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Book Review: Never Unfriended by Lisa-Jo Baker

The Book

In Lisa-Jo Baker’s book called Never Unfriended: Finding and Keeping Lasting Friendships, she shares a lot of her personal stories, but the companion journal (recommended) has her best quotes with plenty of blank spaces to let you get right to the heart of your own personal relationships.

The Journal

Each 2-page spread of this journal has Scripture and thoughts to align you towards God’s intentions for relationships instead of being stuck in hurts, fears, doubts, insecurities, and comparisons. Some pages are simple reminders of what you already know but need to get back to practicing…other pages provide deeply motivating concepts such as:

  • “When I breathe in and out, there it is, right beneath my rib-cage, the promise that I’m capable of friendship because my very existence, 20 breaths per minute, is drawn from the breath of the God whose entire existence is a living, breathing fellowship of three.”
  • “We get to choose who will have the final say in our relationships: fear or love.”
  • “Inevitably, someone will hurt us. What matters is what comes next.”
  • “We have worshiped at the altar of inclusion, when we were built to worship at the altar of the only living God.
  • “Friendship will inconvenience you. More so if you’re doing it right.”
  • “Your guests will only feel as comfortable in your house (room, dorm, apartment, etc.) as you feel in your own skin.”
  • “We would do well to take Jesus at His Word and His example and trust that this is the way to bless our friends – giving them the gift of our presence.”
  • “It will take deliberate choices. It will sometimes take inviting yourself over even when it feels awkward.”
  • “The best antidote to jealousy is choosing instead to encourage.”
  • “Everyone is on the outside of something. But that is only half the story.”
  • He will do the work – in you and through you and for you.”
  • “Christ is in the business of restoring broken relationships and redeeming misunderstandings.”
  • “Some of the best and hardest work God calls us to do is to love other people.”

As you work through this beautifully convicting journal, writing down your reflections and evaluating your friendships, each page builds upon the page that precedes it. So, before you know it, you will have written an entire book confessing your mistakes and recommitting yourself to being a much more Christ-like friend from now on.

(Click here for the publisher’s purchasing option)

“As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.” (Prov. 27:17, NLT)

With hope,

Jen

Jen Hughes Counseling_FAQ2

Jen Hughes

I hope this blog article is a helpful resource for you as you draw closer to Jesus through various situations and seasons of your life.

May you discover the rich fulfillment and growth the Lord can bring even when, or especially when, life is most challenging.

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