How to {Really} Help New Bloggers- pt.4

Click here to read parts one, two, and three of this series.

In this series, we've talked about some of the most important things established bloggers can do to help new bloggers, and why you should want to. Here are twelve more actions you can take to intentionally help your Little Blogger Sisters (and brothers)!


1. Pray for us.
2. Encourage us.
3. Comment on our blogs. Remember your first comments? Just "Great post!" had you floating on air.
4. Follow us... pick one of your social media platforms and follow everyone using that platform. Yes, everyone!
5. Pick one or two of us that you really like... reach out to us.
6. Introduce us to your fellow bloggers.
7. Give us credit if we inspire you-- publicly.
8. Link to us. (Content Idea: A blog-roll post of the top 5 new bloggers you loved this year.)
9. Accept our guest posts. Or even ask us to guest post.
10. Suggest resources to us that are a good fit for us.
11. Answer us.
12. Coach us.

By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. --John 13:35 ESV

We're here. Be here with us.

In what ways can a more experienced blogger help you? Comment below and share this post to spread the word!

How to {Really} Help New Bloggers- pt. 3

In this series, I'll be offering a newbie perspective on what experienced bloggers can really do to help and encourage new bloggers. Although most of these posts will be useful for any niche, I'm talking specifically to faith bloggers. Click to read part one and part two of this series.

 

Post about Etiquette

I'll wager that most new bloggers have Googled "blog etiquette" more than once. And while the rules of the blogosphere may seem like common sense to you, an established blogger now, they probably weren't always so clear.

--Is emailing someone you've never actually met appropriate? What should you say (or not say) in an email?
--Should you respond when someone retweets you? Should you respond when someone thanks you for retweeting them?
--Is asking for a follow in a comment on someone else's blog in poor taste?
--What's a blog roll and a button swap?
--Is it creepy if I "like" several posts in a row on FB, even if I really do like the post?

Each social network has different rules, and each niche has different "unspoken" norms, and each blogger has a preference. How do we wade through all this?

Obviously, it would be very poor etiquette to call someone out on a faux pas in a comment, a tweet, a FB post--anywhere "public." Is it okay to email someone if you think they're messing up?

The best thing you can do is to blog about the topic. By spelling out the mystery of blogiquette in posts, you spread the knowledge (and the love) without calling anyone out personally.

If the "Ins & Outs of Do's & Don'ts" is a post you're considering, consider making it a series. Here's some content-generating ideas to get the writing juices flowing:
--Ask your social media followers for suggestions on blog etiquette questions they're afraid to ask.
--Recount some of your newbie mistakes... and how you learned from them.
--Ask opinions from your fellow bloggers. Ask them to share their secret pet peeves they wish someone would address.


For some of you, blogging about blogiquette might not be a good fit for your blog or your mission. And that's okay.

If that's you, comment on or share posts about it. You many even guest post on the topic on a blog whose mission lines up with blog etiquette content. Guest posting is a great way to post something that may not be a good fit for your own blog.

What bloggy faux pas did you learn about the hard way? Share you experience with us!

Meet back on Monday for the final part of this series.

How to {Really} Help New Bloggers- pt.2

In this series, I'll be offering a newbie perspective on what experienced bloggers can really do to help and encourage new bloggers. Although most of these posts will be useful for any niche, I'm talking specifically to faith bloggers. You can read part one of this series here.

Imagine that you're in church next Sunday. You've just finished Sunday School, and it was amazing! Everything your leader said stirred your heart, and she said it so beautifully, so eloquently. You even like her outfit.

The wonderful, Godly lady that teaches your class is standing at the front, collecting her things. You see that she is quite busy trying to put her notes back in her bag, finish up her water so she can find a trash can and throw it away, and make it to the nearest restroom and into her seat before worship starts.

You think, "I really want her to know how much I enjoyed Sunday School. I want to encourage her, and let her know that someone was listening. I want to thank her for allowing God to use her in this way."

You struggle with the decision of whether to approach her or not. You're a little awed by her and don't want to look silly. You decide to go for it. "I'll just be really brief," you say.

So you slide quickly to the front of the room, and smile. "Thanks for such a great lesson! I really enjoyed it... I loved what you said about honoring our husbands. You're really a great speaker."

She just looks at you, and walks away.


I'm guest posting today over at  Blogging on the Side. Meet me there to continue and find out how to help new bloggers...

How to {Really} Help New Bloggers + and why you should want to...

In this series, I'll be offering a newbie perspective on what experienced bloggers can really do to help and encourage new bloggers. Although most of these posts will be useful for any niche, I'm talking specifically to faith bloggers.

Chances are, if you're even semi-successful at blogging, you've had help along the way. Someone pointed you in the right direction. Maybe you were lucky enough to have a mentor, a "big sister" blogger friend, or were invited into a group that helped and encouraged each other. And that's awesome!

