Showing posts with label Marriage and Family The Missing Dimension. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Marriage and Family The Missing Dimension. Show all posts

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Three Traits to Avoid when Looking for a Husband

An interesting article from http://www.ucg.org/ about looking for a mate. This follows this post about Russia's dealings with its neighbors. This follows this post about the homosexual equals sign on facebook.  For a free magazine subscription or to get this book for free click HERE! or call 1-888-886-8632.

Life Lessons: Three Traits to Avoid when Looking for a Husband


by Gary Petty






Source: Photos.comWhen my daughters were teens I told them to be particularly aware of three traits in a boy because these traits influence what kind of man he would become.



Points to build on

1. How does he treat his parents?



Proverbs 19:26He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach.



See All... "He who mistreats his father and chases away his mother is a son who causes shame and brings reproach."



Proverbs 28:24Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no transgression; the same is the companion of a destroyer.



See All... "Whoever robs his father or his mother, And says, 'It is no transgression,' The same is companion to a destroyer."



Proverbs 30:17The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.



See All... "They eye that mocks his father, And scorns obedience to his mother, The ravens of the valley will pick it out, And the young eagles will eat it."



2. Is he cruel to animals?



Proverbs 12:10A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.



See All... "The righteous man regards the life of his animal, but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel."



3. How does he treat those whom he sees as weaker than himself?



Proverbs 14:31He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.



See All... "He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, But he who honors Him has mercy on the needy."



Application

These principles apply to any woman looking for a good husband. No matter how attractive, charming or rich a man may be, if he mistreats his parents; is cruel to animals; and oppresses those who he sees as weak he will do the same to his wife and children.







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Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Hope & Help for Children of Divorce

An interesting article from http://www.ucg.org/  about children of divorce. This follows this post about personal struggles.  For a free magazine subscription or to get this book for free click HERE! or call 1-888-886-8632.







article by Vertical Thought Editor





Every year millions of children experience the trauma of their parents' divorce. Millions more have already gone through that pain and been affected in ways large and small. What can help children of divorce? One who has been there shares the keys that helped him through that experience.



My life was going to be forever changed, that much I could understand. I knew Mom and Dad were not getting along very well, because sometimes at night, through my bedroom wall, I could hear the sounds of arguing, then crying. But as of tonight our family would never be the same again.



A man waited in a car across the street, and when Dad got home the man gave him some papers. In less time than it takes to watch a TV sitcom, it was over. Dad packed a few things, got in his car and left. Our family of four was no more.



Divorce was a word that sounded like a bomb exploding. This was the early 1970s, and while more and more families around us were being torn apart by divorce, it had always seemed like such a remote thing. I'd heard about it, and I knew families who had gone through it, but divorce was not something that I ever imagined would touch me or my family.



But on that blackest of all nights, it did. I couldn't fathom what the future would be like, but I knew without a doubt that the rest of my life would be very different from my first 11 years.



Over the years I've likened the destruction of my family to standing on a beach with a double-fisted handful of very fine, very dry, very special sand. It has substance, but it isn't solid—it isn't anything you can really hang onto.



No matter how hard you try to squeeze and hold on to it, with every beat of your heart more of it sifts through the small gaps between your fingers and falls to the ground. You can't catch what is falling without dropping more, and you could never ever gather every grain of your special handful of sand and hold it all together again. In no time, most of it is gone and all you have left in your hands is an empty space.



Divorce's impact on children



I am far from alone in my experiences. Today the U.S. divorce rate for first marriages is 43 percent, and for second marriages it's 60 percent. Upwards of one million American children live through the divorce of their parents every year.



Whether the divorce was a messy one or a "good divorce," every one of those children is impacted in powerful and generally negative ways. For one thing, these children do not seem to know as much about building a happy marriage. The divorce rate for first marriages of children of divorce is a staggering 60 percent.



The children of divorce also have, in general, a much more difficult time with religion and a relationship with God. Statistically they are much less religious than their counterparts from intact families. They often describe themselves as equally spiritual, but they are far less involved in any form of organized religion.



Children of divorce struggle with understanding God as a loving, tender and merciful Father. A great many feel that God is distant, aloof and generally uninterested in the day-to-day concerns of humanity.



Others reject the idea of a personal God altogether and prefer to commune with the spirituality of nature or participate in solitary meditation. A real, personal, close and loving relationship with the Creator of the universe seems unattainable and perhaps undesirable.



Learning to be able to trust again



The trauma of watching parents divorce can generate mental and emotional obstacles to a strong faith, but they are not insurmountable. The keys are in trust, belonging and hope.



