I think sometimes that we minimize, unintentionally perhaps, the authority that Christ has given us over hardships and evil. As Christians, we know that we have the Holy Spirit living within us. Scripturally, Jesus says multiple times that He has given us authority.

“I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.” (Luke 10:19)

“When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” (Luke 9:1-2)

It’s important to remember that healing and driving out demons isn’t our own power or authority; it is the authority the Lord has given us. We must pray in Jesus’ name. One article I read states: Praying in Jesus’ name means praying with His authority and asking God the Father to act upon our prayers because we come in the name of His Son, Jesus. Praying in Jesus’ name means the same thing as praying according to the will of God. Praying in Jesus’ name is praying for things that will honor and glorify Jesus.

The key to exercising this authority is faith. We need to believe wholeheartedly and beyond a shadow of a doubt that God has the power to work through us – even in that very moment – to heal or to drive out demons. Matthew 9 speaks of a woman who had bled for 12 years and touched Jesus’ garment because she had such faith that she would be healed. “Jesus turned and saw her. ‘Take heart, daughter,’ he said, “your faith has healed you.’ And the woman was healed at that moment.” – Matthew 9:22

Later in Matthew, a father took his demon-possessed child to Jesus’ disciples, who could not heal the boy. The father then went to Jesus, who healed his child. When the disciples asked Jesus why they could not heal the little boy, Jesus replied it was because of their lack of faith.
We have the Holy Spirit living within us. We need to live like it. We need to live and pray courageously and exercise this authority by faith – not let fear or doubt hold us back. We need to walk in power and on fire for God, not as if this spiritual authority Christ has granted us is worthless.

We are raised up with Christ and seated in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6. Colossians 2:12) and we are strengthened with all might according to His glorious power (Colossians 1:11). One thing that makes me sad is seeing my fellow believers live like dormant believers, or live without a fire in the belly. This is super exciting and powerful stuff – the Lord is so good and wants to work so powerfully through us – I hope this is encouragement to you… Let Him!

Erin Culleny serves as a Marketing Assistant and Staff Writer. She had served on Summer Staff since 2011, and this past summer had the unique opportunity of co-directing Children’s Ministry with one of her best friends. She is very excited to continue to build relationships with the guests and be very involved in the ministry.

Do you remember the song from the late 70’s made popular by Debby Boone?  In 1977, it set a record for that time for holding the #1 spot on the Billboard music charts for ten consecutive weeks.

I was listening to Pandora radio the other day and as the song came on, I remember how, as pretty as the song is, there’s one line that always made me cringe and still does.

“It can’t be wrong,
When it feels so right.
‘Cause you…
You light up my… Life”

You’ve probably already figured this out, but just because something feels right, doesn’t mean it is. More times than not, going by what feels right or feels good will get us into a lot of trouble. 2 Corinthians 5:7 tells us, “…we walk by faith, not by sight.” Or rather, we walk by faith, not by what our human senses tell us. Not by what we see, or what we hear, or what we feel.

In fact, faith is more often based on what we do not see than what we can see or experience in the physical realm. Hebrews 11: tells us, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Proverbs 3:5-6, a very familiar passage, says: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”

One of the most important skills we can learn in the Christian life is to trust God when what He says does not match our feelings. Our feelings can, and often do, lead us astray. He never will.  He is faithful and true. According to Revelation 19:11, that is even one of His names: “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.” And in John 14:6, “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’ “John 8:12, When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

I would so much rather trust in the One who IS Truth and Light than in myself.

How about you?  Who or what are you trusting in today – your feelings, or Truth?
Ruth

Ruth Schmidt is on full-time staff at America’s Keswick, and grateful to be a daughter of the King.

Last week-end my husband and I had a date night.  He invited me to go to the movies with him.  We rarely go to the movies for a number of reasons, but I am so glad we went to see the newly released movie, “Risen”.

The story of Christ’s resurrection is told by a Roman Tribune named Clavious.  He is a man who is serving Rome and works directly under Pilate.  His world is filled with death and bloodshed.  He has been given the impossible assignment, to guard and secure the tomb where Christ is buried.  When the body of Jesus is missing, an unhappy Pilot then gives the Tribune the assignment to locate the body of Jesus.  Much of the story can be supported by the scripture, other parts cannot but is nevertheless true to the fact that Jesus rose from the dead.

