Tag: Blogging

Thirty Day Blogging Challenge #2: Day Thirty

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Last Day: My Goals For The Next Thirty Days 

We made it y’all! Today is the last day of the challenge! Admittedly, I didn’t exactly go in order, and I sort of turbo blogged over the last couple of days (Due to two special edition Valentines Day posts on the horizon!) but I hope you enjoyed reading through this challenge as much as I enjoyed writing it! I believe it was a good way to kick off 2017 and I may do another one of these someday in the future.

Nonetheless, today I’m going to share some of my goals for the next thirty days—particularly related to blogging. 

1. Get on a schedule – As I mentioned in my New Years Resolutions post, I’d like to get on a consistent schedule for 2017. In the past, I’ve always posted rather sporadically, due to the fact that I often didn’t know when I’d get a chance to blog with my school schedule. But, as I’m entering into the new stage of life with college, I have more flexibility, which means that I’ll be able to blog on a scheduled basis. Thus, my new days are going to be Thursdays and Sundays. The rest of the week, I’ll spend my blogging-time preparing for those posts.

2. Be more active in my blogging community – For a while, I used to be pretty good about checking in on fellow bloggers and commenting, but lately, I’ve been sort of terrible about that. This is something I’d like to change over the course of the next thirty days.

3. Work more on my novel – This one isn’t about blogging per say, but it’s still writing, and I’d love for you all to read it someday—something that can’t happen unless I continue to actively work on it.  

How about you guys? Do you have any goals for the near future? If so, feel free to share in the comments section! 

Also, be sure to check out Emily’s blog from Fearfully Wonderfully Me! She just posted an awesome Valentine’s Day post that I’d highly recommend! 

Thirty Day Blogging Challenge #2: Day Fifteen

Courtney4 Comments

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Day Fifteen: Something I miss

Life is an interesting thing. Sometimes, when we’re younger, certain needs are so easy to fulfill. When you get older, you have to actively search them out.

This was a bit of a difficult prompt for me to come up with, but after a lot of thinking, I’ve figured out what it is that I most miss right now: Fellowship. Throughout my faith journey, I’ve nearly always been able to find fellowship one way or another, but lately with college and the lack of programs for people my age, it’s become ten times harder to find fellowship among fellow Christians.

When I was in middle school, I was heavily involved in a youth group that I loved. It was fairly small for a youth group, with a handful of students who were unusually close knit. Every Wednesday night, I got to see a group of friends who I quickly bonded with, after only a couple of meetings. I enjoyed going and saw this youth group as my primary means of fellowship. I’m still in contact with some of these old friends today, through Facebook, Instagram, and texting. 

When I was in high school, a lot began to change at my church, and I sort of lost this close knit group. Nonetheless, during this time I was involved in Christian honors classes three days a week, and ended up with another group just as close as my old friends from youth group. Many of the same students came back every year, so I got to see some of my closest friends throughout my week and grow up with them. These are some of my best friends to this day.

Now that I’m in college, it’s a lot harder to find this fellowship. Many of my friends are busy with classes and it’s a lot harder to keep regular contact. I’m still in touch with everyone through email, social media, and text, but it’s not quite the same as seeing practically all of my friends over a period of three days. Nonetheless, tonight I’m attending my first night of a local Christian college group near my house. Thus, I believe and hope that God will bring back regular fellowship as I both meet new friends and keep my old. In addition to this, my best friend is starting a Christian group called “CIA” (Christ In Action), with a group of her friends, which should be launching soon. Between these two things, I should be seeing more fellowship within the next couple of weeks and months.

How about you? Has it been hard for you to find fellowship? If not, how have you found it in your life? I’d love to hear from you in the comments! 

Blogger Recognition Award

Courtney4 Comments

Hey everyone, I have some big news for 1 Timothy 4:12 Girl! I was nominated for a Blogger Recognition Award by afcrocks99! Big thanks to this girl and an apology for not posting sooner.

