Dearest Sister Serving the Lord in Singleness,

It is only by God’s grace that I am able to send out the 2nd issue of Watching For the Morning so soon. Just as the first one was ready to send out, a whirlwind of sorts took place in my life. Several things beyond my control happened, causing me to be very busy, my normal routine to be interrupted, and me to feel quite overwhelmed. I am so thankful for God’s amazing FAITHFULNESS in the midst of chaos!

Oh, how undeserving I am of it! And yet, He pours it on me freely every day!

I pray that this issue finds you and your family doing well, and drawing closer to Jesus, your Bridegroom. May you be blessed as you continue on the path of perseverance and obedience in the Lord!

SEASONS CHANGE

As over the past several weeks, I’ve watched the multitude of lush green trees that make up the strong mountains above our home turn to all shades of brilliant oranges, golds, and reds, I am reminded of a beautiful, yet somber truth. As the air grows chilly, I am overwhelmed with a sense of both excitement and regret. Summer is officially gone. Oh, how wonderful it was! How, I wish I would have sat outside longer at night and listened to the katydids, waded in a nearby creek without worrying about the hem of my skirt getting too wet or fearing the crawdads nipping my toes, fallen asleep under the stars, awaken each morning while it was still pitch dark just to wait for the rising of the breathtaking sun.
Seasons change (Ecclesiastes 3:1). It seems the older I get, the faster time goes by, and before I know it, one season is gone and a new one has begun. Autumn is such a beautiful season. I so look forward each year to the local craft fair, homemade apple cider, sitting near a crackling fire, and meditating on God’s Word as I enjoy His majestic art show taking place in the mountains just outside my back door. The thought of the soon to fall snow makes my heart leap with joy! God has taught me a lot about the seasons of life in the past few months. My grandfather died unexpectedly in August, and his absence is still nearly overwhelming. He and my grandmother have lived next door to me all of my life. It is still so strange here without him.

Just as my heart was beginning the mending process, a long time friend of mine – beloved wife and mother to six- also passed into Glory after a two and a half year battle with cancer. She was only 46. What a reminder to number our days (Psalm 90:12)! In the midst of this, my dad’s Alzheimer’s issue has taken some concerning twists, and I truly do not know what will happen from one day to the next. But, did I ever? Of course, not. I suppose somewhere in the back of my mind, I only thought I did. I am thankful that God sees fit to prune me, to remove any “branches” in me that do not bear fruit. I feel that He is using these trials to do just that. He is also teaching me all the more that HE is in total and complete control of my life and my soul has found great rest in the continuous confirmation of this fact.

Seasons change… both naturally and spiritually, but the most comforting truth I have found in this uncertain life is that our GOD REMAINS THE SAME (Malachi 3:6)! Life on earth is fleeting, (1 Peter 1:24) and we never know when it will take a 180 or even end. We know that God is sovereign and that He is in control. His ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:9). This truth causes me to desire all the more to take every second God blesses me with and make it count for eternity! I do not want to have any regrets when a season in my life is finished, not even little ones! I do not want to take lightly the frailty of this life. I want to be the best I can be for Him in every season. It is not in our best interest to know how long life’s seasons last, or even what they hold. Some will be long and some short. Regardless of the length, let us live each day as though it is our last to make an impact on this world (and the Church) for Christ’s sake! Are you in a joyful season? Enjoy it. Thank God for it and ask Him to use it to bring glory to Himself. Are you in a bitter season? Ask Him to use it to change your heart, to refine and prune you- that you will be brought out of it as gold. He can make your bitter season a joyful season because He is in it! Know that He is working all things together for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). Savor your season, whatever it may be, and don’t have any regrets! Do not despise this season of singleness in your life as a curse. It truly is a gift. Allow God to use you to your fullest potential. This is your time to be about the things of the Lord. I urge you not to waste it. Once it is gone, you will not be able to retrieve it.

PLEASED TO BE A DOORMAT

“Doormat” isn’t the most appealing term to be referred to as a follower of Christ. “Daughter of the Most High God,” “Crowned with Strength and Wisdom,” “Princess,” “Bride,” “More than a Conqueror” are all much more glamourous. However, when names like, “Peculiar People,” “Servant,” “Humility,” “Abandoned to,” and “Dead to Self” are mentioned, our flesh becomes naturally uncomfortable. And while every one of the first group of “names”are true for every one who has made Jesus the Lord of their life, there is something special about becoming a “doormat” and there is a blessing in it that cannot be explained in mere words. I so enjoy being treated as royalty by my Bridegroom, but I also want to be a doormat in the Name of my Master. I must decrease, so He will increase (John 3:30).

