Tag: RJD

Congratulations and RJD Link-Up

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. (I Thessalonians 5:18 NLT)

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Congratulations for making it into 2016! I am thankful!

It’s that time of the month to celebrate all things journaling, with Dawn and other brave souls who share their musings from a random journal via a featured blog post. Won’t you join us?

Since it’s a new, fresh year, Dawn has some great innovations for RJD. If you’d rather not dig through old journals to see what has transpired in your life, why not try one of her prompts to see what flows out of your soul on to the page? Click here to share in the goodness.

For me, keeping journals, of all sorts, offers me time and space to muse, to reflect, to pray, and to play with words and images.

If the word journal intimidates you, I challenge you to give it another name. Here are some ideas: a sketchbook, a notebook, a diary, a daybook, a planner, a scribble pad, a doodle danger, a smuch printzer, a fooldle folder, you get the gist. Another idea that helps me is realizing that a journal is a container. A container for me to store whatever I want.

For me, pen plus paper equals soul freedom. A personal way to explore, discover and define my life.

It’s not that mystical. It’s not really magical. It’s practical. But once you start, your imagination joins in and it tells you things like: This is the magic wand  you’ve always wanted. This is your secret garden or private retreat.

So today, I’m going to take the plunge with Dawn and try something new. I am going to choose one of her prompts, right here before your very eyes and type out my response for two minutes.

Hold on. I’ll be right back. Setting the timer and choosing my prompt.

#8. I never would have thought . . .that I would call myself a writer or an artist, yet here I am fifty years of life under me and in me and throughout me. I am fifty years old and pretty proud of that fact. It’s silly I know, but I like being fifty. I like being me. I want others to like themselves and me, of course. But it’s not that important anymore what others think of me, because I know that I’m okay. I have all that I need and want and desire and with God for me, and with me I can face…

All done. I ran out of time, so I left the sentence unfinished. Which is fine with me. I can come back to it later and respond more. I even see a new prompt emerging: I can face . . .

Go grab the closest piece of paper and mark maker and give one of Dawn’s prompts a try. Do it for you and no one else. That makes it’s so much more fun, like a special indulgence. You’re worth it! Happy Day, everyone!

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And for my the final revelation of today’s post…that one thing you all were waiting for…drum roll, please…the winner of the journal/planner/book Giveaway is…Kelly Greer! (Send me an email to get all the goodness!)

Whether you’re keeping a journal or writing as a meditation, it’s the same thing. What’s important is you’re having a relationship with your mind.

Natalie Goldberg

 

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Compass: To Pace With

If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. (Galatians 5:25 ESV)

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“I know how to accept middles, endings and new beginnings…and I will.” (paraphrased from Language of Letting Go by Melody Beattie)

To me a compass is an instrument that you use to get directions. Or more accurately to confirm that I am headed in the correct direction. I have to trust the compass, and gravity and whatever magical physics are behind the device and its use. (Have you figured out yet that I haven’t had much real experience with a compass. I have a romantic attachment to the object as a metaphor for travel and journeys, etc.)

Just when I thought I knew what a compass meant, I discovered a new meaning.

I discovered that compass can be used as a verb, opening up new realms of possibility. It is related to words and phrases like: encompass, comprehend, bring about, obtain and devise. Quite a variety of meanings to chew on.

As we say good-bye to this year, and enter the new one, I wonder what the future will encompass. What will I need to comprehend to keep moving forward? What does God plan to bring about? Will I obtain new clarity? But most of all, I want to keep pace with the Spirit of God.

The Spirit of God can act like a compass in my life, reassuring me through God’s word and presence that I’m headed towards God. And I appreciate how the Spirit corrects me when I’ve wandered away. I am so thankful that I’m don’t have to be left to my own devices.

Have a Blessed New Year! And don’t forget to comment over on the Giveaway post to win a new journal and 2016 planner with a re-purposed book cover to carry them in, as well as a copy of my self-published devotions. The winner will be announced on January 2nd, along with the first RJD Link-up of the year!

And come back tomorrow for a special treat! My friend and fellow journal enthusiast, Lynn Morrissey will be sharing the art of the acronym poem, also known as an alpha poem, along with her own reflection using this art form. She will be concentrating on New Beginnings! Yay!

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Holiday RE-Treat Journals and RJD

I run for dear life to God, I’ll never live to regret it. Do what you do so well: get me out of this mess and up on my feet. Put your ear to the ground and listen, give me space for salvation. Be a guest room where I can retreat; you said your door was always open! You’re my salvation—my vast, granite fortress. (Psalm 71:1-3 The Message)

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Once a month a few brave souls open to a random page from their journal to share. Here’s my offering for Random Journal Link-Up #57!

For this occasion, I chose a journal from my ADVENTure journals. I set aside a special journal to write in over the holiday season. Today’s choice is my version of a Holiday RE-Treat Journal from 2011.

I flipped to a prayer/plea that I wrote in the midst of finishing my English degree as an adult, self-publishing my book of devotions and welcoming my sister and her kids to St. Louis. Whew! What a year!

Here’s the entry dated 12.17.2011:

Father- I am here in your presence feeling a bit weak and weary with all the worries and wounds of life. Thank you for the gift of REST.

Direct my heart to your purposes and plans today. I confess that I am overwheled and wish that I had bigger blocks of time, rather than pockets of time. I wish I was sleeping better. I wish . . . I could accept my limitations, expel my frustrations, reduce my expectations and instead trust your revelations.

The entry goes on to record a confession of fear of not getting everything ready for Christmas. And then an affirmation to trust God with the impossible.

Looking back at this entry, I notice that I still need help with my limitations, frustrations and expectations.

I am so thankful for a journal where I can readily pour out my confessions and reassess where my help comes from.

I call this my “Holiday RE-Treat Journal” because it is a container where I can keep my sacred sanity. A place to retreat when life gets overwhelming. And it’s a treat that I can visit again and again, to see progress and to recall God’s faithfulness.

I hope you all carve out time, whether big chunks or small pockets, to treat yourself to some holiday respite in your journal this season.

You may find it interesting that the word, “treat” can mean “to deal with in writing” or “to represent artistically.” I find that this journal is a place where I can artistically create little “getaway” scenes with magazine images, which I later use to prompt my musings with my pen. I leave you with some images from my 2015 Holiday RE-Treat Journal. Enjoy!

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Below are future “retreat” pages, and a cookie recipe I want to try.

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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?

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