My Birthday Blog - I Turned 32!

32 Reasons I Enjoy My Life as a Single

I've been single now for 32 years, and I thought I'd share 32 reasons I enjoy being single.  Here they are, in no particular arrangement:

1. Freedom to do as I please.
2. Opportunities to learn & take classes.
3. I'm responsible for only me - my mess, my problem.
4. I can be of service to others who may need it at a last moment.
5. I get to play with kids and then return them to their rightful owners.
6. More than OK, I enjoy my single life!
7. Traveling is a cinch when I've got the dough.
8. Spontaneous road trips!
9. Sole control over my bank account.
10. Free to follow my own pursuits.
11. I have 3 closets to myself.
12. A last-minute lifestyle is way easier as a single.
13. Hmmm, what to cook for dinner? Whatever I want.
14. I've got the time to spend with God I'm not sure a family would allow.
15. I own my own car - no more payments - that's right!
16. I own my own mortgage on a nice little condo, too.
17. I can give my time to church and serve there in multiple roles.
18. I get to go to rummage sales, garage sales, etc. at the drop of a hat.
19. I don't have the emotionally draining task of keeping up a relationship. (not now, not yet)
20. I feel like my life is still progressing positively, yes, without a man.
21. I feel safe in the love of God, friends, & family.
22. My life is so full of love that even though there's no erotic love, I don't feel it's missing.
23. My preference, when I have one, rules.
24. When I feel my life is moving slowly, it's not because of my lack of love life.
25. Actually I have a very active love life, plumbing the depths of my Savior's love.
26. I have only my schedule to reconcile, not two or even twenty!
27. I'm pretty busy right now - not sure how I'd fit someone else into that.
28. I like that people generally don't badger me about why I'm single...God's desire, that's why.
29. Single women live the longest. The most centenarians are/were single women.
30. I've had a long time to think about what I want in a man.
31. I have developed an understanding of who I am. I know myself better than I did 10 years ago.
32. I have my own blog about being single.

Chris Fabry Live Broadcast: Sacred Singleness 7/30/09

I heard a great broadcast addressing Christian singles on Chris Fabry Live yesterday. It starts the conversation of Christian singleness if you haven't thought about it yet, and it comments on issues we face as singles if you have already started to think about it. To listen click: http://www.moodyradio.org/brd_ProgramDetail.aspx?id=40624. His guest was Leslie Ludy who wrote Sacred Singleness.

I've been thinking about a lot of these issues for a long time, but this broadcast gave me food for thought and fuel for some topics I'll be addressing soon.

Why Be Single?

Why be single? Why embrace a singular lifestyle? Anything God gives is a gift to be treasured, and to all He has bestowed this amazing, wonderful, and generous gift of singleness. Do not refuse a gift He's given. Accept it. When God gives, it is good. "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, to those who are called according to his purpose" Romans 8:28(ESV). Accept that blessing because it is for your good that He has bestowed it. It may not be your gift for the long haul (although also could be), but we should all learn to love the gift we've been given, especially while we have it. Paul says of marriage and the single life in 1 Corinthians 7:7 "Each has his own gift from God." We each have our own gift from God, but do we appreciate it as a gift from God should be appreciated?

I have spoken with married friends who have either expressed gladness at enjoying the single life while they had it, or regretting that they didn't take advantage while they were single. We don't need to make our lives less pleasant by spending all of our single life trying not to be single. God expects us to use the gift of singleness and marriage for his glory. Will you accept this gift with gratitude? Will you make your singleness about God and His glory?

Be Single-Minded!

I've found deep contentment, freedom, and even joy - yes, I said joy!- in embracing the single life. I want to share this with all who will listen because I know there are those that experience the exact opposite when they consider their life as a single.

So in starting this blog I'm saying be single-minded! Be single-minded in following Jesus Christ and be single-minded by embracing and welcoming this season of single life that you are in by God's design. I will be sharing my thoughts, discoveries, and encouragements for you here. So come hang around my blog and I'll share what I've learned in focusing on my single life in Christ.