I was notified yesterday I was on a 72 day post streak. That’s every day this year plus a few stragglers from the end of the year.

Most of the posts have been part of a scheduled plan attempting to make this spot more accessible and interactive. So, it would be an appropriate time to gauge whether the changes are resonating with the most important people in the world — you, my readers and followers.

From a pure marketing standpoint {boy, how hard was that for me to write}, I would rate the daily exposure successful. I have seen both visitors and views sharply increase. We’re about 20% into the new year but about 35% of last year’s numbers and on par with 2017 when there were 10,351 views and 3,615 unique visitors. And I’ve added 65 followers since the new year. Those numbers are amplified because the blog is also being promoted automatically on both my personal and author Facebook pages and on Twitter.

But statistics are statistics, just numbers. They paint a picture but don’t answer the question about value. How much value do readers get out of these words? Do the words resonate with them? And, most important, are the posts compatible with my mission of  sharing the Light of Christ with others … fellow believers and non-believers as well.

The format loosely follows a pattern. Sundays feature a Sunday staple — words from His Word. Most of a time, it is a devotional that caught my attention, although sometimes, I will include my words from the pulpit.

As many of you know, I send out a weekly Words for the Week to family and friends. It started as a way to spend time praying for my family, friends and faith partners and share with them some nugget of encouragement for the week. Sometimes it’s a sentence. Sometimes a paragraph. Sometimes a story. I’ve discovered each one had a special meaning to some one at some time. The message just resonated with them at just the time they needed it most. I never know who until after the fact.

Mondays, I have been expanding the “ministry” here and on Facebook and Twitter to share the words and experiences. Word of mouth is very powerful.

Tuesday centers on all thing related to reading, writing and {just to keep the rhyme} arithmetic. Readin’ included reviews {I’ll be incorporating movies as well}.  ‘Ritin’ will include anything related to writing, like my books Heaven Shining Through and Wisdom From a Father for example. Writing by others will also be included here. ‘Rithmetic won’t be mathematical formulas {I don’t think}, but rather statistical analysis.

One of the misconceptions about being a Christian is we don’t know how to have fun or have a sense of humor. Trust me, if the Big Guy can have a sense of humor when it comes to dealing with us mere mortals, so can we. The difference for Christians is we don’t have to debase ourselves or others to generate a smile. Laughter at life or ourselves is a gift from God. And so, as part of the blog revamp, I’ve been including a category called “Midweek Mirth”. Posts in this category include cartoons, jokes and — well — just some good, clean levity. The purpose is to make you smile at the sometimes absurd way we look at life.

Life & Love — the Thursday anchor — has been and will continue to be personal, usual first person posts reflecting life and the things and people I love. That will not change.

Friday, obviously, is the anchor for Five Minute Friday. Who knows? Thus far it has been  the spark for me to actually write on Friday!

Almost half of my 2018 posts were off Five Minute Friday posts. I looove the exercise. The one word prompt stimulates my mind … and sometimes takes me down interesting writing paths. I love the camaraderie of the community. I love reading others’ takes on the same word. I love the insights from generally a younger female perspective.

Which brings us to Saturday’s Prayer-Care-Share. It’s been a slow transition, but the intent is first and foremost to bring your words of praise and joy and prayer requests and concerns to the foot of the cross. After the public prayer that follows, I invite you to include them in yours as well as you lay down petitions on the Sunday altar.

For this segment to “work”, it needs your input. On the top bar {and I believe to the right if you’re not a follower yet} there is a “Contact Me” button. I hope it becomes your best friend as you navigate around the site.

I don’t want this venue to be one-sided. My vision is to use the platform as a clearinghouse for sharing, caring and, most important, prayer.

That’s where I’m at two and a half months into the new sequence and format. But I am looking for your input. Too much? Too little? Thoughts would be welcomed!

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: We may fail, but we are not failures.