christian living

Four Things I Discovered in a Year of Blogging

/ Bill Jones / 26 Comments

Sunflower and Butterfly Bush

Since I’m approaching the one year anniversary of my blog, and this month’s theme for the ChristianWriters.com blogchain is “Discovery”, I’m taking the opportunity to note a few things I’ve discovered along the way. They’re in no particular order, and presented as relating to life, not just blogging.

One blogging tip often given is to include a photograph. Over time, I noticed that blogs with photos do tend to get your attention quickly. Although I don’t think I have a special talent, I adopted the advice. When I did, I discovered I paid more attention to the intricacies and wonders of God’s creation. So, don’t just follow the cliche and stop and smell the roses:

1. We should stop and view the world around us as if looking for a great photograph that says: “Look what our God created and blessed me with!”

 “Views” are good – meaning someone at least stopped by your blog – but, you don’t know if they read it or just moved on. “Likes” are better and actually pretty neat. I take all that I get (naively, for a few I realize) as meaning someone did read the post, liked it and took the time to click the button.

But, I’ve discovered that the best of all are the real (non-spam) comments. The commenter read the post and thought about it enough to reply with an additional aspect, a word of thanks or a question. It also means they opened themselves up to possibly get a reply back – ie: open communication.

2. We build relationships by communicating. We should take the time and effort to do just that – with others around us and with God – that’s the best of all.

Some blogs have thousands of followers, and get thousands of “likes”. I’m nowhere near that level. At times, the low numbers of views, likes and comments can be discouraging and make me wonder if it’s worth it. Then, I get a comment to the effect of “Thank you, Bill. That’s just what I needed to read today”. And, then I can thank God, and rediscover that He has a purpose for me, and that day it was to write those specific words.

3. We should look for opportunities God gives us to write or say just the right words for someone each day. And, on the other side, when someone writes or says the right words for us, we need to let them know and encourage them.

4. In most things in life, especially relationships, it’s not how much or how many, but how deep.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. Psalms 19:14 ESV

Please check out the other “discovery” blogs on the appropriate dates in the list on the right.

Blessings from God – Surprise Lilies

/ Bill Jones / 6 Comments

Red Spider Lily, Hurricane Lily, Surprise Lily

I guess the official “common name” of this flower is Red Spider Lily.

Down here in the South, if you’re close enough to the coast to notice hurricane season, they’re sometimes called Hurricane  Lilies. Since they’ve been blooming over the last two or three weeks, they usually bloom at the height of hurricane season.

But, my favorite name is Surprise Lily. I don’t know if there’s an official reason for that name, but, several possibilities come to mind. One is the time of the season – everything’s winding down and more unexpected flowers arrive – surprise!

As you see, there aren’t any leaves that come up first to let you know there’s a flower on the way – it just shoots up from the ground – surprise!. And as you also see, it’s not in a bed, it’s just coming up in the middle of the grass. Each year more show up in new places – surprise!

So, I guess the theme of this one is more surprise blessings from God. More than we can even think.

“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21 ESV

Blessings From God – Blackeyed Susan Vines

/ Bill Jones / 2 Comments

Blackeyed Susan Vine

A few years ago I planted Blackeyed Susan Vine seeds along one section of the back fence. They grew and flowered wonderfully that year and the following year self seeded and blanketed the fence section in yellow again. I didn’t plant any more seeds so the annual show declined.

This year I had not seen any, until last weekend when I saw a peek of yellow in one of the hydrangeas. A vine had come up in the bush and had made it to flowering. One of those unexpected blessings from God – even though I had done no work to help the plant along. Sound familiar?

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV

The Fragrance of Christ – Part 2

/ Bill Jones / 3 Comments
English: Perfume burners lampes Bergers França...

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

“But, thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.” 2 Corinthians 2:14 ESV

Last week I used this verse in reference to the fragrance of four-o’clocks in the garden. As I thought more about it, another fragrance came to mind – women’s perfume.

Not all women’s perfume is pleasingly fragrant to me. Some is too strong (or applied too heavily) and is overpowering. Some has what I consider a strange smell – but that’s just a matter of taste.

But, I do have a favorite perfume that other women wear (other women being all who are not my wife, Sharon). My favorite perfume that other women wear is any one that reminds me of Sharon. If their perfume is one that Sharon uses, the fragrance takes my mind immediately to her.

That seems to be the way to spread the fragrance of Christ. Our actions and words should remind others of Jesus and take their minds immediately to Him.