Antonio Orazio Campanella is a big name for a little guy. I've been trying to come up with a nickname (not Tony!) other than "sweet baby boy." Any suggestions?

I love to hold him and talk to him. I tell him about how much fun we're going to  have together. We'll read books, take walks, make cookies and sand castles and create special memories together. I can't wait to tell him the story of his birth. To tell him how his mommy and daddy couldn't wait to see him and how much they wanted him!

The days since his birth have been like walking in a fairy tale. Seeing my own little girl become a mom and my son become an uncle has been like a dream. It's fun to watch your children grow and embrace every new season of life. And this is a wonderful new season for all of us! What's next.... watching Antonio experience those same seasons. Life is so exciting through the eyes of a child!

Last week Focus on the Family had two guest speakers on their show, Candice Watters and Carolyn McCaulley. The topic was "Singleness: Living with Hope Deferred." You can listen to the podcast by going to Focus on the Family's Website. Both speakers were great but Carolyn's message is what I want to talk about in this blog.

She talks about the gift of singleness. This is the same gift that Paul talks about in 1 Cor. 7. I was so intrigued by her message that I picked up her book, "Did I Kiss Marriage Goodbye?"

Here are some insights from the second chapter of her book:

"If we're single, we have the gracious gift of singleness. How we may feel about it - 'Do I like being single? Do I desire marriage?' - is not part of the equation. The emphasis here is on a gracious God who gives good gifts and ultimately on His purpose for giving them."

"Ultimately we are single because that's God's will for us right now. That's it. It's not because we are too old, too fat, too skinny, too tall, too short, too quiet, too loud, too smart, too simple, too demanding or too anything else. Though perhaps these things seem like valid reasons, they don't trump God's will."

"The good news is that the singleness is not about you. You have a 'gracious endowment' that is for the good of those around you! (So the next time someone asks you why you're still single, you can reply with a straight face, "It's for your good!')."

How many of us singles are looking for the gift receipt so that we can return this gift for another? I sure was!

So let me ask you singles out there......

Do you see your singleness as a gift? And if so, how did you get there?

Are you still thinking that your singleness is because you're too old, fat, short, whatever? Or are you trusting in God's trump card?

And finally, is your singleness still all about YOU or are you using your gift to bless the body of Christ. If you are, share with us how you're doing that.

I'd love to hear from you!

In this article, the person asked the question, "Why does it seem most churches focus so much on married couples?" and then made this statement, "Sometimes I think if you're not married, you really do not fit in. This makes me think that is why so many single people go to bars to find love. It is hard being a Christian single; you're lonely but where are the singles there ... not in church because the church seems to just cater to the married couples." Then ended with this question, "So how can the churches reach out to everyone, not just married couples?"

Cliff Young, a Crosswalk.com contributing writer and a veteran single of many decades, was the "he" who responded. He broke his answer down into two parts:

"So what can a church do?

• A church can encourage its membership to include (not just use) singles of every type in all of their activities.

• A church can encourage its members to lead, encourage and mentor singles--spiritually, emotionally, and relationally.

• A church can encourage and provide resources for singles to create an atmosphere where they can grow in the Word, share common desires, and meet their needs.

• A church can provide leadership and guidance that challenges singles to take part in opportunities to serve in the church and to serve others, rather than self-serving.

What can we (singles) do?

• We can participate in more activities in the church, not just those geared towards singles or where only singles are involved.

• We can share our struggles, triumphs, experiences and lives with others in the church (and seek counsel when needed).

• We can take responsibility to organize our own activities and create opportunities for singles to gather.

• We can utilize our time to serve and minister to others.

• We can step out of our own comfort zone."

 Then he summarized by saying this, "The church is ultimately not responsible for fulfilling all of our needs. We are the church. We each need to take responsibility for ourselves for what we want and desire. If you see a need, fill it."

Then Laura MacCorkle, Crosswalk.com's Senior Entertainment Editor, responded: "So the question may not be, 'What can my church do for singles?' (because it's probably not going to change up all its programs or ministries tomorrow to meet the diverse needs of singles who are here today), but more so 'what can I do for my church?'" She concludes with this statement, "There have been many, many times when I have felt like no one was helping me or I had been given the short end of the relationship stick or that 'the world was against me' or that married people just don't understand. Believe me. And then an opportunity was presented for me to reach out and do something for someone else. First, I grumbled internally and wrestled with God. And then finally, I gave up and submitted and did what God was asking of me. And every time--every time--I was richly blessed. I don't know how God does that, but he does."

