Thursday, March 27, 2008

What's Your Platform?

Like many of you have mentioned on your blogs (not you Melanie- of BigMama)... I have the problem of my husband NOT enjoying my blog nearly as much as I do. (That's sugar coating it to say the least) Though, in all fairness... before he disliked my blog he disliked the fact that I mailed annual Christmas letters...

Whatever the case, a morning revelation settled the mostly unspoken (though sometimes widely discussed) issue of my blog.

The "revelation" stemmed from Ezra in Nehemiah 8. (Specifically verses 4-8)

Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden platform built for the occasion. Beside him on his right stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah and Maaseiah; and on his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam.

Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up. Ezra praised the LORD, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, "Amen! Amen!" Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.

The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan and Pelaiah—instructed the people in the Law while the people were standing there. They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear
and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read.

I found this passage completely intriguing... mostly because I felt as though God allowed it as part of the Bible specifically for my sake. (Don't you love when that happens???) I read that and saw that Ezra stood on a high platform purposed SPECIFICALLY for that moment. When he opened THE Book the people responded immediately by standing, raising their hands, praising Him, bowing down and worshipping Him with their faces to the ground. (Did I mention how Ezra had only OPENED the Book, he hadn't even read yet?)

One can only conclude from this passage that EVERY PERSON HAS A PLATFORM IN LIFE right? Priceless.

The thing that gets me is that platforms seem to have 4 primary characteristics...

Platforms have a purpose. (Neh. 8.4)

Platforms take time to construct. (Neh. 8.4 as well as the many chapters of context before 8)

Platforms reflect God's Word through your heart. (Neh. 8.7-8)

Platforms are an opportunity to encourage others. (Neh. 8.9-10)

I wondered for a second what my Platform was... What was my God-given gift? What had I received from the Lord to be used to bring people unto Him??

And sure as you are reading this, (HOPEFULLY you are still reading this) I knew!!!!
MY PLATFORM IS MY BLOG!!

I have felt from the onset that my blog had a purpose- or at least that I had assigned it a purpose. To showcase my love for God, my husband and my children in that order.

My blog, has certainly taken time to construct. I started with NO ONE reading. It was more of an online journal/scrapbook than a blog.

My blog (HOPEFULLY) reflects God's Word through my heart as that is my foremost intention...

And possibly most obvious- my blog has been an opportunity to encourage others. (I have SO ENJOYED connecting with the many out there that have blogs- commenting, sharing via my blog, email and phone calls... )

And so- on the heels of this passage I firmly believe that right now- my blog is my platform. I am not a public speaker, not an author, not an evangelist, not a preacher, not a Sunday School Teacher even... BUT I AM A BLOGGER!!!

And for this I make no apologies. Not to people who come upon the blog and disagree with and or dislike it, not to people that think I'm too "Bible-Y" or too "Churchy" and not to any husband who not only finds no understanding as to why we spouses like to blog but who can't quite fathom why in the world anyone else out there would want to read our blogs.

Which brings me to my point... WHAT'S YOUR PLATFORM??

6 comments:

Beth Cotell said...

I, too, feel that my plaform is my blog. I often pray that God helps it to become whatever he wants it to be.

Thanks for a great post...and a great blog!

girlymom said...

That is a great question and one that I have spent many sleepless nights and daydreaming afternoons trying to figure out. I have come to the conclusion (for now) that my purpose right now is to mold and create Christian children, to help them grow and become good people, who in turn will affect the people in their lives and another link is connected.

When I first started my blog, my Husband and family (siblings and parents) didn't quite get it. Why would I spend so much time and effort? I enjoy it. They might not get it, but I do. SO I stick with it, I keep posting, I keep reading and commenting and if they don't get it that's fine. Turns out my family now checks it daily (but still rarely comment) and my Husband who I felt I was forcing to read actually enjoys reading it, He pointed out to me that he didn't want to intrude or have me feeling like I couldn't write what I wanted or have him over my shoulder. They are slowly getting it. They are starting to understand why.

Chelle, You always have such inspiring things to say. I used to be scared away by "churchy" people, but I find that the closer and more comfortable I am with my own faith, the more I enjoy having "churchy" people in my life. It wasn't the "churchy" people that were over the top, it was my own insecurities that were scaring me. Don't change, don't be any less "churchy" I know I strive to be more open, more comfortable, more "churchy"...like you.
(does that make sense?)

Rebekah said...

My husband doesnt read my blog either. He isnt against it, he just usually hears my stories first hand.

I view my blog as an extention of ME. It started out as a way to keep my family up to date on kid stuff. Then I began to expand my blog world. And now its my personal way of expressing myself. Telling family stories, ranting on political views, or enlightening people on the world of 911.

Tara said...

Great post, Chelle', although I have to say I am not surprised at all that this is your platform. Because I seem to recall that in college you were a Campus Mail sender which is kindof just a pre-internet form of blogging, in a way. :) I loved getting notes from you..they were always the most creative, prettiest, nicest, etc. :)

(Oh, and have I ever told you how many dreams I have about campus mail? About checking my mailbox...about forgetting to check my mailbox...about losing my key, etc. etc. It's weird...Pam has the same dream!).

Anyway...you do have a gift and I'm blessed to read your blog. :)

Mari said...

I love this! My husband doesn't really "get" this blogging thing either, but he does recognize some names when talk about other bloggers. You use your blog as your platform very well to do all the things you talk about. I try to use mine in the same way.

A Stone Gatherer said...

Ya know I started my blog on a lark! Alot of women from my church had one and I wanted to see what it was like. I too feel my blog is becoming my platform! It allows me to get things our of my mind that might be brewing there about my faith and where God is taking me! I don't want it to become more then it should be, but I so enjoy getting to know other Christian women who are so loving and willing to pray for me! Thanks for the great post!