Learn from Their Example

Why Are You Thankful for Your Singleness?

There are a good number of us who spend the entire season of singleness in mourning or waiting or wishing it away instead of actually living. Part of thriving is looking at every aspect of our lives with gratitude—and yes, that even includes our singleness. So in the spirit of the Thanksgiving season, we wanted to pause for a moment and praise the Lord for all He has done for us, but especially for this period in our lives. May we continue to faithfully run the race set before us, whether we are single or married. (read more)

How My Singleness Became My Ministry

by Brenda Rodgers

My boyfriend and I broke up in September. We had only been dating for three months, but I flew out to meet his parents in Mississippi the month before, so for me it was real.

He broke up with me over the phone.

“Can’t you come to my apartment and talk to me?” I cried over the phone. (read more)

by Felicia Alvarez

“How you treat your family is how you’ll eventually treat your future husband. And how he treats his family, or those closest to him, is how a guy will eventually treat his future wife.”

My mom’s words still echoed in my head after the mother-daughter powwow we’d had the night before.

It’s easy to get so caught up in a relationship (or the idea of a relationship) that all we see is how we interact with each other—our focus is rarely on how we treat other people.

Let’s face it, if a guy is treating us right, taking us on nice dates, and showering us with thoughtful deeds and kind words, then we’re pretty happy. Even if we notice him mistreating his siblings, we overlook it, thinking “He would never treat me that way!” (read more)

• Will getting a Ph.D. mean that no guy will ever want to marry me?
• If I get a master’s degree, will that intimidate a possible future spouse?
• If I choose a certain concentration over another, will it scare away guys?  (read more)

How to Find a Godly Spouse

by Bethany Stutzman

So how do you know when you’ve found a godly spouse who will love and cherish you “until death do you part”? If you want to find a godly spouse, you have to first know what a godly spouse looks like. And how would you do that? By understanding where godliness comes from. (read more)

Handling the Holidays

by Fern Horst

Holidays. Days you look forward to with excited anticipation, or face with a growing dread? Whichever emotion is attached to the holidays for you, or something on the spectrum in between, focusing on something and Someone beyond feelings is what God calls each of us to, no matter our circumstances. (read more)

Dealing with Well-Meaning People

By Fern Horst

Just recently I received an email asking me to address a certain topic here on Purposeful Singleness. I’m happy to do that in today’s post. If you would like to see a topic addressed let me know either in the comments below or by using the contact form. I won’t promise to answer them all, but I’ll gladly consider each one.

Here was the recent request… (read more)

Where Is Your Bethlehem?

by Marilyn Ehle

Has the path been long, the people uncaring, the circumstances burdensome? When we submit ourselves as servants to a loving God, we can—in quietness and confidence—add “May it be to me as you have said” no matter the place or position in which we find ourselves. (read more)

Idealizing Love, Romance and the Opposite Sex

by Shana Schutte

When I lost a man I loved while in my twenties, I was certain I couldn’t handle any more heartbreak, so I unwittingly created an ideal picture of my Prince Charming. Can you guess what happened with the next guy I dated? Instead of seeing what was good about him, my mental doodling highlighted only his imperfections. In an effort to guarantee a life without emotional pain or romantic regret, I instead lost out on some good relational opportunities. (read more)

With Those Who Rejoice

by Carolyn McCulley

Mixed in with the bills and advertising mailers, there it is: another wedding invitation. Addressed to you alone, no “and guest” invited.

Waiting in the email inbox is another happy announcement, along with the photos of the sparkly ring: Another friend is happily engaged.

At the mall, you spot a former classmate — and her conspicuous baby bump. Another baby shower invitation lurks in your future.

You? You still wait. And wait.

This is the first step in rejoicing with those who rejoice: To sit back for a moment to consider our current situation “in view of God’s mercy.” (read more)

Surviving the Season of Love

by Susan Ellingburg

Well, single friends, it has arrived: February, the month of love and romance. My condolences. But seriously, no matter what state your love life (or lack thereof) may be in, this could be a fabulous month for you! In fact, it might just be your best month ever. (read more)

How to Look for the Love of a Lifetime

by Dr. Richard J. Krejcir

We all desire and seek love and companionship to fill an empty hole we think we have. For some singles, this is the driving force in their life, as it was for me at one time. Yet, as Christians, our primary purpose in life is to serve and glorify God, and fulfill the call of the destiny that He gives us. (read more)

Complete as One

by Fern Horst

Many people believe they cannot truly live until they find their significant other. They are unable to believe in themselves until they find partners who believe in them. Some people do not feel they have worth until they find someone to give them a sense of worth. And there are many who gain confidence from a dating or marriage relationship. But is this the only way, or, more importantly, the best way, to find oneself? (read more)

Protecting Purity–Keeping Sacred Things Sacred

I used to feel the need to qualify or downplay the fact that Eric and I didn’t kiss until our wedding day. It seemed so extreme and unnecessary to people, and I didn’t want them to think that I was “judging” them if they chose to kiss before marriage. So I went out of my way to say, apologetically, “Eric and I chose not to kiss until our wedding day – but that doesn’t mean that you need to do that – it’s really not a big deal either way.” But in recent years, my attitude has changed.  (read more)

Fighting Well

I married my best friend. I know that’s a cliché, but it’s true! We were high school sweethearts and spent our dating years fishing, off-roading and dreaming of being rock stars. Our wedding was exactly three weeks after my eighteenth birthday. Three jobs, two houses and one child later, people are asking how we do it. Often they just blurt out, “Eighteen, what were you thinking?!” and many are surprised we’ve made it this far.  (read more)

Shouting Love

What happens, deep inside your heart, when you think about Valentine’s Day? How do you feel when you walk into a store and “LOVE” shouts at you from all the displays? Do you get a warm loving feeling? (read more)

Abba Father

What would happen if you were able to walk into the throne room of God the Father? Whom would you see?

Until very recently, I could not make it past the door to the throne room. God the Father did not smile. He was stern. He was unapproachable. I firmly believed-and lived-under the belief that if I “did not do everything right and well” that God would get me. I had to earn the right to be in His presence. I had to earn His approval. I had to earn His acceptance. (read more)

Cracked Under Pressure

We were young and in love, and life seemed good. Entering into the marriage commitment all seemed perfect, until our first child was born with a severe disability. Then the cracks began to tear down what we had thought was a solid, healthy commitment. (read more)

It Seemed So Right!

He was nice. I liked him. When I started to date Daryl, I thought that he was the one God had planned for me. (read more)