“A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” -Proverbs 18:24

Can I give you a front porch thought this morning?

We live in a world with hundreds of followers and very few friends. We can scroll for hours and still feel alone. But Solomon reminds us that friendship is not accidental. It is intentional.

“A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly.”

If you want friends, be one.

If you want encouragement, give it.

If you want loyalty, practice it.

Friendship is not found by demanding it. It is formed by demonstrating it.

But then Solomon lifts our eyes higher.

“And there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”

That is more than a good hunting buddy.

That is more than a lifelong neighbor.

That is Jesus.

When others walk out, He walks in.

When you fail, He stays faithful.

When you feel misunderstood, He knows every thought before you speak it.

Some friendships are seasonal. Some are special.

But Jesus is steadfast.

So today, be the kind of friend you hope to have.

Send the text. Make the call. Sit at the table. Show up.

And never forget, no matter how lonely the road feels, you are never walking it alone.

There is a Friend who sticks closer than a brother.

“Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children.” -Ephesians 5:1

Let me give you a simple front porch truth this morning.

God never asks us to be something we are not. He asks us to live out who we already are.

Paul did not say, “Act like strangers trying to impress a holy God.” He said, “Be followers of God, as dear children.” That means you belong. That means you are loved. That means you are not trying to earn a seat at the table — you already have one.

Children imitate what they love.

If a little boy admires his daddy, he walks like him, talks like him, tries to wear his boots. Not because he has to. Because he wants to.

That is what Paul is saying. Walk like your Father. Forgive like your Father. Show mercy like your Father. Love like your Father.

You do not follow God to become loved.

You follow God because you are loved.

And when you remember that you are a “dear child,” it changes everything. You stop striving. You stop pretending. You simply stay close.

Stay close to the Father today.

Listen to His voice.

Watch His ways.

And take the next step behind Him.

Because children who stay near their Father never lose their way.

“Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” -Psalm 37:4

Can I give you a simple encouragement this morning?

Most people read that verse backwards. We focus on the desires part and skip over the delight part. But God never promised to fulfill a heart that isn’t first surrendered.

“Delight thyself in the Lord.”

That word delight means to take pleasure in, to lean into, to find your joy in Him. It’s the picture of a heart that says, “Lord, You are enough.” Not just what You give. Not just what You fix. Not just what You provide. But You.

When you begin to truly delight in Him—through His Word, through prayer, through quiet moments when nobody else sees—something beautiful happens. Your desires start to change. They become shaped by His heart. What you want begins to line up with what He wants.

And here’s the blessing: when your heart lines up with His, you’re not chasing fulfillment anymore—you’re walking in it.

I’ve learned this sitting on the porch with a cup of coffee and an open Bible. Peace doesn’t come from getting everything I want. It comes from wanting Him more than anything else.

So today, don’t chase the promise. Chase the Promiser.

Delight yourself in the Lord… and watch what He does with your heart.