Why I blog

I was reflecting yesterday on whether or not I was blogging for the right reasons. Naturally, this led me to define what the "right reasons" would be (for me).

Here are two filters that I should use as I continue blogging:

1. Does my blog provide an accurate (honest / transparent) depiction of who I am and what God is doing in my life? (Morbid spin: If I die, will my family/friends be able to connect with me through this and know the MIRACLES that God did in my life.)
2. Does my blog glorify God? 

I need to ask myself those questions as I go forth. I definitely don't want to take myself too seriously- I just want to be responsible about what I'm saying- sort of. The thing is- I am aware that I am surely saying things that are wrong or twisted up because they are still wrong and twisted up in ME. I am being birthed from this world and things are distinctly different both inside and outside the heart for a "born-again" Christian.

I guess for myself, I want to be able to go back and read this and see the breadcrumbs on path of where Jesus took me... I want to be able to see that "AH HA! Look where I was heeeere. I still thought this way, but look at what He was doing in my heart!" Ya know?

Anywhoot- James was AWESOME this morning. I read from the NIV (I've used the NLT all year for the most part, and I love it... but as I inhaled the Word from the NIV, God was definitely fertilizing the fruits of the Spirit in me.  Next up- I'm going to ask for the ESV for my birthday- by then I should be done reading through the whole Bible so I can start afresh!).

I think I'll pray:

Dear AMAZING and FAITHFUL and PERFECT Father, THANK YOU for this day! THANK YOU for the people You've put in my life. THANK YOU for the adventures that you've brought me through! You have BLESSED me, and I don't deserve it. You have LOVED me and I don't deserve it. You have SAVED me, and I don't deserve it. Father God, I ask you to REIGN in my life....be LORD of my life. Jesus- my KING and SAVIOR and PRINCE and EVERYTHING that is HOLY and MIGHTY - YOU are my LORD. May I bow down to you with my whole heart and life...may I lay it at your feet. God, I WANT to lay my whole life at your feet, but Lord, I keep picking it up again! Please take it. I give it to you today. I give it to you forever. I surrender my plans and my stuff. I surrender my relationships and my expectations. I surrender my WHOLE HEART so that it may be emptied. Only You can empty it. EMPTY it of all the ick in me, God. Then please fill it with You. Fill it with your Spirit. My heart is the wellspring of life. It is. Yes. Lord, may it be overflowing with YOUR POWER! May it spill out of me and into the lives of those that I come in contact with in the world. May people's lives be changed as I slosh around in the sopping boots of Your love. May a trail of love be left behind me that others will walk through and pick up just a drop- and may that drop be multiplied and may it become a stream of love in their hearts. I love you God. Use me. Empty me of me and fill me with You. In Your name I pray, Amen.