The first (and only) time I heard the term used in this context was by a dear sister who is a godly wife and blessed mother of eight. The signature on all of her e-mails reads,

“Pleased to be a doormat for Jesus.”
Once, when someone asked her to elaborate, she gave a simple, yet rich explanation:

“It means that even when life doesn’t appear to be fair, or things aren’t going MY way, or I am not getting what I think I ought to get, that I still trust Jesus to do what He wants with my life for HIS purposes. I am pleased to give HIM every area of my life. HE can discipline me, teach me, anything HE wants to keep me on HIS straight and narrow, to bring HIM GLORY, and HONOR and PRAISE, because I know HE LOVES ME, and wants what is best for me! So even if it feels like life is stepping all over me I don’t mind because I know HE is in control. I respond with, ‘WELCOME’.”

-Penny Raine www.mommasheart.com

CALLED TO SERVE

I cannot encourage young, single, Christian girls and women enough to be servants in the Name of our Lord -servants to their families first, then to those in need in the Church, and the community, such as the elderly or special needs children, or parents who can’t afford a baby-sitter and really need a date. The possibilities are endless. Why is serving so important in our calling as set-apart young women for Jesus? The answers, as always, are in God’s Word.
1. Jesus, Our Master, Came To Serve.
I often wonder where much of the Church has gotten the idea that we are exempt from service to others when our Lord was the Ultimate Servant. Jesus served, even unto death, to provide salvation for His people. He did not “draw the line” anywhere. How then, can we, as His Bride, place boundaries on our service to others?

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
Mark 10:45

2. In Singleness, More Than Any Other Life Season, We Are To Be About Our Father’s Business.
Of course, all followers of Christ should be about the Lord’s business all the time; however, there is quite a bit more freedom in singleness to be active for the Lord and His Kingdom. While most of us have parents and/or siblings to help care for, we are also free to serve others without being in a full commitment that Biblical marriage and motherhood demands. My dear friends that are godly wives and mothers rarely have time or resources to minister exclusively to the needs of those outside their home. They do when they have the chance, but they are busy meeting the needs of their husbands and children first, and rightfully so. Can we really grasp what a powerful season in our life this is? We are, for the most part, totally free to minister to those who are hungry for Jesus! Our singleness can be one, big serving fest! Wow, what an exciting thought! The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. (Matthew 9:37). Are you willing to be a laborer in the Lord’s “garden” in this most fitting time in your life? What an amazing gift from God! Truly, Satan does not want us to know what we are capable of through Christ in this dynamic season! May we never sit around and idly dream or complain our singleness away.

“There is a 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.”
1 Corinthians 7:34

3. Serving Removes Our Eyes From Self.
Perhaps, this one is the most beneficial to our Spiritual walk. When we are busy seeing to the needs of others, caring for, serving, and ministering to them- we gradually forget about ourselves! Selflessness. What a BEAUTIFUL place to be! It is only when our focus is taken off of “me”, that I am able to see Christ more clearly and better understand His heart, His plan, and what He is saying to me. It is the most JOYFUL place I know of! It is why Paul and Silas were singing while bound in prison! They had figured out that… it wasn’t about them, but all about Him! When the servants of the Lord in the book of Acts were beaten, tortured, even KILLED for their faith, they counted it as JOY to be persecuted for their Savior’s sake. Wow! Their eyes were totally off of themselves, and staring straight into the loving face of Jesus. This is only possible through the power of the Holy Spirit. Do you know another thing that inevitably comes when we delight in the fact that it’s all about Jesus? Contentment. If you are not content in your current circumstances, try taking your eyes off of your self and onto Jesus. You can jump-start the whole process by becoming a SERVANT.

“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” Luke 9:23 [Emphasis mine].

4. Serving Can Help Bring About Our Destiny.
The important thing to remember with this one is that it is kind of like an incentive. Of course, we should not serve just so God will bless us. However, I cannot help but think of the beautiful story of Rebekah in the Old Testament – how she was “found” for her husband all because she was obeying God’s mandate to serve. Surely, she did not dream that on that day, while watering the camels of strangers, that God’s plan would be accomplished then and there; that a union He had orchestrated from before the beginning of time would come to pass because she was in the place He wanted her to be at the right time. Where was this place? Service. Rebekah was tending to her daily errands, but she went the extra mile. She, not knowing the prayer Abraham’s servant had just prayed for Isaac’s future wife, offered not only to give water to the servant, but also to his camels- all ten of them until they were satisfied! Are you willing to go the extra mile to serve those around you in His Name whether His plan for your future includes a husband or not?

