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The Lounge / Re: Members birthdays
« Last post by Pip on April 06, 2026, 05:29:02 PM »Belated Happy Birthday to those I missed and Happy Birthday pippapoppa
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Recent Posts
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The Lounge / Re: Members birthdays
« Last post by Amanda_George on April 06, 2026, 06:21:30 AM »Happy birthday, pippapoppa!
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The Lounge / Re: Members birthdays
« Last post by Amanda_George on April 04, 2026, 07:40:52 AM »It's your turn today, amydcohen! 
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Christian / Re: Devotions
« Last post by Pip on April 03, 2026, 06:04:31 PM »https://proverbs31.org/read/devotions/full-post/2024/11/06/launching-into-the-deep?utm_campaign=Daily%20Devotions&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-99V2GUgOIotQT04WociNX6yiNh_oXh91WYe6DVA5C1Ngl17PR8jvqD9FmYhtfMsgd_Gq96WubcNRMeqNKriepmoWH1hw&_hsmi=330717806&utm_content=330717806&utm_source=hs_email#disqus_thread
Launching Into the Deep
November 6, 2024
by Jenni Lord
“... unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3 (ESV)
Relaxing by our community pool, I noticed a little girl about 8 years old climbing on her daddy’s shoulders to launch off into the deep. They’d been doing this for a few minutes in my periphery, but I felt a stirring as I stopped to take in the details. Three other children were jostling about, trying to get their turn. She paid them no attention. Her gaze was focused on her dad. From my vantage point, I saw zero hesitation and detected no fear. Pure delight radiated from her face at the special opportunity. She clearly trusted her dad. She knew how to swim. And she’d done this before. She was unfazed by others crowding around. Dad held her feet until she was steady, and then she launched with her whole body, fully committed. I wondered if part of her confidence came from knowing he was within reach. His gaze was upon her as she landed with a big splash before he turned to the next waiting child. In an instant, the scene challenged me to my core. I’d been facing a new launch of my own with trepidation. For the majority of my career, I’d been focused on one area, using familiar skills. But the Lord was calling me into a space to learn a new craft. Acquiring fresh skills demands the sacrifice of time, energy and other ventures. The prospect was uncomfortable and, frankly, daunting. My launch had stalled. Maybe you can relate. When we believe God is calling us onto a new path, it can be fraught with obstacles some of our own making. Yet as Jesus says in our key verse, “Unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3).
Maybe I’ve hesitated to climb up on the sure shoulders of a good Father who can launch me into the deep. He knows I can swim. This isn’t my first jump. We’ve done this together before. Just like the dad in the pool, He’ll hold my hands as I climb up, and He won’t let go of my feet before I’m ready. I sense His invitation to stop wading in the shallow, to instead climb up and go. When we venture into the deep, we can know God’s eye is upon us. Like that little girl, we can climb and jump. Fear can be replaced with joyful anticipation of what lies ahead for us. Isn’t that the way of His story?
Launching Into the Deep
November 6, 2024
by Jenni Lord
“... unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3 (ESV)
Relaxing by our community pool, I noticed a little girl about 8 years old climbing on her daddy’s shoulders to launch off into the deep. They’d been doing this for a few minutes in my periphery, but I felt a stirring as I stopped to take in the details. Three other children were jostling about, trying to get their turn. She paid them no attention. Her gaze was focused on her dad. From my vantage point, I saw zero hesitation and detected no fear. Pure delight radiated from her face at the special opportunity. She clearly trusted her dad. She knew how to swim. And she’d done this before. She was unfazed by others crowding around. Dad held her feet until she was steady, and then she launched with her whole body, fully committed. I wondered if part of her confidence came from knowing he was within reach. His gaze was upon her as she landed with a big splash before he turned to the next waiting child. In an instant, the scene challenged me to my core. I’d been facing a new launch of my own with trepidation. For the majority of my career, I’d been focused on one area, using familiar skills. But the Lord was calling me into a space to learn a new craft. Acquiring fresh skills demands the sacrifice of time, energy and other ventures. The prospect was uncomfortable and, frankly, daunting. My launch had stalled. Maybe you can relate. When we believe God is calling us onto a new path, it can be fraught with obstacles some of our own making. Yet as Jesus says in our key verse, “Unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3).
Maybe I’ve hesitated to climb up on the sure shoulders of a good Father who can launch me into the deep. He knows I can swim. This isn’t my first jump. We’ve done this together before. Just like the dad in the pool, He’ll hold my hands as I climb up, and He won’t let go of my feet before I’m ready. I sense His invitation to stop wading in the shallow, to instead climb up and go. When we venture into the deep, we can know God’s eye is upon us. Like that little girl, we can climb and jump. Fear can be replaced with joyful anticipation of what lies ahead for us. Isn’t that the way of His story?
