A Cellist in the Tuba Section

Dear Giselle, Why am I single? Thanks, Sick of Singleness Dear Sick of Singleness, There are many reasons that you could be facing a season of singleness in your life. Given your limited contextual information, I will give several possibilities. First, this season of singleness may be a time to enjoy cultivating your own interests. Try things you've always wanted to do and enjoy the freedom to do what you want to do without compromising (except maybe on price). While relationships are amazing, don't forget that once you're married, you may not have as much time to discover your own interests, so if you've been contemplating that painting class, go sign up and give it a whirl! Second, this season of singleness may be resented because of a recent break-up or one awhile ago that was extremely painful. Now would be a good time to journal and weed out resentment towards any exes you may have. Pray for forgiveness for your exes, especially if you feel partic...

Dear Giselle, Do you have any tips for preventing summer boredom? Thanks, Looking for the Best Summer Ever Dear Looking for the Best Summer Ever, Thanks for an amazing question. Summer activities will vary based on where you live, but here's some things to consider when looking for things to do: Check with your town's recreation department. They usually host a lot of summer programs, like concerts, fairs, even some classes for painting, dancing, or similar things. Also, sometimes the recreation department will hire teens and young adults to help with summer camps for younger kids. This would be a very fun way to make money without feeling like you're doing work. Get online and check out quirky festivals in nearby towns. If you're in love with garlic, google Garlic festivals near [hometown] and see if there are any you can attend. You can try this with nearly any object or hobby to try to find free entertainment nearby. Check if your local library has any summ...

Dear Giselle, Why are women always told that men need to pursue in a relationship? Is there any Biblical support for this idea? Sincerely, Perplexed About Pursuit Dear Perplexed About Pursuit, There are Biblical passages for male leadership and there are also passages where women have leadership roles so this is a difficult question to answer. The main argument on the side for male leadership and pursuit is Ephesians 5:22-24 which says Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands . (ESV). Because this passage mentions male leadership's significance in marriage, many people believe that men should demonstrate that leadership before marriage by being the pursuer in dating relationships. This is an excellent point. Whatever characteristics you want in you...

To the rejects, the losers, and the weirdos, the ones left out, the ones picked last, and the ones who feel alone. I know what you're feeling. I was there. Somedays, I'm still there. So, I'm not here to tell you that that feeling completely goes away because that would be a lie. I am here to tell you that it gets better, and I'll help you cope until it does. My uncle, a few years ago now, told me something about rejection that has stuck with me since. "It's not your loss, it's their loss for missing out on friendship with you." Go back and reread that sentence and really let it sink in. You are not inferior because they left, and you don't have to act like you're unlovable. I know that at moments it feels like that, but they chose to leave the relationship so they're the one choosing to miss out on all the amazing things you bring to the table. When you feel that cloud of despair and rejection descending on your mind again, the b...

Today is the National Day of Prayer, so here's some ideas to help you pray throughout the day (and you can use these every day of the year). Make a list of people/companies/things that you want to pray about and check the list every so often during your day to remind yourself to pray. Set an alarm on your phone for every hour (or whatever fits into your schedule without disrupting classes, meetings, etc.) and when it goes off you'll be reminded to pray. Change your phone background to a bible verse, or a note reminding yourself to pray so that when you check your phone you are reminded to pray. As an announcement: I want to create content that applies to your specific lives so that I can better connect with you and provide you with the necessary (and free) resources to draw closer to Jesus. So, if you have a question or scenario regarding high school or college life that you'd like me to weigh in on, please send it to me at my email: acellistinthetubasection@...

James 2:21-23  Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness" and  he was called a friend of God.  (ESV). When you first start a new instrument, you have to learn how to produce each note. Then you string notes together to create a melody or a harmony. And once you've mastered the notes of a piece, you can work on vibrato and dynamics or play with changes of tempo. The vibrato and dynamics and tempo changes help to make the piece sound less robotic and more musical. It provides the audience with a more enjoyable experience. Likewise, when you start walking after Christ, you'll likely start out with just the belief that He died for you and saved you from sin. Some of you may have more information than that, but over time yo...

When I was in the third grade, I started taking cello lessons at school. The first few weeks, we used wooden sticks as bows and a toilet paper tube to represent the bridge of the instrument. This was necessary to learn how to hold things before actually getting the instrument (and also because you don't hand little kids expensive instruments with absolutely no knowledge of how to not break it). And the thing that I most remember from this toilet paper roll period in my life was my parents' willingness to watch me practice with this little toilet paper tube. I couldn't even make noise, and they sat with me as I practiced and made progress. After I (finally) got my actual instrument to play, they still were willing to sit and listen to me practice. (My mom wanted me to practice more because I was a little lazy in my practicing, but that's another story.) My point is that my parents were excited to see the new things I learned, even before the things I did were perfect...

Hebrews 2:18  For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. Hebrews 4:15-16 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. These passages are discussing Jesus: God in the form of a human. God, out of His great love for us, chose to come to earth as a human to save us, and since Jesus walked in human form, He understands what it feels like to face temptation (Matthew 4:1-11), to lose a loved one (John 11:1-44), to be betrayed (John 13:21-30). Jesus relates to the experiences you are going through because He experienced similar things. So, when you feel as though there is absolutely no one who understands, remind yourself that you can always run to Jesus, and He will always understand. An...

I want to do a video on what men and women want in a godly spouse, so please fill out the appropriate form below and I (and a special guest) will read and discuss some of the responses in a future video. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/D7C2KCM -->survey for what men want in a godly woman https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DD98L2P -->survey for what women want in a godly man

Hello friends, If you're struggling with feeling incomplete in your season of singleness, I want to share with you a different way of thinking. So often, we think of our lives as a puzzle, where God will reveal how all the pieces fit together someday when we get to Heaven. While this is a good comparison in some respects, it can make us feel useless in a season where we wait for the piece that represents our husband. I have good news. Your wait is not a puzzle. Instead, I would encourage you to think about it like salt and pepper shakers. Both of them go together, they're a set. However, they both are complete objects on their own. You will find your pepper shaker if that's God's plan for your life, but do not use your lack of a pepper shaker stop you from doing your job. A salt shaker without a pepper shaker is still perfectly good for seasoning my french fries. So don't give up. Keep working on your ministry, and your pepper shaker will come when the timing...