Thrive
Are you married? What do you think when you see a single unmarried person at church? Do you think that the person is doing awesome? Do you think that the person has such a busy life that they just do not have time for relationships of any kind and they must be lonely? Do you think since the person is not married that they have nothing but free time?
Maybe you offer well intended advice like – “have you tried e-harmony?” Or “when you stop looking then the right person will come.” Or, “better to be single than marry the wrong person.” Then, perhaps, you wonder why that single unmarried person doesn’t seem to appreciate your advice. They might just nod and smile at your comments and move along quickly.
Are you single? As a single unmarried person in the church, how do you feel? Do you ever feel left out of certain activities? Do you ever think, “Why am I here?” Have you asked yourself, “Am I enough…just as I am?” Have you wondered what the church message IS for the single unmarried person?
Often, the message we feel like we hear for singles is that we are just biding time until we are married then our lives (and ministry) can really start. You can tell this by the 2,990 plus Christian books on dating and looking (I Kissed Dating Goodbye, Sacred Search, Find a Date Worth Keeping or Your Money Back- to name a few). Even most singles conferences are all about dating and how to find “the one.” It’s a lie. The single life is not about sitting around feeling discontent, lonely and disappointed, just waiting for God to bring us our mates so we can get our lives started. God has more for his single unmarried children than just sitting around waiting to see if they will ever enter the next stage of life. Much more.
Do you know that God calls for all of his children, especially those who are single, to Thrive with Him? To Thrive is to grow or to flourish. For the single, unmarried person that means that you do not need to wait until a special event in your life to flourish – you can Thrive with God right now. Dr. Lina Abujamra, author of the book Thrive: The Single Life As God Intended, really puts this message into perspective, pointing out that you are not in a waiting room. God is calling you to live an abundant life with Him right now. Lina reminds us, from John 10:10 that “the thief comes to kill, steal and destroy.” Satan is on the prowl to steal abundant life from the single children of God. Often, the single unmarried hear the message that they are not good enough, or that their relationship did not work because of something they did, or that they have to wait until they are married to go into full time ministry, or even that God is not hearing their prayers. These are just some of many lies that can crush your spirit or stop you from thriving with God right now. How do we combat this and live the thriving life that God intends for us right now in this moment of life?
On October 10th we will be hearing from Dr. Lina Abujamra through a video series about what it means to Thrive in the Single Unmarried Life as God Intended. There will be a variety of workshops choices ranging from Thriving with God to Learning the DNA of Any Relationship. We will also worship together, fellowship and break bread (have lunch) with one another. This will be a time of encouragement, learning, and, hopefully, thriving with you.
Lina says this, “Whether you are seasoned in the faith as I am, starting out, or even wondering who God is, Thrive is for you wherever you are at right now with God.” This is the truth – Thrive is for all men and women who are single unmarried and out of high school. The young and the young at heart! My own single mom pointed out to me that even someone like her needed to hear the message of Thrive and she learned so much when she listened to the series with me. Thrive is for every single, unmarried, post-high school person.
I know that I am ready to Thrive in my single life and not just try to survive it. It is time to take a stand and say that our lives are more about the pursuit of Jesus than dating and getting married. I am ready to take a stand and Thrive as God intends for me to Thrive.
Are you ready to Thrive with me?
If so sign up either online via church website (www.pdxchurch.org/thrive) or in the church lobby on Sunday. The cost is only $10 which is less than buying a new dating book or a month of e-harmony.
I hope to see you there on October 10th.