Find this entire story in Genesis 24.
5. Service And Humility Go Hand In Hand.Somehow, when we think of Jesus- how He served, submitted to those whom He could have called legions of angels to destroy, obeyed the will of the Father, even unto death, we can’t help but realize that the spirit in which He did these things was humility. It is so important to have a humble heart as we serve, submit, and obey. Would it truly do any good if the whole while we cooked a meal for someone, we complained about how much of our “valuable” time it was taking, how we’d really rather be doing something else, and we’re only doing it “because I love them and want to be like Christ.” ? I’m afraid we’ve missed the point already if this is the case. Can you imagine Jesus complaining the entire time He washed His disciple’s dirty, dusty, smelly feet? What if He, with a puffed up countenance had said, ” I really don’t want to serve you in this disgusting way. After all, you’ve been walking in the dust all day. I am the King of Kings! I have much better things to do. . . however I will relent to washing your feet because the Father told me to”.

We can’t imagine it, because that type of behavior and speech was no part of His righteous and holy character. He did everything in love, and without the desire to be recognized. He did not complain. He did not constantly remind people of Who He was. They figured it out on their own by watching Him. The Son of God had no place to lay His head (Luke 9:58)!! How unfitting for a King! But, He was our example of humility, and our living reminder that those who lose their life for His sake will find it (Luke 9:24).

When He served, He did it sincerely, from the heart, and in total obedience and truth. Oh, Lord, to be like you! Change our hearts!

“And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
Philippians 2:8

How many of us are willing to serve when no one is else is watching, except God? Did you know there is an extra special blessing in “hidden service?”

Richard Foster quoted,“Nothing disciplines the inordinate desires of the flesh like service, and nothing transforms the desires of the flesh like serving in hiddenness. The flesh whines against service but screams against hidden service. It strains and pulls for honor and recognition. It will devise subtle, religiously acceptable means to call attention to the service rendered. If we stoutly refuse to give in to this lust of the flesh, we crucify it. Every time we crucify the flesh, we crucify pride and arrogance.”
6. Service = Denying My Flesh= Learning who I am in Christ.

Surely, all of us, at one point in time have wondered just exactly “who we are”. I don’t know anyone who hasn’t at one time or another been uncertain of their true identity. Once, while seeking God on this very issue, He spoke clearly to my heart. He showed me that the only way I would EVER know who I am is to know who I am IN HIM. That is true for all of us. That is why those who do not know Christ are on a constant search. I began to ask Him how to figure all this out, and the first step that He revealed to me was getting my eyes off of me. Sounds strange, doesn’t it? Taking my eyes OFF of me to find out more ABOUT me? The fact is, that in Him, we are royalty, princesses, valuable gems with a price more costly than rubies. We are His Bride who He adores and cherishes and loves unconditionally. We are the ones He is coming back for! However, in order to really grasp these truths deep in our soul, we must first allow our flesh to die that our spirit may awaken to what He desires to show us. Only then, will we be able to get to know His heart, desire to give Him all of us, and allow Him to mold and fashion us into the women He longs for us to be. During this process, we lose ourselves in His beauty, and we gain the understanding of who we REALLY are in Christ Jesus. A wonderful beginning to crucifying the flesh is to serve others and place their needs before our own.

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20
A lovely reminder of just how very careful and tender God has been in the creation of your precious life as well as how very aware He is of your every life detail can be found in

Psalm 139:
-He knows you.

-He has perceived your thoughts from afar.

-He is familiar with all your ways.

-Before a word is on your tongue, He knows it completely.

-He has laid His hand upon you.

-His hands guide you wherever you go.

-He knit you together in your mother’s womb.

-You are fearfully and wonderfully made.

-Your frame was not hidden from Him as you were being made in the secret place.

-His eyes saw your unformed body.

-All the days He ordained for you were written in His book before one of them came to be.

-His thoughts toward you outnumber the grains of sand.

