Jesus liked to hang with people. He wanted to spend time with them, to eat dinner with them and hear what they had to say.

Jesus said “if you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the Father” (John 14:9) and if Jesus’ life is our example, then relationships are a very important thing to God.

God not only wants us to spend time with Him, He also wants us to spend time with each other.

“Community” can seem like an overused word these days (along with its cousin, the phrase “doing life together”), but it is so, so crucially important to our emotional, mental, and spiritual health.

Don’t stop meeting together with other believers, which some people have gotten into the habit of doing. Instead, encourage each other… Hebrews 10:25

This scripture is often used as an argument for church membership, but I think it goes beyond that. It’s super easy to join a church, show up for services, sit on the back row, and sneak out without having spoken a word to anyone. This often feels like the safer choice–especially when you’re hurting–but it is so dangerous, friends.

If either should fall, one can pick up the other. But how miserable are those who fall and don’t have a companion to help them up. Ecclesiastes 4:10

Making friends can be super overwhelming and scary–especially the older we get. I’ve learned during the past year that it takes work, and it takes putting yourself out there and getting a little awkward (which I’m alarmingly good at).

Sometimes (maybe most of the time) we have to be brave and make the first move–invite people over for dinnner, ask that nice girl you met briefly at church or work if she wants to meet for lunch or go to yoga together. Do the inviting, reach out.

Finding and maintaining the community of friends who will be your people takes work. But we were created to live in community, in fellowship with one another, and there is such joy and freedom to be found there.

 So, if the first step toward freedom is getting a deep, healing understanding of God’s love for us, the second step is knowing that God not only loves us, He likes us, too.

There is a big–yet subtle–difference between loving and liking someone. We love our family members. But we don’t always necessarily like them and want to hang with them, amen?

God not only loves you with a fiercely loyal, all-encompassing, never-going-away love, He also likes you. And He wants to hang with you.

Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. Revelation 3:20

When He created you, God took absolute giddy delight in choosing everything about you. He gave you your interests, your talents, your bizarre quirks and hobbies. He loves to read what you’ve written, to look at the pictures you’re taking, to hear what you have to say.

While it is important to keep a right and true sense of awe and humility before The Lord, I think it’s equally important to understand and revel in the fact that He likes us, and He wants to hang with us.

I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn’t choose me. I chose you… John 15:14-16

Try talking to God like a friend–just spend time with Him. Tell Him about what you’re working on, about how your spouse or coworker hurt your feelings today, about your fears and the things you’re excited about.

He likes you. He really, really likes you.

To begin on our 31 journey to freedom, we have to begin at the beginning; build the foundation first, and all that. The simple truth is that we absolutely can not, will not, find true, lasting freedom until we grab hold of the fact that God loves us.

I know it’s super basic, and many of us have grown up hearing that “God is love” and singing “Jesus Loves Me, This I Know,” but having a basic head knowledge of God’s love is very much different than having the truth of it buried deep in your heart.

Many of us can believe, understand, and accept God’s unconditional–His unchanging, based on nothing we can ever do or not do–love for other people, but not for ourselves.

One of the enemy’s favorite and most effective weapons to use against God’s children is lying about God’s character, to make us doubt whether we are truly loved, because a Christian who is insecure and unsure of God’s love is very ineffectual indeed.

Also, I feel this needs to be said: there is absolutely nothing selfish or self-serving about accepting and rejoicing in the Father’s love for you. He created us to receive His love and pour it out to others–but we have to let Him pour it into us, first.

So, here’s my little assignment for you. Read the scriptures below. Say them out loud, speak them over yourself. Write them out and put them on your bathroom mirror, in your cubicle, on your fridge. And pray. Ask The Lord to reveal His heart, His love, and His character to you.

He is anxiously waiting to meet with you, to pour His love over you; all you have to do is receive it freely and with open arms.

The Lord your God is with you…The Lord will take delight in you, and in His love He will give you new life. He will sing and be joyful over you. Zephaniah 3:17

He has brought me to His banquet hall, and His banner over me is LOVE. Song of Solomon 2:4

Cast all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn you and continued my faithfulness to you. Jeremiah 31:3

It’s hard to believe that the 2014 Influence Conference is over, that I’ve already attended two years in a row (and have purchased a ticket for 2015). My experience this year felt different than last year, quieter somehow (I did a lot less running around and socializing at all hours of the night), but it was just as impactful and rich and wonderful and life-shaking.

Last year, I showed up at the conference knowing no one; I’d even met my roommates on the Influence forums and had never seen any of them in person.

This year, I roomed with Jacey–who I met at the airport after last year’s conference–and Liz; the three of us have been in a writing group together since last November, communicating via texts and Google hangouts. These girls are wise, kind, loving and fun, and spending the weekend with them was an absolute joy.

(I realize that I said in the Influence podcast not to hang with your roommates all weekend, but I was a bit guilty of that this time around. Oops.)

The theme for the conference this year was “It’s Time to Build” and I left Indy with a renewed sense of awe for God and all that He’s doing in my life, as well as with a fresh passion for pursuing the things He’s calling me to, instead of the things that I might seek to do out of striving or seeking glory for myself.

It’s impossible to share everything I learned during two full days of teaching, so I’ll try to sum it up with a few of my favorite sound bites. Sound good?

Haley Morgan: “striving is crap…His spirit lives within me and pushes out all of that try-hard and look-at-me…Every single day, I have influence because I am in Christ and Christ is in me.”

Whitney English: “these are my people; they get God and the internet…Our beliefs–what we say to ourselves in our heads–determines and guides our actions.”

Lara Casey: “God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things when they are surrounded to His will and His ways…Busy is the opposite of stillness; we’re afraid of being still because we don’t want to acknowledge what’s there.”

Jess Connolly: “It’s worth us taking the time in the early stages of building to ask why we’re building…God love HIS kingdom; He hates MY kingdom…decide whose kingdom you’re building.”

Lisa Leonard: “Write down 10 words and phrases that impact you and resonate with you to figure out what your brand is…The water is big enough for everyone to swim. Let’s work together and be kind.”

Nancy Ray: “Setting goals is the first step to turning the invisible into the visible…It’s not about being successful, it’s about being faithful with the message He’s given you.”

Heather Boersma: “Your God story is the strongest weapon in your arsenal.”

It was a beautiful and busy weekend of connecting with friends old and new, worshipping God with my fellow Influencers, being emptied and filled back up, and learning practical strategies to further my creative pursuits.

I love my Influence girls–see you next year!!

Come, let us tell of the LORD’s greatness; let us exalt his name together. Psalm 34:3