Thoughts on Journaling

I love to journal. Everything about it intrigues me. And my love for journaling has created a love for (you guessed it) journals. I am one that loves to go to Barnes and Nobles just to look at the journals, the one that will stop to look at the notebooks in the school supply section of the grocery store, and one that has a stash of around 5-10 notebooks or journals in my closet for future recordings. I have no idea when or where this zeal for journaling emerged; I can only remember that when I was really little my Mom found me in the diary aisle of our school supply store clutching a diary with a horse printed on the front (I don't know if it was the horse or the diary that infatuated me).

I write all this to say that a love for journaling combined with a love for God is a powerful combination. Every child of God has their own story, their own daily walk with God that longs to be recorded on a page that outlasts even their own life. What would we have without such recordings? The Bible? The journals and books of the great Christian men and women who have gone before us? 

Their stories encourage, convict, and inspire us only because they recorded it. Imagine if Matthew, Mark, Luke or John had failed to obey the Spirit's voice and inspiration and not written any of their accounts or personal experiences about the Jesus our Savior! Where would we be? What would we know?

It is so important to write down your thoughts, experiences, and learnings. If only for the purpose for you to be able to look back and remember God's faithfulness and grace in your own life, do it for that reason. It's truly important.

Awhile back I was reading the Rebelution Blog and found this great post on journaling. In this post was a quote from Don Whitney's Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life which would be good to write in the front of your journal as a reminder of the importance of journaling to monument God's faithfulness:

 "As a Christian your journal is a place to record the works and ways of God in your life.

Your journal also can include an account of daily events, a diary of personal relationships, a notebook of insights into Scripture, and a list of prayer requests. It is where spontaneous devotional thoughts or lengthy theological musings can be preserved. Consider the words of the Maurice Roberts about journaling:

“The logic of this practice is inevitable once men have felt the urge to become moulded in heart and life to the pattern of Christ. No one will keep a record of his inward groans, fears, sins, experiences, providences and aspirations unless he is convinced of the value of the practice for his own spiritual progress.”

Josiah Pratt noted the value of a journal in self-examination:

“The practice of keeping a journal would promote vigilance. The lives of many are spent at a sort of hazard. They fall into certain religious habits: and are perhaps under no strong temptations. They are regular at church and sacrament, and in their families. They read the Bible and pray daily in secret. But here it ends. They know little of progress or decline of the inner man. They are Christians, therefore, of very low attainments. The workings of sin are not noticed, as they should be, and therefore grace is not sought against them: and the genial emotions of grace are not noticed, and therefore not fostered and cultivated. Now, a journal would have a tendency to raise the standard to such persons by exciting vigilance.”

Consider journaling, not only “for the purpose of godliness,” but also as a way to raise up “a monument of God’s faithfulness” in your life."

I would love to hear about your journals. Even though I do regularly keep a journal, sometimes I wonder how others keep (or layout) their journals. What kind of journal do you keep? Do you write everything as a prayer to God? Do you begin, "Dear Diary," or "Dear God," or neither? Do you have separate journals for different subjects like one for prayers and one for Bible study? Do you write daily happenings or spiritual thoughts? Do you have a favorite brand or style of journal you like?

Not My Will

I have been doing a lot of pondering and meditating on Jesus these past few days (as I am sure most of you have), specifically about His relation to the cross in the light of what holiday we are celebrating today. And through my reflections on His sufferings, torment, and His ultimate victory, the quality that has struck me deepest is His complete surrender to God’s will. Let’s remember that Jesus was Himself God too, but yet He set aside His own preferences in order to obey His Father’s will, even when that meant the cruelest of deaths for Jesus.

Evidenced by the deep anguish is His voice in the Garden of Gethsemane, surrendering His will to God was a difficult and painful experience: “Then He said to them (the disciples), “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me.” And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me: yet not as I will, but as You will.”” Matthew 26:38-39

Application for us lies in the question and demonstration of if our lives are lived following our own wills rather than God’s.  Am I daily taking up my cross and following Jesus, denying myself with all my desires, interests, and preferences? The answer to that should be revealed by what kind of life I live and who’s orders and interests I follow.

This mentality is not easy to apprehend, if fact, it goes against everything in us. The cross is heavy. But by the power of the Spirit, when we are weak He is made strong. Jesus has went before us and can sympathize with our weaknesses and frailties. He gives a much needed grace.

Making God’s interests our interests is the mindset we must come to in order to slip into the easy and light yoke with Christ and where we find rest for our souls. Come to Jesus... “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him take up his cross...” “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest...”

Like Christ’s suffering resulted in ultimate glory and praise, our suffering for the cross and denial of self results in glory. God has abundantly rewarded His Holy Son for the sacrifice Jesus made for God’s will. God is the great Rewarder and Comforter that He promises in His Word. And although final reward for us is presented when Jesus comes again, God is merciful in that He gives grace for the road; suppling rest for the soul, peace to the heart, and hope for the mind.

