One Blog to Rule Them All

            Alright, before you take that the wrong way, I’m referring to my own blog and combining my ideas on just this one, for now.  I think I got a little over-zealous with all of the options I had for things to blog about, and I initially thought it would be better to divide into two separately-themed blogs.  After reading through the great comments and advice from my last post, I can now see that it is probably better for me to keep everything on one blog and just use certain days for differently themed ideas.  If something works out well, then I could split it off to create another blog.  Before I go any further, I would like to thank all those who responded to my post; all of you have some great ideas and suggestions.  If you are a new to blogging, experiencing writer’s block, or enjoy new ideas, I would recommend reading through the comments from my post: I Want Your Opinions! Please!  Thanks to Betty, Sandy, Barbara, Jeffrey, and Chrys and also two of my non-blogger friends, Twyla and Shannon!


             In the midst of all the advice given, I also learned something new that I had to look up.  I did not realize that the term “meme” had more than one meaning.  When I said Meme Mondays before, I was specifically referring to Internet memes, which Wikipedia defines as “an activity, concept, catchphrase or piece of media which spreads, often as mimicry, from person to person via the Internet.”  I was thinking of using some of those memes and making a few remarks about them, and I found out Barbara does something similar in posts she calls I Saw It on Facebook.  The other meaning of “meme” is “an idea, behavior, style, or usage that spreads from person to person within a culture” (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meme).  In the world of blogging, it seems that memes are repeatable posting ideas that are shared amongst multiple blogs; I was even told about some memes that occur on Mondays.  In fact, I’ve seen recurring ideas designated for each day of the week.



Here's an example of an Internet Meme
 

             There are so many interesting ideas, that I’m not sure where to start!  So, probably for most of the summer, I will be testing some of these ideas out and see which ones fit well for me.  I hope to post once a week and maybe throw in an extra post here and there.  Since I’m trying out different things, I won’t be posting on the same day each week, but I hope to eventually find a pattern that works well.  Also, I will still be writing my regular life lessons and scripture-based posts at least once during the month; with all the changes and additions, I still want to stick to my original intent in starting this blog.  I hope everyone enjoys as I continue into a new phase of my journey in writing and have a safe and pleasant Memorial Day weekend!

Zeal

“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” Romans 12:11 (NIV)

Well, here we are, the final letter!  Congratulations to all the bloggers who have made it from A to Z!  For letter Z, I decided to write a sort of pre-reflection of my experience.  I call it a pre-reflection because I plan on participating in the A to Z reflection posts next week. So, don’t worry, there’s more to come!

Dictionary.com defines zeal as “fervor for a person, cause, or object; eager desire or endeavor; enthusiastic diligence; ardor.”  There are times when I feel zealous for the lessons God is trying to teach me and there are times when I feel a bit more apathetic.  When I first learn something, I feel fired up and ready to share it with the world, but I am not good at expressing my feelings or enthusiasm around most people.  I tend to hold everything in, and that is why I enjoy writing because it is a way to let it out.  I have a zeal for writing and for writing about the things I am learning.  But that mountaintop experience fades very quickly once I enter the real world away from the great preaching or teaching.  It is in those moments of apathy that I must drive myself back into God’s Word and serve Him more diligently.  I like the context of today’s verse in Romans 12:9-21.  It includes some of the concepts I’ve brought up in this challenge: love, prayer, waiting (patience), forgiveness; and it follows the passage I used in my post about unity (Rom. 12:4-8).  Writing about these, looking up the verses, and remembering what I’ve learned has been both convicting and motivating.  It has also renewed my zeal for getting this blog up and running again, better than ever!

 

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I am currently participating in the Blogging from A to Z April 2015 Challenge. My theme is life lessons from the Bible. You can find more information about the challenge by clicking on the badge to the right or click here for a list of participants. It has been an interesting experience so far and I have enjoyed finding and visiting other blogs. If you are a fellow participant, thanks for stopping by and feel free to leave a comment!

The Greatest Story Ever Told

            About a week ago, I finished reading a book that was set in Biblical times. More specifically, it is a fictional representation of the life of Jacob's daughter, Dinah. Even though it is fiction, that story made me want to compare it to the real story from the Bible. The next thing I knew, I was pouring through the pages of Genesis and looking at the maps in the back of my Bible tracking the locations and directions of the people. Isn't it funny how it takes a work of fiction to peak my interest in reading God's Word? When I read the Bible before, especially the Old Testament, it seemed like just a bunch of names and rules, and it was like a chore to get myself to read through those lists. Then, every once in a while I came across one of those stories that my Sunday school teacher used to put up on a flannel board. But, there is so much more to it than that. It's all a matter of perspective. You can find stories of victories and defeat, love and loss, good and evil. There are songs, poems, letters, and parables. Those study Bibles have a concordance, maps, and notes for a good reason, so maybe we should use them.

            What's interesting (but certainly not coincidental) is that the morning after I finished reading that book, I came across this devotional from Our Daily Bread. Basically, it expanded on what I had just come to realize. Like the writer of that day's devotion, I went through a process from reading out of duty to reading for enjoyment. The Bible isn't just a history book, it is a book about life with God. We can learn lessons from the people in the Bible. They may have looked different and used different customs and protocols, but their thoughts probably weren't so different from ours. They were real people with their own traits, doubts, fears, and struggles. Many of the Old Testament laws are still used to govern us. There are psalms that address joys and sorrows that modern-day Christians can relate to. The New Testament letters address issues among the first believers that churches still deal with today. And those are just a few examples of how relevant and alive God's Word is in our lives.

            So, if your scripture reading feels like more of an obligation than a delight, then maybe it's time to find a way to peak your interest. There are commentaries and dictionaries available that can help with words or concepts that are hard to understand. You can use maps or look up information on the background of those times to get a better perspective of how the people lived and where they were located. Most commentaries tell you who wrote the books and the audience they were addressing at that time. Just remember that the Bible is more than just a good story, it's more than just a record of laws and prophets,  it is God's Living Word to us.