Friendship Baptist Church

04/26/2026

Let's spread some love and kindness! Join us on Saturday, May 16th at 10am as we put together 80 Care Boxes for Hacienda Oaks. Afterwards, let's savor Pastor's BBQ hamburgers and hot dogs!

We've got the essentials covered: boxes, facial tissues, toothbrush kits, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, and body wash.

Your love can shine through these fun items: non-skid socks, hats, coloring books, word searches, journals, crayons/markers, large piece puzzles, stuffed animals, walker bags, large print playing cards, chapstick, applesauce, pudding.

To ensure everyone's safety, please avoid bringing: pencils, hand sanitizers, baby powder, aerosol cans, ceramic or glass items, nail care kits, scissors, or other food items.

It's going to be an afternoon of great fun, fellowship, and a wonderful blessing! Hope to see you here!!

04/20/2026

The Gift of Time

On my drive this morning, I couldn’t stop thinking about yesterday’s sermon. It was one of those moments where you’re nodding along, thinking, "Yes, AMEN, I’m doing that," until a single sentence hits you right in the face.

The pastor spoke about giving ourselves wholly to God—giving Him all of us. In my head, I was checking off my boxes:
• My morning drive time? Check.
• Wednesday night Bible study? Check.
• Sunday school and service? Check.

I felt like I was doing pretty well with my "whole hour" drive every morning. I was proud of that hour!

Then came the shift. I moved from feeling proud of the time I carved out to realizing that He doesn’t just wait for me in that hour; He’s also there for the other twenty-three. When pastor questioned How could we not give Him everything, when He gives us all of His time? I knew I had to reshape my thinking. It’s not that my thinking of my hour as small, but about how big His presence actually is.

It stopped me cold. A heavy sort of sadness set in as I realized the math of my devotion. I give Him an hour. He gives me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. There is no "Me time" for God. He doesn’t take vacations from us; He doesn't clock out or look at His watch.

I’ve been so grateful for my morning talks with Him, and I still am—but I realized I’ve been treating Him like a scheduled appointment rather than a constant companion.

I picture Him walking right beside me throughout the day while I’m racing against the clock, running to get things done, barely noticing He’s there because the day is flying past. It reminds me of Deuteronomy 31:8, "The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." He promises that He’s already there—I just need to look up."

So, today is about MORE. Not just more "scheduled" time, but more awareness. More thoughts turned toward Him in the middle of the chaos. More of me, because He has already given all of Himself to me.

How are you walking with Him today? I pray that today, we all take a moment to pause in the middle of the "busy" and simply acknowledge the One walking right next to us. I pray that we move from giving Him our time to giving Him our hearts as well, and that we feel the incredible peace of knowing He never takes His eyes off of us.

04/11/2026

04/11/2026

Chuck wagon is getting set up for our amazing celebration day on our 120th anniversary of the church. Come and join us this afternoon at 330 for Jeff Gore in the sanctuary for worship and a chuck wagon meal after!!

03/28/2026

When God Doesn’t Use a Megaphone

It’s so funny how we often go looking for a neon sign with a big pointing finger when we’re facing a fork in the road. I’ll be honest with you—this morning started early for me because I’m standing at one of those forks right now. A question was asked, and the answer is going to change things. So, there I was in the stillness, practically begging for a whisper in my ear or a clear "yes" or "no" written in the clouds. But the sky stayed quiet.

I started wondering how we actually learn to hear Him. Is it only in the silence? Because as my morning progressed and the world got a bit louder, I realized I’ve had some of my best talks with God while the music was cranked up and the road was humming under the tires of the truck.

As the morning progressed I was sitting in the truck with Beau, and he reminded me that God doesn't always use a booming voice from the heavens; sometimes He uses the people He’s placed right in the passenger seat. So I asked him, and knew he would give me his honest answer, and after all I trust him and he’s wise. The conversation with him wasn't about him giving me the answer on how to hear God, but the conversation did allow me to reflect that God talks to us all in the way we need, if we are ready to listen. Later as I was at my desk reading, Proverbs 2 popped up, "the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding." I realized that understanding was coming through that conversation and through looking in the rearview mirror at my own past. I could tell you the times I saw God working in my life, and when I didn't listen too.