That should be reason enough to pay-it-forward, as it were, to new bloggers who are coming along.

But just in case it's not, let's think about this.

¹² Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. ¹³ But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, ¹⁴ and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”  Luke 14:12-14 NIV

Jesus is at a Pharisee's home, eating at a banquet. There are probably several officials and politicians, church leaders, and other bigwigs at this party. The Bible says that Jesus was being "closely watched." It was another one of those, "Let's-trap-Jesus-by-asking-an-ambiguous-question" scenarios.

But he was closely watching the attendees of this dinner party as well.

He had some very good advice for them: (1) don't think more highly of yourself than you ought to... you'll only be embarrassed at the end, and (2) don't just hang with your clique, or the people who can repay or benefit you.

This is good advice for bloggers, too.

As successful bloggers, are you tempted to think more highly of yourself than you ought to? Are you just interacting with other successful bloggers, or those with even more readers, or Twitter followers, than you?

Or are you earnestly trying to help, and disciple, new bloggers?

New bloggers need training and encouragement just like new believers.

Of course Jesus followed his own advice:

¹⁴ When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. ¹⁵ And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. ¹⁶ For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”
¹⁷ After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. ¹⁸ For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
¹⁹ And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
²⁰ In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. -- Luke 22:14-20 NIV

He knew at this point, there was nothing the disciples could do for him. Eating the Last Supper with them wasn't about what Jesus would get out of it; it was about what he was doing for them.

The focus of blogging, especially in the faith arena, is to impact others. And while our missions are all different, we should ultimately be pointing to the Father.

Are you pointing your fellow bloggers to the Father, particularly the new ones? Are you encouraging them and teaching them how to point to the Father as well?

Come back Wednesday for Part Two of this series!

Struggling to be Heard



listen to me... by Michela Mongardi (keela84) via flickr

We recently started a new Bible study. My husband is presenting some of the material he recently covered in one of his Course of Study classes at a nearby seminary. It's based on his New Testament class, and some of his topics include the Messianic Secret, Markan priority, and the criterion of embarrassment.

 

This material was... not received well.

 

It was very frustrating for him, because his initial exposure to this material was exciting and challenging to him. He was sure that it would be the same for the Bible study group.

 

It wasn't.

They just weren't that into it.

 

It brought up so many thoughts for me.

--Didn't Chris pray about starting this Bible study before he decided to do it?

--What was his purpose for the study? What was his mission?

--Did he allow his own excitement and desire to delve into the more... historical analysis of Scripture keep him from hearing God's voice about it?

I still don't know the answers to these questions, even though we've discussed them. I don't ask these questions in a position of superiority or to interrogate. I ask them because of my love for Chris & the church we've been asked to serve.
 

And although I find these sort of topics intellectually interesting, they don't speak to my spirit like they do for Chris. Maybe our precious congregants are more like me.

 

I can understand Chris's frustration.

What do we do when we encounter those who aren't ready to hear what we want to say?

Sometimes it's someone who isn't a believer; other times it's our children refusing to listen to our wisdom.

It can be your best friend, who, despite your best advice, does her own thing anyway. Or it could be your employer, who makes you think you must be speaking a foreign language, for all that's getting through to her.

It might be your pastor, who comes to visit, but changes the subject when you begin to unburden your heart. It might be your congregants that let you know that they don't like your Bible study.

 

If we count the number of times we are not heard, misunderstood, or shut down, we can become disheartened.

 

But Jesus has already borne this burden for us as well. Scripture is full of examples of people who would not hear what he had to say. The rich man went away sad, because he didn't want to hear the answer Jesus gave him.(Matthew 19:21-22). The disciples asked him questions that would surely have seemed inane had he not been Merciful God-- requests like

--show us the Father. (John 14:8)

and

--let us sit at your right and left hands (Mark 10:37).

 

Did Jesus feel the frustration of not being heard?

 

What should we do with our frustration?

 

1. Pray about you

Pray about your intentions. Are you presenting something because it interests or speaks to you? Are you talking because it makes you feel smart or wise? Or are you prayerfully considering what you should say to this person that will benefit them?
 

2. Pray about them

Then pray for your listener. If you feel that what you are saying is indeed something they need to hear, then pray for a softening of their heart, pray for time and opportunity.
 

 3. Present your message

Present your message in the best time and place for the other person. Teenagers are notorious for being ready to talk when you're busy doing something.

Speak (or write) with respect and love for the other person.

 

4. Put it down

Sometimes you're not the one. Sometimes you don't get to reap this particular harvest. Sometimes your husband will come home from a conference with a new nugget he learned there-- that same nugget you've been trying to give him for months.