The rules of this challenge are 

  • Thank the blogger who nominated you and provide a link to their blog.
  • Write a post to show your award.
  • Give a brief story of how your blog started.
  • Give two pieces of advice to new bloggers.
  • Select 15 other bloggers you want to give this award to.
  • Comment on each blog and let them know you have nominated them & provide the link to the post you created.

How my blog started – Truth be told, a number of things motivated me to start a blog—and a series of events seemed to indicate that this was God’s will for my life right now. I’ve always loved reading and writing, even from childhood, and during my junior year of high school, I got really into reading blogs.

During this time, my faith was going through a lot of turmoil and I wasn’t attending a particularly healthy church. I had a couple of close Christian friends who helped me stay afloat as a Christian during this time, but I was struggling with my faith in a big way. Nonetheless, my faith was largely revived through reading a Christian blog that felt admirably real and authentic. The vision that this blogger presented for life was something that recharged my faith in God and humanity—it was about restoration, hope, and community in Jesus—a vision that I soon began to adopt in my own writing. It helped me own my faith in a way that I previously struggled to do and shaped my view of God and life.

Also during this time, after a few months of reading blogs—and soon thereafter, Christian magazines, I found out that a close friend of mine had a blog, after he told my mom and I about it. You can read it here if you want to check it out for yourself. That same afternoon, I launched my first post on 1 Timothy 4:12 Girl. It’s all been downhill from there.

Advice I’d give to a new blogger – If I had to give a new blogger two pieces of advice, I’d tell them to write from their heart and get plugged in with like minded bloggers. In blogging, staying true to yourself is vital—it’s the thing that makes your blog stand out from other blogs and draws others to your writing. I believe that everyone has their own voice and their own story that God has blessed each one of us with. Our stories are likely filled with both ups and downs, but it’s through those times that character is formed and we find out what we’re made of.

It’s also important to make connections in blogging. As unlikely as it may sound, I believe that friendship is nearly inevitable if you’re an active blogger and make a conscious effort to explore other blogs. For the Christian blogger, the WordPress blog-o-sphere is literally filled with fellow believers, and through forming connections, we can grow alongside fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Definitely be sure to take advantage of this opportunity.

The people that I would like to nominate are

Dainty M. 

Fearfully Wonderfully Me 

Saved By Grace 2009 

Sapphire Life Writer

Papberry 

Julian For Jesus 

Wally Fry 

Passion And Pixels 

Ready. Set. Write!

Thirty Day Blogging Challenge #2: Day Eight

Courtney5 Comments

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Day Eight: Write fifteen interesting facts about yourself

Hey everyone, I wrote this yesterday, but I guess it didn’t publish. Thus, here it is today!

1. I learned how to sign to John 3:16 in middle school

2. My middle name derives from my grandma’s first name

3. I’m fairly decent at basketball

4. I didn’t get my permit until I was seventeen

5. I decided to start this blog after discovering a good friend of mine blogged

6. I’m part Italian

7. I have seven cousins, all on my dad’s side

8. I used to take ballet as a child and stunk horribly at it

9. Becoming a successful author has been my lifelong dream

10. I’ve worn glasses since I was eleven years old

11. When I was a kid, I used to swallow my vegetables whole

12. I prefer winter to summer

13. I’m an only child

14. I’m currently listening to Mary’s Song by Taylor Swift as I write this.

15. It’s currently exactly 8:30 as I type this sentence out.

I’ll see you back tomorrow for day nine! Until then, be sure to keep following my friend Emily as she partners with me in this challenge! You can find the link to her blog in my previous post! 

Thirty Day Blogging Challenge #2: Day Seven

Courtney6 Comments

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Day Seven: Somewhere you’d like to move or visit 

Hey everyone! I’ve finally gotten around to writing out a blog post, rather than reposting an old one. Sorry I haven’t been super word-y over the past couple days—I’ve been super busy with various things, including that longtime series that I’ve told you guys about!