I’ve thought about how my failures haven't been wasted time—they were actually a great teacher if I was willing to learn from them. When I stopped holding out for a supernatural light show, that neon sign with a pointing arrow, I was able to start seeing that God was already showing me the way through my experiences, the peace in my heart, and the people whom God has put into my life. As it says later in that same chapter of Proverbs, "discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you."

My prayer for you today is that if you’re waiting for your own neon sign today, maybe take a second to look at the people around you instead. Share your questions and your joys with those God has put in your life for a reason. Listen to their stories and then take all of that back to Him in whatever your "quiet" looks like. He knows the answers because He’s the one who holds them. Be strong enough to listen to the answer, even if it’s not the one you expected.

03/12/2026

We’ve grown, we've learned, and we are still learning! 🌱

We are so excited to announce that our website friendshipchurchofbeeville.com is officially being re-launched! It’s been rewritten and reshaped to be more than just a site—it’s a digital home for our church family.

Whether you’re looking for sermon archives, upcoming events, or just want to see what we’re all about, everything you need is now at your fingertips.

03/12/2026

There is something so healing about a fresh start. Spring cleaning the house - and the heart - today.

No early driving in the dark for me this week! With school out for Spring Break, I’ve been home getting some great spring cleaning done. Even though the schedule is different, those early mornings are still there and I am still wide awake. As I’ve been working, I’ve been thinking about some things I’ve heard lately and I really wanted to share them with you.

It is fascinating to me how our minds have a way of keeping track of things, reminding us of what we’ve done or what we need to do. It's almost like a mental daytimer that tallies up our days, weeks, and years. But if we aren't careful, we can become a little too good at digging through old archives. We pull out past hurts, ancient arguments, and those tiny slights we’ve filed away for "safe keeping."

I’m not really sure why we keep these lists or tally marks when someone hurts us. I guess we think we are protecting our hearts, as if keeping a list of hurts will prevent them from happening again. But keeping that ledger doesn't protect us; it only keeps us shackled to the past.

In 1 Corinthians 13:5, we’re reminded that love keeps no record of wrongs. I like to think of this as the eraser to that ledger. We are told to choose forgiveness over holding onto past hurts. That means no grudges and no mental lists. Real love means having the courage to burn that ledger of anger and wrongs, choosing to give up the hold it has on you. When we forgive and move forward, we strip that offense of its power over us. We stop filing it away for a rainy day.

This isn't an easy task, but I have to remind myself how Christ handled my own mistakes. Through all my angry words and hurtful actions, He didn't just defer my debt or sweep it under the rug to be found during next year's spring cleaning. He completely canceled it. If He has been that generous with me, how can I justify keeping such meticulous records of how others have let me down?

The secret I’ve learned is that while love is forgetful of wrongs, it is intentionally thorough when it comes to faithfulness. Living a happy life and truly loving like Christ means being careful about what we choose to store in our hearts. We need to keep a record of grace, love, and kindness instead. When I focus on God’s unshakeable faithfulness and the unexpected kindness of others, my day fills up with gratitude. And the neat thing is that gratitude starts to see even more things to be grateful for. People can truly feel the difference between a friend or a spouse who is looking for reasons to be disappointed and one who is looking for reasons to be grateful.

So today, I’m wondering: what hurt or anger should I erase from the expectations I have of others? Let’s look at our "ledger of grace" today. What is one small kindness someone has shown you that you want to make sure to remember? I would much rather look back over my life and remember the good and kind things instead of focusing on the sorrow.