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The Lounge / Re: Members birthdays
« Last post by Pip on April 03, 2026, 05:57:47 PM »
splimwad and EmmaLouise210 
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The Lounge / Re: Members birthdays
« Last post by Pip on April 01, 2026, 08:05:22 PM »Happy Birthday mathis and LemonPuff 
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The Lounge / Re: Members birthdays
« Last post by Amanda_George on April 01, 2026, 09:16:46 AM »We've got two birthday bunnies on the forum today who are prolly sick to the back teeth of people making jokes about the date so I'll keep my mouth shut and just wish mathis and also LemonPuff the best day possible today!
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Christian / Re: Devotions
« Last post by Pip on March 30, 2026, 06:08:17 PM »https://proverbs31.org/read/devotions/full-post/2024/10/31/you-are-not-alone?utm_campaign=Daily%20Devotions&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8_t4qfG9uG4qCUgfpTPquaMCujgAfqysE0TNNf4SIegLD9kmg3yCNGc9fLBiTuEjN17zTfHbj-Pi4wdWGsgNKx76TZnQ&_hsmi=329331643&utm_content=329331643&utm_source=hs_email#disqus_thread
You Are Not Alone
October 31, 2024
by Lysa TerKeurst, President and Chief Visionary Officer of Proverbs 31 Ministries
“Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.” Proverbs 27:9 (ESV)
Sometimes it can be hard to make friends. It takes time to form deep connections and build the kind of trust where a friendship feels safe and stable. If you’re struggling because of a move or a recent friendship breakup, or maybe your life circumstances have changed and created a disconnect with those you used to have more in common with, those struggles are real. I understand how that feels. Feeling left out and lonely isn’t something that’s reserved only for playground games and middle school dances. I’ve still felt that same sense of loneliness even as an adult. No matter how you feel today, I want you to let this truth, God’s Truth, surround you in a symphony of compassion and comfort: You are not alone. You may feel lonely, but you don’t have to live lonely. So what can you do?
You can refuse to isolate. It can be tempting to look at others on social media, laughing, connecting and cheering one another on, and make assumptions. It’s easy to assume they don’t struggle with loneliness. It’s easy to assume you don’t fit in or belong. It’s easy to assume the world just seems to be moving on without you. But all those assumptions will exhaust you and tempt you to isolate even more. Isolation is never a cure for your longing for real connection. I believe the most powerful cure for loneliness can be found in togetherness. Togetherness reminds us we are all so very human, united in our struggles, our laughter, our tears, our need for Jesus, and our tender care for one another. So I have a challenge for you today. Do you have a friend in your life who speaks Truth?
Listen to her. Stay connected to her. Let her lead you back to God time and time again. Because just like the breaking of bread sustains our physical bodies, breaking secrecy with trusted friends nourishes the deep places in our souls as we open up our hearts. I love what Proverbs 27:9 says: “Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.”
Togetherness is such a beautiful thing. I pray today God gives you an opportunity to pursue togetherness with safe people because chances are you’ll be a blessing to them in their lonely feelings as well.
You Are Not Alone
October 31, 2024
by Lysa TerKeurst, President and Chief Visionary Officer of Proverbs 31 Ministries
“Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.” Proverbs 27:9 (ESV)
Sometimes it can be hard to make friends. It takes time to form deep connections and build the kind of trust where a friendship feels safe and stable. If you’re struggling because of a move or a recent friendship breakup, or maybe your life circumstances have changed and created a disconnect with those you used to have more in common with, those struggles are real. I understand how that feels. Feeling left out and lonely isn’t something that’s reserved only for playground games and middle school dances. I’ve still felt that same sense of loneliness even as an adult. No matter how you feel today, I want you to let this truth, God’s Truth, surround you in a symphony of compassion and comfort: You are not alone. You may feel lonely, but you don’t have to live lonely. So what can you do?
You can refuse to isolate. It can be tempting to look at others on social media, laughing, connecting and cheering one another on, and make assumptions. It’s easy to assume they don’t struggle with loneliness. It’s easy to assume you don’t fit in or belong. It’s easy to assume the world just seems to be moving on without you. But all those assumptions will exhaust you and tempt you to isolate even more. Isolation is never a cure for your longing for real connection. I believe the most powerful cure for loneliness can be found in togetherness. Togetherness reminds us we are all so very human, united in our struggles, our laughter, our tears, our need for Jesus, and our tender care for one another. So I have a challenge for you today. Do you have a friend in your life who speaks Truth?
Listen to her. Stay connected to her. Let her lead you back to God time and time again. Because just like the breaking of bread sustains our physical bodies, breaking secrecy with trusted friends nourishes the deep places in our souls as we open up our hearts. I love what Proverbs 27:9 says: “Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.”
Togetherness is such a beautiful thing. I pray today God gives you an opportunity to pursue togetherness with safe people because chances are you’ll be a blessing to them in their lonely feelings as well.
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The Lounge / Re: Members birthdays
« Last post by Pip on March 30, 2026, 06:00:06 PM »Happy Birthday tarle1976