I am Socially Awkward in Crowds

In certain seasons of my life, I have sought to have lunch or coffee with different ladies at work or at church that God has placed on my heart. I would do this sometimes once or twice a month.

The purpose of these get togethers was to be more intentional in meeting new people, making new friends, & encouraging the women I met.

I struggle with large groups. I get overwhelmed & sort of zone out when I’m surrounded by people. Having a plate of food or a drink in my hand are typically my security blankets that allow me to use the excuse that, “oh, what? No, totally not at all socially awkward here… just, ya know… I’m eating these snacks/enjoying my drink.” Haha, but I know the truth. Those were my security blankets so I wouldn’t seem as awkward & out of place as I felt.

But one-on-ones are fine for me. I love getting to know new people, especially fellow Christian women, because I can hear testimonies of how God is showing up for them in their lives or working through them. It encourages me so much in my own faith, being reminded repeatedly as to why He’s the One to Whom we look as our help through life.

What Types of Conversations Do You Want to Have?

I love getting to hear that I am indeed NOT the only one with struggles & weaknesses, getting to pray for them & encourage them, while also feeling encouraged myself. Swapping stories of God’s faithfulness in our lives.

Before these get-togethers with different ladies, I began praying something very specific before each one: “Lord, help us to honor You in our conversations. Help us in having “3E” conversations… that I help edify her (build her up), encourage her (lift her up), & exhort her (urge her forward in living life for You).”

That was my purpose & my hope in these conversations, whether it turned out that way every time or not… that was my hope going into each one.

It’s then, in the past year or so, that I coined that term of a “3E” friendship/conversation. It helped me remember why I was there.

That’s what I am really longing for & praying for in this move to Orlando, Florida.

I REALLY want to find women who are this for me, too, there.

I Want More “3E” Friendships–to Edify, Encourage, & Exhort One Another

My truest longing in a friendship is someone where, somehow the conversation always leads back to talking about how God is showing up for us, how we’re seeking Him when things get hard, how we need to pray together as we seek to live for Him in everything, even when it’s easy to forget Him.

I want to be built up in my faith, challenged graciously to grow in Him.

I want to be lifted up in life, reminded of all He is & can do for us—all He has already done.

I want to be urged forward in my life, someone who will help push me to live my life more fully for the Lord, even when distractions & busyness abound.

So, please pray for me to this end. That God prepare some beautiful 3E friendships with ladies there & some men for my husband to befriend as well.

I Have Been Blessed with Some Beautiful 3E Friendships Already in My Life

During my time on Guam, I have been blessed with friendships like these who have encouraged me, challenged me, & urged me forward. I have been so incredibly blessed by my life crossing paths with theirs. (Same in Japan.)

And that is one of the biggest prayers I have for this move, that God send me some imperfect ladies who love the Lord, who are also interested in 3E friendships.

It’s what I strive to be… long to be… in my friendships.

I’m not always perfect at it. I don’t always get it right. But deep in my heart, it’s what I always long to provide to those I hang out with… because I know how easily I can be distracted from God or start leaning more on His blessings rather than on Him as my Blessings-Giver.

I NEED reminding! I NEED to be talking about it!

I Need Reminders Always to Look to Him & Live for Him Vs. Looking to Myself or Living for Myself

If you see me wearing “Christian-y” t-shirts, it is NOT AT ALL because I am trying to be self-righteous like, “yeah, everyone, be like this… aka be like ME.” Or as if I think that wearing it somehow makes me more “Christian-y.”

NO. It’s me saying, “I am struggling to remember this today… so I thought I should wear this shirt as an extra little reminder to my heart to NOT forget it!” I am basically screaming my weakness for that day to the world on my shirt… but also showing where I know my help will come from as I seek Him.

But I need these types of friendships for that exact same reason. I forget. I numb. I get distracted. I get selfish. I get prideful. I get discouraged. I NEED truth. I NEED reminders of Him as my LORD.

I want more “3E” friendships–to edify, encourage, & exhort one another.

So I want to BE that kind of friend, because I know it’s truly the kind of friend I NEED, too.

Do You Long for These Types of Friendships & Conversations, Too?

In what ways do you live this out in your own friendships & conversations with others?

Do you have certain friends in your life that are this kind of friend to you?

I am still a work in progress on this, but for me, I pray beforehand over the conversations we will have when we get together & I try to remember to ask them how I can pray for them & take a moment to sit & pray with them. God usually does the rest in bringing things to mind & steering conversations toward remembering Him in them.

And it becomes more natural the more you work on it, too… so don’t give up if you’re not great at it right away… it’s a learning process & God will help you grow in it as you seek Him to help you in it.

So, join me. Learn & grow in having 3E friendships. That’s the kind of friend I long to be.

Shine HOPE by seeking to not just get together to chat mindlessly, but by being intentional in building up your friends, lifting up their spirits with encouragement, & by urging them on to live their life more fully for Jesus. It’s what this life is all about, after all.

“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)

***He is waiting for you… will you come?:***

***(Romans 3:23; Romans 5:8-10; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 10:9-10; John 14:6)***

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Fashion as a Force for GOOD:

Each week, I feature an item that is changing lives for women around the world. These hand-crafted pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world! Consider these pieces when shopping for friends, family, or yourself. Check out this week’s featured beauty!!

Embroidered Foliage Coin Purse, Handcrafted & Empowering Women in India Out of Poverty with Every Sale!

Create fair-paying jobs for women in India when you purchase the Embroidered Foliage Coin Purse, handmade in India! Each velvet mini zipper pouch has an adorable design featuring a floral design that has been hand embroidered with love and care.

Every purchase of the Embroidered Foliage Coin Purse creates safe jobs with fair wages for women in areas of extreme poverty in India where vulnerable women are often exploited by sweatshops and human traffickers.

***SHOP Here, OR, Email me at michellehyde.tradesofhope@gmail.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!***

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#1 is PRAY. Financial help is great & helps pay my website fees & helps support these women artisans… but God’s help is always needed most… both for encouragement & for spiritual hope, through Jesus, for the women we support through our ethical fashion purchases. Always PRAY first.

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Have a wonderful week living for His glory in all that you do!