Intentional Blogging

Last night I tweeted:

“God owns my blog. He makes my connections and brings me where I need to be. I have some amazing stories about that.”

Several asked about the stories.

To God be the glory.

Background info first:

When I first began blogging in December 2010, it was primarily a scrapbook of my children. Because I’m not a scrapbooker. I have several Rubbermaid tubs full of items that I should scrapbook, but this is so much easier.

But looking back, I can see the plans God had for me. and for my blogs.

God has grown me – through blogging and through my connections with other bloggers and readers.

My faith increased as I learned to let go and let Him guide my words. As I let Him guide my priorities – marriage and parenting and homeschooling – and blogging.

I want to be an intentional blogger.

If the blog began as a memory book, I am now chronicling a faith journey.

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Here’s the Google definition of Intentional: “Adjective. Done on purpose; deliberate. Synonyms: deliberate – wilful – willful – purposeful – intended.”

I love it. And I am already willful. ha!

This last year, as I learned more about blogging and listened to God’s will for my blogs, homeschool, life… I realize that it all belongs to Him. I am His steward of these words and He brings readers, income, opportunities in His timing.

Be humble in the presence of God’s mighty power, and he will honor you when the time comes. God cares for you, so turn all your worries over to him.

1 Peter 5:6-7 CEV

I knew long ago that I am not a salesgirl. It’s not my spiritual gift, for sure.

So, I know that I must be authentic to endorse a product or book. I must love it to encourage readers to buy it. I do lots of reviews and some products aren’t my favorites but I hope everyone knows where my heart lies. When you click on an affiliate link, it goes to support my blog ministry – and my family. I don’t want to lose your trust by spamming you with lots of ads for products I don’t even use. I pray hard over the posts I write and the items I mention on my blogs and social media are things we use and love (or have in the past) or that I think will be helpful to readers.

Now for the stories!

• God maneuvered me to Allume last year. It wasn’t even in my radar. {I’ve been disappointed to not be able to attend any writing and homeschool conferences these past few months, but hopefully, someday, I will get to go to others. any sponsors out there?} I connected with several authors at Allume and I’ve joined their eBook launch teams because I believe in them and their dreams, in addition to loving the books. These connections have grown into amazingly beautiful friendships. I am forever astonished at how these bloggers lift up each other. It’s not about competition, but cooperation.
  

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• At Allume, I mentioned offhandedly to a couple blogger friends that I’d love to get into editing and how would I do that? They took me under their wings and helped me begin my business. I owe everything to their promotion and trust and to God. I have been honored to edit several brilliant eBooks over the past few months. God appointments!
  

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• Recently, I’ve had a couple bloggers out of the blue contact me to be a VA. I hadn’t even begun to advertise VA services. I wasn’t ready, but apparently, God was, and nudged them to contact me. It’s new and a little scary. Trusting is hard – and learning to balance a new schedule is tough too!
  

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• I began using essential oils for improving our family’s health and to go in a more natural direction. I feel led to minister on my blogs in this area. My husband and I were great skeptics and I’ll tell you that it’s been life-changing and God has been opening many doors for us with this ministry opportunity.
  

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everything

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord…

Colossians 3:23

It’s all God. Do everything with His heart in mind.

Join me in being intentional in blogging – in everything.