Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous deeds among all peoples.
Psalm 96:3
New International Version (NIV)
The April Challenge Stats
Though I consider my main blog to be Tossing It Out, this blog you are visiting now is the one I consider to be the one with the most important mission. This blog is also the least visited of all my blogs. During the A to Z Challenge my most visits came on day one with 35 views and 5 comments. During most of April my views averaged at about 10 per post as opposed to my normal count of about 30 views on an average post. My comments during most of April averaged at about 3 per post which is fairly comparable to the comments my posts here typically receive.
To put the lower April pageview count into perspective, I was posting here seven days per week as opposed to only on Sundays as I do during most of the year. That taken into consideration, my weekly visits and comments were considerably higher over all per week. Still the counts here are very small. I rarely promote this blog other than a few Twitter notices each Sunday. That might account for increased page views during those periods. I tweeted links to posts at A Few Words rarely during the April Challenge.
Naturally I'm disappointed that I didn't receive more visits and comments, but I'm accustomed to this at this blog. I am pleased to have participated and if I didn't reach many people with my messages, the personal edification that I receive researching the posts makes doing A to Z on this blog worthwhile. If I reach only one person who will pursue the message further then my mission has been accomplished.
My Message During April
My mission statement of my thematic intent for April was as follows:
My theme for the 2014 Challenge will be From the Beginnings... Yes, the plural "Beginnings" is not an error. In history as in our own lives we see multiple eras or phases that entail new beginnings. The old passes and the new is born. Hopefully with new birth there is a change for the better or a lesson to be learned. If you are interested in learning more about a life change for the better, visit the above tab labeled "Take the Next Step"
My hope was to stimulate thought in the believers who read my posts, but even more to pique some interest in any non-believers who might happen upon my site. My typical approach on all of my posts at this blog is to open with a Bible passage from the Old Testament--usually one from Psalms, offer my thoughts on a particular topic related to that passage, and then close with a New Testament passage that is related to the subject. This was what I did during the April Challenge.
A Request to You
During April I only added about six new followers to this blog. If you are not yet following and would be willing to add this blog to the list of those you do follow, please click on the "Join This Site" button at the right in the sidebar. Then I would hope you might continue to stop by for my usual Sunday messages and leave a comment with your encouragement, questions, or observations. It's always nice to see one's efforts rewarded with a few readers. I hope that you might become one of those readers.
Please share this site with those who might be interested or receptive to what I have to say here. I am not a clergy person or anyone with a scholarly background in theology. I am just a student of the teachings of the Bible and offer my interpretations as I see them. I may be wrong sometimes and I welcome discussion on those points when readers see flaws in what I am saying. My intent always is to say the truth as I understand the truth.
I hope to see you come back to read and share in the future. I thank you for taking the time now to read this post.
May God's blessings be upon you and may you continue to grow in your understanding of what is true.
A Request to You
During April I only added about six new followers to this blog. If you are not yet following and would be willing to add this blog to the list of those you do follow, please click on the "Join This Site" button at the right in the sidebar. Then I would hope you might continue to stop by for my usual Sunday messages and leave a comment with your encouragement, questions, or observations. It's always nice to see one's efforts rewarded with a few readers. I hope that you might become one of those readers.
Please share this site with those who might be interested or receptive to what I have to say here. I am not a clergy person or anyone with a scholarly background in theology. I am just a student of the teachings of the Bible and offer my interpretations as I see them. I may be wrong sometimes and I welcome discussion on those points when readers see flaws in what I am saying. My intent always is to say the truth as I understand the truth.
I hope to see you come back to read and share in the future. I thank you for taking the time now to read this post.
May God's blessings be upon you and may you continue to grow in your understanding of what is true.
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.
Romans 15:4
New International Version (NIV)
Lee, thank you for your faithful witness in the blogosphere. I appreciate your faithfulness and encourage you with the words of Galatians 6:9 "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."
ReplyDeleteHave a blessed week!
I'm glad I did find your blog through the challenge; what attracted me to check it out in the first place was the name of it; blog names always intrigue me and if they are interested or different, then of course I want to check out the blog. A Few Words sounded unusual so that's why I clicked it on and then of course the topic is something I too am very interested in, so I added myself as a follower and read and commented on most of your A/Z.