Christine @ Grace Covers Me said this best: "I can't change anyone--not myself, not my husband, not my children, not people in our church. This truth elevates the role of prayer in my life: I can ask God to bring change and be a part of change through prayer."

 

Tell me in what ways you struggle to be heard.

Shared with Live Called for Thrive @ Home

 

9 Ways to Show Hospitality

Hello sweet reader!

I want to talk with you today about hospitality.

Did you know that hospitality is something we are called upon to do in Scripture?

Take a look:

       

Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

Romans 12:13 ESV

She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.
Proverbs 31:20 ESV 

Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.

 1 Peter 4:9 ESV  

 

Never before have we had so many resources for entertaining and making our homes welcoming and warm to visitors (read: Pinterest.) But are we using all our cute little pins in our real lives?

Are we bringing people into our homes to share meals with them, to talk and form relationships?

Hospitality, like so many other good things God has called us to do, benefits not only the person you are serving; it benefits you!

Showing hospitality makes us vulnerable. For many of us, our home is a big part of who we are. When we bring people into our homes, we're letting them see parts of us that they would never experience in church or at the football games.

How wonderful that we can open ourselves to others and show that we are human! Think about what a living example of God's mercy and grace you can be when others truly know you-- your thoughts, your mistakes, what we can so easily hide in public. What better way to begin to be authentic and stripped away with one another than by being in one another's homes, where we are our most genuine selves?

Invite someone into your home. Begin to form your community. Surround yourself with others and let them see your true self... the one God is molding you to be.

Grab an idea here:

1. Host a dinner party.
Tried & true method that still works! Start small & serve frozen pizza if you want... the point is the fellowship.
2. Offer to hold a baby shower or birthday party at your home.
If you know of someone who's looking for a spot to have a small event, offer your home. You'll get work with the hostess, the guest of honor, and all the guests, too! Look at all those opportunities to connect and love on folks!
3. Be the small group home.
If you are part of a small group, wonderful! Be the place where the group gathers, or be the backup place. Bonus: you'll be more prepared for group.
4. Be the after-school home.
If you have school-age children, make it an option for them to invite friends over. Volunteer to be the home that provides supervision for an hour or so, until another Mom can get off work.
5. Babysit for another couple.
Offer to babysit for another couple while they go out. You are ministering to them, as well as their little ones. If they offer to return the favor, that's a bonus.
6. Organize a progressive meal.
If you haven't done one of these, you're missing out! Recruit some friends and neighbors. Each family is responsible for one portion of the meal, i.e., salad, dessert, etc. The whole group moves from home to home enjoying the feast!
7. Host your family.
Make it a priority to have extended family to your home for a meal or a weekend. Even if they live next door, you'll find that talks in the wee hours can be so fulfilling.
8. Clean someone else's home.
Know someone who's suffering with an injury or illness? Offer to do some light housework for them. Take care of their home as you would your own.
9. Be at home.
Because we live in a parsonage, we get a lot of knocks on the door. We meet a lot of strangers who need help. This may not ever happen to you, but if it does remember this:
       
Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
Hebrews 13:2 ESV 

Have you entertained angels? In what ways do you open your home to others and show hospitality? Leave your comments below.


Shared at Christian Mommy Blogger
and

A Wise Woman Builds Her Home




 

Aria

After lunch, my toddler takes a nap. I sit down at my laptop in my kitchen.

My mind and my heart are near bursting with all the thoughts and words and ideas that fill me.

 

I open one post or one document. I think for four seconds. I open another. I cannot still my mind. I cannot seem to put on the screen what I want to say about hospitality or forgiveness, so I move on. I end up staring at my laptop, watching in horror as my trains of thought wreck, or derail, or refuse to leave the station.

 

Why do I struggle so much to write when that seems to be all I want to do?

 

I hear the voice of doubt in the back of my mind. He whispers that I have no authority to write about love, no credentials to speak about peace or honesty.

 

What can I possibly say that other bloggers or writers haven't said already and in much clearer prose?

 

But then my Father whispers, too. He says not to worry about having authority or credentials. He's got those.

 

He says that although He has also influenced others to write about Him as well, they didn't write what He has given me to write. My story is different from their stories-- and someone needs to hear my story, just as I needed to hear the one's of those beautiful writers and wonder bloggers.

 

He reminds me that I am not a noisy gong or clanging cymbal. He reminds me that I have a desire to love others through words, and He has placed within me a near-need to write.

 

He's placed a desire in you as well. Whatever your thing is--photography, cosmetology, nursing, mothering, singing-- He is the author of that!

 

Look at your life, your relationships, your growth-- see that you have found truth and gained wisdom. He wants us to share those truths and that wisdom with others. He has called you to do so.

 

The Lord has given you a stage to perform for Him. Perform for Him; delight Him!

 

Do your thing.


Shared with Christian Mommy Blogger