Psalm 126:3
The LORD has done great things for us,
and we are filled with joy.
The LORD has done great things for us,
and we are filled with joy.
Welcome to my party! Whether you've been around these parts since the beginning or have popped in for your very first visit at Extravagant Grace, come on in and enjoy yourself! It has been a blast to bring this party to blogville. I hope you have as much fun enjoying the festivities as I did in pulling them together!
A Trip Down Memory Lane
Since this celebration is in honor of my 500th post, I thought it would be fitting today to look back at how it all started...
Extravagant Grace officially began on September 12, 2009, which was more along the lines of "going live" rather than a new birth. My very first blog, The Laundry Alternative, which was focused on living life from under the pile, wasn't broad enough to encourage all the women God put on my heart. At the time TLA began, I was knee deep in laundry, nursing twins, and training up their older sisters. All I could see was the piles of life (and laundry) surrounding me, as I desperately searched for Jesus and my significance in the midst of it all.
When God birthed Extravagant Grace, the piles weren't any smaller, but my passion to encourage was much greater -- to minister not just to mommies in the toddler and diaper years, but to women of all ages, including teen girls. I had no idea what God had in store for me when I embarked on EG. I certainly never imaged that I'd still be blogging 500 posts later, nor how blessed I would be through meeting such an amazing group of gals from all walks of life -- single, married, divorced, widowed, with children, waiting for children, healthy, and heartily fighting illness, in college or just launching into a career. Every type of woman I can think of has touched my life with sweet words and tender comments here at Extravagant Grace. I foolishly thought I'd be ministering to you, when in fact, God has had you minister to me. What a gift, all because of God's extravagant grace.
A Gift for You...
What's a party without a great favor. I pray this bit of Word, which is also my Wordfilled Wednesday post, refreshes your day and inspires your walk with the Lord. Grab the graphic to post on your blog or print out at home...
And what's a party without games and prizes...
Well, it certainly wouldn't be nearly as fun. I love party games, as they get people laughing and almost always put a smile on a face. I especially love giving unexpected gifts to the winners, which makes the pain of playing worth it for most! Thanks to so many incredible sponsors, we have a great prize list hand-selected to bless your socks off! There will be one random winner selected for each for each prize, which will be awarded at the end of our party time! Please note, I'd love to have international bloggers participate, however, only the internet based prizes will be awarded to those bloggers due to the cost of shipping. Be sure to note the game rules below!
Game Rules...
- Answer today's game question in comment below: Share with us why you started your blog AND one life-lesson (as in character building, humbling, encouraging, challenge) you've learned through blogging! Only comments answering this question will gain an entry to the prize list. There will be a new question each day of the party.
- Post a party button on your blog sidebar, if you haven't already done so.
- Invite your bloggy friends to come to the party, AND be sure to tell them to leave a comment here, saying "_____ invited me!"
Because of Him,
Here's the 500th Post Party button code...
Posts
17 Comments:
I did a post on this many months ago.
Amazingly most of my readers would compliment me with my positive outlook...and how I have inspired them with my blog, yet I started my blog as an outlet of my stress and frustration...it was to give voice to my other part. Yet as I meet wonderful people here things changed. I have learned to develop good relationships virtually and realize the value of support and friendships in this special community.
More than anything...my WFW is a living proof that God is always amidst its people...even in the Blogosphere!
Hi Lisa,
Congratulations on your 500th post!
The LORD has done great things and has filled me with joy!!
I first started blogging just for fun; or so I thought. But the Lord said, "Blog ME. Share ME." After that, He's taken me on this incredible ride, crossing my path with the most wonderful people this side of heaven. Through blogging God's teaching me to BE REAL, and stop being a man pleaser and to put Him first, loving Him with my everything. I know with all my heart that He purposed me to be here in blogland, and birthed the shabby olde potting shed to help me grow in Him and share Him.
Holykisses,
Lea
Blessings dear one.
Hi Lisa..
Congrats...Congrats with your 500th post!!
I LOVE party's and i did not see that " this give-away is only for US and Canada" So i join in and will celebrate on your blog...LOL...
Last week i wrote in my Bloggersappreiation week post how and why i started blogging (http://myjourney-godsown.blogspot.com/2009/05/blogger-appreciation-week.html) :
Why
In a way i notice it is therapeutic for me for my Mind and Spirit to focuss on God and to make a practical dailylink to what i'm learning!
The reading of blogs and receiving comments inspires and encourages. A whole new world opened to me a world of Christian woman who are building up friendships online and encourage eachother to stand strong in The Lord and pray together..
What lesson i learned is that experiencing the interaction of encouraging ,loving and praying for eachother made me realize this:
It touches my heart a lot because this is HOW God intend us to be and share with eachother as Christians.We have all the same way to go in Life : seeking salvation, working on leading a holy Life to be at the end with our Lord and Savior and He saying to us "WELL DONE mY FAITFULL SERVANT"!
Hope you still with me..I didn't know how to make it shorter to express it clearly...
Wish you a beautifull Godfilled day
We meet
Bernice at "My Journey"
Congrats Lisa!
I blog because God urged me to. I was learning so much about Him and how More God could equal less me that I was emailing friends and family almost weekly to share what God was showing me, that I thought I would put it out there for others as well. It's been a wonderful experience! God is so good.
Blessings
Congrats!
I started blogging because I wanted to share my experience as a mom to other stay at home moms. Since then, I know that God has wanted to use this avenue to encourage others and bless others. Indeed, it has been a fruitful journey. I have been blessed to come to know others who would encourage and reprimand me through their posts!
