Fraud

I just discovered that this is my 350th post! Not a significant number, really. But 350 posts IS a lot!

I mentioned in an earlier post that we should not let things like the number of views or comments or anything of the sort to take the place of God. When we allow ourselves to become consumed with blog traffic we are not putting our focus on the right thing.

I feel like a fraud. Because lately I’ve been consumed with my blog traffic and why I’m not getting much feedback. I want this blog to be successful. So I have been trying to figure out what I can change to make it better.

I started a second blog to separate my bookish reviews/tags/posts from the posts I have on this blog. This blog is primarily about talking about my faith and Jesus and everything He has done for me. It’s also about reaching out to the lost and introducing them to the Lord.  

But I’ve become so obsessed with bringing in the views and comments that I lost sight of what truly matters. Is this blog REALLY reaching out to others? Am I REALLY showing Christ’s love to others?

I’ve let the idol of obsession with blog traffic take God’s place as #1 in my life. I am ashamed of this. I became so focused on my view counts that I’ve forgotten what this blog is all about. And it’s right there in my title: All You Need is Jesus. 

He’s all anyone will ever need. So why do we reject Him sometimes? He suffered for us, bled for us, died for us. Shouldn’t we be grateful that He took our place on that cross! He is the ultimate Savior.

In the end, the blog traffic won’t matter. In the end, we will ultimately stand before Christ and wait to hear one of two things: “Welcome, my good and faithful servant.” OR “Depart from me….I never knew you.” I don’t know about you but those words are so scary.

It says in Matthew 7:21-23:

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.²² Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’²³ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

So why am I letting something as trivial as blog traffic affect my relationship with Christ?

 

 

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The Prayer Jars series by Wanda E Brunstetter

 

 

 

 

 

 

Y’all!!!!! I devoured this series in several days! I absolutely LOVE Amish fiction. And Wanda E. Brunstetter is a very gifted writer!

The last book in the series, The Healing Jar, doesn’t come out until August 1 but I was able to receive an ARC (Advance Readers Copy) in exchange for an honest review.

I’ll leave you with the synopsis of the first book, The Hope Jar.

What happens when making an elderly Amish couple very happy means going along with a lie that gets bigger by the day?

Michelle Taylor is not who her new family in Lancaster County believes her to be. The Lapps were looking for their long-lost granddaughter when they met Michelle and she assumed the identity of Sara Murray. Once homeless and hopeless, Michelle has come to love her new Amish friends and even considers the idea of romance among them.

Finding an old blue jar in the barn that is filled with slips of paper containing thoughts, quotes, and prayers by an unknown author becomes a boost to Michelle’s budding faith— but also convicting. How can she tell the truth without hurting the ones she has truly come to love?

Have you read this series? Let me know!

 

Check out my 2nd blog, All Things Books!

 

Who (or What) Are You Worshiping?

Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them

Jonah 2:8

I have had this topic in mind for quite some time. I started writing this post back in November but kept leaving and coming back, leaving and coming back….I just wasn’t sure how I wanted to approach this topic….but basically this is how it is:

Anything we put before the Lord is considered to be an idol.

The Lord is to be #1 in our lives and anything that takes that place is an idol and should be dealt with immediately. (it sounds harsh but it’s true!) And I don’t want you to think I’m not including myself in this post because I definitely am.

What am I idolizing more than God? Is it my phone? My laptop? My blog? Is it social media? Books? (even Christian books?)

Am I focusing more on how to attract viewers to my blog rather than the Lord? Because even though this blog talks of my faith, my struggles, ect….if all I care about is how many views I get, or how many comments I get, isn’t that making it an idol?

No matter what it is….if I’m focusing more on those things rather than the Lord….it. is. an. idol!

The Bible clearly tells us that idols are wrong. In fact, it’s one of the 10 Commandments!

³ “You shall have no other gods before me.

⁴ “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.⁵ You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, ⁶ but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

Exodus 20:3-6

Kyle Idleman has a book out called “gods at war: defeating the idols that battle for your heart.”

