4: A group of amazing, encouraging, godly friends...

I feel like some Christians live more by rules than relationship. You know those people that can pinpoint what you shouldn't be doing, saying, listening to but don't seem to have a real passion for their Savior?

I have been incredibly blessed, growing up, to have a group of amazing, encouraging, godly friends. They truly are beautiful women, and I wouldn't be who I am today if it weren't for them.

We all come from different churches. We have different styles of worship. Some of us wear skirts to church, some wear pants, some wear jeans. Some have been in the same church their whole lives, some have struggled to find the Christian environment that is right for them. Some of us go to churches that would labeled as ultra-conservative, some go to more contemporary places of worship. Some of our churches have praise bands with drums and praise songs, while other churches have a traditional choir with hymns. Some of us may lift our hands in worship, while others bow their heads. But the message is the same. The love and joy and forgiveness and encouragement that we find in Christ is all the same!

I am so encouraged by the passion these girls show for Jesus. It has become evident, especially more recently, that they all have a heart for the Lord. We all share a realization of Jesus as our Savior and Friend. We all acknowledge and desire the Biblical plan for marriage; we aim to be Proverbs 31 wives - and we talk about this, encourage one another in this, and celebrate this desire. At lingerie parties, we openly discuss God's plan for sex and His desire for husbands and wives. We discuss our favorite Karen Kingsbury stories or share advice and encouragement through our favorite non-Fiction books (Beth Moore, Dave Ramsey, Intended for Pleasure, Love & Respect). We have coffee house discussions about which disciples we relate to the most and we bask in the realization of God's plan in our lives.

I pray for these girls. And I thank God for them. I hope they do the same for me!