Let us come to Jesus this day and embrace His will for us, knowing full well of His promised rewards and the comforts that await us here and also in heaven where He is waiting for us.

On this Good Friday

As I searched for profound words to share with you this Good Friday, I was again reminded that my words are merely human utterings that change nothing in the soul of man (or woman) unless inspired by God's Spirit. So, in that light, I would like to share from the Word breathed from God Himself that can stir the spirit, pierce the soul, and renew the mind more than any other words ever spoken. God's precious Word holds for us the reality and passion that this day holds for the children of God.

 

To Jesus Christ, the Holy One:

 

Despised and rejected by men; 

a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief . . .

we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.

But He was wounded for our transgressions;

He was crushed for our iniquities;

upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace,

and by His stripes we are healed.

 

All we like sheep has gone astray;

we all have turned every one to his own way;

and the Lord had laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

 

He was oppressed, and He was afflicted,

yet, He opened not His mouth;

like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,

and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,

so he opened not His mouth. . .

 

He was cut off out of the land of the living,

stricken for the transgression of my people. . .

There was no deceit in His mouth.

Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush Him;

He has put Him to grief.

 

Isaiah 53:3-20

 

Hope of the Heart

"And now, Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in You." Ps. 39:7

Hope is a life support of the human soul. Without it we live our lives with a sense of inner despair and outward defeat. Our hope for the present and future is where we find purpose and cause for endurance.

I have never really meditated much on the virtue or necessity of having true hope in my life, that is, until I had experienced a sense of lost hope. (God has a unique way of teaching us the importance of something by allowing us to experience times without it.) Hope is one of those things we don't "work on" like other virtues, but is equally important. Because we don't purpose to "acquire" more hope in our lives, we might miss the change and vision possessing it can bring.

Hope is described in Scripture as an anchor of the soul (Heb. 6:19). It stabilizes us. It secures us. It grounds us. God knew we needed a hope for the future to give us vision when life seems monotonous, dreams crash, and light is shadowed. The ultimate hope for a Christian's future is heaven; finally at last being with our Savior, our Father, and our Comforter. No more pain. No more tears. The living hope. (1 Peter 1:3) Our eternal hope strengthens our hearts and equips us for endurance.

Are there areas in your life that seem hopeless? Maybe it is a friendship you've given up on because of pain or poor communication. Maybe it's a fault you keep stumbling over again and again. Maybe it is a dream for your future that has yet to materialize. Maybe it is a deeper ache in your heart that you really can't describe but it leaves you weary of life. Maybe you are having a season of "waiting" that is depleting your strength.

May I encourage you to renew your hope in God? This morning, I prayed the verse written above asking Him, "Lord, for what do I wait? Please give me patience and endurance. Show me again what I am waiting for. My hope is in You, Jesus. You are my only hope. Help me remember that." He also brought me to the beloved verses in Isaiah 40:31 which encourage, "Yet those who wait (also translated hope) for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary."

Hope is powerful. Don't underestimate it. Jesus came to bring hope for you and me and be able to spread that hope to others.

"But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give and account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence." 1 Peter 3:15

A Real Woman . . .

While surfing around random blogs a few weeks ago, I came across this amazing piece of writing biblically describing a real woman. And I would like to share it here with you. I encourage you to prayerfully read over these godly qualities examining your own heart and life in the light of them.

 

A real woman . . .

…is glad she’s a woman and rejoices in her femininity, expressing it through her attitude, appearance and bearing. (1 Timothy 2:9-10)

…does not compete for equality with men or chafe at God’s design for male and female, but delights in and understands the importance of her calling to complement man’s role. (1 Timothy 2:11-12, Ephesians 5:22-24)

…values the cultivation of her mind and diligently seeks after wisdom and knowledge. (Proverbs 22:17-21, 2:2-6)

…realizes her imperative need to allow the Holy Spirit to control her emotions and expressions of them. (James 1:19-20)

…does not wallow in self-pity or make a habit of voicing complaints, but radiates cheerfulness and joy. (Proverbs 15:15, Proverbs 17:22)

…appreciates her father’s protection, and respects and submits to his authority. In so doing, she is preparing herself to exercise the Biblical role in her relationship with a possible future husband. (Ephesians 5:33-6:3, 1 Peter 3:1-2)

…is trustworthy and gains the respect of those around her. (Proverbs 31:11)

…restrains herself from listening to, or participating in gossip, but instead speaks with wisdom and discretion. (Proverbs 11:12-13, 22, 20:19, 3:11)

…encourages and builds up those around her instead of criticizing and tearing them down. (1 Thessalonians 5:11, Ephesians 4:29)

