Thirty-Three & Single

Introduction: For starters, a disclaimer. This is not a book telling a person to stay single till they're 33 nor is it a book telling a person to get married, instead, it is a story of how God taught me to trust Him with matters of the heart. Through personal defeat and heartache, God got my attention in a most peculiar way only He could've orchestrated to tell me His love story of being 33 and single. This is His story lived out in my life. Whoever you are reading this, guy or gal, and no matter your relationship status, your dreams or life goals, as noble as they may be, one must ask themselves how they spend their time and energy, and where is God in the middle of it all? Too often God is set aside in a person's life's pursuit, but wonders where He is when something goes wrong or doesn't go their way, or a relationship they thought was meant for them doesn't pan out. That's where I was, and this is my story. You might be asking, "How does a Gen X born in '65 have anything of value to say to me, let alone understand anything I'm going through in my personal life with social media pressures of my generation?" As true as that is, especially in a world that is always changing from cultural clashes, natural disasters, health scares or wars, God wants you to know He is the same today, yesterday and tomorrow. What happened then, happens now. We may live in different times, but hurt, confusion, fitting in, all of it can be hard to handle on your own. God brings clarity to life mending our brokenness, comforting our loneliness and giving us hope in place of fear as we look to His word! . . . The beauty of the Bible is that it is not out of touch nor is it irrelevant or dated. "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Hebrews 4:12 (NIV) When one starts to grasp God's bigger picture for their lives through His son Jesus, His love story shines through and is as relevant today as was the day it was written. . . . A remarkable trait about Jesus is that everything about Him is unequivocally passion filled. Everything! He desires us to be passion filled as well, and first and foremost, for the things that matter most to Him. . . . We're invited to step into new life with Christ! How amazing is that? Not only do we rejoice in what God has done for us through Jesus, but we delight in what's ahead, what God requires of us, serving as Christ served, loving as Christ loved, and joining Him where He is at work. Like Jesus, living and loving with passion! It never dawned on me until I started putting my thoughts together for this book that God has been weaving a tapestry of my life that spans over 40 years. (Ironically, the time frame of 40 years appears in the bible on several occasions such as the time Moses was wandering in the wilderness with the Israelites in pursuit of the promise land for 40 years. Exodus 15-40 tells his story.) To that point, I have indeed lived in the desert literally, as a native Arizonan, and figurately, at times wandering, lost, confused and alone in a vast and weary land. God created His story in me. He's weaving your story into a beautiful tapestry as well, all for His good and glorious plan. We may never know what God is up to, but we can always, without a shadow of a doubt, trust Him! His ways are perfect and far better than any plan of our own. In moments like these, God impresses upon a person to pause and take account of all He has done. He shapes and molds us to show us His blessings in our lives. It is only then when we begin to appreciate His pursuing love for us so intently. When we recognize He chose His life's ministry as a single man to serve perfectly, to love completely, even giving His very best, His entire life for us on a cross at age 33, can we begin to even grasp the vastness of it all. Jesus is the lover of our souls, the only one to satisfy our deepest longings, walk through our darkest valleys and fulfill our every need, His love is SO amazing! God in His goodness never leaves us. He was always there for me, and is there for you too! If your pursuit in life is to love and to be loved, great news, it's right in front of you! His name is Jesus! He's been there all along. Run to Him. His loving arms are opened wide.