I started this blog in 2015 after feeling like I wanted a place to share my experiences in this Christian life. I was hoping to be a light and a resource to others going through similar things. I wanted to share what I felt God was teaching me, lessons I learned in life, and things I love. Well, there have been a lot of bumps along the way and I have even quit a few times. I didn’t know it was possible but I have felt overqualified and under-qualified all at the same time. 

Well, five years later and I don’t think I’ve made much progress honestly. And Its mostly because I haven’t committed to it the way I need to, but what I have realized is that I never gave it a real chance. If you do this and you do it well it will be because you were intentional. A successful blog doesn’t happen by accident.

So what can I tell you about blogging that you haven’t already heard?

1.     You have to be willing to give it your all. Period. It’s so much work. Keeping up with new trends, creating content to share that people are interested in. If you are going to be successful there are no days off, at least at the beginning. Every day you are doing something for the blog whether it actually shows up on the blog or not.

2.     Know what you bring to the table and give people that. When you share what you know, you’re more confident in that and it comes through in your writing. You are also less likely to second guess yourself. There are so many bloggers and many would argue that the market is oversaturated.  Some days that may feel true, but you still have a unique voice.

3. Periodically go and reread things that you have posted. You will likely rediscover or be reminded of your why. You will also find Grammatical errors that you didn’t see before (hopefully you’ll see less over time). You also get to see how much Your writing will have undoubtedly changed and hopefully you will have grown.  I have gone back and reread some of my posts and they have encouraged me!

 Overall, I would say to remember that your contribution is valuable to the world. You owe it to yourself and the world to show up.

Listen, I'll be the first to say I love some good tea lol. If you are unaware of what tea is, it the urban word for gossip, and while I’m not really a huge gossip because I don’t believe in being messy, I do love to be know whats going on. I value discernment and good judgment because it allows me to make informed decisions. So you can see why I always like to be in the know. If I know who and how people are I may make different choices when I’m around them. I may choose to share something or I may not. Or perhaps I may decide not to work with them. That kind of information can be helpful and necessary; and when we have it, we should heed it. However, that is totally different than just discussing people's lives as a past time.

So let me say I’m not here to suck the fun life and especially not out of your girl time but I am here to help you elevate it, and not at the expense of poking fun at someone else’s misfortune. Our time would be better spent discussing our own lives. Sharing our highs and low with our friends. Cheering each other on in challenging situations and inspiring each other to be our best. When the vast majority of the conversation is about other people, we're shortchanging ourselves. God has given us friends as accountability partners. Iron sharpens iron. You don’t sharpen your iron by cutting down others. If you turn the focus of your conversations inward, YOUR life will be changed outwardly.

We need to examine our motive for the conversation we're having. Is there something to be learned in discussing another person's story? And if so, Are we listening from a place of judgment or grace? Is there a way to help the person/thing we're discussing? Have we prayed for them as much as we're talking about them? Is what we're discussing going to be helpful to us personally in any way? More importantly, consider how much time you and your friends are devoting to discussing other peoples’ business. Is that your whole conversation? And if you couldn’t talk about people would you and your friends still have something in common?

The thing we have to remember is that our tongue is the ship that steers our life. It determines the course that we will take. SO your words, whether about your own life or another’s sews something into yours. Would I want someone discussing me the way I’m discussing them? Am I putting them down to lift myself? Perhaps you could consider what work you should be doing? Gossip is the tea you spill that will come back to burn you later. Let’s try hard to be more mindful of what we say. I want you and your friends to have so many personal wins that when you get together that’s the only tea that you are pressed to share.

“I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth” (Exodus 9:16).

We know that God has a purpose for all things. From the plants to the animals and of course people. What we don’t always know is what the purpose of a thing is.

Our purpose is what God left us here to do. It is an assignment. While you may not know what your specific purpose is. The overarching purpose of every Christian is to help others to know Jesus. You should do that no matter where or what job you have.

 The foundation of knowing your purpose is rooted in knowing God. Intimacy with God allows you to know the creator and the creator is the person that defines the creation. As you begin to strengthen your relationship with God and spend time with him he will begin to reveal to you what he has made you for and called you to.

When you walk with God he leads you into your purpose. Look at the life of David in the bible. He was a shepherd but God made him a king and through a series of events he was led to the palace to serve king Saul and eventually ended up as king.

Practical tips for discovering your purpose:

1.     Look at what you are passionate about doing.

2.     Pay attention to any Personality traits that are dominant

3.     Do you have a source of pain or story of triumph that will encourage people?

4.     Discover how the story of your life serves the kingdom of God and/or gives God glory

5.     In what ways does God use you in everyday life?

These are just some questions to get you started. Pray and ask God to reveal his purpose for you and lastly ask trusted friends or family what they think you’re purposed for. I hope this helps!!!