Starting Fresh

It has been almost ten months since I have blogged.  There has been a lot going on in life that has just made blogging, well, something I didn’t even think about.  Recently, however, the thought of reviving my blog has been swirling around in my mind.  It doesn’t help that blogging is now becoming a trend of the past.  Facebook seems to have taken over internet life.  I began to wonder though if it was really worth even paying for the hosting and the domain if I never even ventured here myself.

After much pondering, I think that I will begin blogging again.  This time things will be a little different.  As you may have noticed, there are not any of my old posts showing.  I have set them all to private.  I wanted to start fresh.  I may from time to time re-post something from the past.  If you have a favorite please let me know and I will consider re-posting.

I just need a little more focus.  I cannot blog about anything and everything.  I just don’t have the time and to be honest facebook is a better avenue for the everyday, share with those closest to me kind of posts.  I want this to become a place where I can record the things the Lord is teaching my heart.  I want it to be a place to encourage.  Hopefully, a place where others can comment and encourage me as well.

The following verse has hit me hard in the last weeks.

    For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you—that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.
(Romans 1:11-12 ESV)

How often is the thought of being an encouragement forefront in our minds?  Sadly, when I gather with others I am often not thinking, “How can I encourage them?”  Not that I don’t want to encourage them but it is not the first thing that comes to mind.  My thoughts are often on how fun a gathering will be or how we can enjoy one another’s company.  I don’t think of fellowshiping with a mission.  This is the challenge before me.  I am fully aware though that anything of worth here comes only from the Lord.  I wish for fellow believers to be encouraged by my journey and my life in what ever way the Lord might use them.  I long for the Lord to use you to be an encouragement to me also.

So, for the fellow Christians who stumble upon this blog, may we mutually encourage one another in our faith.  And may the Lord use our testimonies to stir the hearts of non-believers, who may happen upon this site, to saving faith.