31 Days of Thankfulness: Richly Blessed

I asked God for strength, that I may achieve,

I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey…

I asked for health, that I might do greater things,

I was given infirmary, that I might do happier things…

I asked for riches, that I might be happy,

I was given poverty, that I might be wise…

I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men,

I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God…

I asked for all things that I may enjoy life,

I was given life, that I may enjoy all things…

I got nothing that I asked for- but everything I had hoped for;

Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.

I am among the most richly blessed.

- An Unknown Confederate Solider

This poem isn't necessarily about thankfulness in that the words thankful and grateful aren't mentioned in it, but this poem reminds of something very important. It reminds us that we are richly blessed, and that is something to be thankful for. It also reminds us that although we may not get everything we ask God for, He gives us what He knows we need, and for that we should be grateful.

I am thankful for...

67. Being able to work with other believers

68. Finding out today that one of our new supervisors is a Christian.

69. Seeing the excitement and zeal of a friend for Christ.

70. The encouragement of knowing that unbelievers see something different about me & want to know what it is.

71. Seeing direct answers to specific prayers.

Single Saturdays

Welcome to the first Single Saturday! In this season of life, God has seen fit for me to be single, so I thought that I would take one or two Saturdays out of the month to encourage any of my blog readers who may also be in a season of singleness. I will use each Single Saturday to share a poem, a post from another blog, or some of my own thoughts on being single.

This week I'd like to share with you one of my favorite poems. This poem always reminds me to trust in God for my future, and not try to figure out what the future has for me.

Just as He Unfolds the Rose

It is only a tiny rosebud,
A flower of God’s design,
But I cannot unfold the petals
With these clumsy hands of mine.

The secret of unfolding flowers
Is not known to such as I,
The flower God opens so sweetly,
In my hands would fade and die.

If I cannot unfold a rosebud,
This flower of God’s design,
Then how can I have wisdom
To unfold this life of mine?

So I’ll trust Him for His leading
Each moment of every day
And I’ll look to Him for His guidance
Each step of the pilgrim way.

For the pathway that lies before me
My heavenly Father knows
I’ll trust Him to unfold the moments
Just as He unfolds the rose.

~Anonymous.

I love being single. I am enjoying this season in my life right now, and have no desire to be in a relationship right now. I feel that as a single lady, I can do more, and different, things than if I were married. I've found many opportunities for ministry where I have more of an influence as a single lady than if I were married. Of course, there are areas for ministry that are not open to me because of my singleness, but I am okay with that.

It's taken me a few years, and a few almost-relationships for me to get where I am now. I used to hate being single, and desire nothing more than to be in a relationship with somebody, but, eventually, I learned the hard way that it is possible, and better, to be content to be single.

I encourage any of you single young ladies to check out the Young Ladies Christian Fellowship. I mentioned it in my previous post, but I want to mention it again because they have a ton of articles on singleness, waiting, and being content. There are a few others out there, too, but I have found this to be the one I like best.

Well, that's it for the first Single Saturday...short and sweet!! I hope you enjoyed it, and that you'll come back to read my other posts as well!