To the Singles from the Single

This post as titled above is to the singles from the single (me). While it's directed more at girls, I think guys can get something out of it too. The goal of this post is to encourage those of you who are single to use the singleness God gave you wisely and to focus on Him.

       As a single Christian the big goal in your life shouldn't be just to one day get married and "live happily ever after." Your major goal and focus as a child of God should be to love, glorify and serve the Lord with your whole being. Singlehood is the prime time for developing a good and strong relationship with the Lord. You have the time. I know you may be thinking that you don't have the time, but if spending time with God is important to you then you will make time for Him no matter how busy you may be. If you can make time for other things that may not even really matter (you may be thinking of some things right now), then you can set aside some time to spend with your heavenly Father. Now I know we all have everyday things that we do but when it comes down to it, we're not so busy that we can't. At least, we shouldn't ever be that busy.

      I may not know a whole lot about being married; I only know what it says in the bible about it, what married people tell me and what I observe. But I do know a lot about being single because I am. I know it can be hard, VERY hard to be content. Especially when it seems everyone around you is in a relationship, engaged or married. You feel left out. But that doesn't give you the excuse to mope around wishing it would hurry up and be "your turn." I've been there and done that many times. But I've come to realize that wishing for something I don't have right now isn't being grateful for what I do have right now: singleness. It's a gift. A precious gift that we really only have once. Just because most everyone is in a relationship doesn't mean you have to be. You don't have to do what everyone else is doing. God placed you where you are; you can do what He put you there for or you can do what you want to do. Wait on Him. Seek Him. Lamentations 3:25, "The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him."  

       An ideal marriage is when a man and a woman who have been faithfully serving the Lord while being single become a team with their main goal being to serve Christ together. Psalm 34:3 says, "O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together." In that ideal marriage both parties seek to please God FIRST and the other party second. I know some married couples who are shining examples of that. But I also know some who aren't. If the Lord has me marry I want to be one who is. But I'm not going to just sit around hoping and dreaming when I can do something NOW that will benefit me in the present and in the future.

       A married person has to take care of their spouse and children if they have some and all the other responsibilities that come along. A single person really only has to take care of them and therefore has a lot more time to spend time with God and for God than if they were married. In 1 Corinthians 7:32-35 it says, "32 But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord: 33 but he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife. 34 There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. 35 And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction."

       Whether you have never been with someone or have been in a previous relationship this time of singlehood you have now is something that should be cherished and used wisely. Don't waste it! You don't know how long you will have this time. Maybe it will be short, maybe it will be long. Or maybe you are meant to be single for a lifetime. The apostle Paul was and look how God used him! Why, we probably wouldn't have half the New Testament if he had sat around wasting his time whining about being "forever alone". But he was content single, Philippians 4:11, "...for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." Whatever the case may be, you are single at this time. Embrace it. You may not want to at first, but once you do you will be happier. It can be a blessing if you let it. You probably won't be single your whole life so learn to enjoy it while you can.

       "So what am I supposed do while I'm single??" Use this singlehood to glorify God. Go on a mission’s trip. Go to bible college. Get involved in some of your church's ministries. There are nursing homes, children, jails and others that need you! Don't just sit there twiddling your thumbs daydreaming your life away! DO SOMETHING FOR GOD!

       In heaven, I don't think there'll be anybody that says, "Boy, I wish I would've gotten married!" But there will be those who may say, "If only I had used the time I had on earth for God!" Single or not, you will regret not doing your best for the Lord. 

He is no fool to give what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.

-Jim Elliot

       So why not start at this moment and strive to do your best? Can you think of any good excuses? I mean some real legitimate reasons why you shouldn't or "can't" try to do your best for Christ? It doesn't matter if so and so always seems to do better and be better than you. If YOU are honestly doing YOUR best God will use YOU!

The first verse of an appropriate hymn says,

 Give of your best to the Master;

Give of the strength of your youth;
Throw your soul’s fresh, glowing ardor
Into the battle for truth.
Jesus has set the example,
Dauntless was He, young and brave;
Give Him your loyal devotion;
Give Him the best that you have.

-Howard B. Grose

       Instead of waiting for the "perfect one," work on becoming the one God intended YOU to be. NOW is the time to discipline yourself to read the bible every day. NOW is the time to be a serious prayer warrior. NOW is the time to be a good witness for Christ. NOW is the time to use your time of singleness for the glory of God! Now is the time to seek Him! Deuteronomy 4:29, "But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul."

You only get ONE LIFE on this earth and only that which you did for Christ will matter when it's over. What will you do with yours?

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
And when I am dying, how happy I’ll be,
If the lamp of my life has been burned out for Thee

-Charles Thomas Studd

Here is a list of a few good books that you may find helpful (click on the titles):

Preparing To Be a Help Meet by Debi Pearl

Created to Need a Help Meet: A Marriage Guide for Men by Michael Pearl

I Kissed Dating Goodbye by Joshua Harris

Boy Meets Girl: Say Hello to Courtship by Joshua Harris

His Chosen Bride: Applying Proverbs 31 as a Single Young Woman by Jennifer J. Lamp

(If you have any book recommendations please let me know!)

Spiritual Quotes

Below are some spiritual quotes and verses that I love and thought you'd enjoy.

"Take the world, but give me Jesus,
All its joys are but a name;
But His love abideth ever,
Through eternal years the same."

-Frances "Fanny" J. Crosby

(I took this picture and added the text.)

 (I also took this picture and added the verse.)

