Goodbye 2015 Hello 2016

 

What an interesting year 2015 was.

According to the annual WordPress report I went around New York City seven times on a subway train that holds 1,200 people with over 8,000 views. My top 5 posts actually came from 2014, which are as follows: 1: This Is What Some Of Our Fourth Graders Are Reading In School (which by the way is the one post I have been thinking about removing, as I feel young men are using it for the wrong purpose it was intended for), 2: Celebrate Recovery Group List For Louisiana (which I am very grateful people are using the list to find a Celebrate Recovery chapter near them), 3: My Testimony, 4: Dear Porn Star: Please Forgive Me, and 5: Sad Story this Morning: Russian Porn Star Is Raped (which is a sad tragedy that does happen within the porn industry).

My favorites, though, were written this year and they include A Father’s Prayer For His Son, Dear Struggling Friend, A Father’s Prayer for His Daughter and There Is Power In The Blood: A Missed Teachable Moment.

There are several folks I need to thank not only for their continued support in my writing but in life in general. Chris over at Forgiven Wife, Bonny at Oyster Bed 7, Wendy at Musings & More by Wendy, Jason at My Beloved Is Mine and one of my best friends in life Angie Morgan. I also would like to thank Uplifting Marriage for all they do.

For the month of December I chose to do a series of daily inspirations. That went very well and it was a lot of fun. At the beginning of the month I decided to place a challenge out there to my Facebook readers. If I hit 1,000 views for the month I would be giving away a copy of 52 Things Wives Need From Their Husbands. Well…I will be mailing that out soon as that goal was met and beat with over 1,200 views this month, which blows away every other month of 2015. The challenge was placed on Spiritual Leaders of the Family so I must choose one husband from that page and inform him that he has a copy of the book coming his way.

Thanks guys!

 

 

Another surprise just happened this morning…500 likes! That was another shocker for me. I truly appreciate the fact that people have liked my posts as well as the daily inspirations. Even after two years of writing I am still amazed that people read my blog. I truly appreciate each and everyone of you for your belief in me, not only as a writer but as a person as well.

There were two other surprises that happened in 2015 in reference to this little ole blog. The main one is…this…a young man accepted Christ into his life after reading one of the posts. We talk frequently know on social media and I am glad to have him as a friend. The second surprise came in an email on the 10th of December:

Stuart,

Thank you for your online ministry. It is a blessing. There have been multiple times that I have read your blog and something you posted reached me either directly or after further introspection. I have often found God speaking to me through your posting. There are about a dozen Christian blogs I look at daily and I don’t know that any have reached me from more directions, from your porn testimonials, to your recent 10 days of inspiration.

Just wanted to say thanks and I appreciate you.

I was and still am blown away.

 

It has truly been an interesting year for my blog despite the lack of posts due to me being unemployed for most of the year and living with my wife/ex again. The privilege of being with my kids full time and trying to rekindle a lost love via a servant mindset was worth it.

Sadly I must speak the truth and say the lack of employment caused major stress for both me and my wife/ex. It was hard on her, as she was paying all the bills until I found a job. I did find a warehouse job and I love it. but at moment the marriage/relationship is dead. We love each other deeply and want the very best for each other but we can not have the intimate relationship needed as husband and wife. Her choice..not mine.

So looking onward to 2016 I will be trying to get a new car, as mine is dead and also trying to find a place to live in the near future. Prayers would be greatly appreciated.

I look forward to writing more and possibly doing another month of specific posts as the Bible is loaded with things that need to be shared. I will continue to write about my struggles, as I did fall in 2015 in my battle against porn. I also look forward to what the Lord has in store for my life in the coming year as well as what He will do in the lives of my children.

Thank you dear readers for sharing 2015 with me. May we continue in 2016 and beyond.

God Bless,

Stu