Tuesday, June 28, 2011

HAPPY BLOG ANNIVERSARY TO ME!

YES!

One year ago today, I jumped into Blog Land, and posted my first post on my brand new blog.

I thought I would share that post with you today - it's funny, it still reflects my heart, one year later.


LEAP OF FAITH

Welcome to my new blog!

For many of you, *blogging* might not seem like a big deal. But, for me, it's HUGE!

You see, until just two weeks ago, my computer was a 12 year-old Gateway, with a massive hard drive, connected to the Internet by dial-up! Yes, you read that correctly. (By the way, it was sad leaving my weekend gig in the Neanderthal exhibit at the natural history museum, but it was just time to move on!)

My husband and I have a real aversion to all things technological – for instance, he didn't own an answering machine until we started dating in 2003! So, for a long time I really rebelled against this whole blogging idea. It just sounded too "California" for me – "Hi, my name's Sharon. I'm a Taurus. I blog…"

You know what I mean?!

But then, I began to get the sense that this might be a direction that God was leading me to explore.

For a while now, I have had a distinct pull on my heart (still, small voice?!) that God wants to do SOMETHING with me. I love to write, and more and more, blogging seemed to be the answer – at least a great starting point. I have really fought this one – feeling like I was "selling out" or going over to the "dark side." And quite frankly, my hesitation also came because I was afraid. Afraid to start something – afraid to fail, almost afraid to succeed.

But then I realized a great truth from the Bible. God called all sorts of scared people to do His work! And most often, those called were not asked to do an easy thing.

Forget taking a "step of faith" – they were called to LEAP!

"Hey Noah, I've got this boat idea!"
"You know, Abraham, I think it's time to re-locate."
"Moses, remember those Israelites in Egypt?"

You get the picture.

God calls us to BIG THINGS, things that feel too much for us to achieve, let alone even start sometimes. But isn't that the whole point? We are not asked to have the strength or the courage or the skills to meet His calling – we are only asked to RESPOND.

I want to be like Samuel:

And the LORD came and called…And Samuel replied, "Speak, your servant is listening!"

Here's to my leap of faith!

Where is God going to ask you to jump?!


(First published on Monday, June 28, 2010)


***My heartfelt thanks to all of you! I am so grateful for your friendship, and for all the encouragement and inspiration you have given me this past year. I look forward to what God is going to do in the future!***


BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

20 comments:

  1. Congratulations my dear blogging buddy! I'm so glad that you listened to the small voice. I believe with all my heart that you have a distinct call to a ministry of the word/Word. God uses you in a mighty way in my life on a regular basis.

    I'm so glad that your leap of faith took you all the way across the continent and landed you smack dab in the middle of in my den.

    I'm a bit unibomber in the technology department myself, but blogging is one advance that gets the two thumbs up from me.

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  2. Congratulations, Sharon! You have a joyfully inspiring blog and restful atmosphere within which to enjoy your bubbly conversation brimming with praise to our Lord. So glad you took that leap. I stepped out this past March after five years of false starts and complete ignorance at to how to navigate my way through blogworld to where somebody actually might read what I wrote. But, in the Lord's time - He brought me to the place in my career where I had the time, and the people in my life who gave me the techno keys to unlock a world that is feeding me creatively and spiritually in celebration of the Lord Who makes the ministry and equips us to walk in it.
    Glad we've met along the way.
    Joy!
    Miss Kathy

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  3. Happy Blog-aversary to you!! I had no idea you had "only" been blogging for a year! I'm so glad that you followed God's prompting, worked through your fear and took that leap of faith! I love reading your words as they are always full of truth and are an encouragement to me. I know that God is using you and your sense of humor to reach many for His Kingdom!

    Blessings to you Sharon!!

    Blessings from one blogger to another, Joan

    P.S. I'm also glad you stepped into the 21st century and moved beyond your Gateway! Wow!

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  4. So glad you started blogging. Love reading!

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  5. Happy blog anniversary to you - happy blog anniversary to you - happy blog anniversary to you Sharon - happy blog anniversary to you - and we are the one who gets the 'gift'!

    Are you still on dial up? Whew.

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  6. Happy blog anniversary Sharon! I'm glad you shared your first blog post with us. Definitely glad you took that leap of faith! Funny, the pastor here is doing a series on faith and said, I quote him "a simple act of faith can be the tipping point for something extraordinary".

    He also mentioned those pillars of faith you mentioned, Noah, etc. They did what God wanted them to do; took that leap.

    So in faith, I'm glad you leapt!! Its been a pleasure to read the words God gave you to share with us! Always insightful!

    to many more years!

    (for some reason I'm stuck again being anonymous with Blogger; uck!!!)

    betty

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  7. There is not a doubt in my mind that God has called you to write His words. Your blog has spoken to my heart so many times Sharon, and I feel sure He has more in store for this gift in your life. Besides... you are a WESTMONT WARRIOR!! :)

    Keep writing my friend!

