Society has given the word "single" a negative connotation. Because of that, women are convinced that something must be wrong with them if they don't have a boyfriend. Society also continuously feeds women the lie that they will never be complete without a man.  Women, therefore, are ashamed of being single. Consequently, they tend to lower their standards and date anyone who tells them what their ears and hearts long to hear. All in all, if you see society as the source of truth, singleness is comparable to the bubonic plague. Maybe not, but still .... 

1. When you see singleness as a bad thing, you spend your "single" time desperately searching for another mate. By embracing the gift of singleness, you are freeing yourself from the bondage or worry and anxiety. Rather than trusting yourself to find your "perfectly imperfect" man, you are putting your trust and hope where it should have been in the first place: God. 
2. You are staying faithful to Proverbs 4:23. When you view singleness as a gift, you become more concerned about guarding your heart above all else rather than giving it away for cheap love. Therefore, you are avoiding unnecessary heartache.
3. You are able to focus on fellowship. One rule of thumb that I have repeatedly heard is : find your bridesmaids before finding your groom. This also comes in handy when you do finally get into a Godly relationship. You will have counsel  and accountability from women that truly love your heart. 
4. You can use your time as a single woman to think of the kind of man you want to marry. This is the best time to start doing it because you won't feel pressured to make the qualities you want in a husband match the ones in your current boyfriend. 
5. As a single woman, you can focus on the woman God is creating you to be. By giving Him your undivided attention and complete devotion, you will grow immensely in your love for Christ. 

"Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pastures. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." -Psalm 37:3-4

You see? There is no reason to worry about what the future will or won't bring. God is faithful and knows your heart and your desires better than you! My rule of thumb is that if God's plan is different from my desires, he will change my heart so that I will find peace in whatever He has planned for me. Whenever you feel down about being a single woman, keep in mind that God may be still be at work in your life and/or your future husband's! Trust that God is going to bring you your husband at just the right time; until then, embrace the gift of singleness! I can promise you that no woman has ever regretted being single. The main regret women tend to have is not staying single and settling for cheap love to pass the time.

Snippets of what has been running through my mind these past few days.... I find comfort in these words.

You hung the stars.

You move the sea.

And still You know me.

Nothing is hidden from Your sight.

Wherever I go You find me.

You know every detail of my life.

You are God and You don't miss a thing.

You know my sin.

Yet you still call me by my name.

You are the child of a King who is not moved by this world. Your Heavenly Father is always with you and goes before you. Do not fear... you are His! You are His precious child, He will never neglect you. God is making things happen for you. Even when you don't feel it, even when you can't see it, even when it is not evident.. God is working on your prayers.

Trust in His plans for you.

Be patient in His timing.

Be His.

A few thoughts about #YOLO....

1. It is used to justify decisions that would normally make a person hesitate.

2. No matter how many times you use YOLO as a hash tag or a life motto, your decisions  (good or bad) will always have consequences. You can make a decision in as little as a few seconds, but your consequences can live with you forever.

3. You only live once? False, you live everyday. You only die once.

4. Since you only have one life, why risk ruining it?

5. YOLO can also mean You Obviously Love Oreos

6. Instead of seeing YOLO as an acronym that encourages rash decisions, use it to inspire you to spread God's love to others. At the end of the day, you want to be able to feel blessed not remorseful.

7. Like I said above... there are good "YOLO" moments. I have had a many.... ask me about them!

8. Before you "YOLO" your way through life, think of the long-term effects your decisions may have on : future jobs, your future spouse, your health, your future children, your reputation.....

9. Don't forget that God's grace erases all sin and pays all debt. He is redeemer! It is never too late to start over.

I have this awful tendency of belaboring how I have been wounded. Rather than turning the other cheek, I discover a million different ways to say "You hurt me". I formulate a million excuses as to why I should not accept an apology. Forgiveness has been an incredibly difficult concept for me to grasp. I'm prideful; forgiveness takes humility. Forgiving others was never natural or genuine until I began to remind myself of how much God has forgiven me. I withhold forgiveness from so many people because they have wronged me a little, yet God has forgiven me of so much. Remembering God's infinite love and forgiveness  has helped me love and forgive friends, family, strangers, and even enemies. I will never be a perfect forgiver, there is only One who can ever fulfill that title. However, forgiveness is the alternative to a life quenched in bitter feuding. Holding grudges is like drinking poison and hoping the other dies. Forgiveness is freeing. Forgiveness is what we are called to do as Christians.

I encourage you to forgive those who you have yet to be reconciled with. It can be in person or even a letter, but I promise you that you will feel free after you bury your hurt and allow God to worry about the wrongs you have suffered. All the while, mediate on the grace you have undeservingly been given and every second [third, fourth....one millionth] chance you have received. It makes the forgiveness you are offering have a true purpose and that much sweeter.

"Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others." -Colossians 3:13

Take a glimpse at my well-spent Saturday....

Because the four goldie pups were already spoken for, no doggies were purchased in the process. Just a whole lot of love passed around!

This would be such a great tattoo & a wonderful reminder to be
content in the Lord. This says "I AM" in sanskrit... It is
almost as if you are branding that you belong to Him.

"I AM" is one of my favorite names for God. Why is that? I AM is the greatest example of contentment. Chew on that for a few moments...when are we ever truly content? We aren't. We never walk around just saying I AM; we always finish our sentences with I AM tired, I AM hungry, I AM ready to have fun, etc. Unlike us, God doesn't have to finish His "I AM"statement because if He did, it would imply that He changes and He never does. If I am honest, most of my thoughts are wasted on worrying about my future or reflecting on my past. Both of these thoughts rarely include the Lord. The simple words "I AM" are a reminder to be fully present wherever I AM and to learn to be content whatever my circumstances.