Dear friend, you don’t have to prove yourself lovable, because God has already proven His love for you.

He loves you so much, He sent Jesus to save you from sin, restore you to wholeness, and bring you into love-relationship with Himself.

This is what I wrote about in my last blog post, this reminder we so often need: God loves you.

Now, I’m a practical application girlie.​

Last month, I got a card in the mail from a friend. It made my day, not only because I love some good old fashioned snail mail, but also because the note inside was so encouraging!

It was a prayer that in the coming weeks with my sister’s wedding, and Valentine’s day, and whatever else may happen, I would sense God’s love in a special way and take comfort in knowing He is love.

It’s perhaps the most basic of our beliefs as followers of Jesus: that God is love and that He loves us.

​This weekend, my youngest sister is getting married! 

How do I feel about it, as the still-single, 30-something big sister?

I’m happy—so happy!—for her and her fiancé. I’m looking forward to the wedding with joy and excitement. I know God has goodness in store for them in their marriage, and I know God will work goodness for many through their marriage. And that fills me with awe, gratitude, and hope.

In the writing, teaching, and ministry I do, both online and in my local church and friendships, I often think of myself as an “advocate for joyful singleness.”

This doesn’t mean I think we have to enjoy every aspect of singleness or can’t have a desire for marriage.

It means I believe that in Christ, we can live joyfully in singleness and lean into the goodness of singleness, for however long we’re single, even as we may hope and long for marriage.

​Earlier this month, I went to a funeral for a friend’s father-in-law.
Also earlier this month, my youngest sister invited me over to help her begin wedding planning!
A couple weeks ago, I went to church and needed a hug, so I went to my dad and got that hug, and was able to cry off some of the stress I was feeling.
That same day at church I helped a couple of boys memorize John 3:16. Then the following Sunday I helped some teens memorize 1 Corinthians 5:6-7.