{exhaustion & the love of friends}

{ex·haus·tion} --last night i finally admitted that after a few weeks of running ragged doing many things that i love, i had hit an entirely new level of this word and found that satan, unfortunately for me, loves to prey on me when i'm at this point.  thankfully though, the peak of this experience came at a time where i was surrounded by some amazing women that God has placed in my life.  women who love me even when i'm in a low valley.  women who have seen me cry more times than i'd like to admit and don't get angry with me when i randomly interrupt our study because for some strange reason the water works decided to turn on right then and there, as much as i tried to fight them. 

these amazing women speak truth into my life, lift me up with amazing words of encouragement, and fill me with wisdom that i'm convinced, if it was not for this little community of friends, i don't think i would receive in the way that i do.  a way that is so close knit to my heart, and i'm completely convinced it's exactly what the Lord knows i need to hear. 

i call these wonderful group of women my "lifegroup" not only because that's the coined phrase of our church, because let's face it... we flat out face life together...

the good, the bad, and the ugly.

all this to say, today i stand more convinced that community with people is of the utmost importance in this life.  loving them and being loved in return is one of the greatest gifts i've received in my life thus far.  if you aren't in a community of friends, make sure you get in one now.  yes sometimes it's scary to be open and vulnerable, but that's where true life and love happens.

i was encouraged by this little chart of scripture that backs up this idea...

 Our task, given specifically by Jesus, is to

"love one another", which we do when we..

-build each other up ( 1 Thessalonians 5:11; Hebrews 3:13)

-look out for each others' best interest ( Philippians 2:4)

-bear one another's burdens ( Galatians 6:2)

-are kind to each other ( 1 Peter 4:9)

-honor and respect one another ( Romans 12:10)

-serve each other ( Galatians 5:13)

-admonish each other ( Colossians 3:16; Romans 15:14)

-confess your sins to each other ( James 5:16)

-forgive each other ( Ephesians 4:32)

-think of one another ( Hebrews 10:24)

-do not judge each other ( Romans 15:13)

-accept each other ( Romans 14:1, 15:7)

-do not stand in each other's way ( Romans 15:13)

-regard each other as more important than oneself (Philippians 2:3)

{happy.tuesday}

aw