Opportunities To Serve

God is faithful to provide us with plenty of opportunities to please Him and obey His commands. His love is perfected in us as we keep His Word (1 John 2:5). In taking advantage of these opportunities, we gain patience and perseverance. Our flesh then is able to be crucified, allowing us to walk more freely in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16) . When the Spirit rules, rather than the flesh, we are then able to experience that “joy unspeakable” no matter what circumstance we may find ourselves in. I have found that some of the opportunities God gives me to serve are fun and others are more humiliating. I must learn to appreciate and joyfully receive and carry out both. One day last month, God delighted me with a really funny adventure. I like to call it “The Great Poke Hunt”. Many of you may not be familiar with the wild perennial herb, “poke”. It’s the one with clusters of small, dark berries that are poisonous, yet the leaves are perfectly edible. Its botanical name is “Phytolacca Decandra”. It grows near mountainous areas and banks here from Spring to frost. The root, stem, and leaves have several medicinal properties as well. My dear Mother thinks there is nothing like poke added to Mustard Greens when cooking. Surely, it’s another one of those “weird Southern things”, but she says the poke adds a special flavor to any greens that are cooked. So, one October afternoon, after picking a huge bag of mustard greens from the garden, I found her sweetly hinting to me how much she would like to find some poke to add to them. The only problem was that my uncle came weeks ago with weed killer and destroyed all weeds (and poke) in sight. I went on a little search for it, thinking there had to be some growing somewhere. I happened to look over a steep bank across the road and spotted a whole “field” of it! I was so excited. I ran into the house and put on layers of old, garden clothes to prevent poison ivy from getting on my skin. I grabbed my garden gloves and asked my mom to meet me across the road with a bag and garden shears. When I approached the bank, I realized I had never been down there before, and with every step I took, I realized there were no foot holds- only, black, loose dirt in the midst of vines, thorns, ivy, and . . . poke. So, without anymore delay, down I flew! I was thrilled to find what seemed like mountains of poke. I was yanking it up by the root and throwing it up to my mom, who picked the leaves off and placed them in the bag. After harvesting about 6 “bushes” of poke, we decided it was enough and I needed to get out. As I tried climbing back up, I suddenly remembered that there was nothing to hold onto. I slid down, but how on earth was I going to get back up with nothing but loose dirt and thin, dried twigs to hold onto? Help! I began climbing back up, but lost my grasp and S L I D right back down ever so easily. It was almost like riding a sled without the snow…and the sled! Again, it happened, and again. Five times in all. I was laughing so hard, I couldn’t get out if I tried! My mom couldn’t hold back her laughter either. She offered me a stick to hold onto, but the dirt was so loose, nothing would stick into the ground. I decided that I may have to camp out down there that night, but then I tried once more, and just as God provided a ram for Abraham’s sacrifice, He provided for me a small rock- Just large enough to gain a foothold and pull myself up out of this thorny oblivion. Thank you, Lord! After emerging, my mom looked in my dirt stained face and said, “You must really love me, to go through all that just to get poke for my greens!” I’m so thankful for opportunities like those! I was so blessed, and we’re still laughing.
Of course, we all have our share of somewhat humiliating chances to serve as well. For the past five years, my Dad has had moderate Alzheimer’s. He has had a series of mini strokes that have literally crippled him. One fourth of his colon was surgically removed seven years ago and he has a lot of digestion and colon problems- that on top of a huge growth in his throat that causes him to get choked while eating fairly easily. Whenever we go out to eat as a family, he usually has to go to the gentlemen’s room suddenly and without warning. With a cane in one hand and a human crutch (me) in the other, he walks at a speed that would equal about .10 of a mile per hour. So, when this need arises, with it comes the feeling of needing to get him there quickly without dragging. It is having to be content with the fact that he refuses to use a walker or wheel chair in public, that he wants no medical intervention and didn’t when he was of sound mind. Sometimes we make it to our destination in time across a restaurant which feels miles long and sometimes . . . we don’t. Onlookers are always staring. Some smile and look away awkwardly. Others just continue to stare blankly. I try to always smile as I secretly pray we’ll make it “this time”. Sometimes, he may take too large of a bite or eat too fast and get choked and I have to try and help him get the food dislodged. By God’s grace, it has always worked and by God’s grace, I am becoming the woman He desires for me to be through these little opportunities to serve- even when they are not the most attractive. I thank God for the blessing of being able to serve. It is a vital tool that He uses to mold us and refine us, bringing us forth as gold. It also helps put things into perspective and allows us to see what really matters. We are able to remember His sufferings and realize that nothing He calls us to do comes without the strength and grace to accomplish it and that the small or large areas we are serving others could never compare to what He endured for us because of His unfathomable love.

