Good Blogs to Read, Part 8

Doing It Write

I met Amber a year or two ago on the Sense and Sensibility Forum.  Our first interaction with each other was teaming together to defend the gospel of Christ in a rather interesting debate about religion.  I then began to follow her blog, then we began emailing, then we friended each other on Facebook.  The Lord has really blessed our friendship, even though we've never met in person; so many times the Lord has used her to encourage my heart or set my focus back on Him.  And besides that--  we also share a love for writing!  Not only does she like to write, but she does write, and she writes for God's glory.

Just recently Amber has started up a writing blog called Doing It Write.  Here she posts her own struggles and triumphs in her writing, reviews on helping books and websites on writing, and thoughts on how we can glorify God with our writing.   She speaks honestly and freely and brings everything back to God-- God has given us the ability to write; we should use it for His glory.  Already I have been very encouraged and challenged.

I highly recommend this blog to all my writing friends!  And even if you are not a writer, check out her other blog, The Fruit of Her Hands-- I guarantee, you will be blessed by Amber's writing!

Good Blogs to Read, Part 7

"In Shirley by Charlotte Bronte, one of the heroines sits thinking to herself.  She says: 'I may have half a century of life before me.  How am I to spend it?' (Something along those lines.)  Will it be for the pursuit of human desire?  Or the sacrifice of self for a deeper, richer desire we cannot half-comprehend?  How are you to occupy the rest of your life? I’m not talking about what you’ll major in in college, or what your next job will be, or what the next step will be, but what are your mental, spiritual and emotional pursuits be?  It’s a difficult question.  It’s funny, I can’t say what I’ll do tomorrow, but I might tell you I’m going to strive for holiness the rest of my life. Spiritual things are much more certain than physical or material.  And yet it is the spiritual that is doubted, the material that’s depended upon.  God is ignored while men rely on money and their jobs to see them through everything.  And what fails them in the end?"

This is an excerpt from a recent post on Ruby's blog, Carpe Diem, in which she talks about human desire and the need for us to allow God to purify and create our desires to glorify Him.  Americans, in general, are brain dead, striving after pleasures of all kinds that fail to glorify God.  Life is "all about us" and we waste our lives chasing after things that will pass away instead of holiness and an everlasting relationship with God.  In this article, Ruby encourages her readers to put aside fleeting things and pursue God and true holiness.

Ruby is a fantastic writer.  She takes the time to think out a subject, and then communicates it in a way that challenges her readers to act upon it.  Besides posts like the one discussed above, she also has some wonderful posts in which she explores a certain aspect of a well-known classic, or sometimes she just talks about her family and daily life.   I would highly encourage you to swing over and check out her blog.  I'm sure you will enjoy what you read!

Good Blogs to Read, Part 6

Isn't it so exciting when you find a blog in which just about every post stands out to you and tells you something you really need to hear?

One blog that has recently encouraged me through several posts is

A Writer's Blog

This blog is authored by Chelsea Peterson, a sweet young lady with a contagious love for the Lord.  She also runs a site called Perfecting 113, a site for young ladies (the site is currently under construction).
Her posts are often short (not lengthy ones with huge paragraphs that are daunting before you read them) and very to-the-point, telling you exactly what you need to hear.  Today's was on Listening, and how God sometimes must take distractions out of our lives so that we will listen to Him.   Now and then, she will also post about life and family, or about the book she is writing-- these posts are also very enjoyable to read.

I highly encourage you to check out Chelsea's blog and follow it.  I assure you, you will be blessed.

Good Blogs to Read, Part 5

Ana's Corner

I happened upon this corner two summers ago when I googled the name of Betty Stam to try to find some quotes by her. One of the results came up as a post on this blog called Ana's Corner. I decided to check it out, and having copied the quote, decided to check out this girl's blog some more. As I did so, I found that she was a Christian girl-- not just a "Christian" by name, but a real, sincere, beautiful Christian girl with a passion to honor the Lord in all that she does. This is awesome, I thought! And I left her a comment. Since then, I've not only followed her and her sister's blogs but have gotten to know them quite well! :-)

Ana doesn't post very much anymore, but her blog is full of wonderful posts ever since November of 2006. Ana definitely has an eye for beauty and captures the sweet and simple moments delightfully. She shares things that she does with her family and her little niece Greta. My favorite posts of hers are her thoughts on what the Lord has been teaching her, and her encouragement, especially for other single young ladies. She wrote a particularly good series called "Single for Valentine's Day?" which will definitely encourage those of you who find Valentine's Day a more depressing holiday than anything else! I highly encourage you to swing by Ana's blog. You will be blessed, as I have!

