In my last post I wrote about the need to clear out the clutter in our lives before God has to do it for us. I was surprised by how much the “clutter” of worrying resonated with so many readers. I must admit that I struggle repeatedly with a restless mind.
It is only when I keep my eyes on the one who saved me that I have some semblance of peace. As Christian bloggers we need to remember that we were created for this moment in time to fulfill God’s purpose for our lives.
In Ephesians 2:8-10 it reads, “ For by grace you have been saved through faith; and [a]that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Read verse 10 again and remember it as you read on.
I want to share 5 Key Elements to help find your peace as a Christian blogger. You can read the entire post (here) at my dear friend, Elaine Mingus’ site. I pray you are encouraged and will share this with others too. Gd bless!
I shared this post on: Tell it To Me Tuesdays @ FDeanHackett.org , Intentional Tuesday @ Intentionally Pursuing,
Testimony Tuesday @ HollyBarrett.org, and Tell His Story @ JenniferDukesLee.com
Horace Williams Jr is the oldest son of a pastor who went to be with Jesus in 2020. He is an award-winning author and amateur chef who loves Jesus Christ. His passion for Christ inspires readers to draw nearer to the God who loves them.
Hi Horace, I didn’t see a place to comment on your wonderful article that you wrote for Radical Christian Women so I came back here, to tell you how much I appreciated those wise words. The Christian Blogger niche is unique in many ways and your advice was spot on. What conference did you go to?
Thanks Dawn for coming back to comment!I appreciate that! I am so glad you enjoyed the post! I am learning that having a Faith based blog is a specialized niche but still an important one and we need to remember that. I met Elaine in a twitter chat for Blog Elevated which is the name of the conference I attended in September here in Texas. If you are on FB I will send you an invite to join the group! This year it was in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and they said it will be in Texas next Fall too. I love it because I believe 1 if not both of the founders are Christians!
I struggle with worry myself. I like the comparison to clutter. I think that it reflects my care for my family, job, etc. but really it is what is in the way.
Thank you!
Traci
Thanks for the visit my sweet friend! Yes I believe worry and doubt are in the enemy’s “toolbox” bent on destroying the plans God has for us. Keep your eyes on Him and He will carry you through! Thanks again for visiting Traci. Have a wonderful week and may God bless you and yours!
Thanks so much for this post! As a newbie Christian Blogger this was a big encouragement. I recently struggled with switching to a self-hosted site and was second guessing things because of the problems I was having. I am so glad that I got going again, and thanks to your post, you confirmed that I did the right thing overcoming the obstacles and restarting the blog. So cheers to finding peace in our blogging ministries!
Amen! Thanks for visiting Catherine! I so appreciate your comment. I am thrilled to hear that this post was helpful. I switched to self hosted WP in April so I know what you mean! God has a plan for each one of us. We must remember that He is not surprised by anything that happens to us. We need to rest in and trust Him completely. Thanks again for sharing. May God bless you and yours in all your endeavors!
Horace, such a great post! This was just what I needed. Thank you so much for writing this!
Thanks for visiting Amanda! I am so glad this post was helpful to you. Be encouraged and remember you are not in this alone. God will always give you direction…just ask Him! God bless you and yours!
Love this, Horace: “peace should come from our Lord and Savior.” There are so many things that threaten to rob us of our peace. We need to keep our eyes on Jesus, but it helps to remember we’re in this together. Thank you, Horace, for sharing your heart at #IntentionalTuesday on Intentionally Pursuing. : )
Amen Crystal! Thank you for visiting today. I want to thank you for doing your part in reminding us that we are all in this together! You are such a blessing and I am going to introduce your link up to a friend of mine that I met at the blog conference last month. She is new to links ups and learning to share her faith in her lifestyle blog
Beautifully written, Horace! You hit the ball out of the park with this one, way to go!
Thanks Sarah! Coming from you that means a lot. I am thankful and so blessed by the response from Christian bloggers. I am happy that it offered them both some encouragement and inspiration. Blessings to you my friend!
Hi Horace, I read this post. It is so lovely and encouraging. It is exhausting and sometimes discouraging but relying on our God and placing our expectations and disappointments at His feet is what we learn to do.
Thank you, I am Blessed and sincerely glad I read it.
Blessings to you
Thanks Ifeoma for visiting and your comment! I am glad you were encouraged. Yes, that is so true! It is easy to get discouraged but we need to remember we are not in this alone! God is always with us to provide comfort, guidance, and wisdom. I am thankful for friends like you and the encouragement you provide. May God continue to bless you and yours. Have a wonderful weekend!
Great, great post, Horace! I especially liked #2 – Be forthcoming. It really resonated with me, because I feel that I am very transparent in my writing, but I have to constantly reassure myself that it is okay and I am helping others through my own vulnerability. Thanks for the encouragement! 🙂
Thanks for the visit and your comment Ashlee! I glad you enjoyed the post and could relate to what God put on my heart! Yes I agree, #2 can be difficult but remember God will give you the strength to be transparent. Continue seeking His guidance and He will bless you with both confidence and comfort as you share your heart! I will have to visit your site soon. God bless you and yours!
