Welcome to the blog refresh!
I’ve had it in mind to do a little redesign this year but with the culmination of quarantine life, the final stretch of my semester, and the boy’s transition to virtual schooling, the project got lost in the shuffle. But then our family made it to the other side of all of those challenging scenarios (our state is slowly beginning to reopen, PTL!) and my schedule opened up. Like, WIDE OPEN-ed up.
Suddenly I found myself walking around the house like, whatdoidonow?? It’s a good feeling, not gonna lie.
So I decided to play around with the look of the blog with the goal of making it simpler, cleaner, and more modern. I also wanted to communicate something that has been on my heart for about a year–this idea of coram Deo. I’ll come back to what that means in a sec, but first, here’s the history.
I’ve been a long time reader and lover of the lifestyle blog (A Cup of Jo was the first one I fell for!) but never felt truly at home in that category as a writer and blogger. Although I love to share with you guys things that I’m loving or hacks that have helped, those aren’t the only kind of topics that I want to write about. I also spend quite a bit of time reading and thinking on issues of ethics, politics, and theology, but that strange combination of interests has been my struggle: how do I include these heavy topics in a blog about my everyday life…in a way that will encourage y’all?
Even though I am still trying to figure out how to answer that question, this I know: my deepest desire is to live all of life coram Deo, a Latin phrase that means “before the face of God” or “in the presence of God.” I believe that God wants all of us, every single part and area and detail, to come under His wise and loving leadership, and when we live in a way that allows that process to happen, we are so much happier. It was the way we were originally created in fact, to enjoy God and bring Him glory.
As fourth century bishop and theologian Augustine of Hippo once said,
“Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee.”
Living all of life coram Deo is a mind-shift. It challenges our craving for autonomy and acclaim. It presses at the tender and wounded places in our hearts and asks, “Will you let me in there?” As Christians, we already live under the sovereignty of an all-knowing and mighty God, but seeking a life coram Deo is about welcoming a deeper mode of transparency for His work to happen in us. It is becoming intentionally available to the transforming power of the Spirit.
As the apostle Paul wrote, this is how we live, “Through Him…and for His name sake.” (Rom. 1:5)
With this on my heart, and with the changing of seasons from (a very weird) spring to summer, I thought this was a good time to pivot in a new direction. For the sake of housekeeping, you can find a simplified menu of topics at the bottom of the homepage as well as an updated “About” page. If you want to contact me, the best way is to shoot me a DM on Instagram. If you are not on my VIP newsletter list, please go ahead and get on that. You’ll get a couple of sweet goodies right away for joining!
More than anything, I hope the words that I offer here (and on the socials) encourage you to consider living your life coram Deo because it is the most satisfying way to live.
All of life in His presence, by His power, for His glory.
saralongenecker.com 