Hello & Welcome Blogging Friends
Last week we talked about rededicating our blogs to the Lord. Just like Nehemiah did, we can do mini-throne checks with every little project we finish. God taught me something through Nehemiah again this week that I wanted to share with you. In the first few chapters of Nehemiah a lot happens. Nehemiah felt a call to go rebuild a broken wall in Jerusalem. He prayed and then stepped out in faith. And then he led a group of people into starting this huge project. All of this was fine and dandy until there was some opposition. In Nehemiah Four things start to go a little south....
"When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became furious. He mocked the Jews before his colleagues and the powerful men of Samaria, and said, “What are these pathetic Jews doing? Can they restore it by themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they ever finish it? Can they bring these burnt stonesback to life from the mounds of rubble?”
-Nehemiah 4:1-3
I would argue that there is nothing more powerful than a Godly leader stepping out in faith. Because there is nothing more powerful, there is nothing that satan cares to stop more. With Godly leadership comes opposition. But with a right view of God, like Nehemiah had, that opposition shouldn't stop us.
Listen, our God, for we are despised. Make their insults return on their own heads and let them be taken as plunder to a land of captivity. Do not cover their guilt or let their sin be erased from Your sight, because they have provoked the builders.
-Nehemiah 4:4-5
When opposition came, Nehemiah went straight to God instead of straight to strategy. Wow! Do I need to work on that! As I scroll through Pinterest, I see countless blog posts, "5 ways to get more followers," "15 ways to grow your audience," or "7 easy tricks to blog more efficiently." Strategy. If you have a problem with your blog, you could probably find a resource for how to fix it.
But don't do strategy. Do God. Do prayer. I promise that it will be way more fruitful. God can work in anything (including strategy), but if you go to Him for all your strategic needs you'll always get there faster. Happy Blogging, friends. See you next Friday.
We exist to glorify God, to display His heart and character. And I just love how we are all uniquely built to do that. So every Friday I want to give you, uniquely designed by God, an opportunity to link up your thoughts on God, art, baking, photography, parenting, marriage, homeschooling, writing or blogging and more if they tie into or display the Lord somehow.
Here's how it works. 1. Link up as many blog posts as you want below by clicking the link below and following the prompts. (Perhaps think of old posts you want more exposure to as well as new ones.) 2. Let your readers know by including a link at the bottom of your post (or somewhere on your side bar) or paste my button code (found below and on the side bar). 3. Take a minute to visit and comment on another sweet lady or two's post. You're encouragement might be just what she needs to keep pressing on in being a voice in the darkness. About Jacque
Jacque is the Missional Women Intern and a college student in Denver, CO who balances her time between trying to go to class and learning about His saving grace and perfect love as much as she can. She is a twenty something, DIY attempting, Jesus loving, Denver living, small town rooted, Colorado sports fan. She loves black coffee, long conversations and watching people do what God created them for. You can find her Christian Twenty Somethings blog at Desperately Dependent.
20 Comments
Godly leadership sure does come with opposition! Thank you for the reminder to be encouraged by it ...because we are following so close to our Father that it is freaking the devil out. And I love, love, love your advice on blogging, and to continue realigning it and giving back to God. It is His platform that we are so privileged to take part it. Wonderful wisdom! Thank you! Happy Friday!!! Megs
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Jacque K.
1/20/2017 07:48:49 am
Megs! Thank you for linking up with us. Your comment reminded me (for what ever reason) of people who say that following God is a crutch--to make life easier. Sometimes, it feels that following God makes life anything but easier. In what world should we feel encouraged by opposition? The one where you follow Jesus, that's what world. And it's not always easy, but always worth it.
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1/20/2017 04:20:32 am
Nehemiah was such a warrior -- and an administrator! And he certainly serves as an example for how to remain productive in spite of opposition!
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Jacque K.
1/20/2017 07:50:50 am
That was a two sentence comment and I could tell that we would be friends! Sometimes, I value productivity to a fault. So Nehemiah was such a strong reminder to value God over productivity (and that is always the most productive).
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Jacque K.
1/20/2017 07:53:44 am
Pamela, thanks for linking up with us. Tempting is such a good word. Especially when we live in a world full of information!
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Jacque K.
1/20/2017 07:55:57 am
Brenda, thank you for linking up with us! I love Nehemiah too. I don't know why I feel so connected with him, but I do. Thank God for that! Have a good week.
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Jacque K.
1/26/2017 02:30:53 pm
You're a girl after my own heart! Man, do I love a good strategy/brain storming session. Give it to Him... He always delivers.
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1/20/2017 09:43:54 am
Amen. The amount of ways and means is overwhelming, but God continues to call me to Himself - if not, I have nothing to offer anyone, many or few. Thank you for this affirmation of truth - bless you in this new year. (:
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Jacque K.
1/26/2017 02:32:41 pm
Your comment reminds me of 2 Tim 2:13. God is never not faithful. God can't help but love. Yet somehow I find myself needing to relearn that lesson time and time again.
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1/21/2017 05:25:01 am
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Jacque K.
1/26/2017 02:33:57 pm
Hi, Dawn. Thanks for your encouragement. I was actually really scared to write these last two weeks I sat myself down and told myself (a number of times) "I can't be the only one that struggles with this sometimes..." So, really, your comment encouraged me to keep writing!
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Jacque K.
1/26/2017 02:34:27 pm
Laura is the best! :) Thanks for linking up with us, Donna!
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Jacque K.
1/26/2017 02:35:59 pm
I felt the same way while writing that! Okay, I wrote it now I need to actually live it out this week! I remember praying, "Lord, you better help me because, like everything, I'm going to fail at this unless you do something only You can do!"
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1/24/2017 06:56:04 pm
Jacque, what a word I needed to hear today. There has been much opposition in our lives lately. I feel that the more not only my blog reaches more readers, but the more my family serves and reaches others with Jesus, the more intense the attack. I've been a bit weary ... Claiming this scripture sinks deep into my heart tonight.
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Jacque K.
1/26/2017 02:36:54 pm
I'm glad that it encouraged you as much as it encouraged me! What do we have to be scared of? We have Jesus. And His Kingdom won't be shaken.
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Welcome!I'm Laura the founder of Missional Women and this is my sweet friend, Lyli. We host a link up for bloggers every Friday and look forward to having you join us. But before you go, look around, we are here to glorify God and be a blessing to you.
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