“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,  so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Hey, it’s that time of year for me! The month when WordPress notifies me that shortly, they will be charging me for another year to keep my blog up and running. This is when I evaluate what I’m doing, why I’m doing it, and if I should continue doing it.

This blog has served different purposes over the past few years. It started as an adjunct to the women’s ministry at my church. All of our studies were recapped here during the two years that I had the privilege of leading. Women who did not attend had a window into what the rest of us were learning, and everyone could review, dig deeper, and share our studies with others.

Since I stepped down from leading women’s ministry, this blog has served as a way to give our camp ministry supporters and friends a window into our lives, a place where I share what I’m learning, and teach whatever God is laying on my heart. How often I post waxes and wanes with the seasons of my life. I don’t invest time in marketing or trying to have the biggest blog. It isn’t big, but that’s okay. I always figured if God wanted this to be something big, He’ll make it big. It won’t be me. It will be all Him.

So, if I’m going to keep writing, what should my goals be this year? That’s the question I have been asking God, and what He gave me was 2 Timothy 3:16-17. I am going to evaluate everything I write by this verse and the purpose of my posts in light of that. The Bible teaches us who God is and what His will for our lives is. We need to know it, understand it, and live it! According to 2 Timothy:

• Scripture is used for teaching. Some translations say “doctrine.” The only way to form a sound biblical worldview is to learn what the Bible says.

• Scripture is used for rebuke (reproof, evidence). That means that sometimes, in spite of the social pressure to be politically correct, we have to point out when something is wrong and we use the Bible to do that. (Biblically Correct)

• Scripture is used for correction (restoration, to make upright). Love doesn’t stop with pointing out what is wrong, love directs us into what is right. Lets talk about what is right.

• Lastly, scripture is used for training in righteousness (becoming more Christ-like). Sometimes we need practical role models, suggestions, inspiration and encouragement to learn what righteousness looks like and how to walk in it.

What is the goal in doing these things? So that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. There is a saying that says, “God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called.” It’s meant to encourage us that we don’t have to wait until we feel we are adequate to give God our yes. We can confidently give God our yes, knowing that He will equip us as needed. That’s very true; however, if we haven’t received the fundamental equipping of God’s word, no other equipping is going to matter. Without a firm grasp on the truth of God’s word, we will fall flat on our faces. And not only that, but we require constant immersing in God’s word or it fades in our memories.

These purposes are the “big picture” goals that I will have in writing this next year. You can expect all of my posts to fit this model and I will add a tag for each of these categories. You may not notice a big shift in the overall tone of my posts, but the mission and the method should be clear and the tags will reflect the 2 Timothy purpose. It will help me to stay on point, and you can hold me accountable to it! I’d like to thank those of you who have reached out to tell me that this blog has encouraged you or had a positive impact on your lives. You reassure me of the value of taking time to share, and I appreciate your encouragement!

If you read something here that benefits your walk with the Lord, will you share the post with someone else? If you learned something that God is using to purify your faith (here or elsewhere), will you teach it to someone else? That’s how we make disciples… one person at a time.

God bless you! ~ Linda

Feature image by Joe from Pixabay.