Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes
Hello lovely people!
Something has been stirring in my heart for the last few months. Ever since I started the blog back up again, I’ve had an itch for direction. Writing my blogs again has been so good, but I want to do this with more intention this time. More purpose.
In the past, I’d write about whatever was on my heart. Most of the time that was ok, but I found myself slipping into a feelings-focused approach, rather than a faith-focused one. I wrote about whatever I was feeling, not what God was really teaching me.
On top of that, I’m often tempted to write rashly. Let my words fly onto the page. Tack on verses that validate my point, not the other way around. But I don’t sit with Jesus first, I don’t dwell on a passage of scripture, I don’t seek wisdom from others far wiser than me. I just write.
And I believe I could be serving you guys a lot better than that.
I’ve wanted a mission for With Abba for a long time.
A north star, something I can reach for no matter what I create. I’ve been inspired because at work, my boss developed a mission for our company last year. And honestly, it’s motivated me, steered me in the direction I want to go, and charged everything I create with more purpose.
I want the same for With Abba. A short statement I can fall back on when I’m struggling for direction.
So I brainstormed.
Nathan asked me one day, “why do you do any of it?”
It’s a fair question. It’s not for any sort of success. I haven’t made a penny from any of this! But that’s not why I do it anyway.
I told him, “Those times when I get a message from a friend who follows the blog, and they say what I wrote challenged them or encouraged them or brought them closer to Jesus, those are the days it all feels worth it.”
As I thought about it, I realized there’s nothing I want more for the people in my life than a real relationship with Jesus.
For me, it’s everything. And it’s hard to explain.
It’s the peace I don’t understand when I sit with him and we talk. The comfort knowing I can reach for him anytime, anywhere. The smallness I feel when I think about how big He is. The breeze that runs over my soul when I see his oceans of provision next to my puddle-sized problems. The security of being anchored in a relationship with someone who will never leave you, never let you down, never forsake you.
I see such a need for real relationship with Jesus.
In the secular world, it’s obvious. But even in church, my heart breaks for some of the people who see God as a dictator or a distant father or a boss. The people who come to church because they should, the people who only pray over dinner, the people who turn on their “Christianese” when speaking to him.
I want those people to know him like a friend. Like a loving father. Like a brother.
It breaks my heart to see such a high divorce rate in the first responder community. Seeing it firsthand, I know not many first responders are Christians, because they have to face the harsh reality of evil every day. How can a good God let this happen? It’s the question that kills faith.
It’s a question I want to dive into another time, but I bring it up because it’s part of this “mission” I started shaping in my head. If you don’t have a real relationship with Jesus, there’s no use giving marriage advice. It’s like trying to build a house on sand. No foundation.
Okay – so how do I capture all of this in a short phrase?
It feels impossible, to be honest. I can’t convey how precious my relationship with God is in just a few words. But I did my best. So here it is, With Abba’s new mission:
“Walking with you into a real relationship with Jesus.”
It’s not fluffy! But it’s simple, and if anything I create doesn’t do this, then I’m doing something wrong.
I included “Walking with you” because I’m not preaching from a pulpit, telling you what to do because I’m the expert. I’m walking alongside you, because I don’t know what the heck I’m doing either.
And the “into a real relationship with Jesus” part feels core to what I live for. I care about real – not perfect, holy, righteous, or pious.
If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve been with me for a while. Maybe you’ve been supporting me since I was in high school, when I started this blog. However long you’ve been here, I just want to extend the biggest thank you I can.
I’ve changed direction a ton over the last few years. You’ve rolled with the punches. I’ve changed a lot. You stuck around.
I just wanted to say thank you for supporting me by reading my blog. And I also want to invite you into With Abba moving forward. You are a huge reason I even do this, and I want you to keep me accountable. If there’s ever a time I’m not following my mission, I want you guys to call me out. The VIP’s, the inner circle. Promise me? Promise me you’ll shoot me a DM if I’m being an idiot?
What’s New at With Abba
With a new mission, I have some fun things I’m starting! So here goes…
I’m starting a podcast!
Yep, it’s ok you can cringe. I’m that weird person in your life who decided there needed to be one more podcast in the world. Yippee.
But truly, I figured what the heck, might as well try. If you prefer listening to reading, I’m hoping to cater to you! We’ll be talking about faith, marriage, first responder life, and more on there, and Nathan will be joining me for most of the episodes, which will be fun.
You can check it out here – we’re on Spotify as The With Abba Podcast!
I’ll also be posting a video version here at Belle And Nate each weekend.
And as always, I’ll be posting on @bell_and_nate on IG if you’re into social media:)
THANK YOU!
Thank you for your support! At the end of the day, I want to serve you guys better, and really support your families the best I can. Spend some time with Jesus today, soak in some sun, and have a great weekend:)
XOXO,
Annabelle