FRIENDS

I left work feeling defeated and just wanted to come home and crash on the couch with something greasy and cheesy, but made myself do otherwise. I had plans to eat dinner with the hubs and my friend (and neighbor from back home) at The Loop and then I was going to a LuLaRoe popup event at a church member's house. I wasn't particularly dreading any of these but I was really set on the idea of my couch. 

As usual, supper at The Loop was great - they never disappoint. The company was great too :) I love sitting over dinner with my husband and talking about how our day went. Now, for the LuLaRoe party, I was a little more apprehensive. It was a girls only event so I was solo. I knew the hostess and a few other people from church that said they might be there, so my anxieties were relived a little. 

Long story short: I sucked it up, went in, and had a WONDERFUL time. 

We had fun just being girls, trying on all kinds of cute stuff in different colors and patterns, and then playing 'process of elimination' to see which ones wouldn't break the bank if we bought them. As we were trying them on, I never heard a negative word come from anyone when we came out to 'model' our pieces. All of the ladies were so encouraging even if you didn't feel the most comfortable in what you had on. On my way home I was reflecting on this and thought about the power of encouragement and encouraging words. First we'll look at some scripture:

• Ephesians 4:29 says "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers."
• I Thessalonians 5:11 says "Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do."
• Hebrews 3:13 states "But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin."
• And now, for one of my favorite scriptures, Hebrews 10:24-25: "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some [is]; but exhorting [one another]: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."

I bring these up because they all talk about how we should communicate with fellow Christians. No corrupt communication, edify [which means to build up], minister, comfort, exhort, consider one another, provoke them to do good, get together and do it often. All of these descriptions are found in these five verses. My home pastor always said that if God felt the need to repeat himself then that means we should pay even more attention to it. If you think of most complications in church it's all due to communication - either in the wrong way or by having none at all. All of those words I listed earlier are relating to communication. If you are shopping with your best friend would you rather them say "you look lumpier than Aunt Shirley's mashed potatoes in that", or "that's a good color on you - let's see what other styles come in that color"? I'd rather hear the second one. The first one is pretty much saying that the outfit is too tight and you look fat. That feedback is going to set the mood for the rest of your shopping excursion. 

When we get together with our Christian sisters [and brothers], we should be provoking [urging] them to love and do good works. How often do we automatically go to what went wrong during the day? Ladies - how quick do we go to criticizing a fellow sister for what she's wearing or for that crazy article she posted on facebook? Before you stop reading - I know, I know. It hurts. We're all guilty of it. Our speech with one another should be for building one another up. How often do you leave a conversation wanting to jump in and serve the Lord even more than you already do? Let's change the way we leave one another. Let's not only encourage one another emotionally, but more importantly, encourage one another spiritually. Let's let our Lord shine through us constantly. Let's leave every interaction we have with others bring Romans 15:13 to their mind: "Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost." Something about that verse just gives me peace and makes me want to share the gospel even more so others can know of the goodness and graciousness of our Lord. It provokes me to do more. 

In conclusion, to sum up my night: new friends were made, prior acquaintances became friends, and I came home with an adorable skirt and a long wish-list of cute dresses, skirts, and shirts :)