Today is the last day of the two-month Spiritual Guidance for Bloggers Series. To me, this was by far the most satisfying, collaborative, and helpful series on this blog to date. Friendships were forged and relationships deepened in creating this series…the purpose of which was to help guide us through the difficult terrain of the blogosphere. To make us wiser and more thoughtful as we do what we do.
So many amazing bloggers shared their personal stories and practical advice. So much high-quality reading offered by so many gifted authors and sterling people. What an honor and grace to have them here. The response from readers and friends pleasantly surprised me, and injected a new hope that we can do right by this medium. Integrity and virtue is possible in this digital “wild west”. And better still, the will is there to do so.
You may have missed a few articles, but no worries. Clicking the category #4Bloggers will list them all for you. It’ll be an evergreen resource of guidance for your blogging efforts, and an encouragement if you run into a blockade. Simply come back, re-read, relearn, or absorb the wisdom and inspiration from others, anytime. May it bless you!
Tomorrow is the beginning of something new and exciting! (The spread-the-word before the launch <giveaway> with Rafflecopter is part of that. Enter and enjoy the free ebook. Your chances of winning other stuff are excellent.)
And now to our final entry by the vivacious Tamara Lunardo (@tamaraoutloud)
Tamara Lunardo works out her thoughts on life and faith at Tamara Out Loud, occasionally with adult language, frequently with attempted humor, and hopefully with God’s blessing. She is the editor of What a Woman is Worth, due out this summer through Civitas Press. Connect with her on Twitter and Facebook!
The Simple Work of Your Hands: Seeing Your Blog as Ministry
-by Tamara Lunardo
“You see your blog as a ministry, don’t you?” he asked, assuming. I’d been blogging for about a year, but I’d never considered it that way til that moment. “Ministry” sounded a bit too grandiose for something so mundane as a blog.
I just used an online space to tell my stories. I didn’t preach the Gospel; I didn’t heal the sick; I didn’t tend to widows and orphans. I just noticed and I thought and I felt and I wrote. And people came to that space to take in a little of life as I saw it, to laugh and wonder and cry alongside me.
But I realized this writing, it was a gift—not something I’d conjured, but something I was given. The gift was meant for the glory of its Giver and for the good of His people. And as I used it, imperfectly but faithfully, I could see that gift turn into ministry: The people who were reading told me that I was writing things they wished they could say; or that it gave them new perspective; or that it made them laugh (and this last is no small thing).
They didn’t need me to preach the Gospel, heal the sick, or tend to widows and orphans—they needed me to tell my stories.
Ministry is not a grandiose thing. It is a humble service, born of a grateful heart. It is a showing up just exactly where God’s placed you and saying, “I’m here to help.” It is His extraordinary gift made manifest by the simple work of your hands.
And He has not placed me in a pulpit to preach the Gospel, but He has placed me in an online space to tell the truth. He has not given me skill to heal the sick, but He has given me laughter to share as medicine. He has not given me resources to tend to widows and orphans, but He has given me stories to meet others in theirs.
And I am grateful; I am here to help. So I type out words, the simple work of my hands. And it is ministry.
I love that your blog isn’t branded “ministry” with all of its trappings because I wouldn’t read it. For me, your stories and others serve in ways that others ministries can’t. Love you, friend!
Amen.
So thankful for where God calls you, my friend. It is indeed ministry.
Thank you!
Thanks, Sarah. It feels much more natural to me this way, and I think that’s a big draw for other people too.
Ministry has somehow gotten tainted over the last few years. It has been religiousized if you will. Nurses and doctors minister to people’s health, Wait staff minister to people who are hungry and Tamara ministers to people needing an emotional/spiritual hug in the form of a laugh, a cry, or a kick to the seat of the pants. Ministry doesn’t always have to take the form a spiritual or religious slant but many times she does and with savvy writing to boot.
Ken, I think you’re spot on. Thanks Tamara!
I’m grateful for your words, friend. So often God has used them to minister to me.
I am so thankful that God is using the blogosphere in a mighty way to spread the good news. And I’m thankful you’re part of it, Tamara! You do minister to me.
Grateful, Lisa.
Thank you, sweet Leigh.
Yes, we can find it in our everyday work, all of us. Thanks so much for your kind words, Ken.
Beautifully said, as always, Tamara. Thanks for it.
“Ministry is not a grandiose thing. It is a humble service, born of a grateful heart.”
Some days, it’s really hard to remember that. You want the big moments and the emphatic responses. But that’s not what it’s about. Life is about doing what you can with what you have.
Sometimes, the other stuff comes along with it. Either way, what matters is that you are “doing” rather than waiting or pretending.
May we never get so caught up in the things we can’t do that we miss out on our true calling.
I used to be suggested this blog by way of my cousin. I’m
not positive whether this submit is written through him as no one else know such
distinct approximately my problem. You are incredible!
Thanks!