Jesus – I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of. – John 10:10

This blog engages readers with a huge variety when it comes to content! Over the past month I’ve written about travel, family, life, church, faith, politics, remodeling, education, health, gardening, theology, food, dogs, music, and more.

The social media experts say the secret to reaching more people would be to narrow my focus. “Find your niche,” they say, “and hang out there.”

LIFE: Well, my niche is life. Or, more accurately, “Living like I mean it.” Everything that happens, every detail of my day, is viewed through the lens of grace. Not rose-colored glasses; nor the tunnel-vision of religiosity; but a faith-saturated perspective that can’t help but count the blessings.

Consequently:

• I could post a column about walking the dog, and it would turn out to be about faith;
• I could share photographs from our recent Italy adventure, and it would be more about my growing relationship with God;
• I could write about the remodeling going on in our house, and it would really detail the renovations going on in my spirit;
• I could feature pictures of our grandchildren, and it would end up painting a picture of God teaching me;
• I could post a story about what’s going on with my men’s covenant group, and it would become a true story about the beautiful things God is up to.

NICHE: My niche – when you pull all of this together – is what the writer of 1 Timothy calls, “The Life that is truly life.”

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. – 1 Timothy 6:17-19

THIS IS IT! I am convinced that this is exactly what God had in mind when we were created. To live faith out loud; to interface with every aspect of what it means to be alive in the context of our relationship to the Creator; to love with all the excellence we can muster; to play and to recreate with gratitude to our Maker; to enjoy the goodness of this earth with thankful hearts; to build relationships with all God’s children in the spirit of service, and generosity, and open hearts; to live like we mean it, because God certainly meant it when we were created.

I truly am grateful; and there is always so much Good News to share! – DEREK