ReplyDeleteI never know who reads our words that we put out on our blogs, no matter if they are Christ based words/themes or life in general. I am a proponent of encouraging me to be careful what they write and share since we really don't know who reads them unless they leave a comment and then that too we don't really know them. I cringe when a blog has a lot of personal info and pictures of their kids; I try to remain general on my blog and no pictures of family members other than Koda who looks like every tri colored welsh corgi dog. I refer to family members as husband, son, etc; no first names. Having said that, like I started with, we don't know who reads our words. God might direct someone to this blog that may never leave a comment, but that person through words you wrote could start their own journey to pursue God. That's why I write my devotional blog A Bench's Notebook. It doesn't have a lot of followers/comments, but that's okay because I just want the word out there of Jesus and his saving grace.
I will continue to read your posts as you post them.
betty
Among your blogs, Lee, this is my favorite. It is curious that you say this is the one you consider to have the most important mission, yet this is the one you rarely promote. I appreciate you sharing your faith in this blog. Keep it up. The world needs to hear. God bless, Maria, Delight Directed Living
ReplyDeleteI discovered this blog fairly late in the challenge, but I want to tell you that it's very good. I am a fellow believer and it does my heart good to see someone like yourself out here "speaking the word without fear" as Paul says in Phil 1:14. I am an "email only" follower of your blog because I don't really "do" Google...but I really do look forward to seeing the notices in my inbox when you post. Thanks for writing these things!
ReplyDeleteI've only read your reflection for this blog, but I will go back and peruse the posts you made in April. I am also following this blog. Besides the blog I used for the challenge I also have one that is more dedicated to the spiritual realm. I cross-post on TBA (still looking for a name and is on blogger platform) and A Steadfast Heart which has a wordpress platform. So they are essentially the same. I look forward to reading this blog.
ReplyDeleteMary blogging at The View from my World
TBA
A Steadfast Heart
Pam -- I don't plan to give up any time soon! Your regular visits provide me encouragement.
ReplyDeleteBetty -- Thank you for your continued visits. We never know who might read something we post and be affected in some positive way. That alone makes my mission worth doing.
Maria -- I try to keep a quiet modest presence here in hopes that someone will happen by and think about what I have to say. I don't want to be overly flashy or tempt debate so I let the blog exist for those who feel drawn to it.
Forty -- Thank you and I hope you will continue to let me know that you are here. I don't often respond to comments on this blog, but I do read every comment that readers leave.
Mary -- I visit both of your Bible study blogs and they look very good though not up to date. You've got a lot of potential with those sites.
Lee
Great to see this kind on blog on the A to Z trail. I tried to visit lots of blogs, but I am just getting around to looking at all the blogs of the A to Z organizers. This site may not get the most visitors, but that does not diminish its importance. I'll read a few posts now, but by what I have seen so far, I'll join your ranks of followers.
ReplyDeleteHello there.
ReplyDeleteBible topics are always a sore subject with people. This world is so twisted and blinded by Satan (2 Corinthians 4:3) that many believe they can survive without God in their lives.The truth is, the Bible clearly states we need God because we can't even direct our own step (Jeremiah 10:23). As Creator and Sovereign of the universe, we were created to have a relationship with Him and to be guided by His principles (Matthew 5:3; Isaiah 48:17, 18). Everything God does and everything He represents is perfect. He does not change. We are the ones that need to bring ourselves in line with what He requires of us (Malachi 3:6; James 1:17). Thanks for sharing. When I have some more free time, I plan to revisit this blog and your AtoZ posts. I think we can have some good, spiritual conversations. In the meantime, I am your newest follower.
Sorry if I went on a bit, I really stopped by to say congratulations on completing the challenge! I'm visiting briefly as I try to navigate the twists and turns of the Road Trip…don't forget to wave when you see me drive by. (lol)
Entrepreneurial Goddess
Thank you for following and for the nice comment. I don't get many comment or visits for that matter on this blog, but I don't promote this site too much either. It's here just in case someone needs it.
DeleteI hope you will come back and I'd love to hear your thoughts on what I have said here.
I'm impressed that you are still continuing the Road Trip! Great job!
Lee