wise beyond my years

hello, blog enthusiasts! sorry for the deliquency in my posting. i've been a tad busy lately.

this morning i started back working with the high school girls at brushy creek. it feels SO good to be serving in youth ministry again. i have such a heart for high school girls, i think because i feel like i have so much wisdom - by way of tough lessons learned - to share.

this summer we're doing a series on song of solomon that focuses on relationships - love, sex, dating, etc. the lord really timed this quite perfectly. i have learned so many nuggets of truth through many bad relationships. granted, i have made many, many mistakes in this area of my life, but god is abundantly good to forgive me and teach me, even through my rebellion and failures. i am excited about the opportunities i will have over the next several weeks to share my heart and my life with these precious young women. here are some things i want to impress on their hearts:

1. god's way is always best.
2. there is NO guy worth sacrificing your fellowship with christ for.
3. it's easier to be alone than to be with someone who you should not be with.
4. ask god to define your standards for dating and then DO NOT COMPROMISE.
5. if you compromise once, you'll compromise again and again.
6. physical intimacy will destroy your heart.
7. times of singleness are hard and often lonely. don't dwell on it. trust that every season of your life is a gift from god. cherish it. dig in to the word and into gods heart and drink deeply of his love for you.
8. you are not forgotten. society make think you're a mutant for being single, but trust that the lord will draw near to you if you make yourself available.
9. you will never regret waiting on god's best.
10. work on BEING the right person, not FINDING the right person.
11. heartache is inevitable. be wise, but don't be afraid to be vulnerable (when you feel affirmed by the lord's leading). don't allow yourself to grow bitter and cynical.
12. you will probably make some mistakes while dating. don't beat yourself up over them. mourn for your sin, repent, and then chalk it up to experience and move on. god is big enough and good enough to forgive you.

i have to remind myself of these truths all the time. i'm so looking forward to sharing them with these girls! i'm praying that their hearts would be surrendered to the love of christ.