The end of an era.....

This is me.

I'm actually not sure how old I am in this picture, but my hair is pretty amazing! Don't you think?

Although, this picture makes me cringe a little bit now, amazingly, I don't think it stood out much back in the 90's. As time passed and styles changed, I slowly changed with them (even if I was a little behind what was currently trendy).

Change is good! At some point, I had to admit that curled and hairsprayed bangs weren't "me" anymore and that is similar to what has happened here at A Steady Rain.

I didn't have a clear focus when I began A Steady Rain. I just wanted to document God's daily blessings! What a huge topic, right? It was a great fit for me as I learned the ins and outs of blogging. As God has graciously taught and molded me over the last six years, I have developed a love for stretching my mind a bit. I enjoy reading articles (and occasional books) on deeper theological topics. I pick my husband's brain constantly about questions that confuse or intrigue me.
I'm also quickly seeing that those topics are actually extremely helpful in motherhood. The more I know my God, the more I love him and can pass that on to my children.

I feel like the time has come to leave A Steady Rain. I'm moving to an online home more tailored to the topics that I'm passionate about and I'd love it if you'd join me!

The paint is still drying and I need to hang a few more pictures on the walls, but while you wait, I'd love for you to sign up to receive the new posts in your email when they are ready. I'm even planning on a bi-monthly newsletter with extra gospel centered encouragement and reminders for you. You'll receive a special free gift for being such wonderful guests at my new home!

Invite your friends to join us at Dishes & Doctrine or the new Facebook page! I'm excited to remind each other of the gospel and learn how to apply doctrine to the mundane (and crazy) days of motherhood.

Thank you for your support and kindness here over the years!

This isn't goodbye. It's just a new hairstyle!

Love you all!

When God's story is {more than} enough....

Things have been quiet here at the blog for a while now. I could blame it on motherhood, ministry, or decluttering my basement and all of those would be true. I was struck today, however, with another, deeper reason why I have had writer's block since Spring.

Comparison. 

This ugly, controlling sin sneaks into my heart in so many ways. Blogging is just one of the ways that it steals my joy and puffs up my ego. When I see other amazing articles, videos, and pictures I doubt God's ability to use my personality and gifts. When writing comes easily or I receive feedback on a certain post, my pride grows.
This self-focused viewpoint then quickly spills over into jealousy and discontentment.
I wish I had her crafting ability!
I'll never be able to teach like her!
Man, her kids are well-behaved!

The ironic thing, is that I truly desire to draw attention to God's pursuing love and lavish grace, but comparing my gospel-sharing ability with others assumes that His grace somehow depends on me! I couldn't be more wrong! My story and experiences are opportunities to point not to myself, but to HIS grand story of redemption.

My shortcomings point to His holiness.
My selfishness points to His love.
My inconsistencies point to His faithfulness.

As I continue to share the stories from our small-town life, I pray that attention will be brought to Christ. After all, His story is ALWAYS more than enough.

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.  Ephesians 3:20-21

How to be successful in life......

I recently finished a study on the book of Judges. I learned so much and saw more of Christ than I ever have while studying an Old Testament book. It doesn't take many chapters to realize that the Israelites have a pattern problem. They follow their own reasoning and sinful desires only to find themselves enslaved by an enemy nation. They cry out to God and He raises up a rescuer who delivers them. They are so relieved to have their freedom back that it isn't long until they turn back to their false gods and selfish ways.

It's easy to shake my head at the Israelites of the Old Testament. I mean, goodness, can't they see that this pattern of behavior is destructive and damaging to their faith?



I think if we're brutally honest with ourselves, though, we would find that we have very similar patterns in our faith as well. For example here's mine when it comes to blogging......

Step 1: I just love this blogging thing! I can share about what God's teaching me and it's so fun to write, etc.........

Step 2: Wait! There's a podcast on how to grow my audience? If 10 followers are good, then 1,000 must be even better, right? If I do this one simple thing, I'll see my subscribers increase dramatically? So, posting on certain days only is the real way to gain online traffic? You get the idea, my blog and it's growth becomes an idol.

Step 3: The pressure of performance and living up to my idol's expectations begins to enslave me. I feel depressed and unable to measure up. I cry out to God! I'm doing all the right things with my blogging and writing but everyone else beside me seems to be succeeding!

Step 4: Sigh, I think I'll just give up blogging. There are so many other people that can do it more successfully than me! I'm sure God wants me to be focusing on something better.

Step 5: A random person (who I didn't even know read my blog) encourages me that God is using my feeble efforts to encourage them and remind them of the gospel.

Step 1: I just love this blogging thing! I can share about what God's teaching me and it's so fun to write, etc......

Continue cycle......

Seriously, this pattern has occurred at least 5-6 times in the last few years! It hit me yesterday that I have the same cycle issue that the nation of Israel struggled with.You see, my definition of success has been wrong. Just like the Israelites, I've looked to the world's definition for my worth and identity.
It might not be blogging for you, but it may be a myriad of other things like your home business, marriage, ministry, friendships, or even motherhood.

We believe the lie that success is having followers, attention, money, even good feelings all of which almost immediately become dangerous idols in our camp. They enslave and abuse leaving us feeling hopeless at the end of the day.