    XO

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  8. Congratulations! I assumed you were a long time blogger, your posts are so well crafted, so thoughtful, and so challenging to our Christian walk. Looking forward to the next year of Sharon sharing God! xoxo

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  9. Happy Anniversary and congratulations Sharon...You did more than succeed! You have captured us with your wit and inspiration, but mostly Sharon, you SHARE GOD in such a fresh and anointed way. You always give much of your heart and self as you challenge us to reflect and grow. You cause us to dig deep and shine Jesus. You write with humor and also with deep feelings, making us want to bear our souls or at least hear yours, and always wanting to hear the voice of God as you write... it's such a beautiful gift! You are a gift to the blogging world and ME! I am blessed by your sharing! I am blessed to have the privilege to come to know you through this "technology" of sharing faith; the triumphs and the trials.

    Happy Blogaversary! (We even dare to invent words that take on a new dimension)! God is so good! I'm so glad He encouraged your leap of faith! FROG... leap high and keep a leapin' ...
    Fully Rely On God!!! We can't go wrong, let Him speak and keep on listening and taking notes to share... many blessings Sharon!

    Love and peace,
    Peggy

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  10. Well first of all congratulations on one year!!! As for where God is calling me to jump....I am in mid-air right now and not sure what will be on the ground when I hit. I do know that He pushed me...LOL!! I hope I am not like Jonah and have to go into a whale before I obey...so Here it is to JUMPING!!!
    As you jumped we have all been blessed.

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  11. Happy Blogoversary, my friend. I am blessed to "know" you and by your posts. I'm not sure who found who first, but I'm glad we did. Looking forward to year #2.

    Speaking of a leap of faith - I'm getting ready to take one with my blog. Contact me by email - I would love for you to be a part of it. :)

    Blessings,
    Joan

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  12. Hi Sharon -

    Congratulations on your anniversary!

    Of course, seek our Lord for confirmation of this...but I was led of our Lord to leap over here at this moment to mention to you about writing a children's book with Marty as your theme.

    Actually, I woke up from a nap and immediately the thought came to me from our Lord to come on your blog and to share that with you - that our Lord desires that you write a children's book with Marty as the theme. And then I went on to read a scripture and in it was the word "children." I smiled because I knew that that was confirmation from our Lord to share that nugget with you.

    And then I read here where you expressed, "I love to write, and more and more, blogging seemed to be the answer – at least a great starting point."

    The operative words that jumped out at me were "a great starting point." Sounds like another confirmation from our Lord to me, Sharon. I'm just saying - smiles.

    Perhaps when you finish the book (this is my faith talking) you can read it aloud to the golden citizens that you regularly visit. And it can be read aloud to children too, Sharon. Again, I'm just saying...laughing now....

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  13. Hi Sharon,

    Well, I thought you had been blogging for years and were an old hand at it. Congratulations, so glad you answered the call. Certain points of this your first blog, tie in with my thoughts and blog tonight.

    Keep up the good work.

    God Bless - Nita.

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  14. Congratulations, Sharon! I am so very glad that
    you decided to start blogging as your posts
    have been, and continue to be, such a blessing
    and encouragement to me!
    Hugs,
    Sandy

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  15. A big high five sister! and my congratulations on your one year blogging anniversary! Thank you for all the love and care you give. Thank you for keeping me and my family in your prayers. I hope you know you're special and loved in every way. I looked forward to more of you, sharing God. You're a huge inspiration to me!!! With love always, Kerrie. xOX

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  16. One more thing... PRAISE JESUS!!!

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  17. My dearest blogging buddies,

    I am totally humbled by your kind words! Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by and leave such thoughtful comments. It am blessed in knowing you all. I can't tell you how many times your words and thoughts have inspired, challenged, encouraged me as I walk on my journey. The Body of Christ in Blog Land is an amazing thing. Real friendships bloom, and God uses us to uphold each other. I am grateful for each and every one of you.

    A few responses to your comments:

    Yes, I still have the Gateway, and it still works - but I'm using a Mac laptop now.

    No, I am NO LONGER on dial-up. Oh my goodness, I don't know how I survived on that!

    Love/hate Blogger - look at poor Betty - who will NEVER be anonymous with me.

    Peggy scored an entry into Sharon's Acrostic Dictionary with FROG: "Fully Rely On God" - love that!

    Joan - I will contact you.

    Sandra - I don't take these words lightly because I know how God speaks to you. So...really? A book with Marty? Do you know that I've been thinking about this lately? I've thought about starting a blog with him. You've given me a big holy "hmmmm..."

    And as always, love to you all - keep up your own blogging. It has been a tremendous blessing to me, and to many others. We just never know what God is doing with the ripples His words make on the internet.

    Keep leaping - and GOD BLESS!

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  18. Hi Sharon -

    You expressed, "A book with Marty? Do you know that I've been thinking about this lately?"

    Wow! Sharon, I had no idea.

    Please share more about that.

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  19. Sandra - Yes, I have had thoughts in that area. I'm catching up today on blog reading - I'll be over later. I sent you a short email, just so we can correspond that way if you want. I will send you more about this "Marty musing" that I'm doing in an email in the next day or two - Okey dokey??

    GOD BLESS!

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  20. Hi Sharon -

    I'm excited about this Marty venture. Look forward to you sharing more...

    Thank you

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"So [I] have been greatly encouraged in the midst of [my] troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith. It gives [me] new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord. How [I] thank God for you!" (1 Thessalonians 3:7-9)

Thanks for your comments - it is such a joy to be sharing my journey with friends like YOU!

(NOTE: Anonymous comments will be removed. Thank you for understanding.)