What's Next? Housekeeping and Moving Forward

My friends!

It's been just about eight months since I started this blog, and I am so thrilled at all the chances I've had to write for you! It's not always been easy, but God has laid multiple different topics on my heart that I'm looking forward to writing about for you in the New Year.

With the New Year, I've been thinking a lot about different ways I can serve you better and make this blog the very best it can be. Some of these changes are small (like how I've FINALLY figured out how to update our URL- more on that later!) and others are bigger. With either one, I know it's going to be a great year, and I'm excited to dive into it with you all.

If I haven't said it recently: Thank YOU for subscribing and taking a chance on me in the first place. Much of this blog is me learning and figuring things out as I go, and there have been sub-par posts and posts that I'm sure are just chaotic gibberish. Like, Mira, what in the world are you talking about. Get some help.

You guys truly do make a difference, and I am so blessed to have each and every one of you. Thank you for reading and sticking with me even when I'm not exactly coherent all the time. Love you guys ♥.

Okay, so what's changed?

First of all, I redesigned our website again. *confetti bombs explode* *party music plays* I'm really happy with this new theme, but as always, please check it out and let me know what you think!

Next is that I finally learned how to change our URL to "vintageheart" instead of "mirablueflower" so that's exciting!

Other than that, I think that's about it for changes that have happened. Now, let's dive into changes that will be happening.

Coming Up!

AHHHH. THERE'S SO MUCH I'M SO EXCITED FOR!!!

Okay okay okay. Let's take a deep breath and everyone stop freaking out.

Let's do this the old school way with a bullet-pointed list.

• Prayer Wednesdays: Prayer is so, so important, and I want to include more of that. Each Wednesday, you'll receive an email- not a blog post, just a little note- from me with a call to prayer, some encouragement, and a quiet reminder to take a moment to pray. And if you have a specific prayer request? There will be a form in the email for you to fill out with a prayer request you would like me to pray for. I will make a point of praying for each and every request I receive, and if you would like me to, I'll send you an email checking in on you and your request. ♥

• Open Journal: We have multiple new sections on the blog, one of which I'm calling Open Journal. I'm transitioning to a more lifestyle type of writing/blog posts, and Open Journal is the start of that. Open Journal will be my corner to share with you stories about my life, happenings in my days, and how I'm learning and growing. I pray that it will be an encouragement to you and a blessing!

• Doctrine & Doxology: Doctrine & Doxology is another blog section that I'm thrilled for. Essentially, it'll be the introduction and study of multiple different hymns. Whether you're a hymn expert or if you barely know any of the old fashioned church pulpit music, this section is made for you. We'll look at uncommon and popular hymns, and study through them together, looking at their theology, anatomy, and what makes them good worship music. Maybe this is where you'll find your new favorite worship song- I know that from putting together ideas for this section, many of mine are hymns!

• The Gelsemine Correspondence: THIS IS MY FAVORITE NEW SECTION!! Have you ever read the Screwtape Letters? If you have, then you know it's written by C.S Lewis, and chronicles the exchange of letters between two demons. Yes, you read that right. These demons are engaged in doing their best to lead a Christian astray, and it is one of the most powerful, convicting and impactful books I've ever read.

  Similar to the Screwtape Letters is a book that's another one of my favorites, My Dear Hemlock. Written by a pastor's wife, My Dear Hemlock is written in exactly the same style as the Screwtape Letters, but it's specifically aimed towards how demons lead women astray, and how we can be tossed and buffeted around.

  It's from these two books that I got my inspiration, and will be writing and publishing The Gelsemine Correspondence for you. These articles will be written from the pov of Gelsemine, a senior demon advising her young charge Foxglove on how to best tempt and lead their newest case astray: a teenage girl.

  Yes.

  I am so excited for this- well, not the actual writing of it because that's not going to be fun- because I think it is so important for us to realize that there is spiritual warfare out there. And the gospel is for us- not just adults. We have to learn how to live as Christians too, and there are so many issues that it's imperative for us to think through well!

  I'm praying hard that the Lord would guide my pen, give me the wisdom to write this well, and that these articles would convict and encourage you to keep pressing forward and running the race well. ♥

Wow, that's a lot! But we got through it!

Thank you again so much for reading, dear friend. Keep an eye out for our first issue of The Gelsemine Correspondence very soon!

Until next time, stay undistracted, and keep an open bible.

-Mira ☻