Horace, the message you gave within those five tips was very helpful. I like that you emphasized on being forthcoming and being communal. The blogging world has helped me to connect with some of the most wonderful and inspiring people, and am truly thankful that my humble little space on the web has given me that opportunity. I’m glad you feel the same. It’s a great reminder that blogging is more than just virtual words with a pinnable image attached to it. It impacts others and we should certainly remember that every time we put our words out there.
It was a pleasure to read your post on #Shinebloghop this week. Thank you for joining us. Have a wonderful weekend 🙂
Thanks for visiting and your heartfelt comment Maria! I am glad that you found the post helpful. You are so right! We have such a great responsibility when we sit beyond the keyboard and share what is on our hearts. I am beyond humbled when people are encouraged or enlightened by what appears here. It is an honor and a privilege to share my faith in God and how He has transformed my life. It’s my prayer that many will come to know and love Him as I do. Thanks again for visiting. Have a wonderful weekend and may God bless you and yours!
Hi Horace,
Not only a fantastic article, but a fantastic corner of the blog world you have! I’m feeling thankful for the opportunity to connect and be blessed by your words and ministry! Keep pointing to Jesus, my friend!
Blessings and smiles,
Lori
Thank you Lori for visiting and your comment! It is a pleasure and a blessing to have you drop by. I had no expectations when i started blogging. I was not familiar with the blogesphere at all. I just wanted to share with as many believers and unbelievers as possible about God’s transforming power. I’m trusting Him to get that message out so that He is glorified! Thanks so much for the visit and your encouraging words. May God richly bless you and yours and have a wonderful weekend!
Thank you for the great encouragement, Horace! It’s not easy to be authentic and vulnerable–especially when people think as a Christian you’re supposed to have it all together (not sure why they think that–maybe because WE give off that vibe all too often). I’m learning to be vulnerable and authentic and let my pride go–it has no place in my life. Visiting from Create If Writing FB page :).
Welcome Anita and thanks for your comment. I’m not sure where “we” as Christians got the idea of quote unquote having it all together. Jesus says in the bible as Christians we will have tribulation. I think being open and honest about your struggles and triumphs can encourage other believers to keep our eyes on Him. As I mentioned in the post, God uses my pain for His purpose. I’m glad to hear that you are releasing that pride. God is going to use you for His glory! Thanks again for visiting. I hope you return. Have a fantastic weekend and blessings to you and yours!
Horace, this is an amazing reminder. Just this past month I have dealt with “is anyone reading?” again. But I kept plugging right along. Sometimes it’s not about the numbers but following the Lord’s leading. I still find new comments on things I thought no one cared about when I wrote it years ago. It’s amazing at how the Lord continues to work even when we think no one is paying attention. Thank you for these tips and for sharing with Thankful Thursdays.
That is so true Lori! It is easy to become frustrated or even depressed at time when we focus on the numbers! Like you said, we need to continue doing what God is leading and He will bless us as we continue to seek after and obey Him. Thank you so much for what you are doing there at the Lily pad! I really appreciate it and I am always encouraged when I visit. Have a wonderful weekend my friend and God bless!
Thank you Horace for always providing us with inspirational posts. I look forward to you linking up with us each week at #AnythingGoes. Have a great week!
Thanks Sue for the opportunity to share. God bless!
Horace, what a wonderful surprise to find your post this morning with such heart-warming encouragement. I loved #4, which reminded me that my blogging journey is not by accident. God has a plan for me and my life, and all I need to do is trust him. Thanks, I needed to hear that! (And because I think others need to hear it too, I’ve pinned and tweeted). Blessings, my friend!
Welcome Marva. I am glad to hear you were encouraged by the post! I am humbled and thankful that God continues to use me to Glorify Him while helping others! Thank you for visiting and for sharing this post. My prayer is that Christians bloggers will be encouraged as well.Blessings
Horace, Great post! So much of it resonated with me!
My family will tell you that they hear me say all the time. “Your story is your story. Don’t be afraid to share it.” When we are sharing our testimony or what God is doing in our lives, there is no reason for someone to criticize or to be fearful of criticism because it is OUR story.
Thanks for sharing such an edifying post! 🙂
Thanks for visiting and your comment Karen. I am thrilled to hear you could identify with this post! It was my hope and prayer that it would a help and be an encouragement to Christians who blog. I know it can be difficult to share your story at times; especially when you may feel that no one is listening. However, I have realized if you can help one person know Christ or encourage another brother or sister in Christ, what a blessing! I asked God to give me the words to say and pray that He is glorified. Thank you again for the visit. Have a wonderful week and may God bless you and yours!
This is such an uplifting post! As a christian blogger, finding peace is definitely hard sometimes. Thanks so much for the encouraging words. Have a great day!
Thanks for the visit and your comment Alexis. Yes I believe for Christian bloggers there are so many things that cause doubt, frustration, and anxiety. It’s probably the same for most bloggers. I am glad that I can seek God during those times and find peace in doing His will for my life. Thanks again for visiting. Have a wonderful weekend!
