I love blogs

I love blogs. and blogging. I read way too many of varying themes (too many probably aimed at mothers, not 20 year old college students) and sometimes feel like a borderline stalker with a few of the blogs I read. But apart from the amazing blogs out there, I really have enjoyed the sense of not only togetherness that bloggers seem to feel, but the realness that permeates most of these blogs. It reminds me so much of what the body of Christ should look like. Women (and I'm sure men, I just don't read those) everyday are sharing some of their hardest struggles, deepest secrets to anyone who has access to a computer. 

I can't remember the last time I told my entire church any of my deepest secrets. While I don't think a circle time of sharing is the answer, I just wonder if we, as a church, can "encourage one another and build each other up" (1 Thessalonians 5:11) if we don't share our lives with each other. How can I know how to pray for and encourage a fellow believer if I don't know what is going on in their life? And not the I've been having a hard week. I feel that every time I'm with my small group or any other group, most prayer requests are always the generic "hard week" or "lots of school work" or "just stressed." While these are not bad prayer requests, (hint: there are no bad prayer requests), I wish we could all be a little more transparent. I am also guilty of it as well. I also think if we are all more transparent, then the more we can build each other up. 

As I read my favorite blog, she has been doing a series called What I Want You to Know. While reading the different entries has been interesting, I have been even more interested in the comments of these different entries. To see how many other people have experienced the same issue is astounding to me. So many times I think we are afraid to share our stories because no one else understands. I have found that the more you share your story, the more people you find who "get it" If as a body of believers we were more open and less afraid, then I think that we would be better not only at building each other up and encouraging each other but at glorifying the Lord together. Which is the ultimate goal.