DAYENU

I love this Hebrew word! It means, “It would have been enough”. It is my favorite Passover song, and it’s meaning is so very deep. Though it’s not even close to Passover, I enjoy singing this song all year. A humble heart is a grateful heart- and this type of heart knows full well that on it’s own, it is nothing and deserves nothing but death and Hell. This type of heart rejoices in God’s grace displayed on the cross and the empty tomb. It beats forever thankful in the fear of the Lord. As God changes our hearts to be more like His Son’s, we are able to sing from the depths of our soul, “IT WOULD HAVE BEEN ENOUGH!!”
Lord of Hosts, It would have been enough, if You had set the Israelites free from Pharaoh, but You did SO MUCH MORE!

It would have been enough if You had poured out Your mercy on them, gave them manna to eat in the wilderness, but You did SO MUCH MORE!

It would have been enough if You had given Your people life on this earth, to enjoy Your blessings and the works of Your hands, but You did SO MUCH MORE! You gave us a promise of eternity in Your presence!

It would have been enough if You had continued to receive animal sacrifices for our sins, but OH, HOW YOU DID SO MUCH MORE!!! You become like us, took on the form of man, and suffered a cruel death that You did not deserve. You became our ultimate Passover Lamb, and offered Your own precious blood as an expiation for our vile, evil sin.

It would have been enough if You had come to save only the Israelites, but You grafted the Gentiles in as wild olive shoots and opened Your invitation to salvation to all who would receive You!!!

It would have been enough if You had come to earth in the flesh, died in our place, taking all our sin upon Yourself, and rose again, but You sent the precious Holy Spirit to comfort us and teach us! You sent Your written Word to instruct us and heal us!

And … if He had never done another thing than the amazing things listed above, it would have been SO MUCH MORE THAN ENOUGH!!!

But, dear, precious, sister, look around you! Look at all He has done and is doing in your life! His loving-kindness is better than life (Psalm 63:3)! When you sing “Dayenu”, there is no room for feeling lonely or self-pity. Just a heart overwhelmed by His goodness.

I urge you, please sing with me!

*CHALLENGE*

Strive to practice “hidden service” every chance you get. If you do not see an opportunity, ask the Lord to give you some. He will prove to be faithful in doing so!

*A Fun Way to Serve in Secret *

“In our home, we have “secret pals.” We draw names then serve our pal in secret until an evening when we can all guess who our pal was. This is always fun! The idea is to encourage the children to serve others without notice. If you draw your own name, you’re the ‘mystery pal’ and have to serve the entire family secretly, trying to “trick” everyone into thinking you’re their pal! They’ll make each other’s beds, do each other’s chores, write encouraging notes, rub each other’s backs, even buy their pal little anonymous gifts. It might be an idea for an older sister to play this game with younger siblings.”
-Edee Moore, A Proverbs 31 Wife and Mommie to 9 beautiful blessings.

*Recommended Reading*

I just finished reading, Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Prentiss. The book was originally published in 1869. It is a powerful example of self-denial, service, and growing content in Christ alone. One of my favorite quotes from this book is:
“I have learned that he only is truly happy who has no longer a choice of his own and lies passive in God’s hand.”

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I have not discussed the direct subject of singleness in extensive detail in this issue. However, I will close with this thought; The more we strive to be a holy Bride for our Heavenly Bridegroom, the more prepared we will be for godly wife and motherhood if and when He, in His perfect wisdom and time, provides an earthly husband. May you be strengthened and encouraged in your walk with the Lover of your soul today and may He ever remind you of your pricelessness in Him.
May He bring to your remembrance the million reasons you have to worship Him during this season of reflection and thanksgiving.

Watching for His Coming,

Candace

**This issue of Watching For The Morning is dedicated to the memory of my grandfather who passed away in August. God blessed him with a long, prosperous life. He nick-named me “Candle” as a little girl and continued calling me that up until the day he went to be with Jesus. I did not bring honor to him through a huge career, successful business, or marrying into”royalty”. In fact, he did not live to see me marry at all. However, I do feel that I honored him by honoring Christ and staying true to the convictions He has placed in my heart, which is possible only by His grace. I heard pride in my grandfather’s voice, when during our last conversation, he whole-heartedly agreed with me that it would be better to not marry at all rather than to settle for less than God’s best. I was surprised, yet so thrilled to hear his approval. Thank You, Lord for that special memory and just another affirmation that these convictions truly are from YOUR heart!**
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Watching For The Morning
is available through postal mail (in the U.S.) as well as e-mail (text only). It is a free publication to encourage and exhort young, single ladies in Christ. You may subscribe to it by e-mailing candace714@ntelos.net or writing to the return address. The small newsletter is a gift to all who may find it helpful, and as long as funds are available, subscribers will never be required to pay for it. It operates by God’s provision (which sometimes comes through donations and love gifts) alone. May you be blessed as you read and may God be glorified!