What a great word, Horace and Elaine!
To be communal, to be forthcoming, and more. I love this!
Thanks for sharing this today.
I found your post on Grace and Truth.
Hope you have a wonderful weekend~
Melanie
Thanks for visiting and your kind words Melanie! I was humbled and honored when Elaine asked me to guest post on her site. We met on Twitter and then in September at a bloggers conference. She has become a good friend. She is a blessed sister in Christ like yourself that is not ashamed of sharing the “good news” of the gospel. Thanks again for visiting. It is always a pleasure to hear from you. Have a wonderful weekend and God bless you and yours!
I found such encouragement from reading this post, Horace. I’ve had some of the questions/doubts in my head when I made the commitment to blog about my faith but God has been so faithful in guiding me. Some of the things that you mention is so on point and I often remind myself that I always have to go back to the foundation of why I’m blogging – to glorify Him.
Thank you so much for your visit and heartfelt comment Cynthia! I am so glad to hear you were encouraged by this post! I want to tell you how encouraged I am by your posts that you share on your site. I completely understand your thoughts. When I started blogging, all I heard about was analytics,page views,and SEO. Now don’t get me wrong. I pray that my blog is a help and encouragement to many but my primary focus is to glorify Him in this blog. He will take care of everything else when I continue to seek Him. I know He will do the same for you too! Have a wonderful weekend and God bless you and yours!
Wow Horace, what a wonderful post. This is such a timely post for me, as we all go through those seasons of doubt and discouragement. Thank you for an encouraging, truth filled reminder that it really boils down to why we write. I’m being obedient, I’m honoring him.
Thanks for your visit and your comment Abby. Welcome. I’m glad to hear you enjoyed the post! Writing this post I really wanted to help other Christians but I was so encouraged myself while writing! I was reminded that I am doing His will by sharing His word through my eyes and experiences so that He is glorified. Thanks again for the visit. Have a wonderful week…blessings and be encouraged!
So glad I stopped by today from #IntentionalTuesday! What a hearty bunch of tips rich with encouragement and meaning! This really resonated, as sometimes lately I’ve been wondering why I spend so much time on my blog ..”You are not blogging by accident. He has you right where He wants you at this very moment and He wants you to seek His direction and trust Him completely.”..thank you so much!
Welcome Kathy. Thank you for the visit and insightful comment! I am pleased to hear that this post resonated with you and pray that you will continue sharing your unique story as God leads. Have a wonderful week and God bless!
Thank you for this wisdom, Horace. I especially liked your challenge question about the fragrance of our blogs. Loved that! I only launched in Nov so finding encouragement and wisdom this early in my venture will be very useful.
Thanks Pam…just continue writing whatever God puts on your heart. I started writing in November 2014 and launched my self hosted WP theme last April. I am learning something everyday even though it it sometimes overwhelming. In those moments, i step back and ask God for guidance. Continued success this year. I will keep an eye out on you.. Love your writing style! God bless
Another great read from you Horace! I am not a Christian blogger, but I am a blogger, whose a Christian. I’ve wrestled at times too with some of the things you mentioned. Although my topic is different, I do hope that the fragrance of Christ comes through my blog (as well as the food fragrance-ha!) Thank you for sharing at From the Archives Friday!
Thank you Chellie for the comment. I’m so glad you enjoyed the post. It was intended for all Christians who happen to blog. We all have talents to share and stories to tell. I believe that the fragrance of your blog is fantastic! I love the recipes too:) Thanks again for the opportunity to share and may God continue to bless you and yours in all your endeavors!
Great post Horace.
Thank you Debbie. May God richly bless you and yours!
Another great read. Thank you Horace, I always love reading what you have to say. I don’t identify with one organized religion or another, I prefer to just simply be “spiritual” but a lot of what you have to say really resonates with me. Thank you for that and for sharing with us on FTAF 🙂
Thanks so much for visiting and your comment Ashley. I am beyond pleased to hear that this post resonated with you and I appreciate the opportunity to share! I believe that Christianity is not a “religion” but it is about having a heart relationship with Jesus Christ. Most religions have many requirements or rules that you must abide by. Being a Christian is about admitting that I am a sinner and I accept Jesus Christ as my Savior in my heart believing that He died on the cross and rose again on the 3rd day for my sins. That’s it. I know it’s hard to wrap our heads around at times but that is what makes God so unique. He asks us to put our faith in trust in Him. Once I have done that, there is a “heart” change and a transformation that has taken place in my life as I seek to glorify Him. Yes, I suffer through trials and difficulties at times but as a child of God, He blesses me with courage and strength as He brings me through. He also gives me wisdom freely, I just have to ask. It has truly transformed my life and given me such joy! I am thankful and blessed for the opportunity to share my story of faith in God here on this site. Thanks again for visiting. It is my prayer today that you will come to know Christ as your Lord and Savior. Have a wonderful week and may God bless you and yours!