Hello dear friends.
I haven’t posted here in five months. If you weren’t around back then, read this post to hear some of the “why” behind my break.
It’s nice to be back. But honestly, the break was glorious. And freeing.
Here’s the skinny. I stepped away from my “online ministry”, just weeks after working hard to self-publish my first book, speak at a national bloggers conference, and see growing momentum on my blog with The God Experience, Summer Study…
I stepped away from it all simply because I sensed God was inviting me to MORE. More of Him in a place of rest.
So I said a simple “yes” to God and signed off, not knowing when I’d be back.
In the marketing world, what I did was plain stupid.
But in His upside-down kingdom, an invitation that looks stupid to some, just may be filled with the glory of God for you. (<–tweet this)
It was an invitation from God to come away with Him.
To slow down.
To lean back into Him.
To listen more, share less.
To fast, to be filled.
To be still enough to experience His heart.
To be more present to my family.
And less present to my iPhone and social media.
And you know what? This last little season has been better than I could have asked or imagined.
My heart was more dry than I realized. And He met me where I was, and filled me. My soul slowed down into a quieter place. My life became more simple. My joy as a mom became more full. *In fact, I’ve enjoyed motherhood more in the past 5 months than in the past 5 years.* That’s huge. (I’m realizing there’s absolutely something monumental to this “hands free momma” idea- and I want more). Add to this awesomeness that my husband immediately noticed…commenting how much energy I had and how much more relaxed I seemed in the day-to-day stuff of life.
Ya’ll – God knows what He is doing when He leads us. And when He calls, a trusting YES is always our best response. He is trustworthy.
My life of engaging online is not over…but as I step back into it, things might look different.
And I sure hope they are different in my heart.
Less “following all the rules of successful blogging”, and more breaking those rules in order to serve from a place of rest.
Less worrying about who approves of my writing and speaking, more living centered in the approval of God.
It’s funny because just about two years ago I took a Facebook Fast for Lent (I highly recommend it!), and it’s like I’m reliving that craving for more, just in a different season of life.
Does anyone else out there identify with this holy discontent? A deep knowing that our REAL, present lives and relationships are sacred and beautiful and that I don’t want to live distracted and drained by the noise and the notifications and the beeps that so often steal my focus from what is now?
Anyway. As you can tell, I’m still on this journey of saying “yes” to this invitation for more. Thankfully it doesn’t end here, but just begins.
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So friends, I’m thankful to be back in this space. Thankful for the grace to step away, and grateful for the opportunity to step back into conversation and community with you. I’d love to hear how the Lord has been leading you.
Bless you, friends. Glad to be back.
ps- While I was gone from this space, I had the opportunity to do some life-giving writing. and wanted to share it with you. Scroll to the bottom of this page and you can read whatever interests you. But I’ll tell you, my favorite one was this one. It’s the topic for my entire semester of speaking engagements and I’m pretty excited for the ways God is freeing me to speak of His goodness at work in the intimate parts of marriage. Will be in touch!