I highly recommend this book. It’s been awhile since I’ve read it but it might be time to pick it back up! Here’s a little synopsis:

In gods at war, Kyle Idleman, bestselling author of not a fan, helps every believer recognize there are false gods at war within each of us, and they battle for the place of glory and control in our lives. What keeps us from truly following Jesus is that our hearts are pursuing something or someone else.  While these pursuits may not be the “graven images” of old, they are in fact modern day idols.  Behind the sin you’re struggling with, the discouragement you’re dealing with, the lack of purpose you’re living with is a false god that is winning the war for your heart.

According to Idleman, idolatry isn’t an issue―it is the issue.

By asking insightful questions, Idleman reveals which false gods each of us are allowing on the throne of our lives.  What do you sacrifice for?  What makes you mad?  What do you worry about? Whose applause do you long for?  We’re all wired for worship, but we often end up valuing and honoring the idols of money, sex, food, romance, success and many others that keep us from the intimate relationship with God that we desire.

Using true, powerful and honest testimonies of those who have struggled in each area, gods at war illustrates a clear path away from the heartache of our 21st century idolatry back to the heart of God – enabling us to truly be completely committed followers of Jesus.

 

 

Writing Through the Doubt

My good friend Stephen over at Fractured Faith Blog has inspired me to write about doubt and how to handle it. Read his post, My Desert of Doubt

We all have our dealings with doubt. It’s inevitable. We’re humans. We’re going to doubt. So how do we handle it? What do we do with it? Well, we can allow it to consume us, sending us into a pit of despair or we can hand it over to the Lord who can comfort us and give us peace about our situation.

My writing lately is not coming together like I’d like it too. I’ve put the book I want to write on the back burner for now. With me being back at work, it’s a struggle to come home and sit down and write. I’m hurting from standing all day and my brain just doesn’t want to produce anything, lol.

But most of all, the doubt I have as to whether or not I can be a writer takes over and I fall victim to its prey. Who wants to read my words? Who am I kidding? My writings aren’t that good. These are just several thoughts that race through my brain when I finally do sit down to try to write something, to try and produce something worth reading.

Doubt can consume you if you let it. And sometimes, before I even realize it, I’ve let it. Satan really knows how to attack each one of us by using our weaknesses against us.

So what’s the best remedy for dealing with our doubt? Turn it over to the Father who knows about our struggles and wants to shower us with His love. We may not know what the future holds for us and that can be scary but the Lord knows and He wants to help guide us to what He has created us to be.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11

 

 

Second Blog: All Things Books

Hey y’all I started a second blog yesterday called All Things Books! I decided to set up a whole new blog dedicated to books I’m reading, reviews of those books and basically anything book related!

Check it out!  All Things Books

Benefits of Working at B&N

Okay, so most of y’all know I work at Barnes and Noble! Well, twice a year for about two weeks,  we get an extra 10% off making our employee discount 45%!!!

Today was payday so after I got off work I did a little shopping. My birthday was this past Wednesday so I was shopping for ME! The excitement is real, y’all!

I purchased 4 books, some Frixion pens, and highlighters (Frixion pens are the absolute best because they ERASE!!! And the highlighters I bought are also made to erase! How cool!

The four books I bought were:

• Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson
• Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco
• The Epidemic by Suzanne Young
• The Adjustment by Suzanne Young.

The last two books are part of a series called The Program. Really really good books!

 

Working in a bookstore can be dangerous, you all! I literally could spend my whole paycheck there. Especially during the extra discount!

 

 

 

**Reblog**5 Weeks To Go

I absolutely cannot wait to read this!

Fractured Faith Blog

IT’S COMING!

‘The Kirkwood Scott Chronicles: Skelly’s Square.’ Only 5 weeks to publication. My first book will be available to buy via Amazon in e book and paperback format.

I’m excited. Are you?

Please feel free to reblog and spread the word. Thank you 😊

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