I walked away thinking how challenging it was not only to live in such a time but to embrace something so foreign as a dead person coming to life, for a Jew never mind a Roman.  It was hard for the followers of Jesus to receive this truth, and Jesus had prepared them for His resurrection.

Luke 24:1-8 (NASB) 1But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men suddenly stood near them in dazzling clothing; 5 and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living One among the dead? 6 He is not here, but He has risen. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee, 7 saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.” 8 And they remembered His words,……

I am sure when Jesus said He would rise again on the third day they did not fully perceive the reality they were living.

The truth is Jesus fulfilled ALL things that were written about His coming:

Luke 24:44 (NASB)  Now He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”

Then…for the word goes on to say in Luke 24:45…..  Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures….

He goes on as recorded in verses 46-49……
46 and He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

May you and I be overwhelmed by the TRUTH of the resurrection of Jesus.  During this season of celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus let us pray that He would open our minds to fully understand the Scriptures and to be clothed with power from on high.  That we might go forth and be His witnesses where God has planted us.

Be blessed this Resurrection Day,
Patricia Wenzel
WOC Graduate

Growing up, I knew that Good Friday was the day Jesus died on the cross. The “good” part had me perplexed. Why do we call it “good?” It would be years until that question was answered. The Spirit of God answered it when He opened my eyes and heart to Who He was. That answered the “why.”

Good Friday is so incredibly GOOD! It’s the day we remember that Jesus took all the sin and guilt we deserve the penalty for (death) on Himself. It is finished. There is nothing that I need to do or could do to be made right with God. Only the blood of Jesus could take care of that, because of His sinless perfection, being fully God and fully man only He could wash away my sin. Good? Oh yes, it is very Good. Does it get any better than that? Yes, three days later He got up!

But wait – let’s not jump over that day and rush into Sunday. Yes, Sunday is coming, but first it was Good Friday. Let’s stay at the cross a while; look up, can you see His precious face? Look around can you, see His mother, can you hear her silent internal scream or imagine her racing to tend her son’s bloody body. Let’s stay there with her for a while. It’s good for us.

May God reveal His goodness to you today on this “Good” Friday.

Dina

Dina Seaton serves in Partner Care at America’s Keswick. She came to Christ in 2000 when Jesus changed her life and her eternity. Other than being called a child of God, her greatest joy is to be called ‘Mom.’ Dina has one adult son (he is the best!) who currently lives in the beautiful Great North West. She gets there as often as possible which is never often enough!

Yesterday I presented you with information from an article I read a few years ago in reference to Jesus’ words as recorded by Matthew in chapter 27:46 “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken Me?”  I have challenged you to consider that Jesus may have been referencing all of Psalm 22 as it was the custom in the times of Jesus for the Jewish people to say just a few words from a chapter to reference the entire chapter.  This literary device was called remez.

Today let us read and consider the rest of Psalm 22: 22-30.

22 I will declare Your name to My brethren;
In the midst of the assembly I will praise You.
23 You who fear the LORD, praise Him!
All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him,
And fear Him, all you offspring of Israel!
24 For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted;
Nor has He hidden His face from Him;
But when He cried to Him, He heard.
25 My praise shall be of You in the great assembly;
I will pay My vows before those who fear Him.
26 The poor shall eat and be satisfied;
Those who seek Him will praise the LORD.
Let your heart live forever!
27 All the ends of the world
Shall remember and turn to the LORD,
And all the families of the nations
Shall worship before You.
28 For the kingdom is the LORD’s,
And He rules over the nations.
29 All the prosperous of the earth
Shall eat and worship;
All those who go down to the dust
Shall bow before Him,
Even he who cannot keep himself alive.
30 A posterity shall serve Him.
It will be recounted of the Lord to the next generation,
31 They will come and declare His righteousness to a people who will be born,
That He has done this.

Psalm 22 is David’s Psalm prophesying Jesus’ death on the Cross.  When Jesus said “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken Me”, in a likely faint, weakened voice, was He speaking for the benefit of you and me?  Was Matthew prompted by the Holy Spirit to record it for future generations?  Was Jesus making a point that He is the fulfillment of Psalm 22 in its entirety?

