I just want to take a moment to congratulate myself on ONE WEEK down of the 31 Day blogging challenge. (pats myself on back)

No big deal. It's not like I've been rushing around to get a post in before midnight or anything.

(looks at clock - it's currently 11:20pm)

Ok, really though... blogging every day has never been one of my strengths. I've been writing for 8 years now, and never have I gone even a WEEK blogging every day. At my BEST, I was blogging 2-3 times a week. So this week has been challenging, to put it lightly. I guess one of my problems is that I don't plan ahead. I'm not a "strategic blogger" in any sense of the word. I have no goals, no agenda, nothing I'm really looking to promote here. Except the gospel of Jesus Christ, of course. I write for personal pleasure and hopefully to offer encouragement to others.

If I were honest, sometimes I get discontent about that.

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I am thankful for all the great readers I have out there. I've realized more in this last week just how many of you there are! And I don't want to take advantage of that. Or even come across like I think my voice matters more than yours - because, honestly it doesn't. There are so many of you who I need to learn from. And when I write something, and it gets passed along to others, sometimes I get nervous about that. I'm not an expert on friendships, or marriage, or being a mom or the bible or anything really. I just share personal stories and my perspective on these things.

So anyway, I say all that because when I'm rushing around to get a post written before midnight, it takes everything in me to ignore the little voice that creeps in telling me that I have nothing good to offer and why even bother. I know it's a lie.

By the power of Jesus, I believe that people's lives are going to be changed. Whether He chooses to do that through Billy Graham or little bloggers like myself, I believe it. And that's all I need to know to be content that what I'm doing matters, as long as I'm doing it for Him.

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This post is part of a series I’m writing for the month of October entitled “31 Days of Being Content.”  See all other posts in this series by clicking here. Or enter your email address in the sidebar on the right to subscribe to this blog and receive posts straight to your inbox!

It is no secret that I am in love with journals. In fact, my husband knows that when we go to Barnes and Noble he is going to need an extra dose of patience by the time we make it around to the journal section (and trust me, we always do). The journal pictured above is one that I have had since I was a freshman in college. In fact, Josh may have bought it for me on one of our "first dates." I can't remember. (Of course, because I didn't write it down.)

About eight years ago, I started blogging. (That's longer than the iPhone has existed, to put it in perspective.) And my journal life took on a new face.

It's amazing how much technology has changed in that time span and how many new social platforms have been introduced since then. The statistics say that adults spend an average of 8 hours online every day (the average is 10 hours for teenagers) That's more time than most of us spend sleeping! It's ridiculous and realistic all at the same time.

I have talked before on here about wanting to give up social media. I've weighed the pros and cons and believe that there is more good that can be done in using it than harm. Especially with the right approach and outlook.

But even if I did give up social media, or if one day Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc. all died a slow death (Myspace, anyone?), there is one space online I feel confident would remain.

This blog.

This has been the one constant in my on and off again, online relationship. The one place I can look back at my archives and not just find photos, videos or comments... but words. My words, thoughts, emotions. I can read them and re-read them and remember the moment like it was yesterday. I spent time last night reading and laughing out loud at some of the stuff I had written in 2007 when I lived in Jacksonville, FL. And some of my own words ministered to me again - and were exactly what I needed to hear. Like this one. And this one.

And if those words were only meant for my encouragement, then that alone would be enough to keep me blogging.

But the biggest blessing of all has come from the comments, emails and messages I have received because someone read my blog and found encouragement, comfort and best of all - Jesus. Like the one I received last week from someone asking how they could know they had eternal life. THAT is what it's all about!!

I want to encourage you, if you've been teetering on whether to begin a blog or not... take the plunge and do it! Whatever stage of life you're in - single, married, children, grandchildren. There is value in what you have to say. There is value, because your life is valuable.

And maybe your issue is finding the time. Well, I offer this challenge to you - sacrifice an hour of reading about other people's lives on Facebook and write about your own! It's not only healthy for your mind to write, but it's also a great way to focus on what God is doing in your life and how He is working around you. There are so many things we can easily miss if we aren't looking for them. And so many things we can easily forget if we don't write them down.

Scripture says in Deuteronomy 6:9, to talk about God's word wherever we are - at home, on the road, when we are going to bed and getting up. And to write it all over our walls and doorposts. I'm going to take a 2013 liberty here and throw in the word "computer" there as well. If God meant for us to be that aware of His word in our lives, I believe that our online life is definitely not an exception.

And I happen to believe that if Jesus' disciples were living today, they would blog. I mean, how else would they share all the miraculous things that took place while they were with Jesus, with the rest of the world?

Have I convinced you yet? ;)

If you are interested in beginning a blog, I recommend signing up for a free one on either Wordpress or Blogger. (There are others, these are just the two I have the most familiarity with.) And leave me a comment letting me know if you do, because I would love to follow along on the journey God has you on!

***Also, today I am sharing an old post on my friend Amber's blog for her "His Voice" series. Just another great benefit of blogging is the built-in community that exists. I have been blessed to find other like-minded women who are passionate about Jesus and sharing His word on their blogs. Make sure to stop by her space and say hello!

Hi, Influence friends! Welcome to my little space here on the world wide web. :)

I am going to do my best to keep this short, because I know you have so many wonderful ladies to meet and read about!

So let's get right to it...

p.s. I realized for those that read my blog frequently, you may find this more like "3 things you ALREADY knew about me." Haha! I apologize, I'm pretty horrible at coming up with spontaneous facts about myself. So here's the deal: feel free to ask me 3 things you'd LIKE to know about me in the comments section and I'll reply to you! :)

When I was younger, I never thought twice about having children. It was assumed. Of course I'm going to be a mom! College, marriage and a few years later, I realized that it wasn't as easy as I thought. And the pain associated with waiting was close to heart-wrenching. But the Lord, in His faithful timing, provided us our miracle baby this past September. I know there are many of you in a waiting period of your life right now, we all seem to find ourselves there again and again. Please feel free to write and let me know how it is I can pray for you during this time. It's always good to know you're not alone. :)

I married a stud. Seriously. He is one of the best communicators of God's word that I know and I would never just say that (even if I am his wife). He serves right now as a student pastor and I am so blessed to be his helpmate. He is exactly the man I prayed my future husband would be. And I am so humbled that God would grant me this desire of my heart, it still amazes me every day. We're almost 5 years into our marriage and it has only gotten better!

Things, people, kitchens. I actually prefer if there are a few dishes in your sink when I come over, makes me feel more at home (and that you're probably an amazing cook!). I like messy people, those who admit they don't have it all together. Because I am one of them! I would be a big mess without Christ. He has chiseled away so many ugly parts of myself, but there are still so many that I am embarrassed about. One being that I am writing this post at nearly 1am and will be up at 7am. I'm a mess, people. But feel free to stick around and see how God turns this mess into something beautiful.

One thing I have learned through this network... is that God can do so much with little. He can turn what appears to be a trivial thing like blogging, into an uplifting tool for His kindgom. He can turn stories of hurt and pain, into stories of hope and encouragement. He can take what Satan meant for harm and use it for good. And I'm blessed to be able to share in the journey.