#3 Once Upon a Time There Was a Blog

Posted on by Chris G Thelen

From December 28 – January 6, there will be a countdown of the top ten most viewed posts in 2021. Today is #3, originally posted June 15, 2021.

It’s been eleven years since I started this blog. I think there’s a lesson in its history. When I first launched 140 Character Christian in 2010, I didn’t know anything about blogging. What I did know was writing. Most of my career was spent writing advertising, literature and articles. Yet I didn’t quite know what to do with a blog.

The theme I used when I started this blog was based on the 140 character limitation of texting at the time. I was always challenged to edit down what I wanted to say in a text in as few words as possible. It struck me that the same was true about our faith in Jesus. I wanted to edit out all the stuff that distracts from Jesus so that only His word comes through in my life. So I started blogging. I struggled for years to make it work. I posted erratically and I found it hard to create content.

For seven years I often thought about abandoning the blogging thing. My blog floundered as I struggled to make it work. I never had much more than 500 views in a year. I tried not to fixate on the numbers, but it was hard not to. I often wondered the point of it all, but for some reason I felt I should not take down the blog. Then something happened in the middle of 2018. After enduring several years of trauma with no end in sight, I began to share my faith journey in blog posts.

The trauma continued and the words kept flowing into blog posts. You may have noticed some posts lamented about the trials and the testing of my faith. Where I once struggled to write posts, the words now seemed to effortlessly collect into content. By the end of 2018 I was posting more regularly. Yet I didn’t see how I could possibly keep coming up with new content. I remember praying, “God, I’ll keep posting as long as you keep giving me content.”

I was surprised when I had almost 3,000 views by the end of 2018. I was shocked when I had more than 10,000 views at the end of 2019. I remember telling myself New Year’s Day 2020, “There’s no way I can repeat that!” On New Year’s Eve 2020, I had reached 11,500 views. It was all God. But as 2021 started, I still questioned what I would write about. I again prayed, “God, I’ll keep posting as long as you keep giving me content.”

So here I am almost half way through another year and God’s still giving me things to post about. I keep reading His word and finding inspiration for new posts. I’ve learned to rely on the Spirit more — not just for posts, but in my life as well. I’ve learned to trust God’s timing — that sometimes we just need to obey, to follow His lead without understanding his purpose. I’ve also learned that in our darkest days, God never leaves us. He is always by our side. Even if I don’t understand the reasons for enduring trauma in life, I will trust Him. He is indeed a rock, a mighty fortress, our refuge! He is faithful. His truth is life.

I can say things are better now than a few years ago. I have seen God work some amazing miracles that I never thought possible. I have been blessed to see some answers to the times I questioned God with, “Why?” Maybe some day God will want me to write about the trauma I went through, but now is not the time. His timing is perfect and I will wait on the Lord.

Thank you for journeying with me, for reading, liking and commenting on all those hundreds of posts that have somehow appeared on this blog. Your words of encouragement — you sharing your thoughts — has blessed me and countless others. Ultimately the number of views, likes or posts is not what’s important. You are what is important to God and I hope that my writing has helped you get a glimpse of God’s love for you.

Thank you for reading. Blessings.

© 2021, CGThelen

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. – 2 Corinthians 13:14 (NASB)

Editors Note: In 2021 this blog again surpassed the previous years views. I am humbled by how God continues to provide content and I continue to learn to rely on Him. Praise God for His love and grace!

29 thoughts on “#3 Once Upon a Time There Was a Blog”

  1. Pingback: #3 Once Upon a Time There Was a Blog — – QuietMomentsWithGod
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  7. Thanks for an encouraging post. I started my blog to promote my book and to reach out to people with my stories, most of which point to my Father, the Creator God. But I have so few readers it gets discouraging. I post my blogs to LinkedIn, but even there I get few reactions. And the book isn’t selling. So, yeah, I’m ready to quit. But then someone says “Keep writing.” Another says “I enjoyed your last post.” And God says, “I gave you this gift for a reason.”
    I have been posting every Friday for a little more than a year. It’s hard work and difficult to measure the impact. But your post today is encouraging, so if God will give me a story, I’ll post it this Friday.

    1. I am glad it encouraged you. In God’s kingdom what you are doing is important. He calls us to obedience, even if it doesn’t always make sense to us. I remember years ago I taught a Sunday School class and sometimes only a couple people would show up. I was discouraged until God told me if only one person shows up they’re important — they’re there for a reason. A few weeks later one person showed up and the two of us ended up having a deep conversation about faith in Jesus. That conversation only happened because no one else was there. Thanks for reading. Blessings.

  10. Now, there’s a post! Blogging is an interesting enterprise. I’m absolutely with ya on, “God, I’ll keep posting as long as you keep giving me content.” That’s all I do. I’m nowhere near your faithfulness on your scheduling. But I think I’ve been obedient to God when He calls me to write and post. You can just feel it, you know? There’s a special way that His spirit tells us something, and we know it’s Him (Is 30.21).
    I only started blogging in 2018, so I didn’t read your “previous life,” I may dig into your archives. 😉

    1. Blogging is certainly interesting. If you dig into the archives, I think you’ll see I’ve learned a lot along the way. Yes, the words do flow when the Spirit prompts. Thanks for reading. Blessings.

  11. I am just a baby just over a year old in blogging compared to you! Your testimony is a beautiful encouragement, thank. May God continue to guide and bless you.

    2. In Internet years, I guess I’m ancient 😊 Glad you joined the blogging community. Keep on writing and thanks for reading. Blessings.

  12. Pingback: Once Upon a Time There Was a Blog – Tonya LaLonde

  13. Your writing, with God’s help, HAS been an encouragement and a blessing to me, CG. The consistency of your posting schedule and your economy of words inspires me to make my offerings the best they can be. I’m glad you kept blogging!

    God’s best to you, always. 🙏❤️

      1. Here’s to the wounded healers! May God continue to bless your blog ministry. Stopping by here several times each week has been a blessing to me. 🙏❤️

        1. Amen to God for using the broken! I appreciate your blog and the stories of faith you share. They are encouraging to me. May God continue reach people with His word. Blessings.

  14. Amen! Congratulations on making 11 years! Good is so good and gracious, I love how you say “I will keep going God if you give me the content”. This is a great attitude and one I hope to always have when writing too. God bless and keep writing!

    1. Thank you. God is so good. May we continue in obedience to Him even if it doesn’t always make sense. Thanks for reading. Blessings.

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