Perhaps Jesus was not acknowledging any notions of abandonment by the Lord, but rather the Psalmists’ hope and trust in God’s ultimate deliverance and victory in the midst of the suffering.  God allowed His Son to fall into the hands of His enemies so as to accomplish His purpose.

A debt was paid that we could never have paid.  Because of His perfect sacrifice we can live.  Our Lord will never leave us or forsake us (Deut. 31:6).  Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Patricia Wenzel
WOC Graduate
Information from: A Passion Week Reflection #312 from PBT – “Forsaken or Abandoned?
by Doug Greenwold, 2012, preservingbibletimes.org

A few years ago a friend of mine gave me a paper to read titled “Forsaken or Abandoned?” by Doug Greenwold of Preserving Bible Times or PBT.  Today I would like to share a small portion of what the article presented for your consideration.

When I was a little girl I remember asking why did God the Father forsake His Son when He was on the cross.  The answer, no matter whom I asked, was always the same.  The Father had to turn away because Jesus was carrying all of our sins for all time.  I accepted the answer but honestly, I was troubled by it though I never dared to ask more.  In my heart I would say, but God……How can I trust that You will never leave me or forsake me if You turned your eyes from your Son?  I guess God heard me, and although it has been some time since I asked the question, He has provided an answer.  I share it with you for your consideration, assuming you may have asked the same question.

The article I reference noted that it is important to approach these final words of Jesus not with our 21st century mind set, but with a first century Hebrew mind set.  Matthew reports in chapter 27 verse 46 that Jesus said, “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken Me?”  Jesus is quoting from Psalm 22.  At the time of Christ, Psalm 22 was very well known.  Observant young Jewish men memorized the Bible in preparation for their Bar Mitzvahs.  They would have understood those nine words of Jesus as a remez.  Remez is a Semitic word meaning “hint.”  Dr. Randall Smith of a ministry called Preserving Bible Times, defines a remez as, “any portion of a portion is a whole portion”.  In other words when Jesus said those nine words he was referencing all of Psalm 22.  Remez was a common literary device used by the Jewish people.

Therefore let us let us take a look at Psalm 22.  Today please read and consider verses1-21.

1My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?
Why are You so far from helping Me,
And from the words of My groaning?
2 O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear;
And in the night season, and am not silent.
3 But You are holy,
Enthroned in the praises of Israel.
4 Our fathers trusted in You;
They trusted, and You delivered them.
5 They cried to You, and were delivered;
They trusted in You, and were not ashamed.
6 But I am a worm, and no man;
A reproach of men, and despised by the people.
7 All those who see Me ridicule Me;
They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
8 “He trusted in the LORD, let Him rescue Him;
Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!”
9 But You are He who took Me out of the womb;
You made Me trust while on My mother’s breasts.
10 I was cast upon You from birth.
From My mother’s womb
You have been My God.
11 Be not far from Me,
For trouble is near;
For there is none to help.
12 Many bulls have surrounded Me;
Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled Me.
13 They gape at Me with their mouths,
Like a raging and roaring lion.
14 I am poured out like water,
And all My bones are out of joint;
My heart is like wax;
It has melted within Me.
15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd,
And My tongue clings to My jaws;
You have brought Me to the dust of death.
16 For dogs have surrounded Me;
The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me.
They pierced My hands and My feet;
17 I can count all My bones.
They look and stare at Me.
18 They divide My garments among them,
And for My clothing they cast lots.
19 But You, O LORD, do not be far from Me;
O My Strength, hasten to help Me!
20 Deliver Me from the sword,
My precious life from the power of the dog.
21 Save Me from the lion’s mouth
And from the horns of the wild oxen!
You have answered Me.

To be continued tomorrow……….
Patricia Wenzel
WOC Graduate

Information above from: A Passion Week Reflection #312 from PBT – “Forsaken or Abandoned?” by Doug Greenwold, 2012, preservingbibletimes.org

Control Freak.

I’ve heard those words before.  I have heard them to describe others. I have heard them to describe me.

Before we offhandedly pooh-pooh the thought, let’s stop and think a little deeper about what heart or motivation lies beyond the desire to be in control.

