I started blogging around the spring of 2010. It all sort of happened through a coupon phase I was going through, and I’ll spare you the boring details, but over two years later I’m still here, madly in love with blogging, writing, and most of all, you!
When I decided I wanted to create a blog of my own, I immediately went in the direction of ministry based blogging. I wanted to share my faith, my love for Jesus, and encourage other moms and women. The majority of my earlier posts were faith based, and I treasure those early posts.
My faith is part of who I am, but there’s more to me, and that doesn’t mean I love Jesus any less.
I started writing more. I began digging deep and letting words flow from unexpected places. Sometimes those words didn’t always fit the mold I thought I needed to fill. I thought that in order to be a ministry to others I needed to label myself as such.
I was wrong.
I began writing for me, and I shared thoughts and feelings that didn’t always mesh with being a perfect christian wife and mother, and it felt good!
I shared my heart because it was therapeutic. I shared whatever I wanted because I believe in honest blogging. I wrote because by telling our stories we encourage each other.
I learned that by categorizing myself as a “christian mom” or “faith based” blogger, I was closing myself off to a huge percentage of women (and men) who may not share the same beliefs as mine. I realized very quickly that labeling myself was going to leave me with a readership of people just.like.me.
I didn’t like that.
1. Because that’s boring. 2. Because I want to meet all of you. No matter what your faith, beliefs, or parenting styles. And 3. That whole WWJD (What Would Jesus Do) thing kept coming up. He didn’t just reach people like him, who thought like him, and did what he did. He wanted to reach the world.
“And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others”-Matthew 5:47
Sometimes I think the church has it all wrong. We need to love each other regardless of background, beliefs, and religion. We may not agree, but love has nothing to do with opinions.
“Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than this.”-Mark 12:31
My blog has seen it’s seasons of “blogovers”. I wish I had screen shots of each stage. Like me, the blog has grown. It’s gone from being what I thought it should be to a perfect place of what I want it to be.
Even though I no longer have a Bible verse in my tagline, or focus on faith every time I hit publish, I am still the same person.
I’m just a girl, who wants to write.
I am a follower of Christ, christian wife and mother, and homeschooling parent, who is blessed to share God’s word with my children everyday, and Jesus is at the center of my life. I am an imperfect mess, saved by grace (Ephesians 2:8).
Because of Him, I am me.
Because of His great love, I am not consumed. (Lamentations 3:22)
The world of blogging will take me in all sorts of different directions. It introduces me to new people. People that are different from me, and I love that!
It’s been a journey. One that has been challenging, and one that I cherish deeply.
I’ve learned that having an open mind and heart doesn’t change my faith, it only makes it stronger.
I want my faith to shine through in my writing, not because I tell you it’s going to, but because you feel it in my words. I want you to “see” my faith and love for Jesus without the the labels.
I realized that it doesn’t take a Bible verse in my tagline to create an online ministry.
It takes light.
I hope you see mine.
Still.
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorifyyour Father in heaven.”-Matthew 5:14-16
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Awesome mission statement! I love it. And you are totally right… you can be a Christian mom and writer without being this : Christian only blogger. Because I am too. xo friend!!
Kristen recently posted..Rejection
Twitter: themommymess
says:
I didn’t think of it as a mission statement, but I like that! Thanks, sweet sister!
Exactly!! Thanks for sharing! As a songwriter, I am ALWAYS asked, “What type of music do you write?” and I struggle with my answer every time. I want my music to be good and honest and beautiful, and that doesn’t always easily fit into the established categories. I don’t want to be defined or dismissed by my affiliation; I want to be a disruptive yet enticing force in this world subtly suggesting that things aren’t as they appear and encouraging open discussion of that. Blessings for your writing. Keep going!!
Twitter: themommymess
says:
Yes, Martha! Ya know, my husband is not in the same place I am spiritually. One of his favorite “rock” bands is a band that used to be labeled as a “christian” band, but didn’t want to close themselves off to the mainstream crowd they could reach. They’ve gone “mainstream”, their music is played on a very NON christian station that my husband listens to, and he loves their music that has Jesus all over it. That’s what it’s all about!! We can’t reach the world if we’re only talking to each other.
As I sit here pondering the future of my blog and figuring out what direction I want to take it, reading this is just want I need. You don’t have to pigeon hole yourself but it doesn’t mean that when you broaden your base, you need to forget where you came from.
So glad you found a space that fits ALL that is you.
Alison recently posted..Never The Same Again
Twitter: themommymess
says:
Exactly, Allison! Each post I’ve written is a little piece of me. No matter what direction you go, it will be fabulous. Your writing is always spot on, and I’d read anything you come up with.