When parents part ways, their children often feel like a sacred trust has been broken. If I can't trust my parents to always be there for me, they say to themselves, how can I think that anyone else will, even God?



The matter is complicated for many when the Bible says God is our Father (Matthew 6:1Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.



See All...) and their experience of a father is negative or even nonexistent. The word "father" often does not engender much trust!



But God is ever and always trustworthy. He is perfect, while our parents, no matter how wonderful they may have been, could never be. He promises that He will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.



See All...), and that is a very powerful promise!



A human being may let us down, but our Creator never will. He always knows what we need and when we need it. He may not always provide what we want at a given moment, but we can be assured that as we yield to Him, in His love and mercy He will always make sure we have what we need, which is what we would want in the long run.



Even the divorce of my parents, which hurt so deeply and changed the shape of who I would be, can be turned into something for my good (Romans 8:28And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.



See All...). I may not be able to see how for a while, but that is a promise in which I can place my wholehearted trust.



Regaining a sense of belonging



A sense of belonging is also a fundamental need in nearly every one of us. The desire to belong somewhere seems to be encoded into our emotional makeup. Some people find belonging in sports or academic pursuits. Some find it in art and music, some in service and helping. Some even try to find belonging in rebelling.



Our God offers us a chance to belong, to be a part of something so much larger than ourselves. God promised to build His Church, protect it and provide for it no matter what. In fact, He promises that nothing can prevail against His Church (Matthew 16:18And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.



See All...). We can be a part of something that really will change the world!



God is in the process of calling many children to Him and offering them a place in His Kingdom (Hebrews 2:10For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.



See All...; Revelation 5:10And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.



See All...). God is building His family, and if we humble ourselves and yield to Him, then you and I can and do belong there!



Looking forward with hope



Trust and belonging then lead to a wonderful hope. Divorce and all the accompanying pain and problems do little to foster hope for the future. But as we learn to trust our Father in heaven and realize we belong with His people and in His Kingdom, we can grasp and take to ourselves the hope God offers to all mankind!



He assures us that the world is not going to end with a total collapse of the earth's ecosystem or in a cloud of poisonous gas or in radioactive dust from a nuclear holocaust. Rather, God gives us hope through promising that He will intervene and send Jesus Christ to usher in a new and wonderful world of peace unlike anything mankind has ever seen before (Isaiah 9:7Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.



See All...).



But more immediately, there is hope that our lives can be different. God has laws that govern relationships, especially marriage. If we will faithfully follow those laws, and revere the institution of marriage God created, we do not have to end up among the 60 percent who cannot seem to find success in marriage. We don't have to be among those without a daily relationship with the majestic God!



God means what He promises



When my parents divorced, I watched as the only family I had ever known turned to sand and drained away through my fingers. It affected the way I viewed everything in my life. But I discovered through the pages of the Bible—and through personal experience with my Creator—a trust, a sense of belonging and a wonderful hope for both now and the future.



I have never been divorced, and my wife and I have shared more than two decades together quite happily with our children. My faith is strong and growing, and it's the underlying foundation to virtually everything I have ever accomplished. My life today is fuller and more complete than I could have ever dreamed of on that dark night several decades ago.



When God inspired the apostle Paul in Romans 8:28And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.



See All... to pen the words "all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose," He meant it—even to children of divorce. VT



The author's name has been withheld for family privacy.

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Wednesday, July 25, 2012

World News and Trends: Get married, stay married, live longer



An interesting article from http://www.ucg.org/  about the dangers of divorce. This follows this post about anti-Christian views in Great Britain.  For a free magazine subscription or to get this book for free click HERE! or call 1-888-886-8632.

World News and Trends: Get married, stay married, live longer






article by Jerold Aust, John Ross Schroeder





Does marriage statistically make you live longer?



Marrying and staying married has a significant impact on longevity for both men and women, according a study by the National Center for Health Statistics that analyzed 2.2 million U.S. death certificates from 2003.



The study found that married men lived an average of 77.6 years compared to 69.2 years for never-married men and 67.1 years for divorced men. Married women had an average life span of 81 years compared to 77.4 years for the never-wed and 72 for women who had divorced. (Source: Scripps Howard News Service.)

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Wednesday, July 18, 2012

In the News: "Good Divorce" Not So Good

An interesting article from http://www.ucg.org/  about the consequences of divorce. This follows this post about Jesus Christ. For a free magazine subscription or to get this book for free click HERE! or call 1-888-886-8632.

