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Wednesday, March 28, 2012

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

Today’s post is part of the Christian Writer’s blog chain. This month, our theme is “Savor.” Please visit my friends’ blogs by clicking on the links in the right-hand column.



April 1 is the one-year anniversary of From Carol’s Quill. Here are the stats:

1 year of blogging
158 posts
Six pages to the site
88 prayers based on the meaning of names
8,482 hits to the site
 + + +                 
The more important stats are not quantifiable. The goal of this blog is to encourage others in their faith in Christ. Whether I have done so is up to God to determine.

As I set out to encourage others in their faith, though something amazing happened. Writing about my faith has encouraged me.

  • Preparation for blogging requires me to look around each day for parables about Jesus. When I look for Jesus, I find him.

  • Preparation for blogging requires me to research and meditate on scripture. More head knowledge results in more heart knowledge.

  • Preparation for blogging requires me to pray and allow the Holy Spirit to guide my hands. More prayer and more attuning to the Spirit is always good.
Blogging has grown my faith; brought me closer to my Savior; helped me savor time spent with Him.

Is that not the way it is when we first set out to encourage others? We find ourself encouraged, stretched and strengthened through the process.


A few thank you's are in order:

  • To my readers for your faithful reading and commenting.
  • To the Christian Writers.com community for letting me join in the blog chain fun.
  • To my Heavenly Father for using me in this one and only life He’s given me.
  • To my Savior for the reason for my faith.
  • To the Holy Spirit who has guided my hands this past year.

I look forward to another year of savoring the way God plans to use me for His good purpose. And savoring the friendships I make along the way.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for the opportunities you give us to share your love with others. Thank you for showing us ways to use technology for this sacred purpose. Holy Spirit, please give us words to express your love in this world. Let it always and only be for your glory. Amen.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? How do you use technology to encourage others?

31 comments:

chris said...

Happy Anniversary to you and your blog Carol, you have certainly encouraged me as I look forward to reading your thoughts every day!

2 Corinthians 13 - aiming to use technology to build other up!

Unknown said...

Congrats, Carol. :) Thank you for sweetening the web.

From Carols Quill said...

@ Chris and Nona - thanks for the encouragement and good wishes! I appreciate you both.

E. G. Lewis said...

Congratulations.Today is a day to sit back and savor your successes.

Do I use technology to encourage others? Absolutely! My Sowing the Seeds blog is fueled by research for my Seeds of Christianity Series of books. The blog shares that research into the Life and Times of the Early Church.

You're proof of the old adage that whatever you give to God will be returned to you many times over. Peace and Blessings.

From Carols Quill said...

@ E.G. - what a lovely comment. I love your Sowing Seeds blog. Always learn something new and valuable. Sometimes we unfortunately argue over unimportant denominational tweaks and forget the important things the Early Church focused on.

SandiGrace said...

Happy Anniversary Carol! :)
Your post brought to mind Proverbs 11:25, "The generous man will be prosperous, and he who waters will himself be watered."

From Carols Quill said...

@ Sandi - Proverbs 11:25 is the perfect reminder. Thanks for that.

Deborah K. Anderson said...

Happy Anniversary, Carol! I'm so glad you decided to blog.

As I was reading this, I realized that you are utilizing the talents God gave you, just as He said for us to do.

Well done, good and faithful servant.

From Carols Quill said...

Oh, wow, Deborah - what a great compliment. Thank you.

Joe Lalonde said...

Congratulations Carol! That is quite the feat!

I'm not the greatest encourager in the world but I try. I use my blog to push an encouraging message to my readers.

From Carols Quill said...

@ Joe - thanks! And you do encourage others via your blog. I always enjoy it.

Victor Travison said...

I can identify with a blog anniversary. Sunday was my blog's third birthday. It's hard to measure how effective it has been in that time; as you said, it's for God to decide. All I know is, a growing number of people like it and keep coming back.

Since I installed a blog counter last September, I've learned even on weeks where I get no comments, the counter always advances at least 30 hits, often 40 or more. On blog chain days, it soars over 100.

Thanks for encouraging me with your post. Technology provides the best outlet I know to minister to people. PTL \o/

~ VT

Michael Johnson said...

158 posts. That is a great accomplishment in one year! That is almost one every other day. Whew.

From Carols Quill said...

@ VT - three years! Happy anniversary to you, too. Most days I believe the benefits of technology outweigh the tears of frustration. :-)

@ Mike - thank you. When I began a M-W-F posting schedule it didn't take me long to wonder what I was thinking. But I'm glad I didn't try to lessen the load. After all, I have "much to say." Not all of it is brilliant, of course...

Jack Brown said...

happy anniversary
may there be many more

biiiiig hug

Debra Gray-Elliott said...

Great post! Happy blog anniversary to you! Thank you for sharing God's wisdom with others.

From Carols Quill said...

@ Jack and Debra - thank you both! I so appreciate your reading and comments.

Tracy Krauss said...

Congrats on a year well written!

From Carols Quill said...

Ahhh, thanks Tracy!

Linda Yezak said...

Wow! Happy Anniversary!

You have been such a treasure--and so very forgiving of me for not making it over here as often as you come to my place.

I hope God blesses you with another fabulous year, and multiplies your readers immensely!

From Carols Quill said...

@ Linda - thank you so much! I've loved getting to know you better between our blogs and CW!

Pam B. said...

Congratulations, Carol! You have uplifted me, encouraged me, and blessed me. Thank you.

From Carols Quill said...

@ Pam - thank you so much, Pam. I've loved seeing you here. That's blessed ME.

Pegg Thomas said...

I'm late - I'm late - for a very important date! Oh... wait a minute... the anniversary isn't until April 1st so I'm not technically late yet. :) Congrats on your first year and here's to many, many more.

lynnmosher said...

Happy anniversary! Such awesome stats to celebrate! I'm so glad the Lord connected us and you decided to blog. God always rewards the faithful, obedient heart and He has rewarded you for using what He has placed within you. May the Lord bless you with a bazillion more thoughts and posts! Blessings to you, my sweet friend!

Unknown said...

Has it been a year already? Time does fly. I enjoy your posts very much and the love you send. I thank God for your loving heart and the passion behind your words. Blessings for another successful year!

From Carols Quill said...

@ Pegg, Lynn and Terrie - thank you so much. You three ladies have become very dear to me.

Traci B said...

Carol, your post led me to look back at my blog's beginnings. It's been just over two years since Tracings went live, and interestingly enough, my first post was about writing as ministry. I just reposted it, before I even got to your question. Awesome how God moves our thoughts in the same direction, isn't it?

Happy anniversary, my sister!

Adam Collings said...

It's great having you on the chain Carol. Congratulations on one year. It sure is interesting how God will use something like a blog - which was intended to bless others - to actually help us grow ourselves.
Keep it up!

From Carols Quill said...

@ Traci - I just commented on your blog post - twice. I do believe that sometimes things are not as much a "coincidence" as God orchestrating people, things, events and ideas in the same direction. Thank you and best wishes to you, too.

From Carols Quill said...

@ Adam - I see stretching and growth in your blog, too. God is so good!