…does not have a nagging, contentious or manipulative manner in which she deals with others. (Judges 16:16, Proverbs 21:9, 19, 26:21)

…is not boisterous or loud in her speech or actions but is characterized by a gentle and quiet spirit. (Proverbs 9:13, 1 Peter 3:4)

…portrays chastity, modesty and reverence in her manner, and wears the ornament of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is her true beauty. (1 Peter 3:3-4, Titus 2:4-5)

…is not offended by respect shown her through gentlemanly courtesies (opening doors, etc.) but cultivates the differences between the genders that make her worthy of this deference. (1 Peter 3:7, Mark 10:6)

…seeks to make God her number one desire and the Lover of her soul, knowing that only He can fully satisfy. (Psalm 73:25, Psalm 63:1)

…uses her years of singleness to seek and serve God without distraction, and is content to leave the details of her future to Him. (Psalm 73:25, Philippians 4:11)

…does not relate to members of the opposite gender in a flirtatious or forward manner, but instead saves all her passion for her future husband. (Thessalonians 4:3-8, Proverbs 6:25, 1 Corinthians 7:1)

…holds her virginity before marriage sacred and will not compromise it for anything. (This one goes for guys too)

(1 Timothy 5:22)

~ Philip Hainline, Heidi Reimer, and Maria Reimer

I've been Tagged...

I have been tagged by the sweet ladies at Handmaidens with a Mission to write 7 "weird" things about me... so here it goes! (I hope you all will still be my friends...) 

In return, I have tagged 7 more people named at the end of this post.

 

 Here are the Rules:

 1. Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog.

2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.

3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as the links to their blogs.

4. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

 

Kaysie's facts:

1. I make really strange noises while I sleep (to the great annoyance of my sisters...)

2. When I am driving alone, I turn up the music really loud

3. I absolutely love the smell of my laptop

4. It is a daily necessity for me to laugh, a lot. Sometimes I go into my sister's bedroom and plead with them to make me laugh.

5. I am allergic to dairy products

6. I love to dance when no one is looking

7. I eat 2 or 3 apples a day

 

I tag:

Courtney and Carley at Radiant Daughters 

Sara at Simply Sanctified

Phylicia at A Quill and Inkwell

Jimena at Do Good and Communicate

Amy at Because He Lives

Ella at How Great is His Faithfulness

Allison at Set Apart

 

Hope you all enjoyed! :)

A Quote

"Hold fast to Jesus both in life and death

and commit yourself to His steadfast love,

for He alone can help you when all others fail.

Your Beloved is such that He admits no other rival;

He wants your heart all to Himself

and desires to reign there as a King on His Own throne."

~ Thomas a' Kempis 

Press On

"...I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them all but rubbish that I may gain Christ ... that I may know Him ... Not that I have already obtained it or become perfect, but I press on so that I may laid hold of that for which also was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on..." Philippians 3:8, 10, 12-14

Behold one of my favorite Scripture passages. These verses are simply amazing, and they speak deeply to me, giving purpose and vision for life, sufferings, past scars, and future glory.

In view of what I have shared with you in the past two posts (first and second), I wanted to fully clarify the profound biblical attitude we are called to have in respect to past scars and hardships. I feel that sometimes I can convince myself to be thankful for the scars I bear, but truthfully I fool myself and bury the sincere regret and bitterness towards past pain, harsh words, trapping conflict, and physical marring instead of embracing the joyful attitude we are called to have in Christ.

For some of us, it is really tough to let go of the past mistakes and painful events and rejoice in the future. What happened to us hurt... really bad. How can we just forget about that and say, "Oh yes, I am so thankful for my scars..." without feeling deceptive and fake?

These verses hold the strength and hope we look for.

We must pray and strive for the upward attitude Paul possessed to be able to utter such profound words. He viewedeverything as loss, as nothing, in view of the surpassing value - the exceeding worth - of knowing Jesus Christ. Paul definitely had reasons to boast and he certainly had reasons to be ashamed. But it didn't matter anymore. He viewed knowing Jesus as the chief treasure and prize of living life, suffering hardships, and living in victory.

Paul wasn't perfect, and neither are we, but there is only one thing we can do to obtain holy perfection and godly maturity: PRESS ON. Forget what lies behind and reach forward with all you have, and press on. Whatever is holding you back, whether it be your scars, or past failures, or present defeat, lay it at the cross and surrender whatever it is to Christ. Then get up and walk away - and persevere.

The verse does not simply say, "Now just forget about what lies behind." God gives us further and needed direction: "Reach forward to what lies ahead, and press on!" This is an entirely different mental course. It is as if you stop looking back over your shoulder and turn your head to focus and reach for what is in front of you, to what lies ahead.

"And let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus..." (Heb. 12:1-2)

This is my encouragement to you dear friends... press on in this life of faith. Don't keep looking back. Look ahead. Look at Jesus.