True Confessions - Jan's Testimony

                It was with eagerness and anticipation that the TLC blog debuted last Spring, an idea I believe came from the Lord.  And now I know part of the reason why.

      Through trial and error, I fumbled through the layout and the workings of designing a blog (some of which still elude me, however!).  A few comments were posted or verbalized.  Along the way, I discovered there was a way to monitor the number of people who visited the site.  About the same time I read an interview with Ann Voskamp (author of One Thousand Gifts, who also has a blog).   When asked about the number of people who read her blog, she responded that she really didn’t follow the numbers.  The Lord seemed to put the thought in my mind that that was a good idea.  But after awhile, I found myself checking again, rationalizing that it would help me know if the blog was ministering to the ladies, when in reality, it was feeding my pride.  The realization hit me when a friend posted a link on Facebook to an article on Christian blogging.  The author was none other than Ann.  She outlined principles for guiding a blogger.  The first one listed jumped off the page at me – don’t pay attention to the statistics.  She likened it to David taking a census of the people which made him feel good about the size of his army instead of keeping his eyes on the Lord.  The number became a source of pride.  The conviction fell heavy on my heart  followed by confession and repentance.  The other principle that etched itself in my mind is – write for an audience of One.    Write for Him alone with no thought for who else might read it.  He is the only “follower” that matters. 

So where does this leave me?  Again with eagerness and anticipation - but this time for writing for Him alone.  I’ll let you know when there is something new and if any of you want to read it, you are welcome to.  If you don’t, that is fine, too.  By the way, you can ask me if I am checking the stats.  J

           
"A Blogger's Prayer" by Ann Voskamp

May I write not for subscribers...but only for Thy smile.

May my daily affirmation be inn the surety of my atonement, not the size of my audience.

May my identy be in ght innumerable graces of Christ, never, God forbid, the numbers of my comments.

May the only words that matter in my life not be the ones I write on a screen - but he ones I  love with my skin.                          

 

This is my prayer,
Jan

Prayers of the Bible - Habbakuk

This prayer, which is also a song, will be familiar to those of you who heard Pastor Derry preach on Habbakuk 3.  It is so powerful let's ponder it a bit more.  In Habbakuk's "Facetime with God", he reveals the character of God, as well as something about his own character.  He ends with a commitment to praise God despite the difficult days he knows are coming and the fear it invokes in his heart. 

In this chapter, Habbakuk worships God for His splendor, power, glory, strength, mercy, holiness, sovereignty, and eternal ways.  Stop for a few minutes and think about how you have seen each of those attributes recently.  Did you?  I mean really STOP to praise Him, thank Him, worship Him.  Can you see Him?  If not, ask God to open your eyes.  David invites us in Psa 66:5 NASB - Come and see  the works of God, Who is awesome in His deeds toward the sons of men.

And then, Habbakuk reveals some of his own character through this prayer:  trust, submission, and joy.  What do my prayers tell about my character?  Am I walking by faith? by feelings? by circumstances (present or future)?  Do I readily submit to His will or do I follow kicking and screaming?  Does my life give evidence of an inward joy - no matter what is going on around me?

Below are quoted some of the verses in this chapter. Go to your Bible for the rest of the chapter.

Hab. 3:17-19 Though the fig tree should not blossom and there be no fruit on the vines, though the yield of the olive should fail and the fields produce no food, though the flock should be cut off from the fold and there be no cattle in the stalls, yet I will exult in the LORD, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. The Lord GOD is my strength, and He has made my feet like hinds' feet, and makes me walk on my high places.

Here is my paraphrase of these verses.  You might want to think of your own version to make them personal. 

If the economic forecast does not look improve and there is no bonus at work, if my retirement fund shrivels to nothing and my husband gets laid off from his joy, if my friends move far away and my children leave me out of their lives, I will still be joyful because of what I have in my Almighty Lord and Savior.  He will be my strength whatever may come.