5 Friday Favorites: September 25, 2026
It's time for my Friday link up with A Little Bit of Everything and Momfessionals.
On Fridays I share things that made me happy from the week - a photo, a song, a quote, a beauty product, a recipe, a pair of cute shoes, etc. If it's a product, sometimes it's something I actually own and sometimes something I just saw online that gave me a smile. Sometimes it's serious and sometimes it's silly. I suppose I believe that God is in the simple details of life and yes, I can even find Him in a tube of lipstick.
Happy Friday, Friends. I hope you had a great week! Not a whole lot of excitement here except that the temperature dropped big time and it seems like fall has arrived. In other news, Texas has a huge game this week in Knoxville. I will not be attending because my Tennessee Vol son says that Neyland Stadium would be a dangerous place for me on this particular weekend. This seems like wise counsel, so I’ll be watching from home.
Here are some favorite things from the week.
Dear Mom of an Addict: Ten Truths You Need to Know to Parent Your Addicted Child and Reclaim Hope
I was blessed to read an advanced copy of this incredibly important book by Tara Norbeck. Addiction is a nasty, ruthless disease and when it rears its evil head it affects every single person in the family. While the title addresses moms, I assure you that the wisdom, grace and hope in this book will bless anyone navigating the horrors of watching someone you love struggle with addiction. Tara acknowledges the shame and isolation that most parents and families feel in these circumstances and encourages them to seek support and connection by sharing their hard stories. Her advice is practical, faith-filled and loving and ultimately gives the reader true hope for healing.
2. 1905 Salad
While we were at her lake house in Alabama last weekend, my friend, Lori, made this 1905 salad. It was delicious and even tasted just as great the next day.
3.Won’t Start Now by Seph Schlueter
Seph Schlueter sings some of my favorite worship songs. This week, my sweet friend, Audra, sent me this song. “I’ve never seen a morning the sun forgot to rise . . .” is such a perfect line to remind us that our God is here. He’s never absent. He’s never late. He shows up no matter our circumstances. Every single morning. What a beautiful song.
4.Lightweight Roll Neck Sweater
On Monday this week I was wearing shorts and a tank top and sweating every time I walked outside and by Wednesday I was wearing jeans, a long sleeve shirt and a sweatshirt. I suppose since we’re at the end of September, a change in the season is to be expected, but it seemed a bit abrupt to me. Anyway, I feel like we’re not ready to commit to heavy sweaters yet, so I’m wondering about this lightweight roll neck sweater. It comes in so many colors and some striped options as well. It seems like a great choice to have early in the fall season.
5.The Power of One Small Word
I read this verse this week.
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12
It’s certainly not the first time I’ve read it. In fact, I wrote on this exact verse earlier this year. But this time, one word stood out to me more than any other. The shortest word in the passage. A word I’ve passed over numerous times in the reading of this verse. A word that appears in various sentences in the English language constantly and one I’ve never once given a second thought. Until this week.
The word, “as”.
It occurs to me that this word, in this particular verse, speaks to the entire message of the Gospel. It clears up a whole lot of confusion about what it means to be a Christian. And frankly, even though I’ve been a Christian for a long time, I get this backwards all the time.
In this sentence, “as” indicates an identity given to us. A fact already acknowledged. We are declared “holy and dearly loved” by this tiny word. The use of “as” in this statement then sets up the motive for what comes next in the verse. The identity is first. The behavior is second.
Think about how different it would be if this verse said, “Therefore, in order to become God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”
That’s a wildly different message. And sadly, it’s a message that is conveyed to the world by Christians all the darn time. Admittedly, I get it wrong in my own life constantly.
Being holy and dearly loved is not something we can work toward. Not something we can achieve. It simply is who we are if we believe in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Because He exchanged His life for ours, we are already chosen and already assured an identity as holy and dearly loved. It is out of that identity that we are able to show compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Not the other way around.
Anyway that’s a little summary of a very important concept that God taught me again this week. Perhaps you’re thinking, “duh”. But with me, I suppose the Lord often feels like He’s beating His holy head against the wall. Still, He took the time to say again, “Hey, Girl. Calm down. It’s done. It’s established. It is. You are dearly loved as you are. Full stop.”
Y’all have a great weekend. And Hook Em Horns.
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