Grandson Cadence Enjoying a Cupcake on His Second Birthday, With a Little Help from His Dad. September, 2008.
Gifts for You!
Yesterday marked Godspotting’s second anniversary. To celebrate, I have a little Godspotting swag to share.
To win a gift….just ask! The first three people who comment here requesting a gift will be winners! I’ll contact you if you’re one of the three.
Gifts for Me!
In my first post, I described my vision for the blog and explained my goal. Since then, my readership has grown a little. I’ve helped a few other people get started with their own blogs. My pastor shared one of my posts in the church bulletin once. I’ve started working on a book. I like to think my writing has improved. I’ve had the opportunity to contribute guest posts on other blogs.
By the metrics of resume-flavored success, I guess you could say I’ve gained a little over these past two years.
Though I am deeply grateful for them, those accomplishments aren’t the ones that thrill me.
I don’t mean to say that these two years of blogging have lacked exhilaration. But the joy has come in unexpected, undreamt-of ways. Three things delight me when I reflect on these past two years of sharing with you here.
My husband’s second language: Bloglove. Rich hunted down an internet cafe so I could upload a post and approve comments while we were off vacationing in a remote corner of California. His email signature includes a link to Godspotting. He invites his friends to follow my blog. He gives me space and quiet to focus and write, sometimes refilling my coffee cup for me as I reflect and wait for words –or sometimes stalk them.
I didn’t consider, two years ago, that Rich would find ways to use my blog to love on me. But he has.
Real friendships with other bloggers. Especially through blogging communities, notably TheHighCalling.org and BibleDude.net, I’ve found friends: other people who are led to write. I mean genuine friendships, wherein you learn whose husband, like mine, won’t eat fresh tomatoes. Or whose daughter is just home from a freshman year at college. Or whose mom is in hospice care.
Writing can be a lonely calling. It can also make you delusional. These treasured friends provide community and accountability.
Readers rethinking God. Every now and then, readers tell me that reading Godspotting has led them to reconsider their relationships with God. If I continue to write for the rest of my days, and my reward is helping to influence just one more soul to join me in eternal worship at the throne of our mighty and gracious God, then this work will have been worthwhile.
It is work, writing here. It’s bloody, nagging, playful work. It brings me joy and sometimes wakes me up at two a.m.
I began this blog to obey God, to honor him, to make an offering to Him. I never imagined the superabundance of blessings He would return to me.
38 Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.”
Luke 6:38 (NASB)
Sometimes its pays to get up early and log onto the computer first thing in the morning! Happy blog birthday, and why, yes, I'd love to have a gift! BTW–don't know what your writing was like before you began blogging, but it is truly lovely now.
Why thank you, Nancy! One gift for you!
I'd love a gift!
I love your style, your approach, and the way you weave Scriptural truth into your writings. You are gifted, readable and insightfully fun.
I decided my previous post was rude…just asking for a gift. I just discovered this blog this past weekend. I follow several blogs, but for the most part they are authored by young moms or moms with teenagers. As much as I enjoy reading about their joys and struggles, I was thrilled to find one whose life more closely looks like mine. I'm a "young" widow with one grandchild. I was widowed while coping with entering the "empty nest" years. That was 11 years ago. Since then, God has led me on an interesting journey…dealing with leukemia, unemployment, grief, etc. But don't feel sorry for me. God is doing a wonderful work in me. At age 55, I'm FINALLY learning how to trust Him with everything. I'm looking forward to reading more of "Godspotting". Thanks for sharing.
Could I possibly be among the first three??? Wow!
This is a lovely post, Sheila! I've had a blog for a lot longer – but I've not used it for much besides posting prayers and sermons until this first year of retirement. And your 3 impressions of your first two years resonate with my own experience these last six months. I am so glad I found your blog! Please keep writing – and let us know from time to time how the book is coming along.
Blessings to you!
Thank you, David.
I wasn't expecting to receive such gifts 🙂
Kay, I didn't find your post rude at all…I offered and you said "yes please!" Thanks for sharing more about your own journey. I'm glad you find something useful here.
Diana….just for you, I've decided to up my giveaway to four 🙂 Thanks for sharing your travels, too!
Kay D./Keydun,
I don't see an email address for you. Please contact me at sheila(at)godspotting.net so I can send your gift.
Thanks!
Happy Birthday Sheila! When readers tell you that your words warm the heart that is reward enough. Your blog posts are gift enough for me!
You're such a joy! I love your intellect, wit, storytelling, insight, honesty, and encouragement. I'm honored to be part of one of your writing communities–and grateful you give so much. Happy birthday to you, as you point us to the Father. "Look to Him," you say, creatively, in post after post.
My goodness.
Now I'm blushing. Honestly. Thank you all for your encouragement, kind words, and collegiality.
My cup is running over, indeed!
I'm also chuckling a bit as I notice that nobody has challenged my assertion that writing can make one delusional 🙂
Far be it from me to not comment just because I don't get a gift. I'm relatively new to your blog, Sheila, but I have been enjoying it. It certainly encourages me when I'm writing my blog, which I started as a form of accountability in a new journey that God is taking me on. I cannot challenge your assertion that writing can make one delusional, because I might have been delusional already 😉 which means I'm not fit to judge!
Carolyn,
Wouldn't that just be a trial by peers? 🙂 Thanks for your kindness.
Oh Sheila … Happy Blog Birthday! You are such a delight — so insightful and charming and always, always pointing to the Father.
How happy I am that our paths have crossed. I haven't been by as much lately — and you know why — but I want to tell you how grateful I am for you.
Much love to you …
I am so happy, so blessed, too, Jennifer. Much love right back to you!
I'm still doing what I do, you know…the only thing I can do….for your precious nephews and the other families.
Sheila – I am approaching 3 years anniversary with blogging, and I could echo just about every benefit and blessing you list here. (except for the husband and the bloglove, of course – although i will let my wife in on that one!)
I heard the musician Josh Ritter yesterday say it this way, as he described the process of writing a book: "It was a lot of work, and a lot of joy." Sounds about right.
Thank you for coming by, Bradley.
It's strangely comforting to hear others comment that their experiences have been similar.
We all receive gifts every time we come here, Sheila! Thanks for making this bloggy world more fun and interesting!
Oh, a book!
You're writing one.
Don't send me a gift. I'll be waiting for a signed copy of the book. 🙂
Charity, you're aptly named. Much too kind 🙂
Duane, do not hold your breath nor fast while waiting. It is going to be a while 🙂