Who is in your circle?

"Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let
us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
Hebrews 10:25

Pastor's message this morning offered a powerful reminder and challenge - who do you share "the things that matter" with? When you are diagnosed with a life threatening disease ~ who do you call? When you are so sad you don't have the strength to get out of bed ~ who do you call? When your only sister is kidnapped, who do you call?

In this day of social media, there are ample opportunities to get "connected", "be friends", or have a "circle" of friends at your fingertips. If you have a phone or electronic device, you don't even need to be home because you can access your "contact list" via a Wi-Fi or 3G or 4G network. BUT this isn't the type of circle of friends I am talking about.

Who holds you when you cry? Who drives  you to the doctors? Who lifts you up on the most difficult of days? Who do you trust to share your innermost thoughts, fears, hopes, and love with?

I'm thankful for a contact list on speed dial in my phone. I'm blessed with family and friends that I can call on at any given time to bear my heart with. Sometimes to share joys and others stress but God has placed people in my life for it all. This isn't always an easy task with life pulling us in so many different directions but no one said relationships are easy.

My challenge to you this week, ask yourself the questions above (in blue). Do you have someone to call or do you have a hundred people or so to click "like" or leave a comment? Friends can be found online but a loving and healthy friendship can't.

Please don't misunderstand my message today.
I thank God daily for those of you I've met online.

You are an encouragement and
blessing. I look forward to our conversations online,
the comments shared, and all the "likes".
Yet at the same time, we need our intimate "circle of friends".

Continue to make new connections online but remember to cherish the friends within the reach of your hands and hearts.