This past weekend I had the honor of teaching at Summerville Baptist Church in Summerville, SC just outside of Charleston. Charleston as well as Summerville are deep in history going back over 300 years. I love all the palm trees and old homes.

The lesson this time was Jesus, Single Like Me: He was Grateful. As I started to prepare for the weekend, the pastor called me for some last details. He shared that my audience would be a bit older. I was OK with that and felt fine. So when I arrive, I was expecting singles in their 40 and 50's but as they started to enter the door I notice how many were in their 60 and 70's.  I began to question the message I had prepared. Perhaps it wasn't the right message. Perhaps I prepared it and not God. I mean, do folks over the age of 60 question why they are single like those 30's and 40's. Do folks with grey hair still shake their fist at God wondering why they are alone? Do folks with walkers, wheelchairs and wrinkles still hate having all the responsibility on them? Well, the answer to all of these questions was yes. I mean, sure, I had to tweak a few things as I spoke considering most of my audience wasn't waiting for the first spouse but maybe the second one. Or in some cases, mourning for the loss of their spouse. But overall, I was able to make some changes as I went along, as the Spirit led me.

Well, I finished my my message and waited to see if anyone would come up to speak to me. I mean, they seemed to be listening. They seemed to enjoy and affirm the message. But I needed to know for sure. I mean, why would God have me prepare a message for the wrong audience? Then, one by one they started to come up. A hug here, a kiss on the cheek there, following story after story. One lady said her husband had died and she missed him so much. That she hated being alone but thought of how she could be thankful knowing she could open up her home to a young person to stay. Another woman said she had never been married and was still mad at God but now realizes how wrong she had been. How she has wasted so much time being angry instead of living for the Lord. One man told me he was thankful as he is able to go where God wants him too. And yet another came up only to encourage me to keep doing the work of the Lord. She said she had never looked at her singleness as a blessing but now she had.

Wow, it really was God's message and not mine. Thank you Jesus for your words. For your perspective and for being thankful where you were until God moved you.

1 Chronicles 16:34
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

Kris Swiatocho, Director
TheSinglesNetwork.org Ministries
YesMarketingandDesign.com
NavigateConference.com
FromHisHands.com
919.434.3611
2664 Timber Drive, Suite 307, Garner, NC 27529
The enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy but I have come to give life to its fullest. John 10:10
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