Nonetheless, I’m finally back and ready to blog! 

Today’s writing prompt is about a place I would like to move or visit. In all honesty, there’s no where else I’d rather live than my home town, because my current state is where most of my family and friends live. There is, on the other hand, one place I’d like to visit someday. 

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You guessed it—New York, New York! 

As a girl from a fairly southern state, I’ve always been a tad curious what it’s like in a place like New York City. I love the hopeful looking skyscrapers that you always see in pictures, and would like to visit some of the historical landmarks, such as the Statue of Liberty.

I also have always had a serious weakness for lights—no joke. I love the way that New York looks when all of the buildings are lit up in pictures and movies. I’ve always said that it looks a bit like a million Christmas trees when it’s all lit up at night. Furthermore, despite my nearly paralyzing fear of heights, I would love to stand on the top floor of one of those buildings and take an Instagram-worthy picture of the city from up high.

My interest in visiting New York City may very well be at least partly inspired by shows like Friends, but to me, it looks like a very fun place to visit someday—especially during the month of December. If I ever go, I’ll be sure to take some pictures for you—and document the whole thing from the perspective of a southern-born girl used to the suburbs.

Until than, I guess I’ll just have to live vicariously through pictures.😜

How about you? Where would you like to live or visit? Please share your thoughts with me in the comments section below! ⬇️

Thirty Day Blogging Challenge #2: Day Six

Courtney2 Comments

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Day Four: If you could have any job in the wold, what would it be? 

Since I already wrote about this for the first challenge, I’m going to post the link here, but I promise to be back tomorrow with a brand new entry!

Until then, be sure to check out Emily’s blog over at Fearfully Wonderfully Me, who is partnering with me in this challenge!

Have a blessed night y’all!

Thirty Day Blog Challenge #2: Day Five

Courtney3 Comments

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Day Five: Your favorite foods and why 

I sort of already wrote about this for my last challenge, so I’m just going to post the link for you guys here.

Furthermore, I would like to inform you that my friend Emily from Fearfully Wonderfully Me is joining forces with me in this challenge! Be sure to check out her blog here! It’s very good and uplifting and I’d highly recommend it.😊

Thirty Day Blogging Challenge #2: Day Four

Courtney4 Comments

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Day Four: Your top five pet peeves

1. Prejudice/stereotyping – This gets on my nerves so much. If there’s one thing that drives me crazy beyond measure, it’s when people are mean and offensive to a certain people group and/or accuse an entire group of people of being guilty of a particular behavior. If a person starts a sentence with the phrase “Those (Insert people group) are always (Insert undesirable characteristic)” I’ve likely already tuned them out in my mind. Along with being wrong on so many levels, it’s incredibly annoying and unbecoming.

2. Bullying – In some ways, this is kind of similar to #1, but considering there are subtle differences between the two, I believe it’s relevant to post this one as well. Bullies have always gotten on my nerves—especially when they travel in packs. As somewhat of a nerd, I’ve been targeted for more subtle forms of bullying over the course of my life and it breaks my heart to see it happen to others. No one should have to endure that kind of psychological, verbal, or physical torment.

3. When people smoke in public places – This truly irritates me in a big way. Whenever I’m at a place where someone is smoking, I always hold my breath to try to avoid inhaling the second-hand-smoke and end up feeling short of air as a result. It’s not healthy for the person smoking or the innocent bystanders, and by smoking, a person puts everyone around them at risk for the health hazards of second-hand-smoke (OK, getting off my soapbox now…)

4. When people act inappropriately online – Thankfully I haven’t been a victim of this too often, but the times that I have, I’ve gotten seriously freaked out. Fewer things have made me feel more uncomfortable than guys I’ve never had a conversation with asking where I live or trying to flirt online. Double points for the times it happens in Twitter DMs.