In the News: "Good Divorce" Not So Good






article by Amanda Stiver





A popular theory holds that "good divorces" - where separated couples remain on relatively good terms - are harmless to children and parents. But a recent study shows this idea has no basis in reality.



The study from Pennsylvania State University, which examined 1,000 families, found that the children of friendlier divorces faced the same sort of problems as those kids from bitter, acrimonious divorces. Although children of non-hostile divorces had fewer behavioral problems during their teen years, they nevertheless had, like their peers from unfriendly divorces, self-esteem problems, dissatisfaction with life, tendency to smoke and try drugs, and lower grades.



Experts hope these findings will prod divorce counselors to make greater effort to encourage couples to try harder to save their marriages and to provide better counseling for children of "good divorces" (Fiona MacRae, "A Divorce Can Never Be Good for Children No Matter How Amicable It Is, Says Study," Telegraph.co.uk, Feb. 2, 2012).



God created marriage as a binding union between man and woman for life. Believing that breaking this physical and emotional bond carries no consequence is sorely naive. Marriage is serious. Premarital counseling and even pre-engagement counseling with a minister or wise counselor is important for young people considering marriage. Going into marriage with divorce as an easy-out option isn’t a stable foundation for building a future and a family.

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Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Michigan Paper Campaigns Against High Divorce Rate

An interesting article from http://www.ucg.org/  about an attempt to fight divorce in Michigan. This follows this post about a Movie called "Expelled."   For a free magazine subscription or to get this book for free click HERE! or call 1-888-886-8632.

Michigan Paper Campaigns Against High Divorce Rate






article by Melvin Rhodes





As the state of New York joins the other 49 states in allowing no-fault divorce, a surprising bill before the Michigan legislature aims to make divorce for couples with young children more difficult.



God hates divorce.



We're told this in Malachi 2:16For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.



See All..., which adds, "For it covers one's garment with violence."



Surprisingly, my local newspaper also seems to see the connection between divorce and violence.



Michigan, like all the other states in the United States now that New York has changed its law, has a no-fault divorce law. That means that if any married person wants out of a marriage, he or she can get out of it. There doesn't have to be a reason. "More than 80% of...divorces are unilateral," my local paper reported ("There's Plenty to Discuss About Divorce," Lansing State Journal, July 9, 2010).



The Lansing State Journal believes this needs to change.



Every year, in Michigan alone, there are 30,000 children affected by divorce. That is 30,000 young children who will no longer share the same home with Mom and Dad. Usually, the children stay with Mom, and Dad lives elsewhere. As the total family income remains the same, this results in considerable hardship and even dire poverty.



Divorce is the number one cause of poverty. According to a recent Dateline documentary on NBC, 60 percent of children who do not have enough to eat are the children of divorce, living with a mother who is often destitute.



Highlighting the link with violence, the Lansing State Journal warns that these children are the most vulnerable in our society and the ones who are most likely to fill our prisons a decade or so down the line.



Yet the prevailing attitude of many when justifying their own divorce is: "Children are resilient!"



Trends and tragedies

I remember watching the Middle Eastern news channel al-Jazeera some years ago while on a visit to West Africa. This was at a time when the United States was lecturing a Middle Eastern nation on its human rights record. One lady from the region made the comment: "Who are the Americans to lecture us on human rights? The basic right of every child is to have two parents, yet half America's children don't." Good point.



The U.S. divorce rate is about 50 percent. Half of all American marriages end in divorce.



On a recent visit to Turkey, I asked our tour guide what the divorce rate was in the country. He said it was 3 percent. So I started checking the Internet. India has an even lower divorce rate of 1.1 percent, or 11 couples in a thousand!



It might surprise some today to learn that the U.S. divorce rate was much lower a century ago. There was a time when divorce was frowned upon and socially unacceptable. Of course, that was also a time when people were more aware of biblical teachings against divorce and for the sanctity and lifetime commitment of marriage.



The fact that it has become much more acceptable in the last few decades is a contributing factor to the exponential increase in the number of divorces.



"A team of researchers led by Brown University's Rose McDermott looked over material from a study of 12,000 Massachusetts residents since 1948 and concluded that divorce is contagious," wrote the Lansing paper on its opinion page leader. "A bill to restrict divorce, Senate Bill 1127, was filed in February." So far, it has not progressed any further.



Continuing, the paper said: "The state of Michigan has a vested interest in the welfare of its children. It's long been known that divorce can lead to all sorts of negative outcomes for children. As such, Michigan should reverse the last 30 years of policy and restrict the use of no-fault divorce for couples with minor children."