We cry out to God who lovingly and mercifully rescues us from ourselves yet again and we run right back to the idols our souls crave.

What we forget (or possibly refuse to remember) is that God's definition of success is measured by something that was already finished 2000 years ago. Death and sin was already defeated. His Son triumphed over the grave. His Spirit is alive and well working in this still sin-tainted world.

True success is defined, not by what we do, but by what has already been done by Christ.
Numbers and notoriety are never the true definition of a successful endeavor.

Consider Colossians 2:13-15:

And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,  by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

That, my friends is a true success story! 

Want a gospel reminder in your home? Download a free printable!
This post is linked to the Mom 2 Mom Monday Link-up!

Blogging sentimentality....

When I started blogging over five and a half years ago, it was as an answer to prayer. I was lonely in a new town and in search of something special and meaningful to fill the empty naptime hours at home.
God brought so many blogging friends into my life during that first year!

We shared pictures of our families, special songs, funny stories, and thoughts from Scripture.

We shared life. 

More and more of us started attending conferences on blogging and social media. It was so fun to meet our on-screen friends face-to-face and strengthen those cross-country bonds.

At the same time, we started hearing that we needed to be creating a brand with our blog. We could be making money with this hobby of ours and the blogosphere began to change.

Some of my favorite blogs were now filled with ads and affiliate links. We were a failure as a blogger if we couldn't get a sponsorship for next year's big conference. Instead of posts about our struggle to get dressed in the morning, we wrote reviews and made sure to include pinnable pictures.

Please, don't get me wrong. I love the fact that moms can help their families financially through their websites. I have pinned more amazing ideas from fellow bloggers than I can count.

But, I think this whole blogging thing has gotten a little off track. We've lost the art of reading another blog simply because we're interested in who they are as a person. We've felt insignificant as we write our own posts because we're not currently authoring a book or just returning from a speaking engagement.
I can connect so much more with a fellow blogger's recent potty training adventures than another E-book bundle I can't live without!

I hardly ever write posts like this, but I genuinely miss the good old days. I miss sharing prayer requests, common struggles, and mothering questions. I miss commenting on a blog knowing that I will get a reply. I miss the friendships and bonds that came from this unique means of communication.

I hope this post doesn't sound bitter, because I'm not. I know this blog (or even this post) will never have millions of reads and shares. I have never struggled with the overflowing email inboxes that other bloggers complain about. With all the other responsibilities in my life right now, I know that God is protecting me from having a gigantic blog.

I may not get a book writing deal with my devotional thoughts, but I'll keep sharing what God is teaching me about Jesus and the gospel.
Note: I can guarantee you won't find any original recipe or DIY projects worth pinning here!!

I do plan on continuing to share the exciting, difficult, and mundane things of my little life. I will keep writing about the ways the gospel is becoming more and more real to me. I will keep searching for online buddies who want to share this journey with me.

As long as God gives me words to type, I'll keep on doing this crazy thing called blogging!





P.S. There are still blogs that are doing an awesome job at sharing the realness of life! You may want to check out a few!

The Ferguson Family 4
The Domestic Fringe
Jo's Boys
GraceLaced
Grace Covers Me
Biblical Homemaking

Grace and a blog re-launch....

Grace. 
It's a word that has been a part of my vocabulary for a very long time. After all, I had a small understanding of God's gift of grace for me when I accepted Him at 5 years old. I used the word grace when explaining salvation to others. I knew I couldn't be a Christian without grace!

It's only been in the past year or so that this word has been transforming my life! The gospel of Christ has been gripping my heart in ways I've never experienced!

How could I have been so deceived to think that I needed a merciful God's favor to gain eternal life, but the rest of my Christian walk was up to me and my hard work?

I served our church alongside my pastor husband. I tried to raise our children to love God and be "good kids". I attempted to forgive those who hurt me. I struggled to resist Satan's daily temptations.
I wanted to be a godly woman, but I was missing something.......

I finally found that something when I realized that all the good works I do are worth NOTHING to God when done in my own strength. My identity as a wife, mom, woman are already sealed through Christ's sacrifice for me. My Father can smile on my life, not because of me, but because of His Perfect Son.

As one of my favorite pastors/authors, Tullian Tchvijian says, "In Christ, I am free to fail!"

Starting to grasp the deepness of God's grace has been so special! I have fallen in love with my Jesus again. I am learning to apply grace in the mundane aspects of each day!

I want Him to be EVERYTHING to me!

My relationship with Him has been revived!

I find that each day leads me to new ways to apply the gospel in my life and I want to document it because my heart so easily forgets and wanders. That's why I decided to revive this old blog of mine with a new meaning!

When I initially started A Steady Rain, it was to document the daily blessings God pours on our lives each day. Coming up with blessings and blog posts had become a little stale after 3+ years and I decided I should come up with a new blog! However, the next two blogging ventures felt just as forced. What was the problem??

I was trying to force a passion for Him! After a year of looking back on what He's done for little me, I have a renewed desire to write about that steady rain. Those blessings look a little different to me now. Just as I can do nothing to "make" the skies open up and water the earth, I can do NOTHING to earn God's favor on me or my family. I'm not entitled to anything! It is His gift on my undeserving life.
True grace.

Will you join me as I continue to search for His daily grace?

 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him....

Colossians 2:6

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