This post was originally an email, sent out to our wonderful readers. I have copied it here as reference and so that those who don’t receive our emails can be informed too!

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Well, this has been a challenging email to write! If you could only see how many drafts there have been - ha!

For some time now I've felt a tug to do less. I won't make a list for you, because I don't want to get us all comparing - but I have a habit of adding to my plate way more than I should. Sometimes I like the challenge; sometimes I get prideful; sometimes I don't realize I've bitten off more than I can chew.

Over the last few months the Lord has really stirred my heart. Forced me to think long and hard about the future. Amidst all my thinking and questioning, we had an unexpected trip to the ER for my youngest that flipped some things upside down. He's fine now, don't worry - it was a partially severed finger that is healing very well, thank God! Kids are amazingly resilient. The Lord used the week of the incident to make things clear to me (emphasis below is mine):

"But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more; that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing." 1 Thessalonians 4:10b-12

"the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things — that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed." Titus 2:3-5

God has convicted me of these things; He has impressed on me the immense value of being a wife and a mom. I know it seems ironic, since I lead a ministry to help you understand this very thing! But we can always understand better, can't we? I have struggled with wanting to continue everything about this ministry for you and wanting to just be a wife and mom.

Over time God has given me clarity on how to scale back and make sure my life is rightly prioritized, while still being able to share what He teaches me that others might love Him more. My most important ministry is in my home, with my husband and our children. I am confident that He wants me to take a step back, to focus more on my marriage and my beautiful kiddos (current and future - no I'm not pregnant). To manage our home and continue to create a peaceful space, to invest in our church family and community. To live a quiet life and be satisfied with that.

I am really excited for this, and I have been praying that it will encourage you to pattern your life after those verses above. So, what does it all mean practically?

It means that the magazine releasing in September will be the last one I publish, at least for the foreseeable future. Maybe someday it will be revived, but for now it's taking a long break. I am sad about this, yet I know it's the right decision. You can still order all of 2019's issues until the end of the year! (And please do, there is so. much. good content from wise writers. Tuck them away to revisit!)

Another change will be with the weekly emails; those emails, as you know them, will be taking on a new look. I will be writing as the Lord leads and sharing those blog posts as they're published. It will still be in the same place, www.strengthandsong.com/blog, and if you're on this email list you'll get an email every time something is published. I will still share guest posts every now and then, but it will be more of a personal blog - sharing what the Lord is teaching me personally and how He leads our family. The focus will remain on Him and encouraging you to know Him better.

It is incredibly bittersweet to be changing things, but I know the Lord started Strength & Song, sustained it, and is now turning it in a different direction. I am so thankful for all He has done. Including how He brought Natalya along; she has been amazingly helpful and wise, and a wonderful friend (none of that will change about her!). I'm sure you'll still hear from her on the blog! To God be the glory, great things He has done.

Because He lives,
Amy