Single Ladies...No Boys Allowed.

Yeah, yeah... "She doesn't know my life... easy for her to say... she doesn't know what she's talking about..." BUT, I'm going to say it anyways. 

Don't settle. Don't give in. Don't give up. Don't lose hope. Don't disregard your expectations.

Just because a few of the guys you meet don't meet your expectations doesn't mean they are too high. You just haven't met the right one yet. Chances are, when you actually do, he'll even exceed those expectations.

Just because "every other guy is doing it" doesn't mean you have to accept it. Your guy doesn't have to "do it" or whatever the new "it" is. Don't accept bull crap. You deserve better. 

Just because he's not what Cosmo defines as the "perfect man," doesn't mean that he isn't the perfect man for you. Quirks are a good thing. If you know that it's what God wants, don't even read that trash. It's irrelevant and will do nothing less than cause you to second guess yourself and your man. 

Finally, it's never a bad thing to expect respect. But first, you've got to respect yourself, AND accept yourself. 

I'm far from a Love Guru, but there is nothing worse than doing my "social networking rounds" and seeing negative comments about being single, there being no hope, and boys drool nonsense. It really is disheartening. I hate to know that there are many girls out there who have settled, and will never truly experience what they ought to be.

I just pray that each of you would stick it out, persevere, pray, until one day you're blessed beyond anything you could humanly fathom. God's plan for you will be worth it. 

Ecclesiastes 2:10-11

It has been far too long since I last blogged. I apologize for my lack of updates to you readers. But, if I'm being honest...given the nature of this blog, I didn't feel adequate enough to blog. It has been a crazy whirlwind since December and I came across this verse in Ecclesiastes this morning and decided it was time to pick up an old habit, again. So, without further adieu...

It's raw. It's real. It's unedited. 

"I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my labor, and this was the reward for all my toil. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless..." - Ecclesiastes 2:10-11

I will be the first to admit my imperfections, in fact, I embrace them. However, over the last year or so I have been conducting myself in a manner that is absolutely unacceptable. And it got worse before it got better. This morning I came across this verse written by Solomon and it struck a chord. I did the whole "Christian" thing. It's all I strived for. I even transferred to a Nazarene University because I wanted to strengthen my relationship with Christ. Little did I know, that decision would be the best decision of my life. 

Before we get to that--I had spent my teenage years leading a Christ-centered life. I was THAT girl. Ask anyone I went to high school with and they will tell you. "She was the goody goody." Which is absolutely accurate. I loved Jesus and I hated anything and anyone that got in my way. But after a couple of years in college, and a lot of bad influences, my walk with Christ seemed to fade. I hadn't necessarily done anything wrong, but my walk wasn't the same.

Then, after my grandpa passed away, I got myself involved with the wrong people during a time in which I was seeking any cure for my pain. I began to choose partying over church. Empty relationships over real loving friendships. Pretty much pushed Christ to the back burner. I guess this was my "acting out" stage. And as a baptist, if there is one thing I know...it is that rules are made to be broken. But, I spent so long doing what I wanted and listening to the lies of this world that I completely set aside anything God had planned for my life.

But luckily, the friends I made at Trevecca and God's unfailing slap in the face helped greatly in getting me back on track. Seeing the example that my friends led on a basis made me want to be a better person. But their genuine kindness and love reminded me that regardless of my filthy, tainted soul; Christ is always waiting with open arms for me--His daughter--to come sprinting back to Him.

I am so thankful for my new school, new friends, and unconditionally loving Father...I can't even express it in words. I'm sure I will fail miserably again one day--probably sooner rather than later--but I know that despite my imperfections there is always the One and Only lover of my soul standing right by my side just waiting for me to make a move toward Him. 

My prayer today is that I am constantly reminded of the goodness and love that the Father brings. And that I will remember to focus on his desires for my life rather than my own meaningless desires.