The Weekly Encourager - March 23, 2010 - To Blog or Not To Blog
The Weekly Encourager - March 23, 2010 - To Blog or Not To Blog
Greetings! This month marks the Ninth Anniversary of The Weekly Encourager, a Christian devotional which I began writing on March 1, 2001. The original purpose was to extract nuggets of godly wisdom from a variety of sources that might benefit the younger moms of my congregation, and to offer the quotations, along with my own reflections, to those dear ladies who had limited time to read parenting books. Since then, the subject matter has expanded, and so has the email list, now including women and men of all ages and situations, many of whom do not know me personally.
Some of you have asked why there have not been as many Encouragers lately. I have been focused on some other priorities at home and work, one of which is getting my web site up and running (with help from my family). While the site is now functional, there's not much on it yet; but, eventually I would like to have a place for The Weekly Encourager and another place for my quilt business, The Quilted Heart. For some time now I have been wanting to put the Encourager on the web site in blog format, rather than sending it out via email. Here's why:
1. Over the years, many of you have shared your reactions, insights, advice, humor, personal experiences, etc, after reading the Encourager. These have been a great encouragement to me as an individual; but, I always feel guilty that I alone benefit from the comments, rather than the whole group. The main advantage of the blog format is that it will allow us to have conversation with one another about the topics raised in the Encouragers. The Proverbs talk about the wisdom of many counselors. I'd like to tap into the collective wisdom of the larger Christian community for the enrichment of all. Iron sharpens iron.
2. The blog will allow access to past Encouragers and ensuing discussions, which may be of interest to new folks just hearing about it for the first time.
3. If God be pleased, unbelievers might stumble on the site and read something which might encourage them to seek more about Jesus Christ and His word, the Bible. This will be out there for any and all to see.
4. It will be easier for you to access wherever you are. If you switch email addresses, you won't have to remember to notify me.
5. You won't have to "subscribe" or "unsubscribe," just visit the site, or not, as you wish. I won't be cluttering up your email box.
6. It will be easier for me than sending out large groups of emails, and I won't have to call people to ask for new email addresses when things bounce back to me.
7. Those of you who have my email address will still be free to send me a personal email at any time. Only I will read those emails; they will not be posted for the whole world to see.
8. I can write more often than once a week, or less often, as my schedule permits.
Those familiar with blogs can skip the next paragraph!
Now, let me address those who are saying, "Wait, I don't know how to blog!" If you don't know what a blog is, relax. I barely understand it myself. From one "tech-challenged" person to another, the word "blog" is short for "web log." It's a journal of sorts that people write and put online for others to read. Basically, it means that you'll be able to visit my web site whenever you like and read the latest Encourager posted there. If you wish to read only the latest one, that's fine, read it, then close the site. If you wish to comment on what was said, there will be a space following the post for you to do so. You do not have to comment; it's purely optional. You may also read other people's comments if you wish and respond or not to their comments, as you wish. In addition, you will be able to go back and read Encouragers and/or comments from the past. Eventually I hope to offer a topical index to make this easier; but for now, it will be arranged chronologically,with the most recent post appearing first. For the next few blog entries, I will continue to send you an email referring you to the web site to read the latest post.
Dear readers, thank you for all the encouragement. Our gracious God has used you in my life! As this blog format is a new venture, I am asking for your prayers that this will be used only and always for God's glory. Pray for protection and wisdom - the internet is a big place, and it can be scary. Yet it can be a tool to work good, strengthening God's people in lives that honor Him and serve others. Pray as the Spirit leads.
God is faithful,
j
Copyright 2010 Janet A. Marney