This past year, I have seen God take my little musings and expand my reading
audience world wide. I have followers who contact me and ask for
prayer...many of them from countries that are considered "dark"
and believers persecuted harshly for their faith. I am humbled and at
times saddened that total strangers are so desperate for prayer that they
contact me, a stranger to them personally, to ask for prayer. It is the
least I can do for them.
I have been discouraged at times by dwindling book sales
and have often questioned the Lord as to why He wanted me to write and publish
in the first place. I never thought about it before, but I wonder if
publishing my books was just an avenue that led me to blogging? Perhaps
it was not my books, although the Lord has certainly blessed that effort
immeasurably, but the blog that has given me a ministry the likes I would never
have realized had it not been for my need initially to promote my
books with my blog.
It is a lot of effort. It requires much devotion and passion to write
regularly and write timely posts that appeal to a large audience. I find
I spend far less time promoting my books as a result of my blog but book sales
have still held steady because people who read my blog venture to read the
books as well. Some authors may call this a means to an end, and that's
what I thought five years ago to be sure, but I have a whole new mind set now.
For me it's not about using my blog to get people to buy my books per se,
it's blogging to bring a message of hope and Truth to people who hunger and
thirst for spiritual food. This past year, rather than promoting my books
as much on the blog, I have been devoting myself primarily to writing for
His Glory on my Journey Thoughts blog and God has
blessed those efforts in ways I could not have imagined.
Christian writers, do not stop writing. If God has called you to write
a book...write a book. If God has called you to write poetry, write rhyme
and verse. If God has called you to blog, blog! Use your talent to
bring honour and glory to God in everything you write!
Dear Lynn,
ReplyDeleteI, too, have had the realization that the Lord has happily taken me through what we humans would consider a life course change of great import, only to find it was a portal to some (seemingly) little thing which appears to have been his real goal for me all along.
Your Grand Plan was to promote your books, and the blog seemed to be an obligatory step in the process. It appears that in addition to your books, his plan also included bringing a prayer warrior to the dark corners of the earth.
What I love most about our Lord's planning department is his amazing efficiency in using every step in these processes to grow us and to bless others. Nothing he does is a means to an end. Ultimately each act of obedience is an end in itself.
Thank you for sharing how your blog has grown. You have encouraged me. My own blogging efforts reach a small following, but the gentle burden to post continues. I will obey.
Blessings on your ministry, Lynn.
Bobbi
Thank you Lynn. Your words have spurred me on to keep on writing and sharing about The Lord in whatever means He gives us. May God bless you as you continue to share!
ReplyDeletePam M.
Lynn, thanks for sharing your blogging journey with us. It's interesting how God steers us into His plan, gently unfolding it in His time and way. We just have to follow one step at a time and listen to that still small voice.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lynn, for your inspiring story of how God is using your blog to spread the message of God's love to needy people around the world. Someone on the InScribe blog recently commented that we should write our plans in pencil and let God do the writing in ink. (Sorry, I can't recall who wrote this or how that person said it.)
ReplyDeleteI pray that all of us will allow God to be the architect of our life plan.
Lynn,
ReplyDeleteSome good thoughts about the varied reason people blog.
Blogging has always been a great joy for me, as I've met so many wonderful kindred hearts this way. And like you, have had opportunities to bless others with prayers and encouragement, just as I've been ministered to in return.
I popped over to your own blog and enjoyed my wee visit there. I'll come again.
I liked your last paragraph... to just write whatever we're called to write...it all counts as we touch people's lives for the Kingdom.
Blessings...
Brenda
Blog Moderator
Thank you for your encouragement! I appreciate all of you InScribers so much. I am blessed to be amongst such skilled writers and those who mentor me in all my writing endeavors. Blessings to you all!
ReplyDelete