Journaling My Journey - Part Two

Welcome to part two of my journaling journey. I hope you continue to find encouragement  and insight in my posts. To find the original questions, please visit Marybeth Whalen's blog.

Question 6: What is the nicest thing someone has said to you recently? Why did the compliment matter to you?
Someone recently told me I was at the top of her list. The compliment mattered to me, because I see God's hand in it. God put me at the top of her list. I only walked in obedience and faith to get there...

Question 7: Do you ever feel like you’re not good enough, smart enough, or valuable enough?
Yes, there have been times in my life when I've felt this. Read my post here to see what I've come to understand on this very topic. And be sure to follow the question's link to find a great book to read on this very subject! 

Question 8: If you do these three things, your day is good. List the three things and write a bit about why those three things in particular make a better day.
First thing: Read God's word and pray. If I skip this step, my day feels unproductive (things don't seem to get completely finished), I lack patience with my children and other things, and I tend to feel sluggish or incompetent. I MUST read God's word in the morning.
Second thing: Hug my children and hubby. If I don't do this, I feel like I've missed out on an important part of my day. It's so much fun to draw them close and reassure them of my love.
Third thing: Encourage another woman. I think encouraging words, words of affirmation, is my primary love language. I know how much it means to me when a friend calls or leaves a message on Facebook to encourage me in my day. I love to do the same for others. Whether it's a phone call, a Facebook post, a promotion of something they've done, an encouraging card, or any other thing, I like to do something or tell someone how great they are and how blessed and honored I am to know them.

Question 9: What is the first thing you think about when you wake up each morning? Do you need to change that or are you good with where your thoughts run to?
The first thing I think about when I wake up each morning is what the day holds. I consider what is going on in my life and the lives of those around me, and I take it to the Lord. I'm usually inspired first thing in the morning. So I don't think I need to change that...for now.

Question 10: Fill in the blank: It's time for me to start _______                      .
Exercising regularly. Not sporadically or as I feel inclined to do so.

Now that I've answered the questions, is there one you could share an answer to? I'd love to hear your responses! 

Join Me in Journaling My Journey

Yesterday, we spoke about "journaling jitters." Today, I'd like to invite you to join me in journaling my journey by encouraging you to journal your own journey. (Is that a tongue twister, or what?)

Marybeth Whalen challenged her readers to journal throughout the month of August. I love Marybeth's blog, and her idea inspired me.


In good blogger company, I decided to take her up on her challenge. Throughout the next few weeks, I will post my answers to her journaling questions. My hope is that you will find encouragement for your own life in my answers. It is also my hope that you will join in the journaling. Feel free to post answers to the questions in my comments...or maybe even start a blog/journal of your own! 

Question 1: How do you want to be seen in ten years? 
I'd like to have a much deeper relationship with Jesus than I do now. I'd like to spend far more time in undistributed prayer, considering my children are still young now. I'd like Together Ministries to be full-speed-ahead and to be ministering to women and couples across the United States. I am confident God will use my husband and I to strengthen and solidify marriages via the ministry. On a personal work level, I would love to have at least two novels published, as well as many more articles, devotions, and such. Maybe a non-fiction book or two, as well. (It's good to set goals, isn't it?) I'd love to have watched my children grow into spiritually mature young men and a lady. 


Question 2: In ten years, what do you want to be known for? 
I'd like to be known for making a difference in the lives of women, directing them toward God's love and tender mercies, helping them to overcome the difficulties they face in life, as well as helping them overcome the things of their past. We have victory in Jesus! I'd also like to be known for being an excellent wife, the crown of my husband, and a loving and gentle mother who has nurtured her children into a healthy adulthood serving Christ. 

Question 3: What kind of personality do you want to have in ten years? How might you work on developing that between now and then? 
I'd like to develop a funnier sense of humor. I've been working on this for two years now. I practice on my husband, coming up with one liners and quick witted responses to his statements or jokes. I'd also like to have a gentler spirit without losing my strength. I have to remember to be wise as a serpent, but gentle as a dove when dealing with issues. 


Question 4: What do you want your family to look like in ten years? 
I want to see my children grown into men and a woman of God who serve the Lord and others with all of their beings. I want to see them living their lives in fullness. I'd also like to see them following their dreams. I'd like to be enjoying life with my husband as almost empty nesters, as my youngest will be 17 in ten years. I don't wish this time away, but I do look forward to what God has in store for my family. 

Question 5: What 3 things would you change about your life right now if you could? Why? 
I wouldn't change anything about my life right now, if I could, except to be out of debt. So I guess I'd want to change my spending habit, so I could get out of debt faster and be debt-free. Why? Because ministry is important to me. God's kingdom is important to me. And I can't pour as much into God's kingdom as I'd like when I'm trying to pay off those who I owe. But that's all I'd change, and I'm working on it right now in my life.

