A Change to Help You

Just like people change and life circumstances change, so do blogs!

How many times in your life have you known you’ve needed to make a change, but you’ve hesitated?

Your hesitation might be rooted in doubt, fear, insecurity, or a lack of motivation. You also simply may not want to change.

I believe all of those feelings have shown up in my mind in some way over the past half of a year as I’ve wrestled with changes I know I’ve needed to make to this website.

A blog’s progression

Starting on New Year’s Day, 2011, I entered the blogosphere with Accidentally Green. Many days it feels like almost everything has changed about the Internet, blogs, and social media since then!

By the summer of 2015, I knew my interest in healthy living that honored God had shifted. Home was so important to me and my young family, so I started a brand new blog at HilaryBernstein.com. At first, I called this new blog No Place Like Home, then because of copyright issues (here’s looking at you, Wizard of Oz!) I switched to Home to a Haven.

Over the past nine years I’ve written a LOT about homes and havens, both in blog posts and also recently in two books: The Tension of Tidy and The Welcoming Home.

Behind the scenes

The funny thing is, somewhere along the way, God started changing the direction of my life.

During my Accidentally Green days I was a stay-at-home mom to babies and wrote during my children’s naptimes and early bedtimes. I also worked as a virtual editor for many blogs as a way to supplement my family’s income.

In my Home to a Haven phase, I was a homeschooling mom who wrote during homeschooling co-ops, theater practices, and extracurricular activity meetings. Somewhere in the pre-Covid era theater practices, I was asked to write devotional books.

Life was a mixed-up but satisfying blend of homeschooling, motherhood, book writing, and blogging. Yet five summers ago, God absolutely surprised me with a big twist. I gained representation from literary agent Barb Roose with Books and Such Literary Agency. And six months later, He led me to the position of Women’s Ministry Director at my family’s church.

Part-time, away-from-home work was a huge shift, especially since my family continued homeschooling. It’s been five wild years of holding onto the Lord’s hand as He’s led me into book deals and in-person ministry. Frankly, it’s felt like a lot. But God has been faithful. There is absolutely no doubt He has a plan.

The God of surprises

Growing up, I always dreamed of writing books as an adult. But I never imagined working for a church or leading women face-to-face. And I certainly never imagined that I would grow to love this kind of a job.

The fact of the matter is I do love writing books, and I do love my job ministering to women. I love helping women grow closer to Christ in written and spoken word. I get excited brainstorming and planning ways for them to connect with each other. I want to equip them to serve the Lord and grow in their faith.

Along the way, I’ve realized that this passion for my job was started in ministry as a college student, for sure. The flame was fanned, though, when I began writing my 15 devotional books. It was in those writing projects that I found the Lord has given me a knack for explaining His Word in quick, simple terms.

Please don’t misunderstand. Our homes are wonderful gifts from God. They are the perfect places to minister to our families and friends. We should seek to steward them well.

But telling others about Jesus and helping them grow in their Christian faith is an amazing privilege and opportunity.

A new focus

And so, after much careful consideration and prayer, I’m shifting the focus of this website.

I want to help you live for Jesus.

I believe with all of my heart that there is nothing better for you to do in this life but to know Him and follow Him with all that you are.

Forever life is found in Him alone. You simply need to tell Him that you need Him to rescue you.

We need Jesus. And now, more than ever, we need Him to help us navigate this wild world.

The current state of events clearly points to the fact that this world is fleeting. We will not live these lives forever. Sooner or later, everyone will die. But what will happen once you die? Will you spend eternity with the One who knows you and who you know and worship? Or is Jesus someone you’ve never taken time to consider, let alone follow.

While other bloggers who started when I did are packing up shop, I’m keeping my website. All the content will remain, so when you could use some Titus 2 advice on caring for your home or family, it all is right here waiting for you. However, this is the beginning of another new chapter for this blog. It will have the same address [HilaryBernstein.com] but a new focus.

You see, I believe you can live for Jesus, and I want to help you do that through my blog posts, weekly emails, and even some social media.

Will you join me?

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Hilary

Hilary Bernstein is a Christ follower, wife, mom, and writer who helps women live for Jesus. She's happiest when she's hosting friends and family for dinner, going on date nights with her husband, singing along to the radio, traveling with her family, and spending cozy nights at home. The author of fifteen books, Hilary also is Women's Ministry Director at The Chapel in Green, Ohio.