My prayer for us today is that we allow our hearts to stop feeling heavy from the weight of the tally marks we’ve been keeping. I pray we let go of the ledgers that we thought would protect us but only kept us bound to the pain. May God give us the courage to burn the records of wrongs we’ve been holding against our spouses, our friends, and our families. I pray He washes over those memories with peace and helps us become intentional bookkeepers of His faithfulness instead. Let’s shift our focus from what others have done wrong to the ways He has been unshakeably good.

If you feel led, take out a new ledger today—one of grace. Find one small kindness someone has shown you and let that be your first entry. I’d love to hear about it in the comments if you’re willing to share!

03/03/2026

Be Bold: Step Out of Comfort into God’s Plan

Early this morning I drove in the quiet, the full moon my only light. No music. Just the road and my thoughts. I kept turning over something I stumbled upon yesterday. At first, I was so excited, ready to jump in, ready to say yes. But as the night stretched into morning, doubt crept in. I second-guess myself. I even questioned God.

Yes, I questioned Him. And that’s OK. Questioning can be part of trusting, as long as we’re listening for his answer. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5).

You see, God rarely calls us to a life of comfort. He calls us to a life of purpose that requires movement, boldness, and trust. But how do we know when a new road is opening? We ask in prayer, we watch for and listen for the quiet voice above the noise of life. This voice comes from the Holy Spirit. The Spirit strengthens us, changes us, and convicts us. A new road often looks like disruption, shaking up the familiar, comfortable routine. When God nudges you to leave something behind, that is your sign to pay attention.

Sometimes, a door closes. And that’s not a loss - it’s guidance. God closes some doors to lead us toward the ones He’s opening. We don’t need to force what isn’t meant for us; we simply need to trust that He is already directing our steps.

Taking a new road requires courage. “Be strong and courageous… for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9). Courage isn’t the absence of fear. It’s moving forward even when fear whispers, trusting that God is in your tomorrow and that His grace is enough for the journey. It’s stepping into the unknown, confident that He goes before you.

So, take that first step. You don’t need to see the whole staircase. Stop shrinking, stop apologizing for your calling, and rise up. The road becomes clearer as you walk it in faith, and the boldest steps often lead to the greatest growth.

Ask yourself today: What is God asking you to leave behind? What bold move is He calling you to make? Trust Him, step out, and remember: “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged” (Deuteronomy 31:8).

02/17/2026

Using the past God gave you to shape the future He has for you

Most of my thoughts usually come during my morning drives while watching the sun rise. But recently, this message came to me while driving home after a long day, watching the sun set. It felt reflective…and honestly, a little emotional.

This past year, watching my mom slowly lose her memories has deeply impacted me. Seeing her struggle to hold onto who she is, who I am, and sometimes even where she is has made me think a lot about my own life and memories. It made me ask myself… what parts of my past would I want to remember? What would I want to change? And then I realized - would I really want to change anything?

I truly believe our past helps prepare us for our future. The struggles, challenges, and even painful moments are all part of the story God is writing in our lives. Many times, when we look back, we can see how those moments shaped our strength, our faith, and even our purpose.

God places people, lessons and opportunities in front of us exactly when we need them - but we have to stay aware and pay attention. Or like pastor used to tell our kids… “L-O-O-K!”

Isaiah 30:21 reminds us that God guides us, saying,”This is the way; walk in it.” Sometimes His direction isn’t loud. Sometimes it shows up in quiet lessons or unexpected seasons.

Take a moment to reflect on your own life:
What struggles have you faced?
What brings you joy and makes you feel alive?
What dreams has God placed on your heart?

As you reflect, you may start seeing patterns and connections. You may realize how your past has shaped who you are today and how God is using it to lead you forward.

Romans 8:28 reminds us that God works all things together for good for those who love Him. That means nothing in your story is wasted. Your greatest struggles can become your strongest testimony, and your past pain can help lead you into God’s purpose for your life.

My prayer for you is that I hope you find the pause button, that you breathe and recognize the hand guiding your past, present and future. I pray wisdom for you to see what place God has put before you and I encourage you to follow the path where it leads. Your story is still being written and every part of your journey belongs to you and was given to you by God.