In this series, we will attempt to reclaim the sacredness of friendship. We will begin by developing a sound definition of friendship. Then, we will reflect on some godly wisdom as it relates to friendship. After that, we will examine godly examples of friendship, examine our own motives in the relationships that we pursue, learn the difference between subjects and objects, and, finally, we will talk about the importance of boundaries and how to manage the territory that lies between friendship and romance.
We need companions on our spiritual journey. In this inviting guide, David G. Benner introduces readers to the riches of spiritual friendship and direction, explaining what they are and how they are practiced. Through prayerful, guided attunement to God's activity, sacred companions provide care for the soul, and Benner models the kind of traveling companion who can move us toward deeper intimacy with God.
God made you for friendship. Friendship is one of the deepest pleasures of life. But in our busy, fast-paced, mobile world, we've lost this rich view of friendship and instead settled for shallow acquaintances based on little more than similar tastes or shared interests. Helping us recapture a vision of true friendship, pastor Drew Hunter explores God's design for friendship and what it really looks like in practice—giving us practical advice to cultivate the kinds of true friendships that lead to true and life-giving joy.
In Walking Together: Discovering the Catholic Tradition of Spiritual Friendship, author, journalist, and speaker Mary DeTurris Poust examines rich and nurturing examples of spiritual friendship from well-known saints, writers, and spiritual Catholic leaders who serve as exemplars for cultivating meaningful Catholic friendship in a world of Twitter and Facebook. Addressing a growing modern hunger for deep soul friendships, popular Catholic New York columnist and Our Sunday Visitor blogger Mary DeTurris Poust looks honestly but hopefully at today's culture, where people feel increasingly isolated despite the advent of myriad gadgets designed to keep them “connected.” In ten practical chapters, Poust explores issues such as commitment and acceptance, the virtues that make for a lasting friendship, the importance of listening, open communication, and praying together. Readers will find here the guidance and encouragement to take the next step in developing spiritual friendships in their lives, one of the basic necessities of spiritual life. Poust profiles inspiring spiritual friendships from the past such as St. Francis of Assisi and St. Clare, and St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane de Chantal. She also examines famous contemporary friendships, like those between C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien or Thomas Merton and famous Zen master D. T. Suzuki. Each chapter concludes with “Food for Thought” reflection questions and a prayerful meditation.
Are you lonely? Do you struggle to find the real friends you long for? Here is your invitation to build lasting friendship through meaningful and intentional practices that anyone can do. The older we get, the less we find ourselves spending time in the company of good friends. Organic friendship becomes nearly impossible—after all, there are all sorts of obligations tugging at our attention. Or we find ourselves getting frustrated with shallow, draining conversations. Or, most painful of all, we feel like no one wants us—and who wants to be rejected? If you have found yourself desperately wanting connection but confused about why you are not experiencing it, you are not alone. And you don’t have to stay there. As Christian women, our faith calls us to support one another on the path of growing as a follower of Jesus—a call that will connect us, create a solid foundation for trust, and bind us together in Jesus’ love, no matter what struggles we face on the road of friendship. Together Is a Beautiful Place offers practical habits that are sustainable, deep, and valuable. You will identify what makes a godly, lasting friendship; tackle lies and false expectations about what it takes to build lasting friendship; and learn to tackle the barriers to friendship and invite healthy friendship rhythms. You will find that it is possible to grow healthy friendships, starting now.
God designed us to be in relationship with others. When handled well, friendship among girls can be one of the most valuable and rewarding parts of their lives, laying the foundation for healthy friendships as adults. These early interactions shape the way girls view themselves and others and will continue to influence them throughout their lives, positively or negatively. The devotions in 100 Daily Acts of Friendship for Girls will allow girls to explore the rewards and challenges of building quality friendships both now and in the future. Also included are 50 sidebars with activities that provide practical ideas for creating and sustaining strong friendships.
This is the 5-pack bundle of the Friendship Book. "Make new friends but keep the old; one is silver and the other gold." Perhaps you remember singing that song as a child. Friendships are indeed valuable, but sadly, some friendships are toxic. This 96-page Friendship book is packed with advice on friendship, including how to be a good friend, how to make new friends, how to spot the warning signs of unhealthy relationships (including codependency), and more. Discover God's heart on friendship and enjoy having Bible-based advice on how to build lasting, fulfilling, and healthy friendships!
Too often our friendships with other women can be marked by drama, competition, betrayal, and unforgiveness. As women, we can cause one another deep pain, creating wounds in need of healing. But we were made for connection and healthy friendships with other women to cheer each other on and fulfill our God-breathed purpose--together. Through vulnerable personal stories laden with joy, heartache, mistakes, and lessons learned, Andi invites you on a journey of navigating the complications that can come in friendships with other women. With practical and biblical applications throughout, this book will empower you to do the work by first facing yourself and untangling the mess, then seeking reconciliation for genuine connection, and building authentic friendships, even when it's been painful or complicated in the past.
We are haunted, Samuel Kimbriel suggests, by a habit of isolation buried, often imperceptibly, within our practices of understanding and relating to the world. In this volume he works through the complexities of this disposition to contest its place within contemporary philosophical thought and practice. He focuses on the human activity of friendship. Chapters one and two examine friendship to unearth the contours of this habit towards isolation and to reveal certain ills that have long attended it. Chapters three through seven place these isolated ways of relating to the world into critical dialogue with the tradition of late-antique and early-medieval Johannine Christianity, in which intimacy and understanding go hand in hand. This tradition drew the human activities of friendship and enquiry into such unity that understanding itself became a kind of communion. Kimbriel endorses a return to an antique and particularly Christian philosophical habit - "the befriending of wisdom."
Make new friends but keep the old; one is silver and the other gold. Perhaps you remember singing that song as a child. Friendships are indeed valuable, but sadly, some friendships are toxic. Are your friendships a blessing or a burden? This book addresses the following: The difference between codependent and healthy friendships How to reach out and be a friend How selfishness sabotages friendships The value of vulnerability in friendships What about your friendships? Are they all they can be? Do you know how to be a good friend? Whether casual or committed, friendships can be among life’s sweetest relationships. Perhaps you are longing for a good friend today. Maybe it’s time to discover God’s heart on friendship.
