine to carry. Having to fight battles that were never mine to fight. Having to be tough skinned and strong, when in all reality, I was just a kid. I was raised by a single father, with my one younger brother. My mother left when I was five, but that’s a story for another day. I was not raised in church, but I had a strong father that even though at the time he did not know the Lord, raised us to be kind, thoughtful, hard working and generous.

I lived a good part of my childhood in the “bible belt”. I saw churches on every street. Knowing my friends during the summers would go off to church camp, but I was never a part of any of this. And to be completely honest, I didn’t care much because I just simply didn’t know what I didn’t have. It wasn’t until I was seventeen years old, I was invited to come to church on a Wednesday night to a youth group. I was living in Destin, Florida, no family, rebellious, difficult and living on a friends couch in their flea-infested basement. No one cared where I went, when I got in, who I was with, or what I was doing. So, to say the least, I walked into that youth group desperate and not knowing what for. It was the first time I had ever heard the message of Jesus. It still brings me to tears thinking about that moment, because I was so alone and lost. He filled me with a love that I didn’t know existed. He rescued me from the literal pit I was living in and turned my whole life upside down. Which in all actuality was now right side up.

I’ll share the details in posts to come, of how He restored and healed me. How He saved and restored my family. How He broke generational curses, and delivered me from bondage I was so accustomed to living in. How He showed me the power of His love and of His Holy Spirit. I simply cannot live without Him, because I still so vividly remember my life without Him. I am PASSIONATE about sisterhood. Doing life together, and loving each other through our highs and lows. Leaving the fear of the ninety-nine and reaching out for the one. Walking in the supernatural power of His Holy Spirit, so that others can see that He is real and alive. I don’t have it all together, but He does. And I trust Him. I want to encourage you today, dear sister. Who is the rebellious, difficult, lonely and hurting one around you? No one would have ever guessed that I was walking into that youth group with the background that I had, but I am forever grateful that someone reached out anyways and simply just, INVITED ME IN. All it takes is you opening up your life, laying yourself aside and being Jesus to the ones He has placed around you.

We have a MISSION to tear down the boundaries, the facade of perfection, the fear of man, and walk in the power of His love for a dying and lost world. Ask Him, I dare you, to break your heart for what breaks His heart, and it will cause you to stop thinking about you, and to see through HIS eyes. To take the focus off of yourself and see that there is a mission He has for you today. I’m glad a sister said yes to the mission of me on that summer day of 2005. Who would have guessed that little ole me, would one day be writing and ministering to some many others, telling them about what Jesus did that day in a little youth service. For the past year, the Lord began to birth in my heart, Simple Sisterhood. It is not just to share my story, but the stories and tools of the sisters around me. The Titus women who have recipes and testimonies that we need not only for ourselves, but for our children. The single mom who has the strength of ten, and words of wisdom that came with a price we all need to glean from. Or the teenager, who if just given a bit of time and patience, can fill us with words of passion that encourages us to keep praying for a young generation. Sister, we need each other. It’s not nearly as complicated as we make it. So let’s shake off yesterday, take a deep breath, and link up arms. Welcome to sisterhood.

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