I mentioned the other day that I’m working on a fairly major blog upgrade, and that I’d keep you all in the loop. Much to my amazement, there actually seemed to be a little bit of interest in the subject. So, I’ll share the beginning of my adventure and see where we go from there.
I started blogging back in 2011, and essentially, I started it as a writing exercise just for me. The idea was that I wanted to get my little brain back to the point where I could write something immediately when prompted like I used to do when I had my first job out of college starting in 1981.
As far as blogging goes, I knew exactly… Nothing.
I got back into the writing part, not very good writing, but I could do it, and then, for no reason that I know of, people started following my blog. It was only a few at first, but over time, I got better at it and more followed. I was curious and learned a little about blogging by reading the WordPress help pages, more followed, and it occurred to me that this little exercise had some real ministry potential.
Time went on, my blog grew, but was never huge or anything like that, yet I knew that it was making an impact, primarily from contacts readers made privately from all over the world.
Wow – Amazing!
Time flew by, I was away from regular blogging for a while taking care of my 95-year-old mother, and then the pandemic and WP changed everything when I wasn’t looking, my wife and I moved from Iowa to Florida to “retirement” (whatever that really is) and I blogged a little and used this as a platform for ministry activities I was involved in. During this period, I had a growing discomfort about my blog, and how I was neglecting it. I finally got to the point where I made a commitment to make this blog my top priority. At about the same time, we realized that due to some unfortunate circumstances that I’ll skip for now, we would return to Iowa after 5 years away.
That was last summer.
Since then, I’ve tried some things and done a fair amount of research about blogs and blogging. It hasn’t gone as smoothly as I might like, but there isn’t much I can do about that except trust that God will show me a way to overcome the obstacles in my path. You see, I have no doubts concerning the reason for all of this; God still has some work for me to do. This is true even though I am not as bright as I used to be and am a functional illiterate at this point because of my delightfully bad vision. Yes, despite all this, God has a job for me, and even though I am weak, He is strong, and He will provide all the things I lack to get His job accomplished.
In this, I fully expect that I have embarked on the best and most exciting adventure of my life, and make no mistakes, I’ve had some pretty good ones already.
That’s probably quite enough for today, if you are still reading, I thank you. If you are interested in more posts like this, please drop me a comment. With that, thanks again for reading, and I’ll see you next time!
Life Project Blog 
Thanks for your transparency, Don. I didn’t know that you have vision issues. I do, as well. And the dr team is trying to stay ahead of what could lead to sudden blindness. But like you, I press forward with blogging and entrusting my future into God’s capable hands. Blessings and will pray for you.
Thank you, and I will pray for you as well. I must tell you that blindness is very much over rated and I don’t recommend it, but if it turns out that you must deal with it, take courage, I find there is a work around for almost anything if you keep your wits about you.
I really appreciate you sharing this journey. It’s encouraging to hear how your blog started as a simple writing exercise and gradually became something that has reached and impacted people around the world.
Thank you very much for that. I wish I could report that I have been very clever about that, but, let’s be honest, it wasn’t really me.
Definitely a God thing.
He has done great things! Bless His holy name! Once you are led by God there is no limit to what He can do through your blog. God bless you as you continue to inspire and encourage others by your writing.
Thank you
I liked reading about your early days of blogging
I’m glad to hear that, thank you
I really enjoyed your backstory. I, too, feel as if God wants me to blog, but I haven’t the foggiest notion as to what I’m doing, so I empathize with you. I’ve never been a writer, but here I am.
Some friends got me started on their blog (a group-type thing) and at that time I enjoyed it. I need to get back into that mindset again.
I really enjoyed your backstory. I, too, feel as if God wants me to blog, but I haven’t the foggiest notion as to what I’m doing, so I empathize with you. I’ve never been a writer, but here I am.
Some friends got me started on their blog (a group-type thing) and at that time I enjoyed it. I need to get back into that mindset again.
Yep, interested in seeing more like this! ~ Rosie
Thank you Rosie.
It never ceases to amaze me how God can take our writing, however ineffective we consider it to be, and use it for His glory! I stopped writing my blog of daily devotions about five years ago – for reasons I won’t go into now – but I am in awe every month to receive notification from WordPress that between 2000 and 3000 people read it! I love the way God uses the internet to spread His word to people and places where it may not usually be found – or even accessible! Keep writing, Don! Imagine the crowd of people who will greet you in heaven one day because of one of your blog posts that they read, which led them to Jesus!
With God, all things are possible, and there is no end to the amazing things that happen!