Why do we want to be in control?
1.    We want to navigate things to a desired outcome.
2.    We want to prevent certain things from occurring.
3.    We have a goal and we are going to do our best to achieve that goal.
4.    We think we know best.  Think about it.  When I want to control a situation, I am trying to guide the situation to a desired end, MY desired end.  I have put MY purpose, MY plan above GOD’S purpose, GOD’S plan.
5.    Could it be that the inordinate desire to control our surroundings, our circumstances, and often people in our life is because we are trying to avoid the suffering that we perceive may result if our goal is not met?
6.    Could it be that we desire control because we don’t trust God to navigate our situation to our desired end.  We believe we know better than God.  We trust ourselves more than we trust God.
7.    Isn’t inordinate desire for control a form of unbelief?
8.    Could the need to be in control ultimately be rooted in a fear of suffering? If I control my circumstances/situation and the people around me, I will navigate around the painful things to alleviate or minimize suffering in my life.

Perhaps this strikes a chord with you.  I know it does for me. I never thought of it like that.   I hope considering these things will cause us both to think more deeply about the root of what is motivating us when we desire and demand control.  Perhaps we need to ask ourselves, “What am I afraid will happen if this does not go the way I want?” And the follow up question, “Will I trust God even then?”

We are called regularly through Scripture to trust God, trust His plan, His purpose and His ways.  Why do we wrestle so with that?

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

Blessings,
Diane

Diane Hunt served for 16 years on the staff of America’s Keswick until recently when she and her husband relocated to North Carolina. She now continues serving as a contributing writer and Partner Care consultant. Diane is also a Biblical Counselor, speaker, teacher, and author. She delights in the opportunities she has as a women’s conference and retreat speaker to share from God’s word.  Many of her illustrations are drawn from her relational experiences as a wife, mother, and mema. They are the very relationships that bring her the greatest joy and the most fun!

I used to say I loved God before I even knew Him because even as a child I knew it was what I was supposed to do.  But since God rescued me from my sin and gave me new life in Jesus Christ, I really can say I love God.  They are no longer just words.

One morning, as I was reading my Bible, I paused a moment to meditate on the vastness and the presence of God. As a sense of peace and comfort washed over my soul I said, “I love you, Lord.”
I believe the Lord spoke to my heart with this thought: “Is that in theory or in practice?” I sat stunned by the thought.  The question rolled around in my head, “do I love God in theory or in practice?”

Loving God is not just a sense of peace and comfort, it is action.

“You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,” Luke 10:27

What does it look like to love God with all my strength?  The implication I believe is clear. Loving God results in action.

If you love Me, keep My commandments….He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me…Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word…  John 14:15, 21, 23 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. 1 John 5:3

Keeping God’s commandments and keeping His word are active.

If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also. 1 John 4:20-21

Do I love God by loving my brothers and sisters in Christ? And my enemies? But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven… Matthew 5:44

If I love God in theory then it is no love at all for it has not been ‘proven’ through my action.  Proven in the sense of “to test the truth, validity, or genuineness of.”

True, genuine, rich love of God overflows with a life of obedience and action. That sister, is loving God in practice.

I trust that will give you cause to ponder today, “Do I love God in theory or in practice?”

Blessings,
Diane

Diane Hunt served for 16 years on the staff of America’s Keswick until recently when she and her husband relocated to North Carolina. She now continues serving as a contributing writer and Partner Care consultant. Diane is also a Biblical Counselor, speaker, teacher, and author. She delights in the opportunities she has as a women’s conference and retreat speaker to share from God’s word.  Many of her illustrations are drawn from her relational experiences as a wife, mother, and mema. They are the very relationships that bring her the greatest joy and the most fun!

iMerriam-webster.com/proven

As the Israelites were posed to enter the Promised Land, the Lord instructed Moses to send 12 men in to spy out the land.  And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel; from each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a leader among them.” Numbers 13:1-2

So they went up and spied out the land…And they returned from spying out the land after forty days. Numbers 13:21, 25 They returned and reported to Moses: …they brought back word to them and to all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land.  Then they told him, and said: “We went to the land where you sent us. It truly flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. Nevertheless the people who dwell in the land are strong; the cities are fortified and very large; moreover we saw the descendants of Anak there. The Amalekites dwell in the land of the South; the Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the mountains; and the Canaanites dwell by the sea and along the banks of the Jordan.” Numbers 13:26-29

… “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we.” And they gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, “The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature. There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.” Numbers 13:31-33

Nevertheless… as we read the entire account we see that of the twelve men sent to spy out the land, ten of them returned with a fearful report based only on what they saw. Although the land flowed with milk and honey (just as God promised) their focus was on all the hurdles saw.
They saw the descendants of Anak…all the people they saw were men of great stature…they saw giants…they were like grasshoppers in their own sight. Their report was based on what they saw.

