While living in the North I enjoyed the blessing of close friends who participated in a regular Bible study and prayer time with me.  Our weekly meetings were filled with deep conversation, vulnerability, laughter, and tears, always drawing me back to the Word, deeper into the Breather of the Word.

At times we would be more sporadic in our meeting times, five women juggling families, vocations, ministry. But always we would come back together, realizing the life-giving quality of spiritual fellowship.

Maybe I relied on them too much and not enough on the Giver of Life.

Here, in this new Southern home, I don't have that same community, that tight-knit tapestry of interwoven lives. So who do I go to when I'm in need of encouragement, a listening ear, an embrace, accountability?

I cried those questions to the One Who Answers, and His gentle, loving voice replied: "Who indeed? Am I not enough?  Am I not All-in-All?"

He is.

And so I learn to lean on Him, and not on the people-gifts He gives me. It's better this way.

*Just a couple of photos from around where we live - I've been amazed at the clouds here and wanted to share them.*