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Tools and Tips: Putting Your Best Words Forward

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Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. Psalm 37:5 KJV

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In my now 1.5 years of blogging, I’ve learned a few things. There’s a lot to do to keep blog space moving forward and maintaining a quality site and worthwhile content. No matter your focus – faith, fashion, lifestyle – it all takes work and commitment.

In this next entry in my Spring Blogger series, aimed at other faith bloggers, I’m offering my tools and tips for making your words shine, glorifying God all the while. That’s the point, isn’t it?

Well, speaking of: Center yourself and your blog in God and His word. If you’re a follower of Christ and rooted in the Word, then your blog should reflect that, even if faith is not necessarily the central theme. Your food blog can honor God through what and how you write, and your audience will know the spirit behind it. No matter your focus, pray first and always, stay grounded, and honor God with your gifts.

Get organized and committed and stay organized and committed. When I first started blogging, I kept a list of blog ideas, started an editorial calendar, and mapped out some social media goals (among other things), all before I read countless how-to’s, best blog practices, and this and that. It was important for me to stay organized on all levels of my blog and to find a system of organization that worked for me. If something wasn’t working, I’d try a different strategy. And, I committed myself to the work. I posted every Friday (at the time) like I said I would. I chose faith as my central theme because I’m a person of faith – there’s really no other viewpoint from which I could write, honestly (and sometimes this ain’t all that easy). Whatever you do, however you do it, stick to it and keep your word.

Another way I put my best words forward is investing in resources I believe I need in order to produce a successful blog. I’m currently a member of COMPEL Training, run by Proverbs 31 Ministries. COMPEL has allowed me to become a better, focused faith writer, and has connected me to new friends that share in this same journey. The expertise from the P31 team and the extra tools and resources are worth it. Also, don’t forget your Bible, dictionary, style guide, etc. Yeh, you know, those things. We want our best words, right?

Lastly I would say know your grace. Simply put, find your voice, know what God has called you to say and do. I’m no Bible teacher or scholar. I do know whose I am in the Lord, and I know and have accepted His message of salvation, grace and mercy. That’s where I write from.

Well, these may not have been tools per se, but they are my aids in keeping this space going. And I’m grateful for my space in the building (hee hee), and I intend to present this work as God has called.

What are some ways you keep your blog space moving along?

Shared Post: “Creating the (Physical and Mental) Space to Write”

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Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters… Colossians‬ ‭3:23‬ ‭NIV‬

In this third entry of New Day’s Spring Blogger Series, I’m sharing a post from the WordPress community: Creating the (Physical and Mental) Space to Write.

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I’m sure my fellow faith bloggers and writers can attest to the need for the right tools to keep a consistent and purposeful blog. Space is included in my “toolbox,” and I normally work on my blog just from my desk (pictured above), with a cup of coffee, in the quiet. If you haven’t considered writing space as a tool, I hope this post will encourage you to – your home, the park, or a favorite coffee shop are great spaces (among many) that will allow your words to flow and soar. Click on the link below for the full article.

Happy blogging! See you back here on New Day on April 22.

“Creating the (Physical and Mental) Space to Write” https://dailypost.wordpress.com/2016/02/24/creating-the-physical-and-mental-space-to-write/

When GOD Says 

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“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah‬ ‭43:19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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Isaiah 43:19 is my life verse for the year. Might be the life verse for my LIFE, we’ll see. I’ve discovered that when God leads you down an unexpected path, you have to press in and find the good. You have to seek the new thing God is doing, else you’ll miss out on realizing His amazing grace.

This post may be a bit all over the place, but I want to share the story of my season at the end of 2015. It’s captured through the following words which I journaled on New Year’s Eve:

2015 was a good year, but the period between November 13 and December 10 will go down not only as the highlight of the year, but as the season of my life so far.

On Friday, November 13, I found out I was pregnant! From then to December 10 — what a journey. The nausea, tiredness, thoughts about the direction of my life from that point forward, etc. — it was happy, hard, exciting. Then, as quickly as it all seemed to have come, it was soon over. On December 8 at my first prenatal appointment, the doctors could find no heartbeat in the six-week-old life inside me.

So many feelings, so many thoughts. When it finally hit me, I was crushed. I’d gotten used to, and even embraced, a life without children, but now that we were truly without this wonderful surprise that had come our way, it was the worst feeling ever.

On December 10, I had the surgery to remove the fetal contents of my uterus. I wish I’d thought to say a prayer just before or say good-bye, but I didn’t. I was given a two-week recovery time after the 10th, and I allowed myself to heal, feel, be emotional, whatever it took and was needed to get through. After the two weeks, I just pressed through to now, the end of the year.

It’s amazing how I could fall in love with a six-week-old being. But in all of my life, I’ll never know of a greater earthly love, nor will there ever be a greater earthly loss than what was at the end of 2015.

The next day, January 1, 2016, the first part of my journal entry was this:

2016 has started, and I must stand in this new day, much as I wish I could hold onto the latter days of 2015. I’m in pursuit of the “why” of that season — why it came generally, the timing of it, my thoughts and feelings during it, and the abrupt ending of it. Every day I’ll be looking for these answers…

What has pursuing “why” brought so far? I do know that even with loss, I count it ALL a blessing! God chose my husband and me to be the source of life for an angel, and I’m thankful for that.

Next, I was reminded that believers are called to put total trust in God. It’s His will, when He says. When we were married, my husband and I left it up to God as to whether we’d have children. When pregnancy wasn’t happening, we didn’t allow our hope to wane, but put our focus on our nieces and nephews, and were thankful to be able to love and enjoy and support them. But when GOD says, Let there be, it will be! And tough as it may be, when HE says it’s done, it’s done.

Lastly, God brought me to His Word and the life verse above. I remember feeling the need to purge in the weeks following the miscarriage. I went through clothes, books, and other belongings and threw away or gave away things I didn’t want or need. I shut down all of my social media accounts, took a blog break, cleaned out email folders, paper files, etc. Even spiritually I was letting go of old thoughts, people connections, saved Bible teachings and studies that weren’t food for me any longer… I mean I needed to do this. Looking back, I realize I was starting over. I was beginning to forget the former things (Isaiah 43:18), and was daring to believe there was a new path ahead of me.

Is starting over easy? No. To be honest, I’m still seeking, still pursuing the why. I don’t know if God will impart anymore to me than what He has already, but I pray to have a spirit ready to receive. Here at the start of 2016 I’m focused on physical healing, but I remain so grateful for that season in 2015.

Remember: It’s about when GOD says, even if it’s meant to include a loss. His will is perfect, His love is abounding, and His grace is amazing.

God has brought us all through our various seasons. I pray these words have encouraged you to keep pressing through to the new!