Congratulations on your 500th post! That's alot of sharing of God's word! Amazing. :)
I started blogging a couple years ago because I liked the idea of recording my thoughts and fun times. Turns out...it hasn't always been fun times that I've recorded, however, by blogging about those times I think it has helped me get through those tough times better. I've read so many encouraging words from other blogs that it has really made a difference in my life.
I love WFW. I'm always able to find a verse that speaks directly to me for that day!
I added the Party button to my blog. :)
www.lisalyn66@blogspot.com
Lisa
I started my blog, because I made some great blogging friends, and I loved visiting blogs. Some had also suggested that I start one. I hope I have learned to be an encourager through my blog and visiting others. I try to post things that will share His Word and love. I am also so happy to share the music I have written with others.
Hi Lisa,
Congratulations on your 500th post!
Wonderful.. hugs, Patty
500th post WOW! I enjoyed your blog. I also was touched by your blog- Ruth project- what an important and precious ministry! Blessings sister, Laurie
Congrats and thanks for having the party. I hope there is cake. LOL. I started My Journey because I needed to take some time to myself away from ministry. OHHH...a life lesson..I've learned through blogging. I guess it would have to be that I am not the only one out there. I go to a really, really big church that has three services. There is no friendship (at least we haven't found any) The women's ministry consists of Tues. Bible study which I don't go to anymore because ministry is too busy. But when I did I just didn't feel like I connected. I guess because I don't have young children. I have found friendship and encouragement through blogging. I believe that God uses this medium to bring us sisters together. Were you expecting that long an answer. Well let's party on. I am off to look for cake and invite some people over here.
Wow, 500 posts in 10 months time?! Wow! That's awesome. Congratulations! I love, love, love your new graphic and will place it on my blog. Thank you! (By the way, I LOVE that font! Is it Zapfino?)
Okay, so I started blogging after a friend of mine in New Jersey started. She is on a website called The Nest and apparently lots of new wives/moms started this little trend over there. They post about their lives as newlyweds, keeping house, juggling careers, etc.
Well, I've always loved to write and thought I would start my own. Interestingly enough, my first blog ever was my testimony of how I came to Christ. Long story, short: I deleted it after a few months because ... well, I don't even know why. I guess I felt a little nervous about revealing so much of myself out there. God spoke to me a short time after that and told me how my testimony will encourage others. So, I started up again. It was a short time after that that I found CWO and found a plethora of Christian blogs! And, oh, how I fell in love! I have been so incredibly encouraged by everyone I have "met" through blogging. So inspiring and encouraging.
And my life-lesson ... well, I guess it was that this blogging world has given me courage to speak the Truth. To share my testimony and edify myself in His glorious name. To share my love of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
~Stacey : )
Hey Lisa, Stopped over to give you an award and you are having a party! YEAH!!! Happy 500th post! WOW!
I started my blog because I thought it would help clear my head of alot of things that are int here! Scary place! God has shown me much about myself through blogging. I hope that I have been an encouragement to people who stop by! One thing that I have struggled with and one of the reasons I am currently not blogging, is my need for approval. Not getting alot of comments to my post was bothering me! That is not right or God honoring. So right now I am waiting on Him to see whether I should continue and what that should look like. You are such a blessing to me and I am thankful that we met through blogging!
I started my blog to track my crazy life as a mom of 3 children (not knowing I would have one more)& all of my ups and downs. I knew one day I would look back and wonder what happened to all those years & didn't want to forget the memories.
I've learned that no matter how hard things get in my life, God is right by my side holding my hand and walking with me through the fires.
I happened upon you through WFW, and look! I stumbled into a party! Congratulations on your 500th post - God is good! :D I'm looking forward to getting to know you through your blog.
I started my blog because...well, everyone else was doing it. lol. I started blogging on Shoutlife, then moved on to Godlinked. I was writing about this, that, and everything, but felt most complete when I blogged about my journey with God. I decided to leap out and start a "real" blog, and journal the lessons God teaches me from life, prayer and scripture. At times, I answer my own ponderings as I write them out, and other times I am excited to share a revelation God has shown me. I've been humbled by the comments that tell me how I've blessed others, and I've been encouraged by all the bloggy friends I've met through this venture.
In his extravagant Love
Cat
www.catrinabradley.blogspot.com
How exciting - post number 500!
I know this was yesterday's question, but I wanted to answer this question because it has meant a lot to me.
I started blogging because my heart was breaking. I had miscarried just a few days earlier and I had to have somewhere to put all those overwhelming emotions. Bit by bit, God has taken this "therapy" page and turned it into a page full of joy. I try to stay as honest and real as ever - when I am sad, or angry or hurt, I share that. But God has used blogging, and the people I have found through it, for a lot of healing.
HI Lisa,
I stared off blogging because I was going to share my journey with chemo and a life threatening illness with no cure, but than the Lord had other plans when he spoke to my spirit about allowing the blog to be used to encourage others despite what I was going through. So I began to use the gift of poetry and writing the Lord has placed upon me and it has been a wonderful journey. I am not at all a seasoned or experienced writer, just one who writes from the heart. By the way I am celebrating my 2 year blogoversary so please come over and enter as well. I know as long as I keep encouraging my sistah's out there the Lord will himself encourage my soul and carry me through my journey, good or bad, joyful or sad. I am blessed and enjoy each moment of my life.
Aloha Lorie
Post a Comment
I'm so glad you decided to leave a comment. I'd love to hear your thoughts. I'd also love to follow up with you, so be sure to leave your email address or a link to your blog! If you'd like to contact me directly, just pop an email to Lisa at extragrace at gmail dot com.
Blessings, extravagantly,
Lisa