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My Blogging Journey: 5 Lessons Learned

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Walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called. (Ephesians 4:1 KJV)

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Well, I’m six months in with this space I call New Day! I’m so proud of the words that have been posted and shared here, and grateful for being part of the faith writing and blogging community.

Though I’m no stranger to words, I’m a brand new blogger! I started blogging not really knowing a lot about it, but I’ve learned so much since New Day was launched on January 1. July will be dedicated to my blogging journey so far, and this week I’m sharing a few tips and what I’ve learned these first six months, with hopes that you will find some inspiration for your own path, blogger or otherwise.

5 Lessons:

1) Write who you are and what you know. Obviously, it’s about faith for me. God is the center of my life, He’s the path I’ve chosen. While I can’t claim to have memorized the entire Bible, I do know what’s in my heart and spirit. And I’ve chosen to express that through the gift of words and writing. I can’t do what others do, nor can I be someone other than myself.

2) Stay organized. I’ve found that it’s so important to use a system to stay organized. It reflects in your work as professional and purposeful. I use my iCloud calendar to keep track of my blog schedule and other work. I map my blog posts as far in advance as I can and prepare them a week before post time (each Friday morning at 8:00 EST). I use the Notes app on my iPad and phone to record blog post ideas and themes. So far, this is the system that works for me.

3)Learn what you need for when you need it. In other words, pace yourself. There are so many articles and tips out there on branding and SEO and learning graphic design and this and that. It can be overwhelming! I spent the first couple of months of this year reading a LOT. It has been useful, but honestly, I don’t need it all right now. So I’ve narrowed my needs list to a few focus areas, then narrowed those to a few resources that I’ve found to be most helpful and beneficial. My current focus areas are: quality blog content, social media management, graphic design for blog posts, and faith writing. My main resource as of late is COMPEL Training via Proverbs 31 Ministries. This program provides weekly lessons and is an excellent support vehicle for faith writers.

I’m not ready for SEO, analytics (though I do track and review my site stats through WordPress), and the such. I know these are important and valuable, and I WILL get there!

4) Get feedback. And I don’t mean the replies you get from the comments section of your blog! Ask readers and friends you trust for their honest feedback on what you’re posting. It’s good to have fresh perspective.

5) Read! It helps your writing. Write! It helps your writing! You learn how to read and write by reading and writing. This is so important. Though I have a journalism degree and have previously self-published, I still sharpen my skill set by immersing myself in words. I study other blog posts, I write in my journal, and even listen to how speakers express their thoughts. Recognize styles you like, then develop your own voice.

For other new bloggers, what were your lessons learned in your first few months of blogging?

Grateful Friday

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But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23 KJV)

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So much has happened since the start of June. I would say it’s been a hectic, hard month. But through it all, God remains, and I make a strong effort to remain with Him. It’s hard to understand why things happen sometimes, but staying focused and in the Word keep me in proper alignment. If I strive for love, joy, faith, goodness, I know I can’t go wrong.

So, in the midst of what may seem dismal, I commit to being grateful! Here’s this month’s offering of thankful:

The Word. I just said it – whenever there’s busyness or trouble or this or that, I turn to God and His Word. Psalm 119:11 says to hide the Word in your heart. It comforts, teaches, guides. There are some places where it even entertains! Mostly, it gives hope, and now more than ever, that’s what the world needs.

Find a version of the Bible that you’re able to follow. I like the aesthetic of KJV, but lately I’ve been sticking with NIV. Read a verse or two each morning to start the day, or find an online study to join. Whatever version or format you follow, just stick with it.

Friends. Oh, where would I be without my hearts who keep me laughing, who support me, and just let me be me! Going back to the Word, it even mentions finding a friend who sticks closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24). I’m grateful for true friends who show themselves to be such over and over, through and through.

Time off! I’m telling you, there’s nothing like a good ol’ break! From work, from family, just from life. You need to let your mind and body heal and rest from the day-to-day. I know there are those who must put the time in to meet needs, and I understand that path of life. Even so, there’s benefit to taking time just to breathe. I’m grateful for this freedom, and I look forward to my second annual personal retreat at the Proverbs 31 Ministries SheSpeaks Conference.

Speaking of SheSpeaks, my July posts will be focused around my blogging journey so far, leading up to the conference. Even if you’re not a blogger or writer, I hope you’ll follow the posts and find some inspiration for your own journey or path.

Thanks for your engagement here on New Day during June! I’ve appreciated all the likes and comments and sharing. This blog is just the beginning for me – more to come! And hey, tell me what you’re thankful for in the comments below!

In God’s Image

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And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. (‭Genesis‬ ‭1‬:‭26‬ KJV)

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There are many people I have come to admire over my life – people I know personally and those I just know of. Or maybe I should say there are types of people I admire, like teachers. Without them I wouldn’t be able to write these words and have some understanding of things. My sister is one. I also admire smart people. You know, those brainiacs who’ve discovered scientific this or that, developed medicines for diseases, or Jobs and Gates who propelled us into the world of computers and beyond. I’m not one of those types of people – don’t ask me to try to come up with anything like that because I don’t have the brain power. It’s not my gift.

There are other types of people on my “I Admire” list: single moms, abused anyone, military personnel, presidents. But in today’s post I want to focus on fathers.

It’s likely that when you read a Father’s Day post or hear a Father’s Day message in a Christian context, the writer or speaker will start by proclaiming God as THE Father, how He’s a father to the fatherless, the Father who loves us better than we love ourselves, etc. You’ve heard it. While all of these statements are certainly TRUE, it gets a little old after a while. God IS Father all the time and always will be. Why talk about Him as such just on Father’s Day? Well, this is just my opinion.

When THE Father (hee hee) created man (and woman for those who need that insert), the Word says He made him after His own likeness. What does that mean? If God is faithful, then should we believe that man was endowed to be faithful? If God is forgiving, can’t we also be?

If God AS Father is loving, is it fair to believe that earthly fathers should also strive to be loving? As God is…

There are a lot of fathers out there being and doing just as God called, whether they acknowledge it on a God level or not. There are some who can’t for whatever reason, and there are some who won’t, for whatever reason. I’m not here to judge, just to admire. Including my own…

My father is hardworking, firm, always there when needed. At his core, he is all heart and all God. He raised three daughters (hard work, sometimes), and now has three li’l grands who love him as Paw Paw. I’m thankful for the example of fatherhood Mr. Larry Tate has shown to my sisters and me, and to a few others along the way.

Happy Father’s Day to all dads!

In memory of Charles E. Graham, my Paw Paw.