What the Bible says about the attacks on marriage

The apostle Paul's predictions in 2 Timothy 3:1-2 [1] This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

[2] For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,





See All... help us understand why divorce is more prevalent today. "But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves."



Not just men, of course, but women also. This is a very self-centered age. Selfishness abounds. Marriage requires a couple to care for each other. A successful marriage requires selflessness; selfishness is detrimental to marriage.



Paul also wrote of how the relationship between a man and a woman is similar to the relationship between Jesus Christ and the Church. "So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes it and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church" (Ephesians 5:28-29 [28] So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

[29] For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:





See All...).



God not only hates divorce, He never intended it to happen in the first place. Jesus Christ said: "Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so" (Matthew 19:8He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.



See All...).



A primary reason for divorce is mentioned in the very next verse. "And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery" (Matthew 19:9And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.



See All...).



A prophecy about the end time states it very clearly: "They commit harlotry continually" (Hosea 4:18Their drink is sour: they have committed whoredom continually: her rulers with shame do love, Give ye.



See All...). The sexual immorality that is prevalent in the Western world today directly contributes to the high divorce rate. People who have had multiple sexual partners before marriage are highly unlikely to settle down and commit to one partner for life after marriage—they will eventually revert to their previous bad habits.



God hates divorce—and the United States and other Western nations largely ignore Him!



Nation continues to mock God

Cal Thomas, the conservative syndicated columnist, had an article in the same paper on Aug. 13, 2010, warning the United States against further mockery of the Almighty, this time over the trend toward same-sex marriage.



"The decision by a single, openly gay federal judge to strike down the will of 7 million Californians, tradition dating back millennia [not to mention biblical commands, which the judge decided, in his capacity as a false god, to also invalidate] is judicial vigilantism equal to Roe v. Wade" ("California Ruling Shows U.S. Immorality," Lansing State Journal ).



Roe v. Wade was the Supreme Court case that legalized abortion in 1973. Neither of these seismic changes to the nation's culture was approved by the majority in a democratic process.



Thomas continued: "Most great powers unravel from within before invading armies [or in America's case, terrorists] conquer them. A preacher might develop a good sermon on how nations fare when they mock God."



Later in the column, Thomas wrote: "Abraham Lincoln concluded that our Civil War might have been God's judgment for America's tolerance of slavery. If that were so, why should 'the Almighty,' as Lincoln frequently referred to God, stay His hand in the face of our celebration of same-sex marriage?"



Although there are many people in the United States and other Western nations who are trying to be faithful to their spouses, recognizing that this is what God wants and expects of those who follow Him, increasingly it seems people just do what they want to do regardless of what God says.



Thomas continued, "A nation that loses its moral sense is a nation without any sense at all. Muslim fanatics who wish to destroy us are correct in their diagnosis of our moral rot: loss of a fear of God, immodesty, especially among women, materialism and much more."



In conclusion, Cal Thomas quoted Scripture: "None of this should surprise anyone who takes the time to read and understand what happens to people and nations that disregard God... 'Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint,' which is paraphrased in the Living Bible, 'When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild' (Proverbs 29:18Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.



See All...); and 'In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit' (Judges 21:25In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.



See All...)." WNP

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Thursday, July 5, 2012

Waiting for Marriage - What Do I Do Now?

An interesting article from http://www.ucg.org/ about marriage preparation. This follows this post about immigration in America and Europe.  For a free magazine subscription or to get this book for free click HERE! or call 1-888-886-8632.

Waiting for Marriage - What Do I Do Now?






article by Amanda Stiver





Do you feel stuck and lonely in the single life - worried that you’ll never find a mate? A right perspective will help - along with taking action.







Source: Photos.comDuring our teens we may imagine that marriage and family will just "happen" to us when we get older—that things will somehow come together. But as we go through our adult years, it doesn't always seem that way.



A favorite song of mine, "Waitin' for My Dearie" from the 1950s musical Brigadoon , contains this meaningful lyric: "Waitin' for my dearie, an' happy am I to hold my heart till he comes strollin' by."



The setting of the story is an imaginary Scottish village that appears only once every hundred years. In the village lived a young woman with no hope of finding a potential mate, as all the young men were either married, about to be, or unsuitable. However, a happy ending comes when a young hunter lost in the woods stumbles upon the village the one day it appears and decides to stay and marry the maiden.



Her song is the ultimate "singles" plea. In the course of the lyrics, she determines to keep her heart safe until the right man comes, accepting that marrying for the sake of being married is not the answer and that, if push comes to shove, she will remain unmarried if that right mate doesn't appear.



