souldare

The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue,
    to know the word that sustains the weary.
He wakens me morning by morning,
    wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed. (Isaiah 50:4 NIV)

I started “blogging” before I even knew the concept existed. On the eve of the new millennium, I spent time seeking the Lord and I came across the above verse from Isaiah. To me it was an invitation to fulfill a dream of writing words to encourage others.

I started writing devotions that included a Scripture, a quote, a defined word and reflections on topics related to the chosen word. I started emailing the devotions to a group of friends. I called them e-devotions. Ten years later, I edited several of those emails into a little book called Defining Moments: Overflowing with Living Words. (To read a sample chapter, click here.)

Leave a comment and I will add your name to a drawing for the giveaway of a signed copy of my book. I will announce the winner on Wednesday, June 10th!

I discovered blogging, before I self-published the book. In the beginning, I had an account with zanga (anyone remember that site?) Then in 2008, I started Nourishment for the Soul on blogspot. A few years ago, I transferred the blog to this site. It’s hard to believe I have been blogging for almost 15 years, if you include the e-devotions.

It was in the fall of 2012, after I published my book and finished my English degree that I discovered the blogging community through Ann Voskamp’s blog and writers from The High Calling, (in)courage and Jumping Tandem:The Retreat. All this history to get to my point.

Every few months, I ask myself why do I blog? Is it for the audience? Is it to gain readers? Or is it just something I enjoy doing? So when, the 30 Days of Lists prompted me to list my blog goals, it seemed timely. It was time to search my heart and remember why I started writing in the first place.

So here’s my list, in no particular order: I blog to offer words for the weary, words of encouragement, words to nourish souls. I blog as an outlet for the musings of my soul, a kind of online journal. I like the creative outlet, taking photos to share, generating ideas for a series or joining challenges like 31 DAYS OF in October with hundreds of other bloggers. (Click here to enjoy the series I did last year, GOD+ART.) I blog to honor God with my creative gifts and to share His word and His love with others. I blog because it enhances my writing, I meet other writers, I host guest writers and we encourage each other with words that sustain us when we feel weary.

The connection and community experienced through blogging is unique. It’s both an individual activity (me posting my musings) and a community experience (people reading, commenting or liking or sharing a post). Blogging for me has become the “art of we.” Listening to God through words, being instructed by the Holy Spirit and passing those lessons on for our mutual encouragement.

If you blog, why do you blog? If you read blogs, why do you read them?