5. When people are rude – Certain things really are basic manners. Holding the door for someone. Apologizing for bumping into a person. Saying please and thank you. It really irritates me when people ignore some of society’s most basic etiquette rules.

How about you? What are your pet peeves? Feel free to post your own list in the comments section! 

Sunshine Blogger Award

Courtney8 Comments

Good news everyone, I just got nominated for the Sunshine Blogger Award by Juni Desiree from Sapphire Life Writer! Her blog is awesome and I would totally recommend checking it out!

The Sunshine Blogger Award is given to bloggers who are positive and creatively inspire others in the blogosphere.

Here are the rules:

Thank the person who nominated you
Answer the questions from the person who has nominated you
Nominate 11 other bloggers for this award
Write the same amount of questions for the bloggers you have nominated
Notify the bloggers you nominated

Now, without further ado…The Questions! 

What has been the greatest lesson you’ve learnt in your life?

I’ve honestly learned a lot of things over the course of my life, but the biggest one would probably be to trust God. As I wrote about in a recent post, I struggle with wanting everything to happen my way and in my time. Nonetheless, I’ve found that when you trust God, he can make even your craziest dreams come true in a way that’s better than you ever could have imagined. And, when he closes a door, there’s probably a really good reason.
What song has impacted you the most and why?

Hmm, this is another hard one, but I’d have to say Ready Or Not by Britt Nicole. I first heard it in the 9th grade and at the time, I was pretty shy and still searching for myself. Her song encouraged me to live confidently and not be afraid to speak up and let my light shine for God. Her other songs have also been really encouraging and her albums were pretty much the soundtrack of my high school years.
What movie has impacted you the most and why?

At different points in my life, different movies have impacted me. In middle school, my favorite movies were Soul Surfer and The Left Behind movies, because they encouraged me in my faith. I was a new Christian in middle school and movies like those helped me to solidify my faith. In my freshman year of high school, I saw the movie Lemonade Mouth for the first time, which encouraged me to use my voice and be more confident. Currently, I’d have to say the God’s Not Dead movies, as they all speak about being a Christian in a non-Christian environment, something that I’m experiencing for the first time this year.
What book has impacted you the most and why?

There are a lot of books I could mention here, but I’m going to go with the Sunday School answer: The Bible. The Bible is sort of my manual in doing this thing we call life. Because it has so many accounts and so many different lessons, different parts of it relate to me at different points in my life. Recently, I was talking with my pastor’s wife and she noted that my situation with college was a little like Daniel in the king’s palace. I had never thought of it that way before, but I now find that account relatable in my own life. I have also been leaning heavily into passages about being “strong and courageous” (Joshua 1:9) and “trusting in the Lord” (Proverbs 3:5-6).
What quote do you resonate most with?

“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” – C.S. Lewis. There are a lot of quotes that I like, but as I’ve grown in my faith, I feel this one to be more and more true every day. My faith informs so much for me that to take it out would leave my life a fragmented mess. It informs everything from my dreams, to my views, to my perception of life itself. It is also the common thread that ties otherwise very different personalities and lives together – something I find very cool.

What are your 10 most important core values?

  1. Faith in God
  2. Respect and love for people
  3. Staying true to myself
  4. A good work ethic
  5. The importance of family and friends
  6. Having a purpose in life
  7. Loyalty
  8. Courage
  9. Helping those in need
  10. Living out my faith

How can you most help others best at this time in your life?

Probably through helping out at different charity organizations and donating to charities like Salvation Army and Operation Christmas Child (Yes, my mind is already on Christmas).
If you could only write one book in your life and were guaranteed to succeed in it, what would you write?

I truly wish this said series, but since it’s saying only one book, I’m going to have to say the first book of a series that I’m writing. I don’t want to say too much about it online before it’s published (Hopefully by the end of my college career) but it’s about a group of teenagers at a local church youth group and how their lives impact one and other. I’ve already finished the first book, and I managed to incorporate some of my core values into it and tell a story that I believe will inspire people. It’s my dream to see it on a bookshelf one day.
What do you want to be known for?