Now that you've read my answers, what are some of yours? I'd love to get to know you better! Don't be shy!

Photo Courtesy of Lynsey O'Donnell

Overcoming Journaling Jitters

The blank page stares at you, and you wonder what it is you should place upon it. Your mind has a thousand things to say, but you can't seem to pull one thought to the front of your mind.

Is it the fear of someone reading what you put in the privacy of your journal? Is it the fear of saying something that might offend another? Is it the fear of writing itself? Or maybe you don't like your handwriting...

Whatever the phobia is, here are some suggestions to getting past the journaling jitters and starting to write out the stories of your life:

1. Start simple. Write down what is important today. What do you have to do? What has been accomplished? What are you worried about? What are you excited about?

2. Write down what God is doing in your life. Testify of His goodness in your day.

3. Write down what God is saying to you. Did a scripture verse jump out at you during your morning reading? What struck you about it?

4. What do you have to be thankful for? Did God make a way for your electric bill to be paid? Did your father overcome a battle with cancer? Did your husband get that promotion he'd been trying for? Did you get sleep last night after a week of tossing and turning? Write it down.

5.  Write down a memory from childhood that you'd like to share with your kids one day.

6. Write down something you've learned from someone else that you'd love to share with someone else some day. Testify to their impact on your life.

7. Make a list of your favorite foods, movies, songs, etc. If you have a memory associated with them, write that down, too.

8. There are books like Natalie Goldberg's Old Friend from Far Away that are written to get you thinking about writing about your life. Pick up a copy of one from your local bookstore and use the prompts for journaling.

Journaling can be as simple or detailed as you want to make it. Start with easy posts and then work your way up to longer ones. Use the ideas above to get you started. Pick one topic for each day of the week, if you'd like. Start there. As you continue to be faithful to keeping your journal, it'll become easier as the time goes by. And soon you'll find yourself enjoying it!

Photo Courtesy of Ben Lancaster

The Joys of Journaling

An author friend of mine has been posting clips from the diary she kept as a little girl on her Facebook page. I've gotten a kick out of reading them, as it's helping me get to know her better. It's also caused me to think of what a great tool journaling has been in my own life.

Why do people journal or keep a diary? I can't tell you everyone else's reasons, but I can share why I've been journaling since I was eight or so.

1. It started as a way for me to say things on paper that I couldn't say out loud. I could write down anything I wanted to, and only my journal and I would know about it. I confided in my journal like I would to my best friend, only I knew my journal wouldn't repeat what I'd said - ever.

2. It became a way to put my life on a page. Who I admired. Who I couldn't stand to be around. Who said something mean that day. Who complimented me that day. What happened when I... you get the idea. I could keep track of my memories on the pages of my journal.

3. It became my artistic, creative outlet. I wrote poem after poem in the pages of my journals.

4. It became a place where I could take notes and learn. And relearn. Once I met Jesus and made Him Lord of my life, I began taking notes in my journals during church or leadership meetings or at conferences. I studied from my journals. To this day I can go back and learn some more from them.

5. It became a place of inspiration. Any time I read a scripture that inspires me, I write it down in my journal. Sometimes I expound. Others, I simply write the verse.

6. It became a place of prayer. Some days I have a difficult time focusing on my prayers. Distractions come at me from every angle. But if I sit in one place and break out my journal and pen, I can focus right in as I write out my heart's cry to God.

7. It became a place of testimony. I write down daily events and happenings as a reminder of what God is doing in my life. I can go back and read journal entries from five years ago and see where God has brought me from to where He's brought me to.

8. It became a place of thanksgiving. Looking back and reading about loss of loved ones, marital stress, step-family issues, etc. I can see where God's hand was in it all, where He never left me nor forsook me. I can take note and give thanks to Him for all He is to me and all He has done in my life. It's a place where I write down my thankfulness for healing broken children, restoring family relationships, providing financial relief, and simply just loving me for who I am in Him.

9. It's been a place for me to practice writing. And finding my voice. God called me into a ministry of writing two years ago. It's a call I knew was on my life years and years ago, since I was a little girl. But it's only recently God has stirred the desire up inside of me again. In order to be a writer, one must write, and so I do...

10. It's been a place of reflection. I am amazed at what I discover about myself as I go back and read entries from two, ten, or twenty years ago. I see who I was and who God has created me to be. Who I left behind and who I am now. I see the immaturity and the maturity. God shows me things, whispers, "See how far I've brought you?" and continues to love on me through the words.

What joy do you find in journaling? If you don't journal already, why not? And if you'd like to start, today's as good as any...

Photo Courtesy of Sanja Gjenero