It’s funny how God calls everyone to do things differently. I started a new blog for the opposite reason! I felt like God wanted me to view my blog as more of a ministry. Isn’t it great to serve a God that uses us all reach others in different ways?
Jenni Mullinix recently posted..5 Reasons You Shouldn’t Procrastinate Washing Dishes {Why Wednesday}
Twitter: themommymess
says:
Absolutely! He uses each of us in His way. The hard part is listening to the call.
I love this post. I’ve struggled with saying I’m a believer but then not blogging all about that part of life. And then I shied the other way and avoided writing about my belief. Finally I realized that I can’t seperate those parts of myself anymore than I can have straight blond hair and thin thighs. Thanks for shedding even more light on this for me!
Awn recently posted..Forgiveness
Twitter: themommymess
says:
Haha! It’s part of who we are. I write about faith when I feel like, just like I write about anything else I want to. That’s the beauty of living authentically. We’re real!
I love this. You are so right, a blog doesn’t have to have 1 subject it can have several and it can and does evolve as the writer evolves.
Erin recently posted..Use Sparingly – DIY Foam Soap
Twitter: themommymess
says:
Exactly!
Adrienne, this is one of the reasons that I adore you. You ARE you! You have so many wonderful characteristics and traits that you should never box yourself in. Be open and share yourself with the world. You are a gift, truly! I love being able to watch you grow as a writer and a person. xo
Kristen recently posted..Summer Camp Blues
Twitter: themommymess
says:
Thank you so much, Kristen! This is so sweet! And being boxed in was exactly how I felt when I was trying to mold myself into ONE category, no matter what the category. I just don’t think my mind works that way.
Loving Jesus is kind of like breathing…I might be doing other stuff, but I always love Jesus at the same exact time, all day long, all night, etc. It’s always there. I have to do it to live.
MiMi recently posted..In it to Pin it
Twitter: themommymess
says:
Such a perfect analogy! Natural, something that I do without thinking. It’s not a label or a category.
Twitter: fiercedivablog
says:
Love this post! Just a few short months ago I decided to start a “yoga blog with an edge” but it morphed very quickly into something else because I did not want to limit myself to talking about yoga. I love your blog and your faith shines through.
ilene recently posted..Rebel Ted
Twitter: themommymess
says:
It’s funny! I love your blog and your writing, and yet somehow it makes me want to go to yoga too!
Thanks, girl!!
Still see it, loud and clear.
Even though I am a Christian, sometimes I’m put off by some “Christian bloggers” because they seem to want to hit me over the head with their faith and they only share what fits along with the image of being a “Good Christian blogger” and it makes me see them as not being real. I never felt that way about you, just explaining why, even though I share their faith, sometimes I stay away from “those” bloggers.
Shell recently posted..Pour Your Heart Out: Long Nights
Twitter: themommymess
says:
I totally know how you feel. I just don’t want to live inside the box. It’s about being authentic, and I don’t always say the “right” things or have the “right” thoughts, or even do the “right” things. And I like it that way! We need to encourage each other without judgment.
Twitter: themommymess
says:
And thank you for such a sweet comment. I feel the same way about you. I just can’t do the “church lady” thing, and I have a feeling we’d be hanging in Bible study together at the rebel table. LOL!
I love that your faith comes through without hitting people over the head. You truly are a light and people will want to follow by your example. If that isn’t ministry, I don’t know what is. Love you and your blog, my friend!
AnnMarie recently posted..I Need to be Better
And I love the line that it would be boring if all our readers were all just like us. What fun is there in that?
AnnMarie recently posted..I Need to be Better
I think you are doing just what we are called to do. You are living your faith and as you are doing it we get to benefit from what you are learning and sharing.
JDaniel4′s Mom recently posted..Help! This Duck Has Low Self Esteem!
Twitter: themommymess
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I think that’s what it’s all about. Learning and sharing!
Twitter: OneMommy1
says:
Beautiful post! Whatever you blog about, your beliefs will shine through, and so will your light!
OneMommy recently posted..Thankful for Who I Am
“Sometimes I think the church has it all wrong. We need to love each other regardless of background, beliefs, and religion. We may not agree, but love has nothing to do with opinions.”
This right there… EXACTLY!!!!
And your faith does shine through… that’s how I’ve always felt.. I don’t have to “bring people to Christ” by throwing my faith in people’s faces… by simply living a life of Christian faith and grace, that will do it.
Sorta Southern Single Mom recently posted..Friday Fragments: Joy and Sadness