Feel free to post or pin these images onto Pinterest or wherever! =)

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The Pearl of Great Price

    If you've looked at my blog recently you will have noticed that it's recently been redesigned. I decided to redo it the other day. Normally I've had Britt do it but this time I felt like doing it all by myself this time (though I had her make some new buttons for me). It was fun to do and I think it turned out pretty well, how about you? There's a poll on my sidebar that you can vote on if you'd like to. =)
    Also, what do you think of the header (I took the pictures) and the verses I chose to go along with it? Here are the verses I chose to use: Matthew 13:45-46, "[45] Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: [46] Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it." 

Many people are like that merchant man in verse 45 who are looking for "goodly pearls" -good things that will make them happy and rich. But there is only one pearl that can do that fully which is "the pearl of great price." 

    The pearl of great price is Jesus Christ and indeed He is! In verses 46 we see that the merchant man found that "pearl of great price" I've searched through many "goodly pearls" but never have I found any like "the pearl of great price!" He is the most precious and rarest of all! If you have found "the pearl of great price" (talking about salvation here) but haven't yet fully "sold all that you have, and bought it" (completely given your life to Christ) I fiercely encourage you to do so! I spent many years knowing where to find that "pearl of great price" and indeed I held it in my hand but only a few months ago did I really grasp it and took it and "sold all that I had, and bought it." Isn't funny how we trust God with our souls but yet we cling to our lives. Don't be like me and wait, telling yourself that you are okay by yourself and don't really need give your whole life over to God. He's been waiting so long for you to surrender yourself to Him. He's given so much for you that the least you could do is give your life, stock, and barrel to the Lord. If you want to make Him truly happy you'll do just that.

A Christian

Below is a forward I received by e-mail. It's a story about a Christian. Several years ago, a preacher from out-of-state accepted a call to a church in Houston , Texas . Some weeks after he arrived, he had an occasion to ride the bus from his home to the downtown area. When he sat down, he discovered that the driver had accidentally given him a quarter too much change.. As he considered what to do, he thought to himself, 'You'd better give the quarter back. It would be wrong to keep it.' Then he thought, 'Oh, forget it, it's only a quarter. Who would worry about this little amount? Anyway, the bus company gets too much fare; they will never miss it. Accept it as a 'gift from God' and keep quiet.'    (I found this picture on Google and included it in this post) When his stop came, he paused momentarily at the door, and then he handed the quarter to the driver and said, 'Here, you gave me too much change ..' The driver, with a smile, replied, 'Aren't you the new preacher in town?'

'Yes' he replied.

'Well, I have been thinking a lot lately about going somewhere to worship. I just wanted to see what you would do if I gave you too much change. I'll see you at church on Sunday.'

When the preacher stepped off of the bus, he literally grabbed the nearest light pole, held on, and said, 'Oh God, I almost sold your Son for a quarter.'

Our lives are the only Bible some people will ever read. This is a really scary example of how much people watch us as Christians, and will put us to the test!Always be on guard -- and remember -- You carry the name of Christ on your shoulders when you call yourself  'Christian.'

Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits..
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny. 

I'm glad a friend forwarded this to me as a reminder. So, I choose to post it so you could read it. God bless you.

A Poem by a Good Friend

This is a poem that my great friend from North Dakota sent me in the mail. We're pen pals and every once in awhile she'll send me some poems that she's written. I hope you enjoy this one as much I as do. Oh, and of course I had to add pictures that I found on Google. =)

“The Man I've Never Seen Before”

By Christina Leigh

When I cross that Jordan river,

With water bittersweet,

I know there'll be a lot to hear;

And many things to see.

But when I reach that pearly gate,

I won't mind the golden street,

Or the shining =mansions,

Because there's someone I want to see.

 

And though I've never seen His face before,

I love Him everyday, more and more.

And though I've never felt His hand in mine,

I know it's been there all this time.

So when I stand on Jordan's shore,

And look to see Heaven's doors.

I'll run, as fast, as Heaven will let me,

To meet the man I've never seen before.

 

And should I not taste the grave,

And have this mortal die,

Then I know, in the end,

Then my freed spirit will fly.

Past the clouds, past the stars,

Farther than man has ever gone,

To the shore of Jordan's still waters,

To see the man I've never seen but have known.

And though I've never seen His face before,

I love Him everyday, more and more.

And though I've never felt His hand in mine,

I know it's been there all this time.

So when I stand on Jordan's shore,

And look to see Heaven's doors.

I'll run, as fast, as Heaven will let me,

To meet the man I've never seen before.

Do What God Wants: Live Right!

  

     Do what God wants you to do! Do what He wants and not what other people want you to do (unless it matches what God wants of you). Make sure God is in what you're doing. Don't leave Him out! You'll not be truly happy if you do it your way and not God's way. Your way may seem good and right at the time but the Bible states in  Proverbs 14:12, "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death."

    You need to trust in the Lord and He'll lead where He wants you. Proverbs 3:5,6: "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." 

 

    Pray! Pray and pester God until you know what He wants you to do for Him. David prayed to the Lord in Psalm 17:6 "I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech."  Seek God! "But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul." (Deuteronomy 4:29)

    We need God's strength (Psalm 46:1 "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.")! Nobody else can give us the strength we need to do things for the Lord. Isaiah 40 the Bible says, "29.He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. 30. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: 31. But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."

    There will definitely be hard and difficult times here on earth as Christians but the Christian life is difficult because it's the right way. Living right and doing good is harder to do than living wrong and doing bad. God is not going to make you live right though. YOU have to CHOOSE to live right! Trials are proofs that we're God's children! We don't have to despair, give up, or quit just because someone does us wrong or something bad happens; we have God! God is all you need! He is more than enough for us! If you're following Him and are walking the path that He has established for you than you should have nobody and nothing that should discourage you or bring you down! Live right for God! He WANTS you to live for Him and do right! Will you?