A Mission Statement of Sorts.

The internet is a wild world.

It’s amazing that so much information, possibility, inspiration, and beauty is available at any given moment with just a solid wifi connection and a few strokes of the keyboard. Even wilder, is that for every bit of beauty and goodness on the internet, there are multitudes of evil and darkness. 

The world wide web is most certainly a reflection of the broken world that it exists within, and I won’t pretend to romanticize it. But like anywhere else where darkness exists, I’m so thankful for those that show up to shine light. I’m so thankful that like the printing press, the internet has made the advancement of all that is good, true and beautiful that much easier and accessible to those that may not otherwise have access to such Truth. 

While there is no substitute for the local church and face to face discipleship (and those things have been paramount in my own sanctification and walk with Christ), I have also been shaped by many men and women online. People like Jackie Hill Perry, Beth Moore, Sam Allberry, Ray Ortlund, and Laura Wifler have formed me by using their online presence to breathe life and light and truth into a space riddled with darkness and deception. The internet has given us the ability to learn from so many people we would otherwise not have the privilege to interact with, and I’m so grateful that we live in a world where that is possible. 

It’s worth considering whether we’d all be better off avoiding the internet and social media altogether – and if that is a reality for you, you go girl (or guy)! No one needs social media, and if you’ve made the decision to leave or abstain, I pray that that has been a choice that is yielding rich fruit in your heart and mind. Like so many things in this life, I believe our relationship with social media and the internet is an important matter of Christian conscience – something that should be evaluated regularly with the Lord and community, weighed against Scripture, considered with wisdom, and something that can’t be imposed on anyone else like a one-size-fits all poncho (that’s really the only thing that is one-sizes-fits all these days, right?). There are holy ways to be online and holy ways to be offline, just like there are sinful ways to be online and self-righteous ways to be offline. 

As for me and my house, the Lord continues to ask me to keep showing up in this space – on social media, in inboxes, and most recently, with this website. For years, I have been sharing things that matter to me, chief among them Christ and his gospel. This sharing has been a very real and regular part of my days since I entrusted my life to Christ at fourteen, and has played out in a hundred different iterations over the last two decades including in my life online.

For the last several years, I’ve felt a deep desire to have a permanent place on the internet to make much of God and point other people to him through writing meaningful words, curating practical resources, and showing up as a whole person who loves Christ first and most, and loves a good pair of jeans and a good restaurant recommendation. 

I believe good friends share good things and every good thing comes from God – so here we are, launching a website and inviting people to my online table in hopes that they might find an encouraging and inspiring place to land as they seek to honor God and make much of him in their everyday lives. 

Emily Jensen, another wise woman I’ve had the privilege of learning from online, recently shared a mission statement of sorts for why she remains on Instagram and I found it to be so helpful and clarifying. Following her lead, a mission statement seems like a worthwhile way to welcome you to this space. 

In this space, 

I’m here to honor and make much of God. 

Colossians 3:17, 1 Corinthians 10:31

More than anything I desire to use this space to point people towards God and his kingdom. I’m committed to being obedient to God and following my conscience as I create and share in this space. I hope to point you towards what is good, true, and beautiful in hopes of lifting your eyes towards the creator of all things and giver of every good gift. 

I’m here to encourage you with the truth of God’s Word. 

2 Timothy 3:16-17, Psalm 19:7

I believe the Bible is the inspired and inerrant Word of God. It’s the authority by which I live my life and weigh my words. I desire to use this space to point you towards the truth found in Scripture and conduct myself in a way that aligns with God’s Word. 

I’m here to help you think well and wisely about the things of this world. 

1 Corinthians 10:23

We are all whole people with diverse interests and gifts, and I believe the way we think about gift-giving, curating our closets, filling our homes, feeding ourselves and our people, and all the other ways we live and move and interact with the world should be submitted to God. How we spend our money, how we think about our possessions, how we love our neighbor… all of it reveals something about our hearts. I hope this is a space that helps you think well about how to interact with the things of the world and reminds you that if you are in Christ, this is not your home. 

The only thing you need on this website is Jesus Christ and the life he offers you, everything else – every idea, product, and recommendation are things you should wisely submit to God and determine if it might be beneficial for you.

I’m here to show up as a whole person. 

Ephesians 2:10, 1 Peter 4:10

One of my deepest desires is to be the same person I am at home as I am at the church where I work as I am online. I desire to show up in every space just the way God made me. I love Jesus and I enjoy a lot of other things – like TV and books and clothes – and all of those things and more are impacted by my love for Jesus. So until the Lord tells me otherwise, I plan to show up here as the woman that God made me with the gifts and interests and passions that he’s given me, in hopes that as I share my everyday (read: normal, ordinary, mundane) life, you might find some everyday inspiration for your own everyday faithfulness. I’m also committed to stepping away if this space ever hinders my own faithfulness to God and all that he has entrusted to me.

I’m also here to have a good time, not take myself too seriously, and remind you and me that life with Christ is actually really fun… not easy, but full, abundant, and fun. 

If all of that sounds good to you, you’re in the right place! 

I’m so very thankful you’re here.