Happy 5th Birthday JoyReturns!

(Author’s Note: It was 5 years ago today I created this blog on WordPress. That means it is party time! The party starts today and runs through 1/13 as that is the 5th anniversary of the first post being published.

Today’s article honors the spirit behind the blog. This is the 4th installment of the I.Believe.In.You. series based on Jeff Nischwitz’s 30 Day Blessing Challenge. The 5th and final installment will run on 1/13.)

Dear Holy Spirit,

I.Believe.In.You.

Why?

It was you who whispered “widow’s website” in my right ear early one morning long before I created my WordPress account.

I opened my eyes that morning and said:

“Are you kidding me? Joe never taught me anything about websites before he passed.”

And then I did what any good Christian does – I blew you and God off.

However, your words stuck with me. You kept after me by keeping God’s words on my heart. Until one day I finally researched the words “widow’s websites” and did not like what I discovered.

Dark, dreary and depressing sites showed up in the Google results. They constantly reinforced the “woe is me” attitude. How does that help anyone?

So I sat down and asked myself some questions about how to do this as Joe was a private person. Once I decided on how to handle blogging, I went for it.

The last 5 years have been interesting. I’ve met people I never would have met if it were not for this blog.

Thank You 

• Thank you for whispering those words to me.
• Thank you for keeping those words on my heart after I blew you and God off.
• Thank you for all the blog post ideas.
• Thank you for my words speaking to various people I’ve met during the past 5 years.
• Thank you for being you and for all the work you do in my life even though I do not always see it.

In Francis Chan’s book Forgotten God:Reversing our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit he wrote:

When we submit to the leading and guidance of the Holy Spirit, He helps us become more holy – more like Jesus. 

Thank you Holy Spirit for using this blog to help me be more like Jesus and serve others in a new and unique way.

I look forward to our future collaborations.

Love Always,

 

 

 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Galations 5:22-23 (NKJV)