Writing from the heart

I believe that most bloggers read a lot of other people's blogs. It is part of the blogging world, you write for others, you read for others. That hasn't been the case for me at all. I actually, intentionally, do not read blogs very often because it taints my writing experience. I feel the need to have my blog like the other blogs and not exactly what I need it to be. I get sucked into this comparison trap.

I do have one exception though, Mandy Hale's "The Single Women" blog. I read it before I was a blogger and always felt encourage by Mandy, but never I never felt the pressure to make myself look like her. Her writing style makes me inspired by her, but in a way that I am comfortable to be completely myself still.

The other day I read this blog post of hers (you should read it too) http://thesinglewoman.net/2016/03/17/change/

I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. I am so excited for Mandy! I loved all her posts; there was never a moment that I didn't. I have often thought about if she is really getting to share her whole heart if she feels like she lacks something because she has a very narrow subject to write on. 

Often when I am sitting with my Chromebook, with the blogging page open and my fingers are typing and present myself with things that I don't know what to do with, I have no answers, I don't even have a way to wrap up the blogger post that I am writing. But in these moments of quiet, of really exploring. The Lord will speak to me. I know what I have to write next. I know what next step the Lord is asking me because he somehow told my heart and fingers what to write next and I see it on this screen. 

I didn't expect this experience at all when I started to blog. I expected that this be the place where I would get rid of all my thoughts and idea's so that I could be quiet, really quiet before the Lord once I was done writing. Then be open to Him speaking to me in the traditional "quiet time" place. 

But, this experience of Him speaking while I am writing has been so much better for me. I love how the Lord works through my writing; I love the clarity and connection I have with Him in this place. 

I am so so excited for Mandy Hale. I hope that she gets to have the same experience as I have had with the Lord now as she changes her platform for writing. I am excited to see how the Lord will use her writing whatever is on her heart in her life and my life. I think it is going to be a really incredible experience for everyone.