The short answer is, I want to be known for sharing my faith with others and inspiring others to live confidently in Christ. When people know God and live for Him through their own lives, personalities, and situations, amazing things can happen. The more technical answer is that I want to be a writer. My goal is to go into professional journalism, become a successful author, and publish my song lyrics (I’ve already written a lot). I want to leave my mark through writing things that will inspire others and make the world a better place.
And taking this opportunity to possibly get some help with the book I’m working on: what message of encouragement would you give to survivors of sexual abuse?

Your life is worth living. You were not created for someone else’s pleasure at your expense. You were created to do big things and God isn’t finished with you yet. He has a purpose in your life, and you have to keep moving forward. What happened wasn’t your fault – you were a victim. But, you won’t always be a victim. You can and will rise above this.

Now, the new nominees are

Saved By Grace 2009

Dainty M. 

Fearfully Wonderfully Me

Nora Elkins 

Julian For Jesus 

Passion and Pixels 

Concealed Foundation 

Papberry 

Mandie’s World  

Ever Changing In Christ Jesus 

Unfiltered Freckles 

And the new questions are…

  1. What is your testimony? How did you find God, or if you were raised Christian, when did it really feel real for you? 
  2. What has God been teaching you lately? 
  3. What is your biggest dream? 
  4. What is one quirk you have that you don’t mind sharing? 
  5. Where do you see yourself five years from now? 
  6. What do you believe the purpose of life is? 
  7. What is one piece of advice would you give your younger self? 
  8. What has 2016 been characterized by for you? What things stand out about this year? 
  9. What was your hometown or the city you grew up in like? 
  10. What have those closest to you taught you about life? 
  11. What was a defining moment for you? 

 

Thirty Day Blogging Challenge: Day 17

Courtney9 Comments

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Today is a very special day in the challenge, as I get the awesome opportunity to give a shoutout to my favorite blogs! I have enjoyed reading so many of your posts, but since I have to choose only five, I’ve narrowed it down to the blog websites below. 

Dainty M.-Not only is Mfon a good friend/pen pal, but she’s an awesome blogger! Her posts are very inspiring and provide a lot of wisdom. She writes some great stories and even writes poetry sometimes (A triple threat, y’all!😉). Definitely be sure to check her blog out if you don’t already follow her.

The Dream-I found Immanuel’s blog a couple of months ago and it is very good! His posts are incredibly deep and always leave me thinking. He writes a lot of really great Christian posts and my faith has been strengthened through reading his blog. I’m sure you guys will enjoy reading his posts as much as I have.

Fearfully Wonderfully Me-Emily is a longtime follower and her posts are always incredible! She writes a lot of insightful posts about grace, self image, and the gospel and her blog is very inspiring. She also does fashion posts sometimes, where we get the chance to see some of her personal style. Keep up the good work, Emily!

Sapphire Life Writer -As a fellow aspiring writer, I can often relate to Juni’s posts and love of written word. Many of her themes are universal and I can pretty much guarantee that something on her blog will tug on your heartstrings. She writes very eloquently and sometimes even shares her awesome artwork. I have just started following her recently and look forward to reading more of her blog entries.

Saved By Grace 2009 -AKA, my mom’s blog. She is new to the blogging world, but catching on fast! Her posts are very insightful and she has a lot of interesting topics on her blog. She also writes very, very in detail articles, so you’ll find a lot of great points packed into one post. Definitely check her blog out!

*Note: You are all amazing and I would nominate all of you if I could. I love you guys and appreciate your faithful reading! 😘

P.S. Be sure to check out my friend Angela’s blog, she just joined the blogging world last night and her site is called passionandpixels.wordpress.com. I know you guys will give her a warm welcome! 😊