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b'During the summer after finishing high school, I had the opportunity to fulfill a dream: leading my all-state marching band as drum major. Along with other musicians and dancers in this group, I flew for many hours across many states to Honolulu, Hawaii. Once there, we performed in multiple venues and enjoyed free time in a beautiful destination.What would you guess were the most memorable experiences of that trip? Tropical beaches, beautiful food, the parade we marched in with spectators cheering for us? Surprisingly, no. My most special memories of that time centered around the laundry room in the dorm where we stayed.At the end of each day, finished with rehearsals and touring, we headed to our dorm. After dinner, we gravitated to the laundry room. It provided space for all of us to hang out where we had permission to be together. We talked and laughed and ate lots of candy bars. I have photos of gorgeous sunsets. But the pictures that bring a smile to my face are the ones of my buddies sitting atop washing machines and clothes dryers making goofy faces for the camera.What about the laundry room made it significant? It gave us a place for community, a place to be together and build friendships. God is a relational God, and He created us for relationships. First and foremost, He yearns for us to be in relationship with Him. Even though humanity has rejected God, He came and made a way for us to be reconciled to Him. When we trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins, we begin a relationship with the God who loves us.And God also made us for connection with others. We\\u2019re not meant to do life alone. We\\u2019re stronger when we have others to walk with us through life. As I interacted with new friends who also loved Jesus, I felt boosted in my own faith. As you invest in relationships, you can be there to encourage your friends when they stumble\\u2014and you can receive their help when you need to be strengthened too. \\u2022 Allison Wilson Lee\\u2022 Why do you think God calls us to invest in friendships? Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice. Proverbs 27:9 (NIV)\\n\\xa0\\nRead Verses:\\nHeb.10.24-Heb.10.25|Prov.27.9|Prov.17.17|Eccl.4.9-Eccl.4.12'