Dear Readers,
Six months ago, I took the advice of a great friend and stuck my toes in the water of blogspot.com for the first time. My first impressions felt a bit like sending messages in bottles out on the seas of the internet. Largely, it remains that way.
There is not a lot of feedback, really, in terms of comments, given the number of readers. Friends, old and new, chime in from time to time with “amen’s,” supporting scriptures and anecdotes. A few readers have taken a minute to write a private note about how the posts have helped them through a rough or lonely patch (these are the most motivating). Nor are there tons of “followers.” 22 of you have hit the “follow” button and entered an identity to publicly follow. Granted, some of the followers are couples, but still there are not hundreds of people signed up to show their allegiance, at this stage of the game. I really get this. Most people do not have the time to commit to follow a blog systematically. Truthfully, you honor me in that you read it at all, or on an occasional basis.
What have blown me out of the water, however, are the statistics for people stopping by. Hundreds of people from many countries check in on a monthly basis. The stats program only keeps the top 10, and I failed to keep records from the beginning, but a close count is 36 countries. These are visible on my facebook account, where I have an album of maps (I am learning a lot about geography as well).
When I stop to think about this, I am amazed. Just how or why this happens is a mystery to me. And that’s the fun of it. Jesus taught, the Spirit, like the wind, blows where it will, accomplishing his work in us, wherever we are. David posed the question, “Where can I go from your Spirit?” Indeed, Spirit will have his gentle and mighty way with us. Mother Teresa once said that when people read a letter, they are not thinking about the pen. This is so true! Yet, it is the thrill of my lifetime to feel that for brief, shining moments, I might have been the pen in the hand of Spirit.
So this has become a long-winded thank you note. I am honored beyond words that you have come by, once, occasionally, or regularly. Without readers, this is just a public diary, a random collection of thoughts and observations posted for no particular purpose of benefit. By reading and considering these posts, you give them life.
Thank you. I literally thank God for you whenever I think of you. And I think of you every day.
Sincerely,
Steve
"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership. . . being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:3-4
Thank YOU for gracefully and prayerfully allowing yourself to be the pen.
ReplyDeleteKalynn Carlton
Thank you, Steve. I thought you might like to know that I have been giving copies of your blog entries to a friend who does not have internet access. She has put them in a looseleaf binder. She told me just this morning how much she appreciates them. I do, too.
ReplyDeletePenelope Paxton
I love to come and read your blogs. so glad you are doing this .. :)
ReplyDeleteHere's to you, and another year of touching people's lives all over the world. Blessings.
ReplyDeleteThanks for what you do Steve. It's a page of encouragement and conviction for me. You do such a great job, that it's hard to comment and add anything to your blogs. You are a very gifted and talented servant! I'm sure your Father is very proud of what you've done this year and especially the lives you've touched.
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