Good Blogs to Read, Part 4

Have you ever wondered what life must be like in a family of over ten kids? Do all the kids eventually just run in together as one? How do they manage?

It's really not as chaotic as you think! On Count Your Blessings, our good friends, the Ring family, recount daily life in a household of thirteen kids. Birthdays, holidays, work on the farm, walks in the woods, photography, and miscellaneous tidbits of day-to-day life find their way onto the pages of this delightful weblog. They also posts encouraging verses and words to hymns that are helpful for refocusing one's mind on Christ in the middle of the day.

We've known the Rings for about five years now (more or less?) and have grown to be great friends. I'm sure you will enjoy getting to know them as well!

Count Your Blessings

Good Blogs to Read, Part 3

Today I am going to bring to you another favorite blog:

Marie's Musings

Marie's Musings is the blog of one of my friends from church as well as a columnist for the Tuckleberry Times. On her blog, Marie shares her adventures in novel- and screenplay-writing, homemaking, and growing in the Lord. Her articles are always very encouraging and challenging to me in my walk with the Lord, especially her recent article about "musings in the snow". She has some fun articles about projects she is working on, books she is reading, and life around the house for a graduated young lady with younger siblings. All topics are brought back to glorifying God through every aspect of our lives.

I highly encourage you to drop over at Marie's Musings. You will be blessed by what you read!

Note: You may remember seeing this blog at the address http://musingsbymarie.blogspot.com. However, she recently moved to wordpress.

Good Blogs to Read, Part 2

Today I am going to share with you another one of my favorite blogs,

The Blue Inglenook

The Blue Inglenook is the photography blog of Leah Siefkes. Not only is Leah a wonderful friend of mine, but she is also one of the best photographers I know. She has amazing skill with her camera, and the best part of it is that she desires to use it for God's glory!

Leah's pictures capture the wildness and beauty of God's creation, the quiet warmth of home scenes, the loveliness and nostalgia of mid-western hometowns and farms, and the hidden beauty of small things. More than once, Leah's pictures have stirred me to praise the Lord for His awesome creative power and for revealing Himself to us in so many ways. Many of her photos instantly bring a Bible verse to mind about God's goodness and greatness.

I am sure you will enjoy viewing Leah's amazing photography and will be blessed as I have. These pictures deserve to be enjoyed by all! :-)

Good Blogs to Read, Part 1

Hello, friends!

I thought I would start "advertising" for the blogs that have been an enjoyment and/or spiritual encouragement to me, so that you might enjoy them as well! :-) I am not sure how often I will post these; perhaps one a week. That'll take me a while, as I follow many blogs. :-)

Today I will begin with:

Quest for Contentment

Quest for Contentment is a blog created by two young ladies, Brittany and Jordan, to encourage young ladies towards contentment in singleness and in whatever situation the Lord has put them. These girls, both members of Park Meadows Baptist Church in Lincoln, IL, truly show hearts that are sold out to the Lord in a way that I am longing and striving to be.

At the top of their sidebar is the verse, "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content" (Phil. 4:11). Indeed, this verse reflects the many encouraging and well-written articles shared on this blog. Recently they posted an article written by Jeanna G. (daughter of Dr. S. M. Davis from Solve Family Problems); this article shared ways to pursue contentment during the holidays. Another recent post was a poem entitled "Wait", in which the anonymous author questions why God is having her wait, and God answers that the purpose of waiting is that we might draw closer to Him and learn to find fulfillment in Him. In November, they featured a Bible memory contest, assigning Bible verses focusing on contentment, resting, and joy in Christ.

I highly encourage you to swing over to Quest for Contentment and take a few moments to read what they have to share. I guarantee that you will be encouraged and blessed!