yearning for something more

it has been a year since i dated someone. and before that i dated someone all through college. being "just ashley" during this time has really helped to shape my life and has opened my eyes to what i really need in someone. being single has allowed me to be so blessed with the guy friends i do have in my life-- they are amazing examples of godly men- i could never settle for less-- so thank you :)

i recently started reading this book called "in search of the proverbs 31 man- the one god approves and a woman wants". the author states: never before has the search for real connection between the sexes been more important- or more confusing. single women want to know what they should ask for- not settle for- in a mate, while married women wonder how they can nurture godly character traits in their husbands. men, both single and married, wonder what women really want. both genders are long on questions and short on answers.

i'm not even through the first chapter yet but i want to share what i'm reading so far...
*as women have become more independent, self-sufficient, and powerful in the business world, i believe many have accepted the subtle lie that they no longer need men. the men, not knowing what is expected of them any longer, have largely abdicated(been forced to resign) their posts as leaders, protectors and providers.

*women have begun to groan under the weight of all they're doing and wonder why men no longer step up to the plate. weariness has set in. so has compromise. for the sake of having a man, countless women have begun to settle for a new, watered-down version of manhood. yet those women long for more.

*not realizing that low expectations of men further perpetuate the downward trend, women sigh, "oh well, men just aren't what they used to be".
- i beg to differ. i believe in every heart of every man is a desire to be the man his spirit knows he was created to be. yet staggering numbers of men fear rejection and so they settle for far less then what is required of them.

*our posture toward the men in our lives can dramatically affect the outcome of our relationships- single or married we first need to make sure our expectations are aligned with god's word.
- second, we need to understand the contribution we can make to nurturing god's possibilities and helping them become reality in our man's life.

*women do have an important part in completing a man and helping him become all the god created and designed him to be.
-for singles, there are guidelines on what to look for in a man and how to recognize god's man for you.
-if you go shopping for diamonds w/out any knowledge of what to look for, any diamond will look good. once you have been educated, however, you will make more careful choices.

*proverbs 27:17 says, "as iron sharpens iron, so one man (or woman) sharpens another". perhaps in this word picture we should say that a man and a woman can polish each other until they both shine as brilliantly as god intended. so don't get frustrated, the possibilities are endless...

* we are all works in progress. how long it takes you to complete the journey does not matter, but your commitment to continue onward and upward does. :)