Tag: journaling

Random Journal Day: In Good Company

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:11 ESV)

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my newest journal. love the zippered pocket incorporated into the canvas cover. journal is removable, so I could get a replacement and keep using the cover. (Found at Target)
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front view

Once a month, I join with Dawn and her fearless companions over at Random Journal Day. On the same weekend, I also have the joy of meeting in person with fearless journal keepers from our church. Both of these groups encourage me to continue the practice of dialoguing with God in my journal.

So for a treat, I am going to post my entry from today’s in person group with the RJD friends.

Today, our mentor encouraged us to journal about the topic of whether or not our prayers made a difference. Little did she know that I was struggling with this issue in my heart. It may seem odd to write in the presence of others, but it is cherished time set aside, where our leader offers us a prompt, then we each silently pour out our hearts into our journals.

Here is my journal response to her question:

Father God- What a privilege to be reminded that our prayers matter to You, to each other and to the one’s we pray for. I will never know the impact. You have given me seasons of intense intercessory prayer through prayer groups, Moms in Prayer International and the National Day of Prayer ministry, but lately my prayer life has been less structured and seemingly sporadic or very “arrow” prayer oriented. [An arrow prayer is just shooting requests up to God as I go, rather than a focused time of intercessory prayer.]

As the disciples asked , I ask again: “Teach me to pray–how–what–who–where–and when to pray.”

I have time.

I have tools.

I have topics.

What am I lacking? Tenacity? Hope? Faith? Why am I reluctant or strayed away from structured prayer? I feel vulnerable sharing and admitting that my intercessory prayer life is like an abandoned building. I do believe I have a rich , close relationship with You…show me the distractions and what has stunted my desire to intercede “systematically.” How should I pray for others? Do I lack discipline? A plan? The heart?

Thank you for time to take inventory, to admit my lack–thank you that with YOU I lack no good thing. Help me to seek you and follow your example, Jesus, of praying for others.

At this point, I paused in my journaling. The Holy Spirit prompted me to look up John 17, where Jesus prayed for His disciples and us before He died. He addressed the Father on our behalf to experience joy, to be kept from the evil one and to experience the love unifying relationship that he and the Father shared. Much to ponder.

And then I read in Romans 8, that even Paul understood that we didn’t know how to pray as we ought, and reminded us that the Spirit intercedes on our behalf! What relief! And the Spirit prays according to God’s will. In both passages, I heard echoes of the Lord’s prayer (the one he taught the disciples.)

Our Father who art in heaven hallowed by Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. To thine be the kingdom, and the glory and the power, forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer matters. And God is the one who ignites and sustains our prayer life. Hallelujah!

Journaling for about 30 minutes and sharing our insights in a group reminded each one of us that we are not alone in our spiritual struggles. What a blessing to have companions on this journaling journey.

Posted on by kelrohlf 9

A Defining Moment (or two) and RJD Link-UP!

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Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will]. (I Thessalonians 5:18 AMP)

I am so thankful that Dawn and Susie dreamed up and acted upon the idea of Random Journal Day! I have been occupied with running the marathon of Lent and Life this past week. Filling my days with running (because I am training for a longer race this year),spending time with family and friends and sharing my passion for personal discovery through art+journaling.

To pause here today feels good. To celebrate and catch my breath before heading out to the culmination of much prayer and preparation for a day retreat. To share the day with twenty or so other women exploring our emotions with Tracy Flori, life coach extraordinaire, and yours truly lauding the benefits of journaling and collaging as a means to process life.

I pulled out TWO random journals to share ideas with the retreat ladies, and then I remembered it was Random Journal Day! The first journal was from February-March 2012, and I just happened to turn to a page about Lent and Adventure.

Random moment becomes a defining moment. A moment where I SEE how much God leads and loves me. Adventure is a word that runs through my veins, and apparently I have been mulling it over for some time. Here are some questions I scribbled at the bottom of the page:

What is appealing about adventure? What is daunting? What feelings does the word evoke? Why is adventure such an [enticing] invitation? Can the the mundane, routine life be considered an adventure? Why or why not?

I think it would be interesting for me to actually answer these questions in my current journal! Will you join me?

The second random page I turned to was an affirmation from God about another passion of mine:

DEFINTIONS!!!

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The second random page I turned to was an affirmation from God to keep pursuing writing:

I found the page where I committed to publishing my devotions. Tracy Flori coached me through my goal setting and it was a lovely dream come true. However, that little book has been collecting dust. And I think God may be nudging me to promote it again. So here goes.

You can click here to read a sample chapter and purchase this little gem. 🙂

The adventure continues and God delights in our discoveries!

What is God nudging you to do today?

