Ink and Cross

“I came to believe that the greatest way to show faith is to show love”.

C.S. Lewis

For those who have come across this page, welcome! I am so excited to share all about the Ink and Cross blog with you!

To begin, my name is Alexandra, and I am the creator and enthusiast behind this blog. Not only do I run this wonderful online platform, but I also am a middle school teacher in the United States! Most importantly, I am a Christian, and an avid dreamer of inspiring people to live a more Godly life each day in a world where it is often frowned upon to do so.

Now you may be asking…

Who exactly is this blog for?

What is the purpose of it?

Maybe you find yourself thinking: Can I still read this blog even if I’m not a Christian?

I’m so happy you asked! Below you will find all the answers for what this blog is about, why I have published it in the first place, and you will also get a chance to read my testimony!

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The Blog

Who is this blog for?

This blog is primarily aimed for young-adult Christian women who are looking for guidance on how to live a more Christ-like life in a modern world. However, everyone is more than welcome to join the blog and gather some inspiration from it!

The Purpose & Motivation

The sole purpose of this blog is to encourage young Christian women to live a life resembling that of Jesus Christ in their day to day activities. The blog is meant to be a source of community and guidance led by the Holy Spirit that provides wisdom for those women to approach each day with the grace and fidelity that Christ portrayed to us.

What Can I Expect?

In this blog, you can expect to find a multitude of topics. From lifestyle and media, to travel and fashion, to culture and faith, this blog examines what it means to be a true Christian in today’s world. Yet, we must keep one thing in mind:

Being a Christian does not solely mean how you act at church or how you portray yourself on social media (although those are wonderful things to consider).

Let me explain…

As Christians, we are called to live a life that is reflective of Jesus’ love for us each and every day. By no means are we called to be perfect… after all, we are human beings, and temptation and sin face us to try to stray us from our Heavenly Father day in and day out.

However, we must also remain steadfast to the truth and teachings of the Bible.

No adding or taking away words to suit our own purpose in life, or to make it adjust to what we want it to say.

We must have the teachings and promises of Jesus as our foundation, our hope, and our strength to overcome the evil that is evident in this world.

No manipulating the truth to make us feel COMFORTABLE (which the world will quickly try to persuade you is okay and the acceptable thing to do).

So, what does this mean in terms of this blog?

This blog is not meant to be a one stop shop for all your answers to faith or Christianity (although it is founded upon the scripture and guided by the Holy Spirit). Rather, it is meant to provide wisdom as well as guidance and conviction for those who want to live the Christian life with fidelity.

The world is so full of many wonderful things (as God has created it to be!). Yet, in today’s times, the world is quick to try and convince us of things that only lead us astray from Christ. Not only this, but the world will try to say that the values of Christianity are to be mocked and frowned upon, and attempt to have individuals praise and accept the sinful nature of society.

My hope for this platform is that you may come here and find wisdom and encouragement on how to face the challenges of today’s world (politics, traditions, values) in your day to day life, whether you are Christian or are curious about Christianity. After all…

• From morning to night…
• From the small habits to the conversations…
• From the comfort of your home to the world around you…

All you do is a reflection of Christ in you.

How can you ensure you are living the life God wants for you?

How can you ensure that one day you will hear the words “Well done, my good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23)?

How can you live today for Jesus?

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My Testimony

I always grew up going to church, and had a basic understanding of who Jesus was.

However, my personal relationship with Christ did not begin until my senior year of high school, when I truly accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior on January 25, 2020 at a high school church retreat in the North Georgia Mountains.

During my time in middle and high school, I usually did well in my classes and was involved in many extracurriculars. However, I often neglected my mental, emotional and physical health, and especially put my spiritual journey on the backburner, thinking that going to church each Sunday was enough.

In this time, I experienced loss of friendships, innocence, and identity. I experienced addiction and temptation so often to where I felt so isolated and I succumbed to thinking that I had no place in the world. I easily lost myself in who I thought others wanted or expected me to be, and went through each day trying to figure out exactly who I was.

The retreat I went to my senior year of high school completely shifted me. I remember standing in the auditorium, crying my eyes out, and for the first time, feeling a completely overwhelming sense of peace and warmth. It felt like the hug I had needed for the longest time, and did not let go. For the first time in my life, I had an identity: I was a child of God. On that day, I gave my life to Jesus.

Now, this did not mean that I did not continue to endure hardships as I went on in life. In fact, I continued to endure loss of friendships, and even endured betrayal and abuse that left me feeling broken and unworthy of affection and respect.

However, God never left my side. In fact, he blessed me in more ways then I could even imagine. He blessed me with great friendships, people who absolutely love the Lord and show this in their actions and words to me, and a wonderful and God-fearing fiancé that loves me as I am in the image of Christ. Although there are still times when I mess up or when I face trials, I know that God is always with me, just as He is always there with you.

I pray my testimony reaches you and provides some encouragement to you, no matter what you may be going through! God bless!