If you know the events recorded in Numbers you already know that two of the twelve spies (Joshua and Caleb) went into Canaan along with the other ten, saw the same things the others saw but returned with an entirely different report for the people.

Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.” Numbers 13:30

But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes; and they spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying: “The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. If the LORD delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, ‘a land which flows with milk and honey.’ Only do not rebel against the LORD, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the LORD is with us. Do not fear them.” Numbers 14:6-9

Caleb and Joshua were men of faith, believing God would do as He promised – that He would give Israel the land. “Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel;” Numbers 13:2.  God was keeping a promise He made to their ancestor, Abraham.  That was their focus – what God promised, what they believed, what they knew — not what they saw.

I know this is a bit longer than my typical Victory Call but I need to set the scene leading to these questions for you: As you meditate on these excerpts from Numbers, where is your focus today?  Are you more focused on what you see or on what God has promised?  That begs the question, how well do you know God’s promises?

May God bless your pursuit of Him.

Already blessed.
Diane

Diane Hunt served for 16 years on the staff of America’s Keswick until recently when she and her husband relocated to North Carolina. She now continues serving as a contributing writer and Partner Care consultant. Diane is also a Biblical Counselor, speaker, teacher, and author. She delights in the opportunities she has as a women’s conference and retreat speaker to share from God’s word.  Many of her illustrations are drawn from her relational experiences as a wife, mother, and mema. They are the very relationships that bring her the greatest joy and the most fun!

Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, and said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.” 1 Samuel 8:5

Let me give you some background as we launch into today’s Victory Call.  Joshua led the Israelites into Canaan, conquered the inhabitants and dispensed the inheritance to each tribe.  Upon Joshua’s death judges were appointed to rule over the people.  As long as the judge ruled the people obeyed; when the judge died the people strayed. That cycle continues throughout the book of Judges. Samuel was a great and honorable judge, but when he got older he appointed his two sons to be judges.  His sons were not righteous like their father so the people demanded a king.

While that may have been a contributing factor, according the 1 Samuel 8:5 it was not the real reason.  They actually wanted a king to judge them “like all the nations.”  NIV says, “such as all the other nations have.” They believed that they were missing out because they were not like the other nations.

Israel was God’s chosen people.  He is their God. He is their King. “I will take you as My people, and I will be your God “ (Exodus 6:7). “I will walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people” (Lev. 26:12). “I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places, That you may know that I, the LORD, Who call you by your name, Am the God of Israel” (Isaiah 45:3).

Yet, the Israelites wanted more.  They wanted a king, like the other nations. They were not satisfied with God as their King.  He was not like other kings.  They wanted a king with skin on.
Samuel was distressed by their request, but read the LORD’s response: “But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, ‘Give us a king to judge us.’ So Samuel prayed to the LORD.  And the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them…’” 1 Samuel 8:6-7

Do you know where I’m going with this?

Are you one of God’s chosen and adopted people?  Are you part of the Bride of Christ? Is God your Father?  Is Jesus your Groom?  Have you ever said or thought, “I just want a (friend, husband, fill-in-the-blank) with skin on?”  Do you feel deep down that Jesus is not enough?  You want more? When we start to believe the lie that we need something God has not given us, we become dissatisfied with what it is He has given us.  Himself.

I am not suggesting that we were not created for relationship or community or to be loved. We were, but we need to keep all of that in perspective relative to our relationship with Christ and how He has sovereignly chosen to meet the needs in our lives.

If He is not enough, let us pray that we will look to Him to be enough.

I am blessed today. How about you?

Diane

Diane Hunt served for 16 years on the staff of America’s Keswick until recently when she and her husband relocated to North Carolina. She now continues serving as a contributing writer and Partner Care consultant. Diane is also a Biblical Counselor, speaker, teacher, and author. She delights in the opportunities she has as a women’s conference and retreat speaker to share from God’s word.  Many of her illustrations are drawn from her relational experiences as a wife, mother, and mema. They are the very relationships that bring her the greatest joy and the most fun!