Posted on by kelrohlf 9

Back to Questions

When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees. Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:8-9)

 

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Last week, when I was mulling over the question of a theme for November, I landed on a quest of questions. My mind inquired, “What is the first question in Scriptures?”

I immediately thought of God asking Adam, “Where are you?” And this was the first question God ever asked of man. And I think He continues to ask the same question today:

Where are you?

 

A simple, three word question which can be translated in various ways:

Am I drifting? Am I hiding? Am I sheltered? Am I wandering? Am I lost? Am I found? Am I near? Am I afraid? Am I secure? Am I home?

Just a simple question. Will I answer?

 

How about you? How will you answer God’s first question?

 

Posted on by kelrohlf 4

Question: A Matter That Is Being Discussed

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. (Matthew 7:7 ESV)

 

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After a month of meeting with God through collage, Scriptures and gleanings from Brother Lawrence, it was hard to leave the practice behind.

Then I thought, why should I leave the practice of using collage and Scripture to dialogue with God? Why not keep the conversation open? After all, isn’t that what Brother Lawrence encouraged us to do? Practice the presence of God, in whatever circumstance we find ourselves.

November arrived on a Saturday, filled with expectation and a quest. My dear friend, Tracy Flori and I had spent months, days and hours dreaming and planning a day retreat for women. She offered an interactive seminar on “What is in a Question?: A Learner’s Quest,” leading us to ask productive questions in order to build and sustain healthy relationships.

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“What makes you BLOOM?”

It was a God drenched day. Drenched with sunshine, great dialogue, new insights and the chaos of a roomful of women conversing and creating. I led the women in making mini-journals, and asked them to respond to this question: “What do you WANT?” They wrote their answers on the piece of paper that would become their journal. We used collage techniques for a fun little reminder of the day.

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As I was thinking about a topic for my November posts, I thought I might do some early reflections on Advent. But then, I came across this question in a magazine, which I added to a collage that I was designing, and a new direction emerged.

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I took this question two ways. And both ways would be great prompts for a journal prayer to God.

1) “Do you have questions for ME?” (God is asking me, if I have any questions for Him.)
 
or the more courageous way . . .
 
2) Do YOU have questions for me? (I am asking God, if He has any questions for me.)
 

Which direction will you take with this question?

Won’t you join me this month for a quest? A quest of questions. A discussion of things that matter. A dialogue with each other and our Creator. (And maybe even some more collage fun!)

Posted on by kelrohlf 8

(re)visit: to consider or take up again {and RJD Link-Up}

Now go and write down these words.
    Write them in a book.
They will stand until the end of time
    as a witness.

(Isaiah 30:8 NLT)

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Today, I’m joining up with my favorite journal keepers Dawn and Susie over at the Random Journal Day Link-Up. I randomly chose this journal. It was fun to look at how I decorated the cover with summer themed stickers. Summer brings out the kid in me!

One thing, I like about keeping a journal is that I can revist it anytime I want. When I consider where I “was at” in my life on a certain day, I get to see how far I’ve come or not come in personal progress.

Here’s where I visited:.

Friday, May 6, 2011 (Almost three years ago)

I feel tired. I walked with T in the am. Gave energy to tutoring Latin. More energy to walking again with K. Energy to shopping and putting thought into a box for Scotland [my sister and her family were living there at the time.] I always want to put so much into the box. I wish I could deliver it myself. This time last year I was getting ready for the adventure to Scotland. I wish I could go back–but I have new adventures this summer–work on Bellerive [Honors College Literary publication] –finishing work–projecting work–discovery work–restful times and active times.  B comes home Tuesday. Another soul to interact and fuse with…new dynamics.

As I revist this entry, I notice that while my circumstances have shifted, living takes energy. Relationships matter. Walking is good. Work is good. New adventures and new dynamics continue to beckon me to keep living and breathing and moving.

On one corner of the page, I pasted this quote:

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A defining moment! Looking back I can see that my experiences in 2011 foreshadowed where I am today. On the next page, I made the declaration that I wanted to be part of the journaling revolution, a clarion call from my friend and journaling mentor, Lynn Morrissey. Three year laters I am part of the revolution, sharing here with RJD and teaching classes that incorporate journaling techniques combined with collage and mixed-media art.

And one of my greatest passions lately has been inviting others to “Be YOU!” How amazing that this germ of an idea would come to fruition three years later.

God values the written word and He instills beauty in each of us. Let’s celebrate and proclaim His goodness in words and all kinds of mark making. Let’s leave our imprint on this world, in such a way that it causes others to come closer and examine for themselves this strange sight of personhood spilling over on to page and screen.

Linking with RJD.

 

 

 

 

Posted on by kelrohlf 11