There's no doubt that singles need a place to belong. God created us with a need for relationships. As a single adult, that need began to be filled when I stepped out of my comfort zone. I stepped out and went to my first SALSA Conference in January of 2000 where I began my personal relationship with another single adult, Jesus Christ. Since then, I've stepped out of that comfort zone many times including taking the leap to a career in full-time ministry where I oversee Family Life's SALSA Ministry.

As Cliff states, WE are the church. If you're single, maybe it's time to  ask yourself a new question. Maybe it's time to step out of your comfort zone.

What do you think?

This year's Christmas Ladies' Luncheon and Craft Bazaar will be held at the Family Life Center in Bath on Thursday, December 10 at 11:30 AM. This fun event gives women a chance to fellowship over a delicious meal, hear some words of encouragement and of course, get some shopping in without going to those crowded malls.

 The Craft Bazaar is only possible because of the many beautiful donations that are made by local crafters and donated to Family Life. That's right, we need your help! Now is the time to start making your crafts that the ladies will be sure to oooh and aaaah over at the Bazaar!

 Not sure if you are the "crafty" type? How about putting together a gift basket with a special theme? For ladies - a basket with chocolate and coffee or lotions and soaps. For the gardener - a basket of seeds and gloves with a "Garden Angel" or for kids - an imagination basket with crayons, paper, stickers and markers. You get the picture! A monetary gift would also be a blessing!

The proceeds for this year's auction will go towards an air conditioner for the kitchen. It will be specifically for the dessert room - yeah, the place where all those yummy desserts are made!

December is right around the corner so start making those crafts now. They can be brought to Family Life during regular business hours any day between now and December 10th. The sooner the better!

To find out more about the luncheon and to purchase tickets click here.

So often we suffer from what the authors call the "someday" syndrome. Always waiting for someday to begin to live the life we've always dreamed of. You know how that goes.... I'll take that vacation when life is not so busy or I'll be happy when I have the right job, find the right person, have a family.

Why do we spend so much of our time waiting? Waiting for that someday to arrive? Our time on earth is limited and as you read this, another minute is gone forever. If we knew we only had one month to live, would we live differently? Would we be more deliberate about how we spend our time?

I think if I knew I only had 30 days left to live, I would want to see as much of God's amazing world as possible. Experience the variety of His creation, meet people from different cultures. There is only one drawback though.... I would want to experience it with the people I love the most - my children and friends. OK - everyone gets a month's vacation! Let's go!

This quote from the book really makes me think.

"Looking at old tombstones, I can't help but recognize that entire lives are now reduced before me to two dates and one little dash. Some monuments include facts or sayings, Bible verses or poignant memorials, but each person's life really comes down to what transpired between those two dates. It comes down to what's in the dash. I look at the dash of a particular person's marker and wonder, What did he live for? Whom did she love? What were his passions? What were her biggest mistakes and greatest regrets?"

God decides what dates go on our tombstone but we get to decide how we're going to use our dash. Are you truly living your dash? Are you living passionately, loving completely? Will you leave this earth boldly?

How would you spend your time if you knew you had only 30 days left to live??

"Teach us to pray" is what the disciples asked of Jesus. Not teach us to preach. Not teach us to praise. Not teach us to evangelize. They said, "Teach us to pray."

This seemed to be their most urgent need? Perhaps they understood the true power of prayer. They witnessed first-hand the miracles of Jesus. They saw the connection between communion with the Father and the unleashing of heaven's power on earth.

Have you seen the wheel of the universe move lately? Is it moving in the body of Christ today? I've seen hundreds of people attend a Christian concert. They show up to connect with a group of musicians. But hold a prayer meeting and how many show up to connect with the King of Kings?

I think we need to go back to the basics. Let's ask the question the disciples asked and then let's follow Nike's advice and "Just Do It!" What do you think?

………

They will be called Holy People,

The Redeemed of the Lord;

And you will be called Sought After,”

Isaiah 62: 4 & 12

This song is an amazing reminder that we are indeed His beloved!