Single and Unashamed

For all you singles out there this Valentine's season, congratulations! You're single! For all you taken people out there this Valentine's season, congratulations! You're taken!

My point is, no matter what your relationship status is, you should celebrate. It is worth celebrating.

I have been in many leadership roles and in many different congregational settings in the few years I have been a believer, and one thing that I have always heard is that I just need to be patient until God brings the right guy to me so I can do ministry, which don't get me wrong, I appreciate the kind words Brenda, but I don't want to be patient. I want to do my ministry where I am called for exactly who I am, single or not.

Recently I have learned that my worth is not found in my relationship status because I am not COMPLETED in my relationship status, I am complete in the God was created us to be relational. Again, don't get me wrong, I would love to be married, especially this time of year, and in my flesh I maybe mourn that a little too much, but in my spirit I am content where I am.

I am single.

Some of you reading that sentence will start feeling the shame creep up and rest itself on your shoulders. Well you better rebuke that in Jesus' name and shake it off because there is NO SHAME in that sentence. I think in the Church we sometimes do a bad job of reminding our singles that they are not only worthy when they are married. Listen, I am single and I am going to rise up in flames, I am going to burn bright and I am going to burn hot. I don't need to be married to be on fire for God.

So just to be clear, here are some things I am not:

1. I am not unworthy because I am single.

If anything I know my worth way more as a single because there is no other relationship like my relationship with Jesus. No distractions.

2. I am not defined by my relationship status.

There is too much emphasis on "the married" and "the singles". Here is the thing, defining people that way brings division. I want a church where it doesn't matter if you are single or married, male or female, white or black, rich or poor. The only time Jesus brought definition was to the sinners, and that is all inclusive.

3. I am not uncalled to lead because I am single.

Listen, just because I don't have someone standing by my side does not mean I cannot lead. I can and I will if it is God's will.

4. I am not unseen because I am single.

Again, I am gonna burn bright and I am gonna burn hot.

5. I am not ignorant because I am single.

Ignorance does not equal single. (Though I may be ignorant in some specific areas.... ;) )

Here is what I am:

1. I am seen in my singleness.
2. I am worthy in my singleness.
3. I am whole in my singleness.
4. I am wise in my singleness.
5. I am a leader in my singleness.
6. I am me in my singleness.

I AM UNASHAMED IN MY SINGLENESS.

And that is what you should see.

P.S.: I am not shaming married couples either, just to be clear. I am happy you are happy. Just like you should be happy that I am happy. :)