Single Forever???

I never went back to sleep after last nights blog... I couldn't. God had my mind going in so many different directions that instead of sleep I did the following:
- 3 loads of laundry
- vaccuumed my entire apartment
- folded and put up clothes
- dusted my entire apartment
- cleaned up my kitchen
- organized Christmas presents
- organized things to take home
- packed my suitecase
- took out the trash
- returned my library books
- went to church
- went to sunday school
- got a few groceries
- finished Christmas shopping
- watched the Saints/Ravens game

... I finally napped for about 2 hours later in the afternoon. I seriously think that today may have been the most productive morning of my entire life... I got so much accomplished and am allowing myself to start things new with a clean slate (literally!).

In an effort to study some different things I downloaded a few podcasts. Tonight I listened to one by John Piper on being Single in Christ, and it felt really applicable to where I am in life. At the age of 27, and with lots of single friends... my girlfriends and I often joke out our singledom, how we're "ready to mingle," and how "one day" ____ will come along. However, something I have never really thought about is that God calls some people to be single f.o.r.e.v.e.r.

{forever, really??}

Here are Piper's 4 points (Full sermon can be found at http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/sermons/single-in-christ-a-name-better-than-sons-and-daughters):

"My main point is that God promises those of you who remain
single in Christ blessings that are better than the blessings of marriage and
children, and he calls you to display, by the Christ-exalting devotion of your
singleness, the truths about Christ and his kingdom that shine more clearly
through singleness than through marriage and childrearing. The truths,
namely,

1) That the family of God grows not by propagation through
sexual intercourse, but by regeneration through faith in Christ;1
2) That relationships in Christ are more permanent, and
more precious, than relationships in families (and, of course, it is wonderful
when relationships in families are also relationships in Christ; but we know
that is often not the case);
3) That marriage is temporary, and finally
gives way to the relationship to which it was pointing all along: Christ and the
church—the way a picture is no longer needed when you see face to face;

4) That faithfulness to Christ defines the value of life; all other relationships get
their final significance from this. No family relationship is ultimate;
relationship to Christ is.

To say the main point more briefly: God promises spectacular
blessings to those of you who remain single in Christ, and he gives you an
extraordinary calling for your life. To be single in Christ is, therefore, not a
falling short of God’s best, but a path of Christ-exalting, covenant-keeping
obedience that many are called to walk.

Piper's point really makes sense (no matter how frightening the thought of being single throughout life)... because no matter if God calls you to be married or single, family is possible... because Jesus is our Father... and Jesus was always single. Our relationships and families are not bound by the walls of conventional families... they are what we create by sharing ourselves and our faith with others. If God does not see fit for me to one day get married and physically have children, that doesn't mean I will be fruitless... because I can be a mother to someone else through my influence, through my discipleship, through showing His love to others.

So my lesson learned here... Even if God calls me to be single, I will never be alone. My family will grow through faith in Him and faith shared with others. May all my single friends consider Paul's words to the Corinthians as we live out the rest of our days, whether they be single, in a relationship, it's complicated, etc...

1 Corinthians 7: 32-35:

"I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is
concerned about the Lord’s affairs—how he can please the Lord. 33 But a married
man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— 34
and his interests are divided. 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."

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