When I was in a 12-step program, it was really easy to be single. It was recommended we not date while on the program, and I knew I was not in a place to date, so I put myself in a 1-year sanction from dating. It was rather comical, because some of my guy friends would ask, “Hey, you think …
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What happens when God doesn’t meet your relationship expectations? If you’ve been single for any amount of time, then you’ve probably had to face this question before. When we were younger, many of us bought into the belief that God had a special person predestined for us, and we would inevitably meet them and fall in love by a certain …
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The heart of my ministry has always been to love people well. Before I was a believer, I wanted to love people well so they loved me back. After I was a believer … well, it sadly was the same motivation. At my high school reunion, one of the popular girl/cheerleaders wanted to talk to me. She was part of …
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At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you…from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, …
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God wants to birth something in you. Maybe it’s something He placed in you a long time ago, but the dream died. Maybe it’s something that’s taking too long to develop and you haven’t seen fruition, so you’ve given up. Maybe it’s a deep hope He deposited in your soul when you were a child that you’ve long abandoned. Maybe …
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The football swished through the air and he leapt up as high as he could to meet it. As he grabbed it and tucked it close, a body flew at him, pinning him to the ground. Immediately I yelled at the top of my lungs, “Tommy, you’re done! You’re out of the game! Go sit down.” I work in a …
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I sat there and waited. And I waited, and waited. I had made a coffee date for Saturday afternoon at 2:30 and arrived about 2:20 pm. I sent her a text saying I was there about five minutes before our meet time. No reply. Around 2:45, I sent another note asking if she was close. No reply. After 40 minutes of waiting, I decided …
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I’m so tired of crying. I cried when my first girlfriend and I broke up and I cried when my second girlfriend and I broke up. I felt this deep sadness and despair. I contemplated what I could have done differently to keep the relationship going. I wrestled with those thoughts and tried to put together the jigsaw that seemed …
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My favorite question recently is to ask people to rate the last year on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being “worst year ever” and 10 being “I would live it over and over again.” I like this question because I always learn something about people’s lives. Most often, I’ve learned about specific struggles that I hadn’t known …
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“You forgot to practice … didn’t you?” Just reading that causes me to feel that knot form in my stomach. My palms begin to sweat as my heart rate goes from snail’s pace to NASCAR-level speeds. If you’ve ever taken a music lesson, played in a sport or participated in any activity that required personal discipline and practice, you know …
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Single Matters Magazine with Jill Monaco Ministries Christian singles discuss the matters of life, relationships, singleness and faith
