A disclaimer and a facelift.

There are some days I wonder if I really know what I am writing about.  I just feel so…inadequate.  This blog was a New Year’s Resolution in 2014 after a particularly rough year of my life.  When I started writing the blog, it was an effort to not only heal but learn to let down a wall and share more openly with others.  My faith had to be a part of the blog because it is a part of me. 
 
However, sharing what I believe God is teaching me and using bible verses and stories to support these “life lessons” just makes me nervous.  There are days I think…”Just who am I to write a blog and share scripture with others?”  Although I’ve spent a ridiculous amount of time in undergraduate and graduate studies, only 3 credit hours have been on a topic even closely related to my faith and the bible.  I took “World Religion” in my undergraduate studies at Florida State.  So sharing the Word with others makes me nervous because….what if I say or interrupt something wrong?
 
A few months ago, I was sharing my fears and hesitation with one of my blog followers and she said she preferred my blog because I have no formal training.  She was able to relate to it because it felt real; she said I brought Jesus to everyday life.  (By the way…I considered this a huge compliment.)
 
And I hope other readers feel the same.  There are days I really don’t know what I’m talking about but I think we are all in the same boat.  We have the Bible for guidance and when we allow ourselves to be still long enough to feel and hear the Holy Spirit, I do believe the Holy Spirit guides us.  But at the end of the day, we have to study the Word and fellowship together to make sense of it’s application.   And if we look at Scripture for guidance as to when, who and where to share the love of Jesus Christ…we find that no training is required.
 
Matthew 28:16-20
Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.  When they say him, they worshiped him – but some of them still doubted!  Jesus came and told His disciples, “I have been given complete authority in heaven and on earth.  Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.  And be sure of this:  I am with you always, even to the end of the age
 
When we look at these disciples, these followers of Jesus, we see they were flawed.  Nowhere near perfect.  And yet Jesus instructed them to go and make more disciples.   When you dive into the lives of these 12 disciples, you find some denied Christ, one betrayed him, and many felt unworthy.  They were human and flawed but Christ still used them.  And He will use each of us…no training required.
 
So my disclaimer and constant reminder to my readers is that….this blog is flawed.  The author is flawed.  I would even go as far to say the author is damaged goods.  You may find spelling and grammar errors because although I love to edit, any writer knows it’s difficult to edit your own thoughts.  (By the way, If anyone is looking to do some editing I might be interested in teaming up!).  You may find some days I write fluffy notes (about puppies) and other days I write with a heavy heart and dive deep into my faith in Jesus.  The blog reflects my heart and feelings on day-to-day life.  Some days I feel God is near and then other days I have to intentionally seek Him in the strangest little places. 
 
Regardless of these disclaimers, I also just want to thank you, the reader, for encouraging me.  Today my blog received a face lift to represent a stronger commitment to blogging.  I recently set a goal of publishing 3 blogs a week and I promised myself the first time I met the goal, I would make a commitment to keep it up.  Well, it’s Friday and this is the third blog of the week.  My goal was to post Monday, Wednesday, Friday but for some reason this past Tuesday felt like Wednesday to me and I accidentally published early!   I wasn’t kidding when I said the blog is flawed.
 
So here’s to a facelift and more blogs coming your way.
 
Flaws, blogs and a facelift,
 
Ashley Lucille