It's a lovely lyric, but a hard truth. In the culture of those striving to faithfully follow God, there is an expectation of marrying for life. Yet sometimes others view our single state as Job's friends viewed his misfortune—we must have done something wrong to not yet be wed!



Do you feel stuck in singleness—whether not yet married, previously married or widowed? Is that the right focus? Is there something greater than looking for a potential mate around every corner? What should we put before romance and marriage—and what should we do?



Changing times and morals

A century or more ago, getting married was a societal expectation, with marriages commonly arranged by parents and typically occurring at much younger ages than now. Life was tougher then, and marriage was an economic advantage. Two people working the farm and keeping the house were better than one.



Times change, and today marriage is no longer a given. In fact, the idea of traditional marriage itself seems antiquated to some, as they experiment with lifestyles and living arrangements that ignore and violate God's laws for our health and happiness.



Of those who do marry, many have lived together and/or had children together. Some singles are sexually promiscuous, thinking it will free them from the "bonds" of marriage while still providing an outlet for their needs. This "solution" causes sad and excruciating consequences. However, popular media often portrays such choices without a hint of the inevitable misery.



It's hard to swim against the immoral current in our world. It's even harder to find a mate who shares the desire to follow God's law and commit to a lifelong, faithful, true-love marriage. Despite so many who are seeking, it can seem like there isn't a potential mate anywhere.



See the bigger picture

Then again, it's worth considering that we ourselves might not yet be perfect mate material. Maybe that's why God gives us extra time to work on those details.



If we are faithful to God, keep his commandments, including His Sabbath and the Holy Days, seek baptism, and actively serve His true Church, we sometimes scratch our heads trying to figure out why God hasn't bestowed on us a marriage partner. Isn't that part of the package? God blesses us, yes, but in His good time!



Before we go "looking for love" in seeking a potential marriage partner, there are other things we should be focused on.



Our relationship with God the Father and our Savior Jesus Christ must of course come first. Humanly, we can't marry into the Kingdom of God. We must each work out our own salvation through Christ (see Philippians 2:12). Even if we've been doing well in various respects, there is always more room for spiritual growth.



Secondly, there are other people out there (and I don't just mean marriage fodder) who need us to be their friends, male and female, young and old! In addition to community, we attend congregations full of them—or sometimes not so full, which is why we often feel single in the first place. But all congregations need people who aren't restricted by family responsibilities to help get things done. Singlehood can be very active and extremely social!



Thirdly, our mission in following God is to further His work of proclaiming the good news of the coming Kingdom of God—the message Jesus Himself proclaimed (see Mark 1:14-15 [14] Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching

the gospel of the kingdom

of God,

[15] And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.





See All...). We do all that we can to help promote that wonderful truth to those around us in this world. We can choose to be a weak little flame or a glowing LED light of positive example to those around us (see 1 Corinthians 7:32-35 [32] But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:

[33] But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.

[34] There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

[35] And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.





See All...). Being single often gives us more time to spend glowing—we just have to ask God for opportunities.



Make an active life

Are there any singles of the opposite sex in God's Church that you have the opportunity to date? That's great. Do so, but get to know them for their character and personality, not just for chemistry or looks. Be in contact with God, be a nice person, be a good listener, learn social skills, and don't worry if this is or isn't your Mr. or Miss Right. On the good authority of a number of married friends: When the right person has arrived (or you have arrived, depending) you will both know—but ask God for eyes to see that.



What if there isn't anyone in your age group to date? Do other stuff! Be active in your community to be a good example to others of God's way of life (see Matthew 5:14-16 [14] Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

[15] Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

[16] Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.





See All...). Be active in the Church—including in its singles programs, and that includes young twentysomethings too! The point is to be nice to people and make friends—not just to find romance. The more young people who are involved in the program, the more there will be to meet!



Pursue life goals—don't just wait for them to happen to you. Learn to dance the highland reel, or to rock climb, or to speak a new language, or whatever! Ask God for a contented spirit, not resentful resignation—which is a tempting but unhappy attitude. True contentment is happiness resulting from trusting that God has not forgotten us.



Most importantly, talk to God. Tell him how you feel, especially if you feel lonely. Being lonely is typically a result of being alone. If you're experiencing this, find a way to reach out to others. Maybe write a letter, phone a friend, join a chess tournament—I jest a little on the latter, but the only antidote to loneliness is outgoing-ness!



Make use of singlehood. Develop yourself. Ask for true contentment. And above all, trust God—it may be tough, but together we can get through it with His help.

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