Single + Purposeful - Guest Post at Our Yellow Door

Hello my long lost blog friends! 

My goodness, it's been awhile.

 I will have to share in another post what this summer has held for me, but to sum it up, I would say craziness. I have quit my job in Charlotte, moved out of my place, said goodbye to some friends leaving the country, see-you-laters to Charlotte friends, and moved back in with my parents in the Raleigh area. All while planning a wedding. That's exhausting just to write. I will try to get in a weekly post, because this blog is a little slice of stress relief for me, which is a good thing right now. 

Anyways, we'll save all the details of that another time, but for today I wanted to let y'all know about a guest post I did over at Rachel's blog, Our Yellow Door. I wrote a little about my time as a single woman (not that long ago - just got engaged in April), and some lessons I learned while being single that hopefully will help you out, or someone you know! 

"As I was reading the other guest posts in Rachel’s singleness series, one word came to my mind about my time being single – purposeful. I wish I could say I had it together when I was single, but I did not. I don’t have it together now that I’m engaged, but I sure did learn a lot from my single years. I spent many years just longing for relationships instead of focusing my time and energy on deepening my relationship with God and being more purposeful about serving Him.

I heard and read a lot of things when I was single along the lines of if single women served God more, He would bring the perfect man along. And how far from the truth this is! As single women our purpose should never be to serve God to find a man, but to serve God because we love Him and want to use our talents to glorify Him."

To read the rest of the post, go check it out here. 

And be sure to give Rachel some love - she is a sweet girl, excellent blogger, and a great encourager. :)

P.S. I have added many new things to my Etsy, so check it out here, or click the Shop link at the very top of my page ^^^. Lots of new lovelies, just in time to start thinking about Christmas gifts! ;)

lessons in grace: recognition.

I had a hard conversation with my fiancee yesterday.

We were talking about one of my "dream jobs" - working for Noonday Collection. I was talking to him about applying, but the timing just wouldn't be good with everything going on - moving back with my parents, wedding planning, married in October, then moving to FL. It sounded good, but it would just add more stress. 

We then started talking about why I wanted to apply and work for them. And that was when the tough parts of the conversation came out. I told him basically the reason I wanted to work for them was to get recognition. For my jewelry-making talent, for helping people in need. Aka I have pride issues.

And when I realized that...yikes. It was like God took a magnifying glass to my heart, and said "Hey, this isn't good. That is not the reason I gave you these skills."

Everyone wants to be recognized, to be acknowledged for the work they do. But when that becomes our motivation is when problems happen. I thought about the passage where the disciples are asking Jesus who will sit beside Him in heaven. Essentially they wanted recognition more than Jesus Himself. And I realized that's what I'm doing. I'm saying, "I want recognition for the talents You've given me, more than I want You." 

My life is not about being an artist. I have to realize that. My life is about following Jesus. He comes first.

I feel like I'm in a rut with the jewelry-making, that it isn't purposeful. That I'm not making a difference with my talents like I want to. Of course I want recognition, but it's become an issue. It is not supposed to be my motivator or something I expect. And that can only happen with God's help of weeding that desire out of my heart. Because dangit, I want it bad. And isn't that how sins usually go?

Being the wise owl my fiancee is, he then started talking about being faithful in the little things. I cannot expect great, wonderful opportunities to come up if I am not faithful with the smallness of my business in the here and now. I have to stop overlooking my everyday interactions, the customers that trickle through, all while glancing ahead, trying to skip this tough, dry season to get to the good stuff. 

It doesn't happen overnight, and it was never meant to work that way. God oftentimes gives us the slow, small path to teach us things, to prepare us. 

Do I have any idea what He's preparing me for? I have no clue. But apparently I need to stick it out and be faithful with the small stuff. 

"One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much."

{{Luke 16:10}}

And the underlying key to this? Humility. 

Humility in my everyday practices, interactions, humility in success, humility in the dry season. Humility always. 

And you know what? All of this examining of my heart on a regular ole' Wednesday night led me to realize this --- the more I find out about myself, my heart and my sins, the more I see how deficient I am. I need Jesus, plain and simple. No way I could do anything on my own. And you know what the funny thing is? 

That's how it's supposed to be. 

He reveals our sins and heart to us so that we see more clearly our need of Him. And we all need Him.

Am I telling y'all this because I want a pat on the back for being honest? Nope. I just want to have a more open heart, and be vulnerable to give other people the freedom and grace to do the same. I hope my words are an encouragement. :)

What are some life lessons you've been learning lately? Care to share about the tough ones? 

june goals.

Can y'all believe it is June already?! I can't! The year is flying by, but I'm trying to restart some good, healthy practices - emotionally, physically, spiritually. One of these will be setting goals for the month. I'm going to try this out, because I have found I need loose guidelines (aka not a daily to-do list, but something a little broader). True story: I got fed up with not accomplishing my to do lists every day, so I threw out my planner last month. Um...Yeah. 

So as you can see, I could use some guidance. ;)

June

1. Blog twice a week

2. Come up with a general blog schedule for the month

3. Photograph jewelry for Etsy sale

4. Have an Etsy sale

5. Finalize catering vendor for wedding

6. Make a tentative plan for July (it's going to be a crazzzzy month - moving & other good stuff!)

7. Declutter & downsize in prep for moving

8. Exercise 3x a week

9. Finish reading Isaiah

10. Complete pending jewelry & art projects for customers

So there we have it! A little lofty, but as work is slowing down, I think it is manageable. I've had a good start with #7, but there is so much more I can get rid of. I am moving out of my apartment towards the end of July and want to move as little stuff as possible!

{{I'm linking up today with the Tiny Twig for these June Goals.}}

Do you set monthly goals for yourself, and does it help you? If you like, share a few in the comments below! I'd love to hear them!