Undivided devotion: The Christian Single

"An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband. ³⁵ I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord."- 1 Cor 7:34-35

People in the church don't talk about singleness much and when they do its always about how you can become that right person for your future spouse or what to look for in your future spouse, but why does everything have to focus around that?  Why can't someone give me a sermon on looking at my singleness in this present moment as an unmarried woman as a gift from God?  

What if God doesn't have a husband for me?  Don't get me wrong I truly hope that He does, but what if He doesn't?  Then what?  I'll keep listening to people telling me what to look for or how to become the right person when maybe God doesn't have that in the cards for me.  Sure there is nothing wrong with preparing for such a great gift as marriage, but as a almost 29 year old single who's heard her fair share of sermons on looking for the right spouse I think its time we placed the focus elsewhere.  

What if you told you me, as Paul does it 1 Corinthians 7, that my singleness is a gift because it allows me to have more time devoted to serving the Lord?  Or, what if you told me that my singleness is not a burden, but a joy, because just as marriage is a gift my singleness is also gift from God for His greatest glory.  

What if you told me that I lack no good thing in Christ as a single woman? I have all the promises of God, the hope of Jesus Christ, not to mention a calling and purpose uniquely designed by God for my life?

The Bible does not speak of there being marriage in heaven, so why don't you tell me instead that I have the joy and privilege of spending my time less on temporal things such as marriage and more on eternal things, like the gospel of Christ?   

Too many single Christians choose not to maximize their singleness because they view it as a burden.  They live in the not yet, so instead of focusing their efforts on being totally devoted to their Lord they fret and worry about when and how they will meet their future spouse instead of focusing on where God has them now. They forget this present moment is a blessing and it opens them up to focus their time and efforts more on the Gospel of Christ, something that will never pass away as marriage someday will.  

Now, I'm not trying to bash all of you married folk out there.  I'm just trying to help those who are single to see that you are not second rate.  You don't lack any good thing in Christ and you have all the same promises of God as a married person does.  

Don't buy into the lie that as a single person you cannot serve God as best! It's not true, in fact, Paul says that we can serve Him better.  Why don't we focus our time then on granting undivided devotion to our Lord instead of granting undivided devotion on a hunt for our future spouse.  Which often causes us to marry out of loneliness or because we're getting up their in years or because all the church folk are pressuring us.  

Please, church, stop pressuring us. Encourage us instead to place our time, hope and efforts towards furthering God's Kingdom.  Imagine the difference it would make!  Not only in the church, but also in the life of the single.  What if we started praising singleness like we do marriage, wow can you imagine the difference it would make in the life of the single?  It would set them on fire for the Lord Jesus!  If God had a spouse for them someday, then it would happen, but in that present moment they would feel so encouraged to live and serve out of love as they are spurred on by the body of Christ!  

Lord Jesus, as a single woman I choose today to believe that you have gifted me for such as time as this to be a single woman.  I choose, by the power of your Holy Spirit to maximize my singleness for your glory.  God, I so often get that backwards.  Remind me that I lack no good thing in Christ Jesus.  Use my life as a single woman to spread the hope of the gospel, use my time and talents for your glory and your ultimate good.  Place my focus not on what I don't have, but on what I do have. In Jesus name, Amen!  

God in the midst of disappointment...

Today, I woke up feeling terribly discouraged and disappointed.  Not in God, but, over frustration because of an unmet desire in my life.  


I asked the Lord, and He reminded me of who is He despite the pain that we feel in this life.  Truth be told, if God were to strip everything from my life He would still be good.  But, oh, how often I have to remind my heart of that truth.  

The Lord reminded me this morning that; 

He is God amidst unmet desires and disappointments. He is God when your heart is overwhelmed with disappointment and discouragement. He is God in life's deepest valleys. He is good throughout it all, the good and the bad. Why worry, fret and fear when the God of the universe holds you in the palm of His hand? Do not fear, beloved, for the Lord your God goes with you wherever you go. 

"If I find in myself desires, nothing in this world can satisfy I can only conclude that I was made for another world"- C.S. Lewis

A blog on Health and Fitness

whats the secret to being healthy and in shape you ask?

well...first of all...its not a secret....we just like to over complicate things and everyone always wants a short cut.  

1.  It takes discipline
2.  It takes planning
3. It takes commitment 

Once you've got those 3 down.  It's easy.  

No really, it is.  I promise I wouldn't lie to you :)

1.  Eat smart- eliminate all fake sugars and overly processed foods from your diet.  Cut out caffeine (people are addicted...it's OK I was too at one point, but just put the coffee down and walk away ;)).  Stop consuming so many calories by what you drink.  It's amazing how many empty calories people consume through foofy coffee drinks, alcohol and pop.  Choose foods in their most whole form. That means, the closer it is from coming out of the ground or a tree, etc. the better.  If someone had to "make it" in a building somewhere...run away.  Purchase lots of fresh produce, brown rice, sweet potatoes, lean meats, oh yeah all that good stuff.  If you want a healthy foods list I can send you one. Really your diet makes up, in my opinion at least 70% of your getting fit goals.  

2.  Exercise regularly.  Even if its just 30 minutes 3-4 times a week.  Get up and start moving!  We spend the majority of our day sitting, then we go home in front of the TV and sit some more.  Get up and move throughout the day, then make a commitment to go out and get some exercise.  Find something you enjoy and stick with it.  

3.  Have the long view in mind.  It didn't take you a month to get that size so don't expect it all to fall off in a month and stay off.  We have to make lifestyle changes and that takes TIME.  Don't give up, set long term, realistic goals.  Shoot for a 1-2lb fat loss per week and stick to making those changes.  

4.  Calories are your friend, not your enemy.  Your body needs them for fuel to survive.  Oh and by the way, carbohydrates are not bad for you.  THEY ARE GOOD FOR YOU the problem is in our typical american diet we consume far too many and all the wrong overly processed kinds.  View your body as a machine and in order for this machine to function properly it needs a healthy balance of fats, protein and carbohydrates.  Too much of one of those categories, long term is not good for overall health and fitness. 

I personally eat quite a bit during the day for as small as my frame is, but I eat the right types of food, I workout 4-6 times a week for 30-50 minutes (take my time seriously...you don't have to spend hours in the gym, nor should you) and I am committed.  Just on a side note, I recently went gluten and dairy free for the past 8 weeks and have seen some results from that as well. 

I'm Heather Douglas and this has been your health and fitness tip of the day.  If you have questions, let me know!  I'd love to help if I can.  

Transformation

The gospel awakens the soul.  It gives light to eyes that were once darkened by sin and regret.  It illuminates life's purpose within the heart that was at one time overcome by failure and disappointment.  It sings a new song of hope into a life that was once hopeless and a grants a joy unexplainable to a soul once burden by shame and fear.  

"Oh how marvelous, oh how wonderful is my Savior's love for me"